Chapter 4: Sandwiches and Lord Aroo
Chapter 4: Sandwiches and Lord Aroo
“GENTLEMEN! Lunch is reeeaaady!!”
The group of men, all gripping their construction tools, turned toward us when the maid at my side called out to them.
“Oh, is it that late already?”
“I wonder what they’re bringin’ us today?”
“I can’t wait!”
“That herb chicken last time was so good!”
“My favorite was the baked seafood.”
The workers gathered around us, chatting among themselves.
As laborers, many among their numbers were beastfolk. I could see the dog ears and cat ears on some of the construction workers’ heads. Their clothes were covered in sawdust and sand from working on the dog park. Since it would only add to their burden to have to clean up before entering the dining room, we instead brought a table and chairs outside for their lunch.
The men always worked up a tremendous appetite after spending the day hard on the job. While my villa employed almost more staff than we needed, the chefs had been particularly busy at lunchtime over the past few days. Gilbert did seem quite occupied, but he also seemed happy to have a chance to show off his skills in the kitchen.
They say hunger is the best sauce, and indeed, the hardworking laborers always eagerly devoured their lunches. The chefs were pleased to see this.
“All right, and today’s wonderful lunch is…”
The head carpenter, Carter, cocked his head when he saw the table.
“Is this bread…?”
“Yes. It’s called a sandwich.”
“Huh. Can we eat these with our hands?”
“Please pick them up and bite into them.”
“Sounds great! That makes ’em easy to eat.”
Carter grabbed a sandwich.
The term sandwich came from an earl who once lived in England back on Earth. It was said that the ever-busy Earl of Sandwich preferred them for how quick they were to eat while also keeping his hands clean, and that was how the name became popularized.
The workers only had so much time for their lunch break, so they seemed to appreciate the simple meal, which took no extra steps for them to eat.
“Guess I’ll start with this, then.”
Carter’s sandwich was cut into rectangles, without any crust, and with a light layer of butter. The other workers seemed to find the sandwiches a bit strange, but once I explained how to eat them and what ingredients they contained, each man picked up one of his own. They appeared to have their own preferences as I watched them choose among the four different flavors.
“It’s really good! It’s got leafy vegetables, bacon, and tomato in it! I like how you can taste the whole thing in one bite!”
Crunchy bacon, crisp lettuce, and ripe tomatoes were always a sure winner. The workers also seemed to find the red and green colors peeking out of the bread to have an appetizing look to them.
“This one’s got herbs and cheese in it. It’s definitely my favorite.”
“I like the sausage one!”
They stuffed their cheeks and gave me their rave reviews.
When the men had first come to the villa, they were shy around me, but after I told them I wanted to plan lunch menus around their preferences, they agreed to share their opinions.
Gilbert and the chefs made each lunch based on my suggested recipes. The construction workers were often served dishes entirely new to this world, and many of them seemed to look forward to the unusual food. They were always eager to see what lunch their break from the day’s demanding labor would bring.
This time, they were served four different kinds of sandwiches.
There was the leafy green, bacon, and tomato combination. Another had herb-seasoned scrambled eggs and cheese. One kind was made from thin-sliced sausage and sauerkraut, the inspiration for which I took from my lunch at Lady Kate’s villa. Finally, there was a dessert sandwich made from strawberry jam and cream.
The construction workers seemed to prefer the bacon and sausage sandwiches the most. I imagined the meat and salt were healthy for the men who spent so much time sweating under the early summer sun.
As I made a mental note to include more meat in their next sandwiches, one of the younger workers called out to my maid at the table.
“Hey, Miss Anna, how about having a chat with me when I’m off the clock?”
“I’m sorry, but I’ll be working late…”
“Damn, that’s a shame. I thought today was finally gonna be the day!”
