Chapter 6

"Ah, I see. The hunters must have gone too far into the forest by accident and ended up in the territory of the demonic beasts."

The man, with his luxurious golden hair, was lounging in a high-quality leather recliner. After hearing my report, he nodded and beckoned me to come closer. This was the tent of Maxim de Rivaustor Mild Langdias, the 29th King of the Kingdom of Langdias. I had come to report on the incident with the berserk demonic beast after seeing off Melfiera. Knowing that nothing good would come from getting closer, I ignored his gesture.

"If it were just a demonic beast, it would have been fine. But it seemed to have accumulated a considerable amount of demonic poison. Despite this, there were no casualties, and I was able to fulfill my duty."

"I am grateful, Duke. Thanks to you, I can remain so carefree."

"Your Majesty, I merely did what was expected of me."

Since the day I inherited the name Galbraith, everything I have is for Your Majesty and the kingdom. This is the duty given to me, and it will not change as long as I live. Perhaps my answer displeased him, as the king's face turned sour.

"Hey, Aristide."

"What is it, Your Majesty?"

"Calling me 'Your Majesty' sounds so formal. You can call me 'Maxim-niisan' like you used to, you know?"

"I refuse!"

Seventeen years ago, when Your Majesty was named the Crown Prince, I became a vassal and was adopted into the Galbraith family. Although we are actual siblings, I stopped calling you 'brother' from that day on. There were special circumstances the kingdom faced, but there are no grudges between us. However, I believe it is important to maintain a proper boundary.

"Tsk, I understand. You stubborn man. So, Duke, what's in your hand?"

The keen-eyed king seemed to have noticed the basket I was subtly hiding behind my back. I had intended to finish my report and leave quickly, but it seemed he had no intention of letting me go so easily.

"It's nothing. Please enjoy the banquet, Your Majesty."

"Hmm. You don't want to tell me?"

"That concludes my report."

"Is that so? Your brother knows everything about his cute little brother... like that red-haired girl, for example."

The king, with his beautiful face and a beautiful smile, stood up from the chaise lounge. To protect the basket, I quickly put some distance between us.

"Is that something you received from the girl you saved?"

"It's none of your business, Your Majesty."

"It smells good."

"Your Majesty!"

The king, with quick movements, reached behind me and stuck his hand into the basket.

"Wow, dried meat. It looks delicious."

"Stop it!"

"Cheapskate Aristide. This is delicious."

By the time I grabbed his hand, it was too late. The king was already chewing the dried meat, his face lighting up like a child's. I couldn't really say anything, but what about the poison test?

"What kind of dried meat is this?"

"... Well, I absolutely won't tell anyone."

"Okay, I won't. Your brother keeps his promises."

"It's Scuzzbit dried meat."

"A spiky demonic beast! This is better than three-star beef."

Reluctantly, I revealed the true nature of the dried meat, and the king became even more interested. Three-star beef might be an exaggeration... but maybe not. This dried meat is rich in umami, and the more you chew, the more flavorful it becomes. It's actually more savory than the beef from the royal capital's ranches.

"Was this made by the 'gluttonous lady'?"

"Her name is Melfiera. She told me she used southern spices as a reference."

"I see. Her gluttony isn't just a hobby. So, how was it?"

The king looked at me with a mischievous smile. This... feels like his usual meddling.

"How was what? It's none of your business, Your Majesty."

"It is my business! You wouldn't protect just any lady. Especially if you were chatting with her."

"We weren't chatting."

"Marshall Raid's red-haired girl, Melfiera, doesn't have a fiancé yet, you know. How long are you going to keep me waiting? Get to know her better. She's a rare gem that finally caught your eye."

"Tch."

I clicked my tongue, but the king's smirking face didn't change. Who spied on my interaction with Melfiera and told the king in such an amusing way? Probably some noble trying to curry favor with the king, but I don't need to be judged like this. The dried meat must have been mentioned by one of the noble knights who came to greet me. Damn, I'll find them and make sure they keep quiet.

