Chapter 39

Enjoying the enchanting fruit, we looked at each other. Captain Blanche and Natalie both had wonderful expressions. Lillian was still gazing at the Scrymwood with a lingering look, but then she broke into a broad smile and clapped her hands together.

"Ah, it was delicious! Princess, thank you so much, really, really thank you!!"

"You're welcome. But this is all thanks to Lillian."

"Me? Me?"

"Yes. This is the first time I've tasted such delicious fruit from a magic tree. If Lillian hadn't remembered Muran's mutterings, we might have ended up not eating it at all. Thank you, Lillian."

When I thanked her, Lillian blushed and smiled. She is a very honest and good knight. I can understand why everyone watches over Lillian so kindly.

"Well, we should take the rest to His Grace. It might be better to serve it chilled rather than as is."

"Do you think His Excellency will be pleased?"

"Of course, with such delicious fruit, I'm sure he will be."

"Hehe, Princess, you look so happy."

"Yes, I am. I want to share this taste of happiness with His Grace too."

His Grace has had bitter experiences with this fruit. I want to erase those unpleasant memories, just like Captain Blanche and the others. It's a good thing Scrymwood can be eaten as a delicious monster.

I attached a thin piece of wood to the cut side of the half we kept for His Grace. The wood had a magic array drawn on it, and I placed a cloudy crystal, which had just absorbed magic power, on the board to activate the magic. This way, the cut side would not be exposed to the air, allowing it to be kept fresh.

The half we tasted (though we ate quite a bit) should be shared with someone else. Zeph and Ambry from the Wyvern Squadron, who have developed a taste for monster food, would surely be delighted.

"Let's clean up, shall we?"

"Yes, Princess!"

Lillian took the lead in carrying the plates and knives. As for the fruit left outside, I wasn't sure what to do with it. I also wanted to organize the materials Zanus had left behind, and my research enthusiasm was rising.

(I want to try the red one too, but the smell might make it impossible inside the room. I'm also curious to see what would happen if I left it as it is.)

After some thought, I decided to add an entry about Scrymwood before His Grace woke up. I would add that the blackened fruit, not the red one, should be eaten, and describe its supreme taste in detail. The black fruit must be the ripe one, and the red one must be unripe. However, since I haven't tried the smelly red one, I'm not sure if it's unripe. Maybe I should try it in a place where the smell won't bother me.

"Princess?"

While I was thinking, Captain Blanche called me hesitantly.

"Can you eat a little more?"

"Uh, if you want... No, Princess, I'm terribly sorry!"

When I offered her the fruit, Captain Blanche shook her head vigorously and bowed deeply.

"To be honest, I didn't trust what Princess was doing. It was very rude of me to have such preconceived notions about the master to whom I should be loyal. I'm sorry!"

"Me too, Princess, I was very rude!"

Following Captain Blanche, Natalie bowed deeply as well. Lillian, who had returned, looked at them in shock. This wasn't good. I tried my best to get them to raise their heads.

"There's no need for you to apologize! After all, you hardly know me."

"But even so..."

"Who knows? I might be planning something bad."

I tried to look mischievous by raising one corner of my mouth, but since I wasn't used to it, the other corner also rose, and my face started to twitch. When I met Captain Blanche's eyes as she slowly raised her head, I glared at her. She immediately asked,

"What 'bad thing' are you thinking, Princess?"

"Uh, well... spreading horse manure? No, dragon manure in the garden, and, um, um..."

"Bad things...?"

"Or, opening all the windows and walking around?"

Oops. I couldn't think of any bad things. I listed the first things that came to mind, but Captain Blanche's face changed with each one. When I said, "Hogging all the delicious monsters for myself," the captain covered her mouth with both hands. Natalie was shaking her shoulders, looking away. Only Lillian reacted, saying, "Princess, that's terrible!" but it was all a bit awkward. As I thought of more bad things, I finally gave up and blurted out something random.

"Or, eating a dragon without permission... Ah, how about this! I'll start hating His Grace and return to Martial Raid!!"

