9. Welcome Home

Three days later, we stood at the border checkpoint. It was there that we said goodbye to the soldiers sent to guard us.

“Our Empire will be back to its rich self in no time. Please, come back to visit again!” they said as we separated, heading back.

“Please show proof of your status,” the knight on the Chronowize side asked us.

Miss Micah pulled out the stone necklace with Lord Royz’s emblem, and the knight nodded, being used to seeing it. Next, I presented the brooch showing I was part of Margrave Sargent’s family, and he bowed respectfully. Lastly, Lord Glen flashed him something on the inside of his coat, and the man looked absolutely shocked. After that, the four knights that had been with us showed their identification, and we were all let through.

“Why was the knight so surprised?” I asked Lord Glen in the carriage, only to get a bitter smile back.

“I was told I had to bring ‘Proof of my Royalty’ since we were going to a foreign country... I could’ve just got through with my Appraiser license...”

So that was what was under his coat... I wanted to know what it was, but it probably wasn’t a good idea to ask to see under his clothes, so I stayed quiet.

Once we got through the border crossing, we headed straight for the Margrave’s manor, and stopped in front of the entrance. Looking out the window, I saw that everyone who worked there was lined up outside.

First, Miss Micah got out, followed by Lord Glen. I was the last, and managed to nearly fall out before he caught me.

“Thank you,” I said in a rush, while he looked above my head.

“You’re not hurt, but it seems you’re tired from all the traveling. Let’s stay here and rest for a few days.”

Apparently, he’d used his [Appraisal] Skill to make sure I wasn’t injured.

“Okay.” I didn’t feel that tired, but I nodded anyway.

Just like when we first arrived, my adoptive father said something to Lord Glen, and they headed inside the manor. As I watched them go, my adoptive mother stood right in front of me.

“Welcome home, Chelsea.”

“I’m home, Mother.”

She gave me a huge smile and a gentle hug. I felt like I should treasure her warmth.

“You must be exhausted from your trip. Have a good rest, alright? But who might this be?” Mother loosened her arms, looking towards Miss Micah.

“That’s Miss Micah, my new personal chef.”

“I’m Micah~ Leave all of Chelsea’s cooking to me from now on~!” she beamed while proudly puffing out her chest.

My adoptive mother tilted her head a bit, looking towards one of the people lined up to greet us. “She’s saying to leave it to her, but... How do you feel about that, Head Chef?”

I followed her gaze to an older man wearing a white chef’s coat and hat, who was staring at Miss Micah expressionlessly.

“No.” The Head Chef shook his head. “I’ll have to see her cooking skill first...”

“That’s true... I’d like for her to show how good she is. Let’s have a cooking competition for supper! Micah, was it? Will that be alright with you?”

“Of course~! I’ll make something delicious~!” Miss Micah replied, nearly jumping with joy. Her tail was wagging back and forth. Mother smiled softly seeing how happy she was.

After that, we headed inside the manor, and I went to my room to rest. Lord Glen had gone to talk with my adoptive father in the parlor, while Miss Micah headed to the kitchen to prepare for dinner.

Isn’t it weird how I’m the only one resting? I thought. Mumbling to myself, I said, “I wonder if there’s anything I could do...”

Hearing me, kitten-form Ele thumped his tail on the sofa he was laying on. «What about making seeds and storing them?»

“What kind of seeds?”

«Hmm... You never know when you may go hungry, so you could make some pumpkin seeds to ensure you always have food. And it may also be good to make some Blue or Sky Lily seeds beforehand, in case the miasma ever appears,» Ele replied, tilting his head as he thought. «You also have your own personal garden at the citadel, do you not? You could also make seeds to plant there. And since we do not know what could happen from now on, perhaps you should make Elixir Seeds as well.»

As he spoke, all the seeds he mentioned popped up in my head.

“That’s a good idea. I’ll make a bunch of seeds then.” Tilting my head up to think of what to make, the first one to come to mind was... “I’ll make an Elixir Seed — [Seed Creation].”

With a light pop, a round orange seed that would fit in the palms of both my hands appeared. If anyone in my family ever gets sick, it’d be best for me to have one on hand to give them as soon as possible.