"Your Majesty, I'm going on standby now. Please cancel the hunts for the next few days."

"Alright, you're no fun. The hunts are canceled. You're on standby. Hey, Aristide, we're not done talking."

I ignored the king's call and left the tent. Having a meddlesome brother is a real pain for a younger brother.

(But maybe the king is right.)

I thought of Melfiera. The girl with hair like burning flames, the daughter of the notorious gluttonous lady, the Countess of Marshall Raid. The blood of the demonic beast on her white cheeks stood out, and I found it strangely beautiful. Her large green eyes, which seemed about to spill over, made me feel strangely elated. Where did the bold heart to help the stranded elderly couple come from in her frail body? I was instantly captivated by the girl who faced the demonic beast without fear, even as she was splattered with blood.

"Sir."

A short distance from the king's tent, Chaos was waiting with a few subordinates. Chaos is a knight who pledged loyalty to me rather than the Galbraith family. He is a capable man who also handles the duties of a steward, and I rely on him more than anyone else.

"The lair of the Backhorn has been secured. It seems only that one was berserk."

"Thank you all for your hard work. As a precaution, I've asked the king to cancel the hunts for the next few days. We'll be on standby until the banquet ends."

"Another two days... Will that lady attend the parties after tomorrow?"

Chaos, with a face that seemed to have something to say, made me sigh. The king and Chaos, why do they always steer the conversation in that direction? Don't they have any other topics of interest? What a bunch of busybodies.

"Maybe."

I replied indifferently. Probably, Melfiera won't attend. She will return to the capital and then go back to her territory. She didn't take my offer to bring her a gift seriously. After such an unusual encounter and a series of unfortunate events, she likely thinks I was just being polite.

More than that, I was strangely concerned about her demeanor when we parted. The tears in her green eyes were undoubtedly real. The sad smile on her face... as someone in a similar situation, the 'Duke of Mad Blood,' I could understand what she was thinking.

"Ah, Sir... You've already eaten so much."

Chaos, peering into the basket I was carrying, sighed regretfully.

"Hmph. You probably found it disgusting. Weren't you against eating demonic beasts?"

Ordinary people wouldn't eat the meat of demonic beasts and would find it repulsive. Chaos, like most, was quite wary of Melfiera. If she weren't the daughter of a count, he might have eliminated her immediately.

"That's true, but I regret treating her rudely. Reflecting on it, we also ate demonic beasts to survive. I'm ashamed of my prejudice."

Humbly bowing his head, Chaos's words made me snort. Yes, I, Chaos, and the subordinates following behind us have all eaten the meat of demonic beasts. The vast Galbraith territory has a large forest where demonic creatures emerge. In the Elsenie Great Forest, various demonic creatures live. We have the duty to prevent these creatures from spreading throughout the kingdom by regularly hunting them.

During long hunts, food often runs out, and we have to hunt for our daily meals. When there's no other choice, we resort to eating demonic beasts as a last resort... well, as Melfiera put it, without proper 'preparation,' it usually leads to poor health. While it provides a sense of fullness, it often results in severe consequences later. That's why Chaos looked at Melfiera, who ate demonic beasts with enthusiasm, with suspicion.

"So, Sir, I'll take this."

Taking advantage of my moment of reflection, Chaos grabbed the contents of the basket. The skilled knight was holding a handful of dried meat.

"Hey, don't just take it!"

"This is for analysis."

"I saw you put it in your mouth."

"Mmm, it's delicious."

"Chaos!"

"Sir, when you visit the Marshall Raid family, I'll go with you."

"Who said you're coming?"

"I'm worried about you going alone. The count will likely faint if the 'Duke of Mad Blood' suddenly visits."

What a cheeky response. I made the promise with Melfiera. There's no way I'm taking this meddlesome, smug face with me!

Despite this, I, who have never visited a young lady's house in my life, ended up asking Chaos for help to write a letter to the Marshall Raid family.