"Is that so? Melfi, are you going to start hating me and return to Martial Raid?"

When Captain Blanche and Natalie's faces contorted, I was about to celebrate my victory, but then I heard a voice from behind, where no one should have been. I stiffened.

"That would be sad and lonely... Did I do something to make you hate me?"

"Th, This, His Grace, it's just, you know, a figure of speech."

When I turned around, there was His Grace in casual clothes. He was hunched over, hugging himself. His confident amber eyes weren't looking at me; he was staring at the floor with a sad expression. He didn't seem to have come in with Lillian...

"I don't hate His Grace!"

"That's fine. I'm used to being hated."

"No, that's not true! His Grace, Aristide... I really don't."

I grabbed His Grace's arm and hugged it tightly to my chest. I had hurt him. My panic must have been obvious, as even Captain Blanche and the others started to panic.

"His Excellency, it was my fault! I asked Princess to tell me what 'bad things' she was thinking."

"Please believe in Princess. She asked us to judge whether she is a suitable lady to stand by His Excellency's side. We were the ones who were blinded!"

You didn't have to reveal that part, Natalie! I couldn't say that, though. Since His Grace didn't seem to reject my embrace, I tried to look up at his face.

"His Excellency, Princess wants you to enjoy the Scrymwood. She wants to share the taste of happiness. I felt happy after eating it. It was really delicious!"

"Lillian, that's..."

Being exposed by someone else in front of the person is more embarrassing than I imagined. It was true, and I meant it, but my face felt like it was on fire.

His Grace looked at me with just his eyes. Our eyes met, but this time, I wanted to look away.

"Is that true, Melfi?"

"U... well, it is..."

"Princess, show that happy face again. His Excellency, Princess has a wonderful smile when she talks about you!"

"Really, Lillian? I didn't hear that part."

"It's true. Her eyes sparkle like a girl in love."

"Y, You don't have to go that far!"

I interrupted Lillian. His Grace, who had looked sad, was now looking at me with that mischievous smile. I was done for. His Grace probably wasn't misunderstanding at all. He must have been listening from just before I said the 'bad things.'

"Melfi, I was just teasing... but hearing you all get excited made me a bit lonely."

When he said that, I couldn't stay angry at His Grace. I was the one who said something that could be misunderstood, so I need to be more careful with my words. Anyone would be hurt to hear "I hate you," especially since I'm his fiancée and have decided to live with him.

"I'm sorry, Aristide. I shouldn't have said that, even as a joke."

"Yes. I thought I understood, but hearing 'I hate you' is still hard on the heart. I was eavesdropping, so I'm at fault too."

"Y, Yes, Aristide. Where did you come in from?"

Midleig Castle has hidden doors everywhere. There must be one in this Chiel room too, so I looked around the four corners of the room. There was nothing unusual, but the bedroom door was open for some reason. His Grace, who noticed I was trying to escape, gently pulled me closer and pointed to the bedroom door.

"I came in through the door in the back of the bedroom. Didn't I tell you that my Tail room and this Chiel room are connected through the bedroom?"

"Y, You mean that door is for that?"

I had noticed a door in the back of my bedroom but didn't know what it was for. I meant to ask, but I had been so worried about His Grace not returning from the hunt that I forgot. His Grace tightened his grip on my arm as he sensed I was trying to escape. When I pushed his chest to prevent him from hugging me, I felt a soft, squishy sensation and heard a strange "Kyuu" sound.

"Don't misunderstand. I usually keep it locked, so no one can enter without permission. I woke up feeling hungry because of your excited voices and the sweet smell. This one just woke up too, so I thought I'd surprise you."

His chest was moving. When I pushed it again, I heard the "Kyuu!" sound... no, a squeak.

"What is that, a creature?"

"I'm protecting it because it's still small. Look inside. This is the guardian of Galbreath, the 'Celestial Wolf'... a baby."

His Grace opened his shirt wide. When I looked inside as he suggested, I saw a small, white, furry ball moving.