«You should use your bracelet to put the seeds you create in your Spirit World storage.»

I nodded and mentally asked for them to take the seed. As I did, it vanished. My bracelet sparkled too, so it seemed that it had reached my Spirit storage room.

“Next I’ll make a coconut palm seed — [Seed Creation].”

As soon as it popped into existence, I willed it to my storage, and it disappeared.

After that, I made pumpkin seeds, Blue and Sky Lily seeds, vegetable seeds like potatoes and carrots, flower seeds like rose, pansy, and anemones, and had the Spirits store all of them. Every time I did, the bracelet glittered, so the Spirits in charge of my storage might have been happy.

Thinking that they were just made me want to make and send even more. But since I didn’t want to faint from using all my mana creating too many either, I stopped right at twenty.

＋＋＋

A while after I finished making seeds, Brother Saix and Brother Felix came by my room.

“We’re here to get you, as it’s nearly time for dinner,” Brother Saix said, giving me a big smile. As we headed to the larger dining room, he moved over to my right, saying, “Let’s hold hands so you don’t fall.”

Before I could answer, he’d already taken my hand in his.

“That’s not fair, Sai!” Brother Felix cried, quickly walking to my left side and taking my hand. “You won’t be able to fall if we’re holding both of your hands.”

I didn’t really get it, but we’d already started walking again.

“I heard that tonight’s dinner is gonna be a competition between the Head Chef and the chef you brought, Chelsea.”

“Yes! She’s a foxwoman named Miss Micah, and she’s a really great chef!”

“I guess I’ll look forward to it, then,” said Brother Saix, and I nodded back.

Once we got to the dining room, everyone else was already there. Just like before, I sat between my grandparents. Then, the food was brought in.

The fish sauté, little meat pies, and salads were made by all of the chefs together, but the two plates of risotto that came in last were made by Miss Micah and the Head Chef. One had a red rim, while the other had a blue one, but both were full of mushrooms.

“Tonight, we’re having a cooking competition to test the skills of Chelsea’s personal chef, Miss Micah, against our head chef,” announced Mother. “There are two plates of risotto, so once you’re done eating, we’ll ask which one everyone liked best.”

My grandmother brought her hands together happily, a smile across her face—while my father and grandfather forced smiles, as if they were thinking, “Not this again...”

After saying my prayers, I ate my salad, then continued to the fish sauté and little meat pie. Lastly, I had the two risotto in order to compare them.

Both had chicken and mushrooms, but the red-rimmed plate tasted like what I was used to. The blue-rimmed one, on the other hand, tasted completely different. There was something peculiar about the flavor, just like the ‘Chinese Rice Porridge’ that Miss Micah made before. I took another bite from the red-rimmed plate, but now the taste felt like it lacked the same impact.

The blue-rimmed risotto is definitely yummier. I like it. I looked up as I thought that, and locked eyes with Mother.

“Okay, everyone raise your hands for whichever one you prefer. First, our red-rimmed risotto.”

Grandfather raised his hand, but no one else did.

“Next, the blue-rimmed risotto.”

Everyone, including Grandfather, raised their hands.

Is it okay to raise your hand for both? I looked over to him, and he gave me a grin back.

“Now, let’s call for the chef who prepared the blue-rimmed risotto.” A maid headed towards the kitchen at Mother’s command.

“I liked both, so I raised my hand for both,” he explained.

“You’re supposed to only raise your hand for one of them. Don’t follow Grandfather’s example, okay?”

“Teaching Chelsea weird ideas... Really, Grandfather...”

Both of my elder brothers chided him in response. I looked over to Lord Glen and he gave me a bit of a forced smile, so they must have been right.

Just as I was thinking that, the maid came back with Miss Micah. The head chef was behind them, wringing his hat in his hands.

“So the blue-rimmed plate was yours, Micah?” Mother asked, getting a nod back from the foxwoman. “We’re now sure of her skills, so she’ll be in charge of Chelsea’s meals from now on. Is that alright, Chef?”

“Yes...” The head chef nodded meekly, before bowing to Miss Micah. “I apologize for doubting your abilities.”

“Oh, it’s fine~ It’s an important thing to do!” Her tail was swaying back and forth.

