Chapter 53

"Wow! It looks so much clearer now!!"

Natalie-sama's eyes widened as she looked at the back of the detached palace, which now had a much better view.

Natalie-sama's surprise was understandable.

Using magic, I had started the logging operation five days ago.

Already, more than a hundred trees had been cut down, and the sun was shining down on the spacious area.

This should have secured most of the planned dog run area.

The plan was to gradually cut down and clear the remaining trees and then entrust the carpenters with building the fences.

The carpenters had just arrived at the detached palace today and were starting their work, amazed at the cleared forest.

"I intend to create a place where the dogs can run around freely. Once it's completed, please come and see it, Natalie-sama."

"Of course, I would love to!"

Natalie-sama's face lit up.

Her innocent excitement was endearing, just like a 16-year-old girl.

One of the reasons she came to the detached palace today was for the fluffy pet.

Two days ago, a servant's companion animal had arrived at this detached palace.

It was a friendly dog, well-trained and wouldn't bite.

With the owner's consent, Natalie-sama was allowed to pet it a little.

"Natalie-sama, this way. Please follow me quietly without making any loud noises."

Natalie-sama nodded silently and quickly.

I led her to the back of the detached palace, where the companion animal was waiting.

"Hello, Dynas. How is the companion animal, Gulu, doing?"

"He seems to be doing well. It's only the second day, but he seems to have mostly adapted to this detached palace."

Tethered at the back was a small, droopy-eared dog, the companion animal named Gulu.

His ears were large, hanging down to his jaw.

The ears alone seemed as big as his face, giving him a strong presence.

His fur was white on the belly, black and brown on the back, resembling a smaller version of an Earth beagle.

His eyes were a dark brown, and his short fur was smooth and well-groomed.

Gulu approached Natalie-sama without hesitation, wagging his tail.

As Dynas had said, he seemed to be a very friendly and outgoing dog.

"…………!!"

Natalie-sama was writhing silently.

Perhaps because she was in front of Dynas, her face was expressionless, but I could tell she was excited.

She seemed to be quietly elated at the direct contact with the fluffy pet she had longed for.

"Dynas, can I pet Gulu?"

"Of course, he loves being petted. I think he'll be happy if you pet him."

"Thank you. Natalie-sama, please follow my example and try petting him."

I quietly crouched down, being careful not to startle Gulu, and slowly brought the back of my hand near him.

Gulu sniffed and then rubbed his head against the back of my hand, feeling the short fur and the large droopy ears.

After letting Gulu do what he wanted for a while, I then gently stroked his head.

As I softly stroked from the top of his head to his neck, he pressed his head into my palm, wanting more.

"Oh, Gulu is already getting attached to Lady Letitia."

"He's a gentle and friendly dog. Natalie-sama, come here and try petting him."

"Yes!! I'll do my best!!"

Natalie-sama, looking nervous, greeted Gulu and then lowered herself.

She reached out her hand, but Gulu avoided it as if saying "no."

"Eh………? Does he dislike me………?"

"Natalie-sama, wait a moment. Did you approach Gulu from above just now? Many dogs get wary when a hand comes from above."

I tried to help the dejected Natalie-sama.

Approaching from above or below might seem like a small difference, but it could make a big difference in a dog's wariness.

To a small dog, we humans are giants.

If a giant's hand suddenly approaches from above, it's natural for the dog to run away.

I thought I had explained this, but Natalie-sama quickly pulled her hand back.

Surprised by this sudden movement, Gulu backed away, maintaining a distance.

"Ah………"

"……Natalie-sama, there's no need to be so down."

Despite her usual expressionless face, Natalie-sama's mood was quite readable.

Perhaps because she was in front of the fluffy pet, she was more open than usual.

"You just startled him with the sudden movement. He doesn't dislike you. Look, Gulu is already coming back. This time, try petting him slowly from below, and you'll be fine."

"O-Okay!"

This time, Natalie-sama cautiously reached out her hand to Gulu.

The distance gradually closed, and her white palm touched Gulu's fur.

"Warm………"

She murmured, almost involuntarily, as she petted Gulu.

She seemed captivated by the charm of directly touching the fluffy pet.

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After petting Gulu for a while, we decided to have a tea party.

Under the clear sky, we had a table set up in the front courtyard of the detached palace, with tea and snacks arranged.

The snacks included common items like cookies, as well as a plate of chiffon cake that had been improved upon.

The chiffon cake, which had various memories for Natalie-sama, was something I hadn't intended to serve.

However, Natalie-sama had expressed a desire to try it, so I decided to serve it.

"It's delicious. It's soft yet moist, with a very unique texture………"

Natalie-sama elegantly cut a piece of the chiffon cake with a fork and brought it to her small mouth.

After finishing one piece, she sipped her tea and spoke.

"Even I, who am not a cook, can tell the difference. This chiffon cake is clearly different in taste and quality from the one made by Chef Gilan. ………If Lady Letitia had given up, that imitation chiffon cake might have become the standard. ………I can only apologize."

Natalie-sama apologized sincerely for the plagiarism committed by her subordinate.

Her demeanor was completely different from the one who had been confused with Gulu earlier.

For Natalie-sama, this might have been her best effort to be strong, but even if it was an act, her ability to behave so admirably suggested a promising future.

"………Not as an apology, but I have some information. I heard that one of the candidates for Empress, the candidate from the Eastern Detached Palace, intends to invite Lady Letitia to the detached palace next time."

Natalie-sama, with the eyes of a noble, carefully observed my reaction as she delivered this information.