Chapter 14

In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

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The Roiamoodler was so delicious that I ended up eating a second skewer. I handed over the grill to the knights who still wanted more. They had been watching me closely, so they were well-prepared to skewer and grill the meat. Instead of the Duke's spices, I had them use a blend of homemade spices and crushed rock salt. Rock salt is rich in umami, which helped make even the tougher cuts of meat flavorful.

(Actually, it was supposed to be a tasting. The knights have quite an appetite.)

The knights from Galbreath and Marshall Raid still had room in their stomachs. Fortunately, there was plenty of meat, so it was fine for them to eat as much as they wanted. There was enough to enjoy for a while, and it might be good to store some. I really wanted to try more with fresh meat, but I regretted not preparing vegetables.

(Aging it will definitely make it even more delicious. I'll have them take it back when the Duke and the others return.)

I decided to start cleaning up. Knight Commander Claude noticed immediately, but I reassured him and sent him away. It seemed that the knights from Marshall Raid and Galbreath were starting to interact, and I didn't want to interrupt them. I rinsed the stone pavement where blood had spilled with water and sprinkled cleaning powder. Then, I drained the water used to wash the meat through a purification device into the drain.

(The water is cold. It's already winter.)

My body was warm from the fire of the grill and the hot skewers, but the occasional breeze and the water were cold. I thought about preparing a warm drink before starting the cleanup and went to unlock the magic key to the research building to get the tea leaves.

Suddenly, I thought that if the Duke was interested in my research, he might want to come with me to the laboratory. The Duke had eaten about five or six skewers but was reaching for more.

"Um, Duke..."

"Ah, this is just, well, I'll eat a proper meal, Melfiela. Don't worry, it's fine."

The Duke hurriedly hid the skewer behind his back, like a child caught in mischief, which was somehow cute.

"Alright, just that one skewer, then?"

"Alright. I couldn't help but reach for more as soon as I finished. Of course, I'm also looking forward to the local cuisine of Marshall Raid."

"Yes. The head chef is probably preparing it right now. Please look forward to it. I'm going to the laboratory now. Would you like to come with me?"

"Is there material on monster food in the laboratory?"

"Yes. This is just a part of it, but if you'd like, you can take a look."

From the Duke's previous behavior, I hoped he might be interested in more than just monster food. The Duke, who had been hiding the skewer, put it in his mouth boldly, chewed for a while, and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief.

"Of course, I want to see it. I'm also curious about the secret of that magic array. Is that material here too?"

"The important materials are in my room at the manor. Here, we have materials on the monsters we've eaten, cooking methods, and which monsters are not safe to eat."

"Monsters that are not safe to eat. I definitely want to know about that."

"Please follow me, then."

I thought about calling Knight Commander Claude, but he was busy cleaning up the dirty equipment and moving the meat to storage. I decided to let him handle it for a while and took the Duke to the laboratory.

"Still, the buildings here are quite unique. All the roofs are pointed, and from above, they look like needles."

"The roofs are designed for areas with heavy snow. If the snow gets too heavy, the roofs can collapse, so they are all pointed and have magic arrays to melt the snow."

"Galbreath rarely gets snow. I travel between my territory and the capital all year round, so I've never been this far north."

I was a bit surprised. I had assumed that as a Duke, he would have been invited by other nobles and traveled to various territories throughout the country. The Duke must have his own reasons.

"Well, I see. The nights here get quite cold, so I'll prepare plenty of furs for the Duke and the others."

"Furs? Could they be from magical beasts?"

The Duke, who has a good intuition, hit the nail on the head. Yes, the furs in the manor are from magical beasts that I have enjoyed eating. I don't often get the chance to eat large magical beasts, but the Yakul, a medium-sized carnivorous magical beast, often comes down to human settlements and causes trouble. The winter fur is fluffy and useful, so I carefully strip the hide and use it. The meat of the Yakul is tough and has a strong smell, so I boil it with herbs. To be honest... I don't really enjoy eating it.

When I unlocked the magic key to the laboratory and turned on the magic lamp, it smelled a bit dusty, but it was in the same state as before I left for the capital. In other words, it was a mess, with clutter everywhere.

"I'm sorry for the mess. I think that recliner over there is the cleanest."

"Haha, this is a real laboratory! It's fine if you don't sit. Oh, is that the Scuzzbit's stinger?"

"Yes, that's right. The Scuzzbit's stinger is used in traps to capture monsters."

"You even make traps. You keep surprising me."

The area where the Scuzzbit's stinger was placed was filled with half-finished traps and materials. The Duke examined them closely. I rummaged through the cabinet where I usually keep tea leaves. I opened a few bottles and found the tea leaves I was looking for. The smell... yeah, it's fine.

"When you hunt monsters, do the knights of Marshall Raid help you?"

"They sometimes help, but usually, I rely on local hunters or capture them myself."

"You are a viscount's daughter, aren't you?"

The Duke, who had been examining the traps, walked over and asked me quietly.

"The knights seem experienced, but does the viscount, or... the knight commander, ever criticize your research?"

I couldn't answer immediately and was at a loss for words. My father doesn't oppose my continuing my mother's research. The knight commander doesn't say anything to me unless it's really dangerous. They avoid directly mentioning my research on monster food, as if they are touching a sore spot.

However, I knew that everyone had complex feelings about my and my mother's research. Even those who were saved from famine by my mother didn't want to talk about it. In the Marshall Raid territory, many people hold a spirit faith that forbids eating monsters. The residents who survived the great drought seventeen years ago by eating monsters have been hiding that fact.

I thought about how to explain it, and these words came out of my mouth.

"I can't interfere with their faith."

"Spirit faith, huh. You have a strong heart."

"I'm not strong. I just can't live without my late mother's research."

"Then why do you continue your research here? Why don't you give up, even if it's not recognized?"

The Duke seemed to understand my situation, which I couldn't deny or affirm. Since we met, the Duke hasn't shown any prejudice towards me. A small hope that he might understand if I explained everything properly made me speak.

"Duke, do you remember the great drought seventeen years ago?"

"Of course. It was the reason I was adopted into Galbreath. Did it start for you then?"

The Duke took my hand and sat on a relatively clean recliner, pulling me to sit next to him. Sitting side by side, I didn't know what to do and placed my hands on my lap, looking down.

"It's hard to talk while looking you in the eye. You don't need to face me. Just tell me about how you became known as the 'gluttonous lady.' I want to know about you."

"... Duke."

"Aristide. You seem to have forgotten, but I came here to propose to you. I've investigated the situation of the Marshall Raid family."

The Duke's words sent a chill down my spine. Yes, a noble engagement. It's impossible not to investigate the other family's situation.

"I am a girl who has been ignored in society for three years. Getting me would just add more baggage."

"I don't intend to make you stop your research. If you join the Galbreath Duke's family, you can satisfy your insatiable curiosity."

"Duke, if you want to know about my research, I will always cooperate."

Earlier, the Duke mentioned that my magic array could be a weapon. If he wants it, I would be willing to teach him. Knight Commander Claude seemed concerned, but I had a feeling that the Duke wouldn't misuse my research.

Then, the Duke took my hand, which was cold from the water. His warm hand overlapped with mine.

"No, Melfiela. I... I want to know how you feel about me. Are you not afraid of me, who is called the 'Mad Blood Duke'? What do you think of a man who continuously slaughters monsters, is covered in blood, and is only nominally a duke?"

I couldn't help but look up, and the Duke's amber eyes met mine. I was at a loss. The Duke's face is handsome. His well-defined, slightly melancholic and charming face was right in front of me. You want to know about me? You want to know how I feel about you?