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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Indigestion
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“I’m still like this.”

It had been quite a while since I’d parted ways with Enoch. So why was my stomach still fluttering?

It wasn’t as bad as before, but a subtle tickle lingered, as if butterflies were flying around inside me.

“Did I really eat something bad? This is strange.”

Maybe if I could just give it a good scratch, it would feel better.

As I pressed down on my innocent clothes, I saw Ariel come running out, and the corners of my lips lifted into a wide smile.

“Mommy!”

“Ariel, what were you doing?”

“Thish! I made thish for Mommy!”

It seemed she’d had quite a bit of fun making the flower ring for Enoch. A dainty white flower rested in her plump, short hand.

“Hmm…”

Hmm… was this also a ring?

No, it seemed a bit too big for that. A necklace? Or maybe a bracelet?

I stared at the tangled flower stems, which formed a rather creative shape, and cautiously ventured a guess.

“A bracelet…?”

“Yesh!!”

“Oh. It’s so pretty. Our Ariel is so… talented.”

I had only taken a wild guess, but I must have been right, as the child’s rosy cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red.

Her appearance must have seemed quite lovely to others as well, because Dane, who had been smiling with me, suddenly looked at me as if he’d seen something strange.

“What is it?”

“It seems your trip to the Imperial Palace has turned you into a caterpillar.”

“Huh? What are you talking… ah!”

Wondering what this sudden talk of caterpillars was about, I looked at my reflection and my cheeks instantly flushed red.

“I came all the way home like this?”

“Yes. It appears so.”

Wrapped up tightly in the yellow blanket just as Enoch had left it, I really did look like a caterpillar.

To think I walked around looking like this.

Shaking my head to cool my burning face, I quickly unwrapped the blanket. This time, Dane’s expression turned quite serious.

“But Lady Riana, are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

“Hm? No. Why?”

“You seem to be having some stomach trouble.”

“Ah, this…”

Following the old butler’s gaze, I looked down and saw my white hand resting over my solar plexus again, as if it had found its way home.

“It’s not that, but it feels a little strange. A bit nauseous, maybe.”

Dane listened to me silently, then stroked his neatly trimmed beard.

Then, he offered a rather plausible explanation.

“Perhaps you have indigestion?”

“Huh? You think so—”

“You had quite a large breakfast, did you not? Roast turkey, lamb stew, tarts, and also—”

Listening to him reel off the list of foods I’d devoured, I felt a pang of embarrassment and raised a hand to cover my face.

Hey, a person has to eat.

Pouting, I rolled my eyes.

“I guess I really do have indigestion.”

After eating so much, I had diligently continued to eat dessert while Enoch and Karhel were talking.

Glancing down at my stomach, which seemed just a little bit fuller for some reason, I held out my hand.

“Dane, could you get me some digestive aid?”

***

“Hmm.”

“Little Marquess? What are you doing?”

My hand was resting at an ambiguous height between my chest and stomach.

In front of me, the Elders each held one of Ariel’s hands.

“Oh, nothing. Just checking something.”

It seemed Dane was right, and I really had just eaten too much.

The fluttering sensation had completely vanished, and my stomach felt peaceful once more. I gave it a few more prods before dropping my hand without a second thought.

“So, what brings you here?”

“Pardon? Did you not invite us to have dinner together after so long?”

“Ah? Ah. Ah!”

The Elders’ expressions changed with each of my successive exclamations.

“Don’t tell me you forgot? Then what about my meal?”

As if that were the most important issue, the Black Elder’s face was about to turn pale as if struck by lightning when Dane approached his side.

He shook his head, so subtly it was almost unnoticeable.

“I have prepared everything.”

“Oho. As expected of someone so capable. I’ve never seen a butler as competent as you.”

Dane turned his back primly on the Black Elder, who was giving him a thumbs-up, and offered me a brown bottle.

“Lady Riana, please take this if your stomach feels upset again, just in case.”

“Okay. Thank you, Dane.”

“It is my pleasure. I will have the food brought out.”

As Dane turned to leave with a faint smile, the Black Elder shot his hand into the air.

“Mr. Butler. Could I have something with a heavier aroma for my aperitif? The aperitif wine is rather bland, you see.”

At the cheerful request, Dane, who had a history of having his precious wine cellar raided, smiled through gritted teeth.

“The wine prepared this evening has a strong rose fragrance that harmonizes with its acidity, creating an exquisite taste. I assure you, it will not be bland.”

“Oh, is that so? If you say so, it must be true! Then bring me what you’ve prepared!”

“…Yes. I will bring you a *lot*.”

As Dane turned away, his thin mustache twitched, but the Black Elder, none the wiser, simply chuckled heartily.

He remarked how much he liked the competent butler and even asked if he would be his drinking companion.

Swallowing a laugh at their contrasting reactions, I cleared my throat.

“Ahem. Um, what about His Majesty? Is he not coming?”

“His Majesty, you say? He is right behind the Little Marquess—”

“Are you looking for me?”

“Oh my!”

A deep, low voice descended from right above my head. When had he arrived?

Enoch expertly caught the chair as I startled and fell backward, the corners of his eyes lifting just slightly.

“You left without a single look back, so why are you looking for me now?”

