Chapter 36

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Despite various mishaps, two weeks later, I promised to meet Viktor again to attend Maria's concert, and my trip to the capital came to an end.

When I distributed the souvenirs I bought to the people in the mansion, they all seemed a bit embarrassed, but the contents were just cookies. There's no need to be so formal; I hope they enjoy them during tea time.

It seems that Utsumi, who came from the capital, had never tried capital cookies before and was quite pleased.

Utsumi said that Regulus ate the cookies right away, but he also finished his dinner that night without leaving anything, and I wondered where he could put so much food.

Maybe not gaining weight from eating is a privilege of the handsome.

Well, there's no point in envying something I don't have. I'll stick to my routine of walking for my diet.

The spices I got at the market in the capital come in various types and conditions. Some are ready to use, while others need preparation.

For example, saffron.

Since it was sold fresh, to make it usable as a spice, I had to wash it, carefully peel off the bright yellow skin, boil it for five to six hours, and then dry it in the sun for about two weeks. After that, I had to crush it to make it usable.

When I asked the head chef and others, including the seamstress Elise and the animal caretaker Joseph, to help, they all seemed excited.

They apparently said, "We'll be happy to help if we get to eat something delicious."

While I was enjoying myself in the capital, it seems that Rottenmayer and the head chef went out into the city and interacted with Fiore, even exchanging recipes.

When I thanked them and explained the reason for the delayed recipe sharing, the head chef smiled wryly.

"That's the young master's recipe, not mine."

"Huh, but it's the head chef's, right?"

"It's what the young master made according to his instructions. It's an idea I wouldn't have thought of, and if the young master wants to share it, I have no objections. But I do have a request."

"A request?"

"Next time you think of an interesting dish, tell me first, not him. I am the young master's chef, after all."

What does he mean by that? As the head chef of Kikunoi, he feels responsible for the dishes associated with Kikunoi.

I don't quite understand, but I nodded in agreement, and as a result, the preparation for the curry rice will be done at Kikunoi's house from the beginning.

I'm looking forward to it in two weeks.

But that's not all I bought in the capital.

There were pieces of silk that matched the patterns of the kimonos, so I started trying my hand at tsunamimono.

Tsunamimono involves folding thin silk into small squares, folding them into triangles, and attaching them to a base to create things like flowers and butterflies.

My hair has grown, so I want hairpins, and I'd like to decorate them cutely. Even if I wear them, I'm still a white pig.

While making such plans, I go about my daily routine.

One addition to my daily routine is watching Genzaburo's "swordsmanship lessons" for Regulus.

Holding a small wooden sword—not a wooden sword but a wooden katana—he swings it down from the upper position to the lower position. Genzaburo catches it with one hand and deflects Regulus with his own wooden katana.

Regulus falls on his bottom, but he bravely jumps at Genzaburo without crying.

They repeat this many times, and in the end, they put the wooden swords back in their belts and bow to finish the lesson, which is the Genzaburo style of swordsmanship.

Genzaburo isn't trying to hurt Regulus; on the contrary, he practices on soft soil to prevent any strange injuries, but it's still nerve-wracking.

Every time Regulus is sent flying, I get nervous, and Genzaburo smiles wryly at me.

"Don't worry, young master. I promise I won't let Regulus get hurt."

"I know you're being careful, Genzaburo, but...!"

It's just... unsettling.

He's only three years old, after all.

Seeing a three-year-old child, no matter how strong the old man is, being sent flying is nerve-wracking.

But every time Regulus falls, he glances at me, nods, and goes back to Genzaburo.

In my mind, I hear the theme song from a boxing world champion movie I saw in my previous life, where the champion is battered and bruised whether he wins or loses.

And then, Regulus is sent flying again.

"Ah... Genzaburo, that's enough for now..."

"Hmm? If you say so, young master..."

When I can't bear to watch anymore, Genzaburo pretends to adjust his wooden sword while laughing, but then Regulus, who was sent flying, shouts, "No!"

"I'm not... losing yet!"

"Huh...?"

"I'm not losing! I can do it! Big brother, I'm not... losing!"

"Ah... but... it's dangerous if you get hurt, you know?"

"No! Big... big brother, I'm not... losing! I can do it!"

Oh my, Regulus just said "I" and "big brother."

When did he start speaking so maturely?

As I feel a bit moved, Regulus stands up and charges at Genzaburo again.

This is how children grow, I think, as if it's someone else's business, but I was a child too.

I need to grow too.

The swordsmanship practice takes place in a corner of the vegetable garden.

While they practice, I might as well till the soil.

Holding a child-sized spade, I pull weeds and dig the soil bit by bit.

Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Regulus charging at Genzaburo and being deftly avoided.

He's so cute and determined, I think, when suddenly, as Regulus swings his wooden sword with all his might, Genzaburo's expression changes sharply, and he jumps back with a speed that doesn't seem possible for an old man.

If the wooden sword hits the ground with full force, it might hurt his wrist.

Bracing myself for Regulus's cry, I hear a sound that shouldn't be heard from the ground.

"Huh...?"

It's not "huh?" It's not "huh?" at all.

The ground where Regulus hit the wooden sword had cracked and sunken like a crater.

"Fufufu, that was quite a show. You've saved us the trouble of softening and tilling the soil."

"Moo, it hurts... Big brother, it hurts!"

Holding the wooden sword, Regulus charges at me, and before I can react, he headbutts my solar plexus, and I collapse in agony.

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