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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Sweet Chocolate and a Round Tomato
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“...Does it hurt a lot?”
Enoch, who’d taken a spectacular tumble out of bed this morning before he was even properly awake, now had a large bump on his head.
“Yes. It hurts a great deal.”
Right... It certainly looks like it.
With ten mouths I’d still have nothing to say. I reached out, my eyebrows drooping, and Enoch naturally leaned his head toward my hand.
“I’m sorry. I was startled for a moment... Oh, what do I do? It’s really swollen.”
As I stroked the swollen bump on his forehead, one of his eyes fluttered shut.
I wondered if it was a habit.
The way he closed the eye on the side I was touching, moving his head slightly, reminded me of a cat, or maybe a puppy.
It was so cute that I momentarily forgot my guilt, the corners of my mouth creeping upward.
The White Elder, who had been watching us with a pleased expression, spoke up.
“Your Majesty, Little Marquess. The weather is lovely today. How about a picnic by the lake in the palace’s rear garden?”
“What? But today, with the envoys—”
“And as it happens, there will be a fireworks display to mark the end of the festivities this evening. You could watch that as well while you’re out!”
“Hmm... A fine idea.”
Hey, excuse me. Everyone? Don’t you have work to do?
As if he’d read my mind.
Enoch pushed a small piece of cut meat into my gaping mouth.
“We’ve shown our faces enough. Standing around at such events isn’t good for your foot, either. Is it delicious?”
“Yes! It’s really delici— No, that’s not the point. I might be excused, but shouldn’t you be there, Your Majesty?”
Distracted by the meat melting in my mouth, I had been nodding along, but then I widened my eyes and asked. The Black Elder chuckled lightly and waved his hand.
“Little Marquess, you worry about the strangest things.”
“Pardon?”
“In fact, it’s rarer for His Majesty to show his face at these events. He despises them.”
“What? His Majesty?”
“Indeed. If the Little Marquess hadn’t been with him yesterday, he would have just been lazing about in bed— Mmph!”
The Black Elder, who had been chattering away excitedly, widened his eyes as a meat pie was suddenly shoved into his mouth.
“Elder, aren’t you hungry? Have some of this.”
“...Pfft. I’m quite full, Your Majesty. In any case, if it weren’t for the Little Marquess... Mmmph!”
This time, Enoch pushed a strawberry covered in fresh cream into the elder’s mouth, already full of meat pie.
“No. You seem hungry. Don’t be shy, eat up.”
“?”
It felt like there was some emotion behind his fingertips. Was I imagining it...?
As I tilted my head in confusion, Enoch’s eyes crinkled as if nothing was wrong.
“If it truly bothers you, I will attend the beginning of the event. Would that be all right?”
“Oh? Yes... Well, if you insist.”
“Very well, then. I’ll be back shortly, while you and Ariel get ready to go out.”
Though he said that, Enoch showed no intention of getting up, instead tapping the table with a long finger.
“Riana.”
“Yes?”
“You need to eat your vegetables, too.”
“I-I am eating them.”
“I can see the ones you’ve hidden behind the potatoes.”
“Ugh... But they don’t taste good.”
I’d used the mashed potatoes as a shield and hidden them quite thoroughly. How did he know?
Like a ghost, Enoch found the carefully hidden vegetables and speared them with his fork.
“Here. Say ‘ah.’”
“Ugh...”
“Hm? Come on.”
When I clamped my mouth shut and shook my head, the fork gently tapped my lips.
After dodging this way and that for a while, I finally accepted the bite with a look of utter distaste. Enoch gently stroked my head.
“Well done.”
“I’m not a child...”
“Here. One more.”
“Ugh... I really don’t want to...”
“If you eat this one, I’ll give you the chocolates you said you wanted to try.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
The chocolates I’d happened to taste in Enoch’s office a few days ago.
My eyes wavered at the thought of those precious, special chocolates, said to be made by the royal head chef only on special occasions.
“Can I have two?”
“I’ll give you three.”
In the end, I gave in for the chocolates and reluctantly opened my mouth, then tilted my head.
*Something seems different.*
Overnight, Enoch’s aura had subtly changed.
He was the same as usual, yet something was a little different. How should I put it...
As I narrowed my eyes at the indescribable feeling, Enoch tilted his head, mirroring me.
“What is it?”
“Um... It’s nothing.”
But unable to pinpoint any clear difference, I shook my head. Ariel, who was watching us, threw both her hands in the air.
“Yay! A picnic, a picnic!”
***
“Ariel, what do you want to wear?”
“Umm... Wha' wear? All pwetty.”
“They are all pretty, aren’t they? What should I dress you in?”
Standing before the colorful clothes, I tilted my head just like the child, then turned at the feeling of being watched.
“You haven’t left yet?”
“I have a little time. And I came to keep my promise.”
Enoch, who was standing by the door, took a tray from an attendant.
“What’s that... Wow! You really brought them!”
“Wha’s tha’? Wha’s tha’? Wiel too!”
As Ariel and I scurried over to Enoch, curious about what was on the silver tray, a round chocolate popped into my mouth.
