Chapter 3

I couldn't believe my ears.

"Excuse me, Your Grace. D-do you really want to eat a monster?"

Thinking I must have heard wrong, I asked, and Duke Galbraith nodded. I hadn't heard wrong. I noticed his ears were turning red, though it was hard to tell if his cheeks were red from the dried monster blood on his face. He must have been blushing. Even though there was no reason for him to be embarrassed.

"Um... if it's the Backhorn that went berserk earlier, we need to remove the miasma, so it will take some time."

"I remember you saying that before."

"Yes, at least two weeks. And since we need to cure it and let it mature, it might lack freshness."

"Two weeks, huh."

Duke Galbraith furrowed his brow as if thinking about something. Was he really that eager to eat a monster? As a duke, he must have tasted all sorts of gourmet foods. Perhaps he was unsatisfied with gourmet food and had a taste for exotic dishes.

I started to worry a bit, putting myself aside. Sometimes, nobles who seek exotic dishes hear about me and request monster meat. These people often don't want safe monsters but rather unusual ones, like poisonous or berserk types.

(What should I do... It's impossible right away.)

Berserk monsters, invaded by miasma, require a lot of preparation. Many nobles and wealthy people, thinking they can pay to get it done, end up eating it impatiently and suffer from stomachaches or other illnesses.

"Is your stomach strong, Your Grace?"

When I asked, Duke Galbraith looked puzzled.

"No particular issues. Why?"

"Berserk monsters contain miasma. If you happen to get affected, you might suffer from severe abdominal pain or fever."

"Hmm... so it's not suitable for beginners. What about a non-berserk one?"

"It can be enjoyed in various ways, like fresh thick cuts, skewers, stews, and sausages."

Duke Galbraith, with his blood-stained face, gave a very charming smile (the people around us screamed or looked like they were about to faint) and started walking, pulling my hand. I wondered why he seemed so happy.

"Melphiera, isn't the Earl with you?"

"My father returned to our territory earlier."

"I see. The Marshall Raid territory is about to enter winter, isn't it?"

"Yes, it's a harsh winter, so preparations take time."

Impressive, the Duke knew the location of our territory. The Marshall Raid territory is near the northern mountains of the kingdom, one of the first to experience winter and one of the last to see spring. Therefore, we can't stay in the social scene for long. In the Kingdom of Langdias, nobles usually return to their territories during winter and come to the capital for the social season in spring. Once this autumn ball ends, the social season will be over. That's why I had to find a fiancé at all costs.

"Your Excellency, your change of clothes is ready... Oh, you have a guest?"

As we approached the grand tent with the Duke's flag, I was met with a puzzled look from a young man with black hair. He seemed calm, but his eyes weren't smiling.

"She's the daughter of the Earl of Marshall Raid."

"Her hair, did she get hurt!?"

When the Duke introduced me, the man panicked. My dress was stained with blood, so it was understandable he thought I was injured. But I doubt it was my hair. It might be a bit bloodstained, but this red hair is mine.

"I wouldn't let her get hurt. It's just monster blood. Chaos, get her a change of clothes too."

"Yes, Your Grace."

Chaos, the black-haired man, elegantly bowed and started giving instructions to the servants inside the tent. He must be the Duke's steward or something similar. The Duke led me into the tent, where a large bucket of steaming water was placed, along with a pile of cloths and a change of clothes. There were also weapons and wooden boxes, and equipment for outdoor cooking. There were no fluffy carpets or elegant tea sets.

(This looks more like a hunting tent than a ball tent.)

Indeed, hunting is part of the ball, but it's just for fun. This setup was for a multi-day hunting trip.

"Melphiera, it's a good idea to wash your face and hands before the clothes arrive."

"I'm not that dirty. Your Grace, you should go first—"

My next words were cut off because the Duke was already undressing. Just his upper body, but the sudden sight of his naked body left me speechless.

(Naked!)

I've seen knights and hunters clean themselves outside, but only from a distance, so I had no resistance. Yet, I couldn't look away from the Duke's exposed body.

"What's wrong, Melphiera?"

"Your Grace, you have very good quality muscles."

"Ah, well, I do train."

"Those clean cuts must come from those arms."

"Clean cuts? Oh, 'Beheader.' It takes a bit of skill."

The Duke handed me a small bucket of water. I took it absentmindedly and squatted next to the half-naked Duke. Since he was efficiently cleaning the blood, I followed his lead.

"Can I do it too?"

Could he teach me the technique to decapitate a Backhorn with one strike? If I could master it, I wouldn't need to trouble the servants when preparing monsters. The red color dissolved and disappeared from my fingers as I washed them. The dried blood came off easily with a little scrubbing.

"Once you get the hang of it... but with those arms, you won't be able to swing a sword. Leave the rough work to me."

"To you, Your Grace?"

I scooped up some water to wash my face and looked up at the Duke. He was looking at me, and our eyes met.

"I'm used to monster hunting!"

"That's reassuring."

"I don't know if it's reassuring or not. By the way, is there any monster you want to eat? I'll go hunting soon. You can eat it too."

"From the Galbraith territory?"

The Galbraith territory has a vast forest larger than the Parivain Forest Park. He probably meant rare monsters from the monster sanctuary.

"Um, um, would it be okay if it's from the Elsanie Great Forest?"

"The Elsanie Great Forest is like my backyard. How about it, this season we can get Underbrick and Glaciel Dragon Mimics."

"Underbrick and Glaciel Dragon Mimics! That's so luxurious!"

Underbrick is a six-legged beast with a hard, armor-like skin, a type not found in the Marshall Raid territory. The Glaciel Dragon Mimic is a large lizard with a long, snake-like body, wings, and legs, a rare species. I got so excited that I shouted without thinking. The Duke looked at me with a gentle smile.

"Melphiera."

The Duke's wet fingers touched my cheek. After a few strokes, he gently wiped it with a soft cloth. He must have been cleaning the blood that had splattered on my face. After wiping a few spots, the Duke looked satisfied.

"Good, that's better."

"Thank you. Your Grace, you too."

I reached out to wipe the Duke's forehead, carefully removing the dried blood. He bent down to make it easier. I wiped the blood from around his eyes and nose. The Duke closed his eyes, hiding his amber-colored eyes. His eyelashes, darker than his hair, were enviably lush. Yes, a handsome man dripping with water is even more handsome. Eye candy.

"Um... Your Excellency, can I come in?"

A third voice made us both look at the tent entrance. There stood Chaos, holding colorful, elaborate fabrics, with a few maids behind him. The Duke sighed and stood up, sounding annoyed.

"What is it, Chaos?"

"What is it, Your Excellency? I brought what you asked for. And why are you naked in front of a lady?"

Why? Chaos's voice was cold. The maids behind him were fidgeting and looking away.

"I'm not completely naked, just my upper body!"

"Whether you're completely naked or just your upper body, it's not something an unmarried earl's daughter should see!"

Chaos was right as a gentleman. The Duke, realizing his mistake, quickly covered his upper body with a nearby cloth. His cheeks were slightly red.

"Sorry, Melphiera. Women usually don't come to monster hunts, so I wasn't careful."

"It's fine, Your Grace. Your muscles aren't suitable for meat, but you have flexible, combat-specialized muscles."

"Meat?!"

I accidentally said "meat," and Chaos's eyes widened in shock. Oh no, I forgot my peculiarity while talking to the Duke. Just because the Duke isn't bothered doesn't mean Chaos won't be.

"Please don't worry. I specialize in monsters. I don't eat human meat."

Chaos's face showed even more shock. I must have said something strange again. At a loss, I looked up at the Duke, who was shaking with suppressed laughter.