Hanz was a young but skilled craftsman. He wasn’t particularly lacking in looks either. Whether those facts bolstered his confidence or perhaps because he was just a natural flirt, he never missed an opportunity to hit on a maid during lunch. I chose not to give him a particularly harsh scolding, as he always backed off after being rejected, but I was still surprised to see such determination every single day.
“Hanz, you’ve worked well today, but could you please keep the flirting with my maids to a minimum?”
“Your Majesty! You look as lovely as ever. How’s your day going?”
My casual warning didn’t deter Hanz whatsoever. It appeared he was something of a lady’s man by nature. Of course, he wasn’t exactly hitting on me, the queen, but he didn’t seem to fear the idea of using flattery on me. However—
“E-Eeek!!”
Hanz’s face went stiff.
What’s the matter?
I followed his eyes past my own position to the space behind me.
“A-A wolf?!”
“Lord Aroo?!”
Lord Aroo approached my side, his silver fur gleaming under the sunlight.
I wasn’t sure why exactly, but he seemed a bit on edge. He was practically glaring at Hanz.
“Your Majesty, what’s with the wolf?!”
“Don’t worry. The wolfkeepers care for this particular one.”
“The wolfkeepers, really…?! I’ve never seen one of theirs before…!”
Hanz was completely fixated on Lord Aroo.
I was a bit amused to see his childlike fascination with the animal.
Many people of this kingdom held great respect for the pack raised by the wolfkeepers. Even Hanz, the flirt, was much more interested in Lord Aroo than he was in Anna or me.
“Your Majesty, that’s incredible! Even the wolfkeepers’ wolves love y— Wah!!”
Lord Aroo was sniffing Hanz’s hand. He seemed to be interested in the scent of his sandwich.
Does he want to try one?
It was unusual to see Lord Aroo showing any interest in food.
…I’d seen Edgar give the wolves dried meat as a snack before. The animals seemed to love those treats, with the one exception of Lord Aroo, who didn’t care for them.
“I’m not some simple wolf. I can’t be bought with meat.”
I could read that attitude from his calm demeanor. But this was the first time I ever saw him directly approach any food for himself.
“Oh, he’s going to eat it.”
Lord Aroo stretched his head up to the table and very precisely picked up one of the sandwiches set aside as seconds for the workers. I wasn’t sure if he knew those were the unclaimed ones, but if he did, it was a clever deduction for an animal.
Lord Aroo had chosen an herb scrambled-egg-and-cheese sandwich.
I was pretty sure there weren’t any ingredients like onions that could be toxic to wolves and dogs. I had made these sandwiches personally, as the chefs were busy enough already.
Bite by bite, Lord Aroo swiftly devoured the sandwich held between his teeth. His green eyes slimmed as he chewed on it, just like a human taking in the flavor of their meal.
Gradually, the sandwich disappeared from his mouth until he’d swallowed it entirely.
“Aroooo!”
“…You want more?”
Lord Aroo looked at me, then back to the table again. He was demanding seconds.
What should I do?
Lord Aroo had already finished half a sandwich in no time at all. It felt like a bad idea to give him another one on top of that. I was hesitant to give him more without the permission of the wolfkeepers.
As I tried to come up with a plan, still with Lord Aroo’s pressure on me, I heard footsteps coming from behind.
“Pfft! Ahaha… Good grief. What are you doing…?”
It was Lord Melvin, King Glenreed’s trusted aide.
His light-blue eyes narrowed as he chuckled to himself.
Maybe something about the way Lord Aroo had me flustered was funny.
“No, Your Majesty, I’m not laughing at you.”
I was taken aback for a moment when I heard him express the words in my mind. The young man’s clever deduction skills were perfectly suited for his position with the king.
“The only thing I’m laughing at is that wolf, Lord Aroo. He always acts so proud around humans. I just found it amusing to see him in that state just now.”
Lord Melvin took a swift step backward.
He seemed to be putting distance between himself and the grumbling wolf.
“You always know a lot when it comes to Lord Aroo.”