“You finished your vegetables, after all. Is it good?”
“Yes! Very! You should have one too, Your Majesty.”
“I’m fine. I don’t particularly enjoy sweets.”
Shaking his head lightly, Enoch then gave a child’s snack to Ariel, who was clinging to his leg.
While that was happening, I picked up another chocolate from the tray and popped it into my mouth. Enoch muttered, looking puzzled.
“She’s grown again.”
“Right? I think Ariel is growing a little faster than other children.”
“More than that, hmm...”
“Ah, that’s right, Your Majesty.”
“?”
I waved a hand at Enoch, who was watching Ariel with a suspicious gaze.
The emperor, who was a full head taller than me, naturally bent down to my level.
After a quick glance at Ariel, who was completely focused on her snack, I cupped my hands and brought them to Enoch’s ear.
“You know, what happened with that? I mean... the thing about the dragon named Karkes.”
From preparing for the event to Karhel’s appearance.
As I asked about the matter I’d forgotten while distracted by other things, his gray eyes clouded with trouble.
“I haven’t found anything significant yet. With the dragon’s lair having collapsed, it’s difficult to find any clues.”
“Mmm... I see.”
“Still, the Master of the Magic Tower is restoring the lair, so we should find something soon.”
“Arun must be having a tough time.”
I was smiling, picturing Arun grumbling up a storm, when I flinched.
“Uh... Huh? Why are your eyebrows doing that strange thing again?”
I didn’t know why.
But I quickly used my fingers to smooth down the eyebrow that was trying to arch menacingly, and Enoch narrowed his eyes.
“Wh-Why?”
“I’ve noticed this before, but you seem quite close with the Master of the Magic Tower.”
“Huh? No, I’m not...”
What kind of nonsense was this?
I frowned slightly as I pressed down on Enoch’s eyebrow, as if ironing it.
“You say his name so freely. Yet you found my name so difficult to say.”
“...? I’m... sorry?”
I wasn’t sure what I’d done wrong, but looking into his transparent eyes, I felt I should apologize anyway. As soon as I did, the tension in Enoch’s brow eased.
“Do you even know why I’m acting this way as you apologize?”
“Um... Ummm...”
Seeing my evasive reaction, Enoch let out a chuckle and lowered his head.
And then...
*Lick.*
*Huh? A lick?*
Before I could even register what that moist, soft thing brushing past the left corner of my mouth was,
“Sweet.”
Enoch lifted his head and wiped his own lips.
“...! W-w-w-what did you just—.”
It took me a moment, but as I realized what had touched my face, my mouth fell open.
Seizing the opportunity, Enoch popped the last remaining chocolate into my mouth and folded his long eyes into a smile.
“Well then, I’ll be on my way.”
***
“Mommy?”
“......”
“Momma! An apple? Here an' here is weally wed!”
After Enoch left the room, Ariel snuggled into my arms as my entire body turned so red it felt like it would burst.
She poked my dazed face and shook my hair.
After playing by herself for a while, the child pouted at my lack of reaction and wriggled down to the floor.
“Hmph. Momma’s stwange. Ah! Wigh’!”
Then, as if she’d suddenly remembered something, she excitedly ran toward the pile of clothes on her short legs.
What was she doing?
The little girl, who had been weaving her way through the clothes, returned with her arms full.
“Dis one!”
“H-Huh?”
A small palm patting my knee finally brought me halfway back to my senses. Ariel was holding out a yellow dress.
“Dwess me!”
“Oh... okay, should we put this on?”
My mind had cleared a little, but my thoughts were still completely fixated on Enoch’s red lips.
In a daze, my hands moved on their own, dressing her. Ariel giggled, covering her mouth with her fists, and handed me another piece of clothing.
“Dis one too! Pwease dwess me in dis one too!”
How many more outfits did I put on her like that?
“Hee-hee, Wiel’s a ball!”
“Good heavens...! What is all this?”
The child’s excited cry finally snapped me out of it, and I stared at the scene before me in astonishment.
I’d thought she was handing me a lot of clothes...
The result of my absentminded dressing was Ariel, buried under who knows how many layers of clothing, bursting into laughter.
Her chubby cheeks were even flushed.
“Momma! Look at dis. Wiel is wound like a tomato.”
Perhaps remembering the tomato from breakfast, Ariel wriggled her hands to form a lopsided circle.
Then she wobbled.
Her small body, swallowed by the clothes, rolled across the floor, looking so much like a ball that I burst out laughing.
“Ariel, are you okay? Are you hurt?”
“Yep! I okay!”
At my call, Ariel grunted as she got to her feet and placed her hands on her hips with an air of triumph.
I laughed for another long moment at the sight, then beckoned with my finger.
We couldn’t go on a picnic like this, after all.
“Ariel, come here. Let’s take these off now. You could really get hurt.”
“Eeeh, no. I wanna stay wike dis!”
But it seemed Ariel had no intention of taking the clothes off.
She puffed out her cheeks at me as I called to her, and then,
“Ariel! Where are you going!”
she turned around and ran right out of the room. Waddling as she went.
“Hehe. Twy and catch Wiel!”
