Third Arc: Twenty-Sixth Chapter

"Wha..."

"I thought I would see you at the party. You didn't come, so I came to see you."

I shot a light glare at Michael, who smiled without a trace of guilt, and shrugged, exasperated.

"It's your fault I couldn't go. If there were another commotion like that at the party, it would be a disaster. It was Lady Remie's party, of course I wanted to go."

"Ha ha! You're going to draw even more attention from now on, so if you're talking like that already, you're in for a hard time, you know?"

"Attention... why?"

"Because you're going to be my consort. You'll draw the attention of the whole country!"

At Michael, smiling as brightly as ever, I felt more than a little irritation. This time I glared at him, not lightly, and spun out cold words to push him away.

"...Quite the confident one. Let me tell you, I am not going to leap at you just because you're the king."

What would I do if he forced me with his power? Worst case, I'd have no choice but to run. Maybe I'd open the little eatery I had always admired in my past life, off in some unknown country. A lovely little place where a police detective drops by to grumble over his troubles.

As I steeped myself in the fantasy, Michael, looking full of curiosity and somehow pleased, asked,

"Oh ho! Then what would make you leap at me?"

"Let me see..."

What matters in a marriage is... hmm. Love and consideration? Well, taking those as a given, a couple's bond can still go cold at some point. But cheating is strictly forbidden! The popular type makes me anxious, but too little charm is dull too. A difficult problem. And thinking about old age, it's better to have a house. But then it's better to have money too. A trade to fall back on would be reassuring. Insurance and a pension matter too.

"In-sur-ance... pen-sion?"

"Hah?!"

No good. My thoughts had leaked right out. When I nervously stole a look at Michael's face, he was gaping, with the look of a pigeon hit by a peashooter.

"A-a-a-ah..."

"A-a-ah? Hmm, by those conditions just now, I meet about all of them, don't I. Love, we'll nurture from here on, and I'll cherish you with all my heart and soul! A house... will a castle do? I have several, so I'll give you whichever one you like. Sadly I may be popular with people after the consort's position, but I won't cheat. I promise. And then... a trade to fall back on? Would 'king by profession' not do?"

Michael tilted his head, looking troubled. It was true he met them all. Barring a revolution, his old age was secure too.

"It'll... do... King is a good job, I think..."

"Ha ha! Then there's no problem!"

"There is a problem! For one thing, I don't know a single thing about you, Michael! And, and love, I don't feel that yet either!"

Love. I started to feel embarrassed saying it myself. Like a little girl in love with love. Then again, I'm sixteen now, so I am a little girl. Sure enough, or something like it, Michael was gazing at me with lukewarm eyes.

"Wh-what is it..."

"Ha ha, one moment you're oddly practical, and the next, how cute. ...Yes, as for love, you needn't worry."

"Why not!"

Gently patting the head of my increasingly petulant self, Michael gave me a sidelong glance and smiled bewitchingly.

"Because you are definitely going to fall for me. I'll make you fall for me, without fail."

"...Truly, what a confident one..."

At last, thoroughly exasperated, I heaved a great sigh.

---

That same evening. Having crashed the invitation-less party, I was setting down in a letter my thoughts on the food I had thoroughly enjoyed.

"Hum-hum-humm. Honestly, writing a report is no easy job."

I had left a parting shot behind when I set off for Lumelica, but I did, at least, spare a thought for Leonhardt, who'd had no choice but to stay behind in the country alone.

"Let's see. Weather, clear. The mayonnaise was tasty. Remie's wedding was... and. And then, Cosette... and after that, the steak with raspberry sauce was the best. That about does it."

Into the letter to Leonhardt, who was surely feeling lonely, I crammed as much of Lumelica's gourmet news as I could. At the party, besides Lumelican dishes, there had been plenty from Altria, the homeland of Remie and the rest of us, but my recommendation was still the light bites from the stalls and stands. For a meat lover like me, the hearty meat sandwiches from the stalls suited my mouth better than any delicate cuisine.

It went especially well with the mayonnaise Cosette let me try. Ahh, I want mayonnaise. I'm about ready to start eating things just so I can eat mayonnaise. Maybe I'll just drink the mayonnaise.

When I think about mayonnaise, my chest aches and my stomach clenches. Could it be... this is love? Just kidding.

Once I had tucked the finished letter into an envelope and sealed it, for tomorrow's delicious mayonnaise, I silently began to whisk egg and oil.