“Well, we’ve been together for quite some time.”
“Is that so…?”
In that case…
I decided to question him about something on my mind.
“Lord Melvin, do you know where Lord Aroo’s parents or siblings are now?”
Edgar had told me the story of the time a silver wolf with blue-green eyes, just like Lord Aroo, saved him as a child. I wanted to know if Lord Aroo himself held any clues that could lead to that same wolf.
“I’m unable to answer that question, unfortunately.”
“…I see.”
I wonder what happened in Lord Aroo’s life?
I wanted to know about his past and his family, but it didn’t seem like that would be an easy task.
Lord Melvin kept a pleasant smile on his face, but something about it reminded me of the smiles from Lady I-Liena or my oldest brother. It was simultaneously a sword and a shield, painting him as a complicated person on the inside.
“What brings you to my villa today, Lord Melvin?” I asked.
“I’ve come to deliver a letter of invitation to join His Majesty tomorrow evening.”
“Oh, why, thank you. I’m sorry you had to personally travel all this way.”
“It’s no trouble. His Majesty is the one who sent you to live here, but that’s not my only reason for coming. I just happened to hear from the wolfkeepers that Lord Aroo was visiting you today. I thought I might come see him, as it’s been some time since we were last together.”
“I see…”
I followed his line of sight to Lord Aroo.
The wolf was sitting with his back to us now, looking strangely embarrassed or shy. His ears were perked up and twitching. I imagined him listening to our conversation from behind.
“Lord Aroo can be a bit unfriendly at times,” I said, “but he’s still a cute, kindhearted creature.”
“…Cute…”
I wasn’t sure if I was imagining it, but it looked like Lord Melvin was desperately trying to stifle a laugh as he repeated my description.
“Yes, he’s cute. He gets very close to me so I can pet that wonderful fur of h— Kyah!!”
“Don’t you dare say another word!!”
Lord Aroo charged headfirst into my body. It didn’t hurt, perhaps because he was holding back. If anything, his soft fur made for a nice sensation.
“Hehe. He sure seems to like you.”
“You think so?”
“Lord Aroo would never let anyone he didn’t like get close to him.”
I almost broke out into a smile when I heard that. Lord Aroo was temperamental, but it made me very happy to think he may have opened his heart up to me a little.
Lord Aroo seemed to notice what I was thinking. He lifted his head to look up at me.
“Lord Melvin, would you mind asking Moore or one of the other wolfkeepers if it’s all right to feed sandwiches to the wolves?”
“Of course. On that note, would you mind bringing some of them with you when you visit His Majesty tomorrow evening?”
“His Majesty?”
I didn’t exactly expect that request.
I knew the sandwiches were of excellent quality in terms of flavor, but was it really okay to serve the same food to both the construction workers and the highest authority in the whole kingdom?
Lord Melvin, as wise as always, seemed to understand my concern right away.
“Fear not. His Majesty isn’t concerned with such details. Should he be displeased, feel free to inform him that I was the one who suggested it.”
“…I’ll do my best to bring him sandwiches he’ll enjoy.”
I needed to make the greatest sandwiches I was capable of.
I had no intention of slacking in the first place, but Lord Melvin’s request only made it all the more important. His words were kind and sincere. That didn’t change the pressure they put on me, however.
While I didn’t fully understand his intentions, I could tell he was a crafty man indeed.
◇ ◇ ◇
“…I could crawl into a hole right now…”
Glenreed muttered to himself in his palace bedroom, his brow pressed into his hands.
He couldn’t hold his head up high when he thought about his shameful display back at Laetitia’s villa.
Glenreed had managed to finish up his morning work earlier than expected. With nothing else to do until lunch, he decided to observe Laetitia at her home. However…
“I was just as surprised to see you take such an interest in the food, Your Majesty.”
“……”
He couldn’t even deny Melvin’s amused comment.
