Chapter 33

Eyes can be either Mikaelis or Albertina, it doesn't matter.

With this, the tournament section is concluded.

And now, the usual time for Albert's troubles. The fact that she has not yet found someone to confide in due to a lack of courage is one of the reasons for her being a bit of a loner.

"This is an unfamiliar taste, but it's delicious."

As I savor the street food, I am observed with a troubled yet fond expression.

Why am I treated like a little girl so much...

Despite a slight sense of dissatisfaction, my heart leaps at the first taste of commoner's food.

The meat, seasoned with spices, has a pleasant spiciness and a smoky flavor from the charcoal grill. The fat has dripped off just right, making it delicious.

The baked goods have nuts mixed in, adding a textural accent. The dough itself is not very sweet, but something like syrup or honey has been brushed on the surface, giving off a fragrant aroma when bitten. Some even contain herbs.

They are simple yet show various ingenious touches.

This would be even more delicious with a bit more honey or sugar and the addition of something citrusy like orange peel. Come to think of it, in the game, giving sweets to a target character to increase their affection was a thing. The pink ribbon and wrapped ones. Homemade sweets generally gave a small boost, but giving them their favorite sweets or gifts increased their affection even more. In the in-app purchase shop, there were special gifts and love potions that could significantly boost affection. I remember that Mikaelis liked things like ancient martial arts manuals or fireproof mantles for roc birds. Practical and austere. The prince, on the other hand, had very expensive things like peacock stone cufflinks.

I sip some tea to wash down the slightly dry mouth and take another bite.

Mmm, bliss.

"By the way, Mikaelis, in the final, you faced someone named Vearzo, right?"

"Yes."

"It seemed quite different from our sword techniques. What style is that?"

"I think it's closer to a self-taught style. I've heard that beastkin, especially werewolves, tend to hone their skills individually within their small tribes, rather than through formal training. They learn through sparring and training."

"I see, that's why it was so different."

"If this were a real battle rather than a match, Vearzo would have continued to fight with his claws and fangs after losing his sword. They may be inferior to us in magical power, but they surpass us in physical abilities. We can counter with physical enhancement magic, but their true strength lies in night raids and ambushes, where our senses are less effective. In the Kingdom of Sandis, there is no overt conflict, but I've heard that there were many battles about a hundred years ago. In the end, they were overwhelmed by powerful magic and could only resist with guerrilla tactics."

Mikaelis speaks matter-of-factly.

Given his territory, he is well-versed in various battles. The Demetrias territory borders the kingdom and has a fair number of monsters. There have been raids from other countries or tribes in the past.

"Although there is less tension now, some of the older people still harbor resentment.

Moreover, due to their abilities, beastkin often become human-specialized assassins. This is a common struggle for sub-humans, who find it difficult to get decent jobs outside their homeland due to discrimination."

"Speaking of which, the jeers in the final were quite harsh, weren't they?"

"It's not something to be proud of. It's disheartening that such people still exist.

I understand the desire to support one's own countrymen, but it's not right to belittle others."

"This is a sword competition, and he met the entry requirements, so there's no reason for him to be criticized..."

Not understanding the charm of those fluffy tails and cute ears is a sign of a narrow-minded person.

Or, are they wolf-type beastkin? Should they be called werewolves? Even though I know wolves and dogs are different, the silhouette of their face is unmistakably canine. It makes my animal-loving heart flutter.

But, keeping dogs or cats in the mansion was not allowed because they might bite or scratch.

Moreover, Vearzo fought honorably. There were people who used borderline magical items, and some were even disqualified.

"He had a rough but good sword technique."

Mikaelis, with a smile different from his usual gentle one, seems to recognize Vearzo as a worthy opponent.

Gibril said he won alone, but Mikaelis seems to have found something special in Vearzo after their match. It's good to see him enjoying it. I can't help but smile.

In my previous world, there was discrimination too.

Here, there is discrimination based on social class and against sub-humans and other ethnic groups.

Social class discrimination is inevitable to some extent. It's necessary to maintain order in a society or country.

However, as a sheltered shut-in, I have had little exposure to such things and am not very aware of them.

Come to think of it, is Raven not well-liked because of his foreign appearance? Dark-skinned people are rare in the Kingdom of Sandis.

The instinct to exclude those who are different is common among all living beings.

I don't force understanding, but I wish people would stop automatically viewing those they can't accept as enemies. At least, if there's no real harm, they could just keep their distance.

"I look forward to next year."

"Yes... I hope so. I wish I could invite him purely on my own."

This time, it was related to Prince Elmedia.

Fortunately, I managed to drive him away and got a promise from the king to persuade Prince Elmedia.

The king, knights, and maids' rather lukewarm and dreamy gazes are concerning, but I doubt I'll get another audience as a shut-in. The concerned gazes might be due to Grandma Sistina's influence.

