Chapter 28

"Fluffy, fluffy~~~~~"

Fluffy, fluffy, fluffy, fluffy, fluffy, fluffy~

Petting the wolf, I, Leatitia, am thoroughly enjoying the fluffiness.

I guess I’m saying “fluffy” a bit too much, fluffy.

Fluffy, I’m experiencing a breakdown of the concept of fluffiness.

"Healing~~~"

The soft fur tickles my palm.

As I stroke the wolf, which is closing its eyes in bliss, most trivial matters become insignificant.

Yesterday, after visiting Lady Natalie and His Majesty and fulfilling my duties as queen for the first time in a while,

I wanted to heal my tired body by playing with the wolf, but unfortunately, the wolf’s walk for that day was already over.

Frustrated by my unfulfilled desire to pet, I’m now thoroughly enjoying the wolf’s coat today.

"Kuuu~"

The wolf presses its face against me, as if whistling with its nose.

Is this the spot? Is this the right spot?

I scratch its neck, shoulders, and body with the pads of my fingers.

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu~"

The wolf seems very pleased, closing its eyes in contentment.

This female wolf, Jenna, is very affectionate.

While some of the other wolves still keep their distance, Jenna comes close without hesitation.

According to Edgar, the wolf keeper, Jenna is a wolf that enjoys being petted.

Moreover, Jenna loves the slicker brush.

It seems she has recognized me as the perfect person who pets and brushes her to make her feel good.

The slicker brush I made through alchemy is very popular among the wolf keepers.

During the shedding season, grooming the fallen fur is usually a hassle, but this time it was much easier, and they were grateful for it.

Thanks to the tools from Earth.

However, it seems that the wolves have their preferences for the slicker brush.

During the shedding season, many wolves accept it because their bodies are itchy, but their reactions vary once the shedding season is over.

Some wolves move away from me when I hold the slicker brush, as if saying, "I don’t need that right now."

Others, like Jenna, rub against me, saying, "More! Please do more!"

Jenna, when brushed with the slicker brush, relaxes and looks very content.

As I stroke her fur to check the result, I feel very good too.

It’s a win-win relationship, as they say in my previous life.

"Fluffy... I want to keep petting you forever..."

"Who would have thought I’d want to become a wolf one day..."

"Did you say something? Lucian?"

"No, nothing important. I was just captivated by the wolves' cuteness."

"I understand!"

I nod vigorously.

Wolves, at first glance, can seem scary and intimidating, but their gestures and expressions are very adorable.

Thanks to the loving training by Edgar and the other wolf keepers, they are as affectionate as large dogs and hard to resist.

It seems Lucian also appreciates the charm of wolves.

As expected of my servant. The master and servant tend to become similar, I think. I’m very grateful.

Lucian, thank you for following me to this country and taking care of me. I really appreciate it.

Because we’ve known each other for a long time, I can be myself without holding back and pet the wolves to my heart’s content.

Thinking back, I, as a duchess’s daughter, always acted properly in public, but I felt my previous life’s personality peeking through in certain moments.

In front of my older brother and Lucian, I sometimes acted quite silly, or maybe not...

Well, it’s fine.

Always being tense is tiring, so it’s important to switch gears.

Let’s leave it at that.

"Fluffy, fluffy, fluffy, fluffy, fluffy, fluffy~~~~~"

I’m so happy today that I can’t help but hum a little tune.

One reason is the meeting with Gilbert yesterday.

After returning from His Majesty, I made two proposals to Gilbert.

1. To help improve the chiffon cake.

2. To gradually change the recipes of the dishes served at the table to use less spices.

The second request was something I planned to do a bit later.

Interfering too much with the seasoning of the dishes was often met with resistance.

That’s why I had been building a relationship with Gilbert and the other chefs, hoping to slowly shift towards a lighter taste.

But really, I wanted to make improvements as soon as possible.

Just as I was thinking this, information about Gilbert’s previous job came from Lady Natalie.

Does Gilbert have any thoughts on the current rich flavors of noble cuisine?

When I asked him, it turned out to be a perfect match.

Gilbert doesn’t dislike spices, but he prefers dishes that highlight the natural flavors of the ingredients.

I confessed that I share the same view and managed to establish a cooperative relationship with Gilbert.

Fortunately, the chefs under Gilbert also seemed to have no complaints about this direction.

The reason is simple: they were originally Gilbert’s subordinates from the same workplace.

This explains why the chefs in this palace, despite being new, work well together.

When Lady Natalie expelled Gilbert from her palace, about four of his subordinates were also fired.

The remaining few resigned to follow Gilbert and applied for jobs at this palace.

Gilbert, though not good at navigating social situations, seems to be well-respected by his subordinates and colleagues.

Considering that my palace’s chefs are Gilbert and his team, I feel quite lucky.

They might have been difficult to work with for Lady Natalie, but for me, who dislikes excessive spices, they might be the best chefs possible.

Savoring my good fortune, I think about the exciting gourmet life that awaits as I pet the wolf.

As I hum the fluffy song (lyrics and music by me), the trees rustle.

"…Is this guy really just an idiot?"

A silver wolf stands there, looking somewhat exasperated, as if about to say those words.