It was true that Glenreed was hungry, having not yet eaten lunch. But nothing ever truly stirred the king’s appetite. Despite the increase in instinctual urges while he was in his wolf form, Glenreed had never once been beaten by hunger.
It all started when he saw Laetitia speaking with a young man earlier.
He hadn’t planned it, but Glenreed ended up physically putting himself between the two. The wolf took in their conversation as he felt himself being drawn to those sandwiches. His special nose had picked up that they were made by Laetitia.
For the time being, he decided to accept the fact that he was fascinated by her cooking. But his human sense of pride couldn’t let go of the shameful way he gobbled down that sandwich earlier.
“…I should dig a hole to crawl into.”
“That should be simple enough in your wolf form. Would you like my help?”
“…Commendable. You want to help dig your own grave, huh?”
“Wait, Your Majesty, you intend to bury me too?”
“You witnessed how I acted back there, right? You’re coming with me.”
Glenreed’s face was completely serious.
“How violent, dragging me down with you to hide the evidence. Have you become a tyrant while I wasn’t looking?”
Melvin simply smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
◇ ◇ ◇
IT was the next day after I fed Lord Aroo that sandwich.
I spent most of the day in the kitchen in preparation for His Majesty’s dinner. Gilbert and the other chefs came to my aide as well. In the end, we managed to put it all together just in time. I thanked the chefs, and with my heart racing in my chest, it was time to head to the main castle to present my creations to the king.
Fon gave me a little squawk to cheer me on as I boarded the carriage. It was much appreciated.
“Good evening, Your Majesty. It’s an honor to be chosen to serve you dinner this evening.”
“It’s nothing so formal. I know you didn’t exactly have a choice either.”
The two of us exchanged greetings from across the dining table.
Gilbert and Lucian stood at my back. The king was already acquainted with both of them.
Once we were seated, Gilbert removed the lid from the serving tray.
“Is this what you call a ‘sandwich’? The shape is a bit different from what I’d heard.”
“I modified them slightly so that they wouldn’t fall apart on my way here.”
These sandwiches were square and bite-size. They formed a layer on top of the tray. Each sandwich had a small, decorated skewer in the middle to prevent the bread and fillings from separating.
I traveled by carriage from my villa to the castle. Changing the construction method was necessary to ensure they stayed together with all the motion, and I recalled the colorful toothpicks used in lunchboxes in my past life. I knew if I secured the sandwiches with skewers, they wouldn’t fall apart so easily.
“I see. They do seem to hold their shape nicely, even when brought from a distance.”
“Indeed. It appeared to work out well. Please remove the skewers before you eat them.”
“All right, I’ll try one now. Is this a…wolf?”
His Majesty was staring at the very top of the skewer.
The metal skewers were made with my transmutation spell. The top of each was decorated with more thin metal in the shape of a wolf.
“The wolfkeepers have been allowing me to play with their wolves at my villa, and as this land’s king, Your Majesty is in charge of the wolfkeepers. I wanted to thank you for allowing me to interact with those adorable animals, so I came up with these decorations.”
“Wolves, huh… You really enjoy them, don’t you?”
“I do. They’re smart, cute, and very calming to pet, like all the worries get washed away from my heart.”
They’re fluffy and adorable! I love them so much!
I couldn’t voice the excited thoughts in my head, so I gave a more proper description instead.
It’s important to sugarcoat such intense emotions at times.
“…Calming? Even though you always sing those weird songs…?”
His Majesty’s lips were moving, but his voice was too quiet to make out.
“What was that?”
“Nothing. I just thought it was nice craftsmanship. Did you make them yourself?”
“I used transmutation to create them, so they won’t last very long, but they should make it through the day, at least.”
The king nodded, removed the skewer, then bit into the sandwich.
His first selection was filled with thinly sliced herb-roasted chicken thigh.
I felt like I could see his face unstiffen a bit as he chewed.