Oh, can I get permission from Father? If I beg to go with him, it might be relatively easy, but I feel bad bothering him with his busy schedule.

I take a bite of the fried snack. The oil has a slightly peculiar smell. Is it animal fat? Or is something added?

This fried snack might be good with a noble twist.

Doughnuts... I want to recreate those soft, fluffy doughnuts.

As I daydream about this, my hand is gently taken by someone next to me.

My fingers are intertwined in what is known as a "lover's grip," and my hand is firmly held. As I chew, I trace the large hand holding mine, which leads to Mikaelis's arm.

Looking up, I see Mikaelis's imposingly handsome face with a charming smile.

My thoughts freeze.

My brain is sounding an alarm, telling me not to notice any more.

I can't even manage a polite smile and look away, mindlessly eating the doughnut.

I can't win against Mikaelis, who has become a super aggressive suitor in the game, especially when he's determined.

Wait, didn't I refuse? I received various advances but declined, didn't I?

This time, it was just an emergency SOS because a bad match was coming...

Why is Mikaelis looking at me like that?

I'm a young girl in need of care, attached to a demon lord. I look great on the outside, but I'm a useless parasite as a noble with zero life skills.

In the midst of my troubled thoughts, my fingers are suddenly caressed, and I freeze. The slow, tracing touch is strangely sensual and feels almost taboo. I can't help but look at Mikaelis, who returns a relaxed smile.

Oh... He's so handsome... Like Gibril's brother...

He's so dazzling... I feel inferior just sitting next to him.

Not knowing what to do, I start to feel more embarrassed and scared, breaking out in a cold sweat. I start to tremble. Mikaelis, noticing this, chuckles and lets go of my hand as if nothing happened.

Please stop teasing shut-ins... My heart can't take it.

Trying to calm my racing heart, I hurriedly sip the tea.

I didn't notice Mikaelis watching me, slightly troubled but also as if he was assessing something.

After the shock-filled sword tournament, I wrote down a recipe to vent my restless feelings.

The content is fluffy doughnuts. Fortunately, due to my whims, the Latiches territory has plenty of soy products. I can use substitutes like glutinous rice flour or potato starch.

Delicious food makes people happy. I don't accept any objections.

Soy sauce, miso, and tofu are already available, and byproducts like soymilk and okara are also available. Okara can be used to make low-calorie cookies and other diet sweets. Tofu can also be used in desserts to make low-calorie sweets.

Tofu is versatile. It can be used in dishes like mapo tofu and yudofu, as well as in desserts...

Father likes tofu quite a bit.

According to Sebastian, Father wasn't very interested in food, but he became interested because of my gluttony and insatiable appetite.

I think not being able to enjoy good food is a waste of life.

Father, being a wealthy man, could have pursued gourmet food, but unfortunately, he didn't. I'm glad he indulges my hobbies.

Okay, for now, the recipe is like this.

When will Julius return? Sebastian sometimes goes with Father and is busy managing the mansion in his absence. Lady Latiches is working hard as the mistress, but Latiches is very large, and I can only entrust a few tasks to her. I'll give the recipe to the chef for now. Yes, I'll leave it to the professionals.

I asked the chefs to practice making Father's birthday cake.

I do this almost every day when I'm at home.

I don't eat everything myself every day, so I share the less successful ones with the staff. The ingredients are top-notch, and with the full support of professional pastry chefs and chefs, I don't make major mistakes.

Everyone says it's delicious, and they are kind to shut-ins.

The chefs are planning the menu for Father's birthday party and are asking for my input.

"Father likes tofu, so tofu steaks might be good."

At my casual suggestion, the chefs' eyes gleamed and turned toward me.

Eek! It's scary! I flinch, and everyone starts to inch closer, saying, "Don't be scared, please tell us more."

Anna, seeing this, whacks the approaching staff with a rolled-up lunch mat.

"Please don't get closer. The next one will be a physical decapitation."

"Just a little surprised! No need to go that far..."

"Even if you have the lady's permission, not everyone will."

Ah, yes. Like Father and Father. Yes, only Father comes to mind. A daughter-loving, over-the-top type.

I also dug up various modern knowledge and compiled recipes.

My knowledge from before my reincarnation is my only weapon.

If I were to be cast into the world, this knowledge would be valuable to merchants and others. I would need to be cautious and discern who to trust.

However, they wouldn't know the extent of my knowledge, so as long as they see me as a golden goose, they would treat me with respect. The biggest concern is if my knowledge is not recognized as valuable and someone else profits from it, leaving me with nothing.

If I am drained of all my knowledge, I will be finished.

I don't have much confidence in handling such situations.

A convent would be better... I don't want to take such risks... I can endure a life of poverty