“I… I didn't leave you behind…”

“Is that so? You seemed to be running away in disgust.”

His voice was somewhat sullen, and I darted my eyes from side to side.

“That’s not it…”

“If not that, then what?”

“It was… because I forgot! Yes, I forgot!”

“Forgot? What did you forget?”

“The cravat. You asked me to tie it in a complex and difficult way, but I suddenly couldn't remember how.”

“Ah.”

It seemed to be an unexpected answer, as Enoch paused for a moment before the corners of his eyes returned to their usual position.

“Was that it?”

“Yes. It’s a bit, a bit embarrassing, you know? After boasting about how hard I’d learned…”

‘What am I even saying?’

Having blurted out whatever came to mind, I clutched my skirt tightly with both hands.

Just a moment ago, my stomach had been so peaceful it was even starting to grumble.

But the instant Enoch appeared behind me, it started churning again, as if someone was causing a commotion inside.

“If that’s the case, you needn’t worry. As you said, I prefer the basic style best.”

Enoch met my gaze, which I had been deliberately avoiding, and tapped the area around his neck.

“How is it? Does it suit me?”

“Yes. It suits you, it suits you very well.”

I nodded eagerly, deciding I couldn’t take it anymore and tried to get up from my seat.

I felt I needed to take the digestive aid Dane had given me again.

But before I could slip away, Enoch placed a small box on the table.

“Huh? What’s this?”

“A scented candle.”

“A scented candle? Why this all of a sudden…”

“I heard it’s good for headaches. Ah, butler. You needn’t set a plate for me.”

Enoch, who had started to explain, waved a hand at Dane as he set down the food.

“Pardon? You will not be dining with us?”

“Unfortunately. Something urgent has come up.”

At those words, I lifted my head, my hand still reaching for the box.

“You’re not having dinner? What could be so urgent…”

“It’s nothing major. The Master of the Magic Tower is pestering me to come to where he is.”

A frown creased his handsome brow, as if in annoyance.

He mentioned that while it probably wasn’t a big deal, as this happened from time to time, he should probably go check just in case. He then tapped the box.

“I just stopped by to give you this. I was going to give it to you earlier, but you abandoned me and ran off.”

“I told you, I didn't abandon you.”

“The scent is meant to soothe headaches, so it should be effective.”

Enoch pressed down once on my grumbling head, then turned to leave before turning back again.

“Ah, Riana.”

“Yes?”

“If anything happens tomorrow, call me with the necklace.”

“Um… is that okay? I feel like its purpose has been reversed…?”

Wasn’t the necklace originally for him to use if he started to rampage while I was away?

As I fiddled with the pendant I always wore around my neck, Enoch gave a light shrug.

“Not just tomorrow, but even if nothing is wrong. You can use it whenever you want. That’s why I gave it to you.”

***

Tap, tap.

I felt sorry for Dane, who had gone to all the trouble, but after poking at my food a few times, I sighed at the empty seat beside me.

For some reason, Enoch’s absence felt disappointing, and my lips began to jut out in an unconscious pout.

“Little Marquess, I saw the butler give you some digestive aid earlier. Is your stomach not well?”

Seeming concerned by my picking at my food, the White Elder spoke to me cautiously.

“Pardon? Ah… no, it’s not that. It was a little upset earlier, but I’m perfectly fine now.”

As soon as Enoch had disappeared, my stomach had, as if by magic, become completely calm.

It was as if it was teasing me. Frowning slightly at the thought, I put on an apologetic expression.

“I’m sorry. I must have worried you. Please don’t mind me and eat comfortably.”

“Hmm… Ah! Little Marquess, have you opened the scented candle?”

“No. Should I?”

“Yes. Please, open it.”

At his suggestion, I twisted the small, round lid off the box, and a refreshing scent wafted out.

“Wow. What is this?”

The White Elder stroked his beard benevolently as I gazed at the charmingly decorated scented candle with wonder.

“It’s pretty, isn’t it?”

“Yes. And the scent is amazing.”

As I fiddled with the smooth glass surface in my palm, I was so startled by the Black Elder’s next words that my hand slipped.

“His Majesty made that himself.”

“What? This?”

My eyes widened further as I barely managed to catch the scented candle that had slipped from my grasp.

“He seemed so busy, when did he have time to…”

“Hmph. Don’t even ask. He made it without sleeping—”

The Black Elder, who seemed quite taken with the aperitif Dane had prepared, launched into a long-winded explanation in a voice an octave higher than usual.

With his voice as a backdrop, I took a deep breath, and the subtle fragrance filled the air.

Just a moment ago, it had been just a nice scent, nothing more.

‘Is it because Enoch made it himself?’

Somehow, the simple fact that he had made it seemed to give the once-pleasant fragrance a more distinct form.

A cool scent. The scent of a forest after the rain. Enoch’s scent.

“Huh?”

As I slowly inhaled, I was so startled that I put the candle down and quickly drank the digestive aid.

“Little Marquess? What are you doing all of a sudden…”

“I… I think I have a really severe case of indigestion!”

The fluttering in my stomach had now spread, and my heart was starting to pound.

My face crumpled, feeling as if I’d just run a race so hard that I was out of breath.