The head chef straightened before bowing again. “Please, teach me how to make your risotto. I’d like to know the difference that made everyone choose it.”

Seemingly surprised by the request, Miss Micah’s tail puffed up. “I’m a beastman, you know~? Is that still okay...?”

“Cooking has nothing to do with race. I want to make delicious food.”

“Okay~!” she said, smiling happily, tail wagging.

＋＋＋

After dinner, I was shuffled off for a bath and told to go to bed early, since I must have been exhausted. After the maids helped me bathe, and I got changed, I realized how heavy and sluggish I felt. I tried heading for my bed in a daze, but my legs gave out before I could make it, and I plopped down on the floor.

A maid rushed to steady me, helping me to the bed. “Miss, you’re burning up!” she cried, signaling for the other maids to move.

As I watched them blankly, Mother showed up. She looked upset as she touched my forehead, grimacing. “Your fever is high...” she said, giving me a pat on the head and putting a damp cloth on my forehead.

That feels nice and cool...

A bit later, my adoptive father and Lord Glen came to see me.

Lord Glen stared at the spot above my head. “My [Appraise] Skill says it’s from exhaustion. [Cure] can’t heal things like this.”

He looked like he was in more pain than I was, standing beside my bed. I have to tell him I’m okay... But I was too tired to speak, and before I knew it, I had lost consciousness.

When I woke up the next morning, my fever hadn’t gone down. I still felt so sluggish that I didn’t want to eat anything. When I told that to the maids, Miss Micah appeared a while later with some Chinese rice porridge.

“At least have a bite~ If you don’t eat, your stamina will decrease, and it’ll take longer for you to get better~”

That wouldn’t be good. I don’t want to cause any more trouble for Lord Glen. The thought made me eat a single bite, and before I knew it, I’d eaten the whole thing.

“Good girl~! It’s full of nutrients, so you should get better in no time~!” she said, patting my head before leaving.

The day after that, I still felt heavy, but my fever was down. I need to get better quickly, so we can get back to the Research Institute...!

When Lord Glen came to my room to check on me, I asked about our plans, “When are we going back to the capital?”

“After you get a bit more rest,” he told me, not specifying a date.

Oh no, what if we’ve been so delayed he can’t even tell me...? I withered, feeling terrible.

Lord Glen gave me a worried smile and patted me on the head. “We’d already planned to spend a few days here, and I’ve sent word to the capital, so don’t worry and focus on getting some rest. I want you to feel better as soon as possible, but don’t force yourself.”

“Okay...” His kind words made me smile.

A few days after that... I got laid up with another fever.

“My [Appraisal] says it’s a mana fever this time,” Lord Glen said, looking upset again after he appeared with Mother.

Why is he always making that face? Despite thinking it odd, I felt too heavy to speak.

“A mana fever... The kind that young children get that lasts for about a week and makes them drowsy?”

He nodded. “They happen when the balance between your body and mana pool breaks down. [Cure] can’t heal this one either.”

“Maybe it’s because she’s finally getting proper nutrients...”

“I think so.”

Getting sick at age twelve from something that usually happens to little kids... I felt bad—it was as if my body was telling me it was too young.

Because of my mana fever, I spent the rest of the day dozing off. At one point when I was dimly conscious, I heard my adoptive father and Lord Glen talking.

“...Chelsea should stay here at the manor for a while to recover.”

“You’re right. Even if her fever broke, a carriage ride would probably be too hard on her right now. She needs to rest.”

“Your Highness, please, go ahead and return to the palace first.”

Lord Glen is going to go back first?

“...But I made a promise to Chelsea.”

“Then you can forget that promise. Her family will protect her.”

Would he forgo our promise?

“I can’t just forget it without getting her permission first...” Lord Glen said, dropping his tone.

“Your Highness, as I told you before, you will eventually come to a point where you cannot protect Chelsea anymore. Please, give her back to her family before then.”

Before I realized it, I was in tears, begging, “...No... Don’t leave me...”

“I’m not leaving you. Everything’s okay,” he murmured, softly patting me on the head.

His words relaxed me, and soon after, I’d fallen back into a deep sleep.