He seemed to be enjoying it. His Majesty reached for the next sandwich and then the next, trying all nine sandwich bites in all.
“How are they, Your Majesty? Each one has different ingredients. Do you have a personal favorite so far?”
“Hmm… Probably the herb chicken one I tried first, and the sausage kind too. Those were particularly delicious.”
That’s a relief.
Not only did he call them “delicious,” but his selection made me happy as well.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. Would you say you enjoy chicken and pork in particular?”
“Enjoy them…?” He hung his head a bit, trailing off his words. “I’ve never really thought about it before, but I guess maybe I do prefer chicken and pork to things like fish and beef.”
Hmm. Is he trying to figure out what it means to “enjoy” something?
King Glenreed had already told me he didn’t have much interest in food, but that indifference appeared to run much deeper than I first thought.
“Very well. Your Majesty, shall I bring you chicken and pork meals during my visits to the castle from now on?”
“…Why are you asking?”
“I’d like to thank you for gifting me my villa.”
Simply saying I wanted him to take an interest in food would have no point in our current relationship. Though His Majesty might see it as an unnecessary burden, I truly wanted him to discover meals he enjoyed.
Some people believed that half the joy in life was the act of eating in itself.
His Majesty, who took to the throne at such a young age and probably had many concerns in life, could only benefit from enjoying his three meals a day instead of seeing them as obligation.
The image of Lord Aroo devouring that sandwich yesterday flashed in my mind.
The usually grumpy wolf had genuinely seemed to be excited about his snack.
Perhaps it was a disrespectful comparison, but I wished His Majesty could enjoy meals just like Lord Aroo did. If I could have a hand in it, then all the better.
“What do you say? If it displeases you, you mustn’t hesitate to tell me.”
Am I really just getting in the way?
Nervous, I asked him directly, but…
“It doesn’t displease me.”
His response was immediate and absolute.
“If it’s all right with you, I’d like you to bring more of your cooking next time too. I know almost nothing about food, so I probably can’t give you the reactions you’ll be looking for. Does that still sound suitable?”
“Yes, that’s perfectly fine.”
His Majesty held no interest in food. It may be difficult to change his long practice of viewing the act of eating as anything more than an obligation. But if I could share the joys of food with him, even just to a small extent, that would be rewarding in itself.
Fortunately, I had a lot of free time and a kitchen full of chefs on my side.
Though I couldn’t aid the kingdom as its queen or show His Majesty a spouse’s love, I still wanted to be of help to him.
What meal should I present to him next?
He enjoyed today’s sandwiches, particularly the herb chicken and sausage varieties. If I went with chicken or sausage next time, what should I serve it with? What could I make that he would find to be delicious?
I was half nervous, half excited. With my mind working in full swing, I suddenly came back to my senses. It was plenty fun to think about cooking, but that was a problem for the future.
I wasn’t visiting His Majesty just for dinner tonight. His praise for my sandwiches had been such a happy distraction, I nearly forgot all the things I wanted to ask him about. I needed to be quick with my questions too. I didn’t want to keep the busy king occupied for so long.
“Your Majesty, now that you’ve finished your meal, might I speak with you regarding a few matters?”
“Is this about Kate and I-Liena? I heard they invited you for lunch and served you something outright parching.”
“…You already knew about that?”
Parching.
He was referring to the salty meal that made its way onto Lady Kate’s table.
Lady I-Liena and I had agreed to keep the matter to ourselves so as not to worsen the situation.
I couldn’t imagine Lady Kate would expose the details of her family drama to anyone on the outside, but somehow, the information had made its way to His Majesty.
Was the king’s information network truly that capable? Or was Lady Kate sloppy in her cover-up attempt…?
I could only guess, but I had my suspicions that both factors were at play.
“Do you have any theories as to the culprit, Your Majesty?”
“Oh, I’m sure it was Kate’s half sister, Sienna. I’ve met her before and sensed a certain threatening aura in her words.”
