Second Arc: Thirty-First Chapter

At the end of the hunt, a grand barbecue with the day's catch! …was not to be. Well, so elegant nobles don't do barbecues, I see! I thought — but apparently it's because meat tastes better once it's been aged.

As a first-time hunter I'd had no idea, but if it makes the meat tastier, then wait I must. Good things come to those who wait, as the saying rightly goes. It's nothing to boast of, but I'm confident I can wait forever for something delicious. …Only so long as my stomach is full, mind.

But at this very moment, my stomach was growling and gurgling. Naturally. After working up a sweat with a good bit of exercise under the blue sky, it would be stranger not to be hungry. And I was nearing my limit.

And yet! I would not panic! For there was still a garden party to come, where dishes made lavishly with meat would be served!

That hunger is the finest spice — I, Cosette, fully intend to prove here and now, with all my might. I'd write a whole treatise on it, if you like.

So hurry! Hurry, bring the food!

As I watched, blankly and with my stomach gurgling, the piled-up game being carted away, a voice suddenly came from behind me.

"Good day, Cosette."

"Lady Isabella… good day."

At Lady Isabella's appearance, I hastily switched my meat-filled head over to other matters. Firming up my expression and facing her, I found Lady Isabella — without her usual hangers-on — standing alone, feet planted, a hand on her hip. Her face was hard, stern, her lips pressed tight.

"Lady Isabella…?"

When I asked again, warily, she bowed her head sharply, as if steeling herself.

"Wh-what are you— …! Please, don't, not that."

Angry as I'd been at her words about Lady Remie when I threw down the challenge, a marquess's daughter bowing her head to a lower-ranked earl's daughter in front of everyone was not a good look at all. I hurriedly glanced around, but it was already too late — the assembled nobles had their full attention on us.

"No. This contest is my loss. And I was even defended by you… so let me say my thanks. Thank you. And — I shall apologize, too, for my careless words about Lady… Remie."

"Lady Isabella…"

"But!"

As I flustered about at her sudden apology, she snapped her head back up at once and gave a bold, fearless smile.

"Just this once! I've settled my accounts now! I shall rise again like a phoenix and crush you without fail!"

"Whaaat?!"

"For the reason being—!"

"…For the reason being?"

Swept up in her momentum, I gulped and echoed it without thinking — and for some reason, voices rose from all around me in the very same breath.

"Because the one most fit to be crown princess is — I! — noble, beautiful, brilliant, and demure as I am! Wash your neck and wait for me, Cosette Edelweiss!"

Hand on her hip, Lady Isabella arched her body back as far as it would go, thrust a finger at me, and declared it on high.

"Ehhh…………… what a character…"

"What did you say?!"

"Nothing at all…"

She's high-handed and full of snide remarks, but at the root she might be a straightforward sort. Perhaps she'd simply taken Lady Priscilla's words to heart.

Or so I thought, and yet.

…Somehow this has turned into an even bigger pain…

For now, I think Lady Isabella had better look up the meaning of "demure" in a dictionary.

I let out a sigh and muttered it to myself.