“…You’ve spoken to Lady Sienna directly?”
I racked my brain for a moment.
I’d already heard that Lady Kate hated Lady Sienna and was always on guard around her. She was particularly worried about King Glenreed taking a liking to her half sister and the threat that would pose to Lady Kate’s own position as a candidate. For that reason, she did her best to prevent interactions between her sister and the king.
“I was invited to a ball where the two of us exchanged words in passing.”
“I see. May I ask, how did Lady Kate react to that?”
“As soon as she saw me speaking to Sienna, she made her way between the two of us with her tail all puffed up.”
Lady Kate, the fur of her tail standing on end, making a beeline toward her half sister.
It was easy to imagine.
“So you only had a brief time to speak with Lady Sienna?”
“That’s right. It was a short interaction, but it was more than enough to understand what kind of person she is.”
I knew that Lady Sienna liked to put on an innocent act, but it turned out that His Majesty had a nose for this kind of thing too. It made sense that the man on the Wolfvartian throne would have keen senses.
Since I was a woman and a fellow noble, Lady Sienna’s act was obvious to me, but perhaps she was able to fool her fair share of others. Some also seemed to be drawn to her outwardly composed personality in contrast to that of her emotional half sister.
“Laetitia, what was your read on Sienna’s character?”
“An elegant, gentle young lady…is what she appears to be trying to present to the world. However, she seemed shortsighted in my eyes. I found her to be temperamental and something of a schemer.”
“That’s how I saw her too. Sienna tries to act mature, but she’s no more than a kitten in reality.”
“A kitten…? Even kittens have claws, don’t they? I intend to be careful around her in the future.”
“See to it that you do. …I wish Kate was as vigilant as you are.”
His Majesty glanced away from me, looking off toward the east. I wondered if he was thinking about Kate and her sister.
“There’s something else I’d like to ask, Your Majesty.” My next question was a bit intrusive, but I decided to ask it anyway. “Have you already made your decision about who will replace me as queen when I return home?”
My title came with a time limit. I would only be the figurehead queen for two years. I needed to find out who he was going to select next.
“Now that Natalie is essentially out of the running, Kate’s family probably offers the most political power,” he replied matter-of-factly.
“…However, it sounds like you’re not thinking about it from that perspective?”
“Who knows? But I’m sure you see what I do. Does Kate really have the right character to become queen?”
“…Yes, I believe we’re on the same page in that regard.”
We didn’t speak it directly, but His Majesty definitely understood.
Lady Kate’s temperament was hardly suitable for a noblewoman, much less a queen.
“It would be difficult to select either Lady Kate or Lady Natalie. That leaves Lady I-Liena, right?”
But in truth, there was a fourth candidate.
The woman who lived in the southern villa; however, there was little chance she would be selected as the next queen. Her family held little authority, and there were other reasons that made Lady I-Liena the more likely choice of the two.
In the northern region of the country, her homeland had such heavy snow that it often made interaction with other regions impossible. I’d heard that the unity within her region, however, was strong. The relationship between beastfolk and humans was said to be relatively stable too.
Her family didn’t have as much influence as Lady Kate’s, but from what I could tell, Lady I-Liena’s personality was much more fit for the title of queen.
“I-Liena… By process of elimination, she would be the one, if it weren’t for her lies.”
“Her lies?”
What on earth was she being untruthful about?
Despite my curiosity, His Majesty didn’t seem interested in sharing the details with me.
“I won’t condemn her for it, but you should be careful. Lies are spoken out of a desire to deceive, after all.”
“…Thank you for the warning.”
Lady I-Liena was a liar, but His Majesty didn’t seem to think badly of her for it.
I couldn’t think of what he was specifically referring to, though I decided to stay on guard anyway.
But if I did learn one thing, it was the perceptiveness of the clever king for his ability to see through Lady I-Liena.
◇ ◇ ◇
AFTER receiving His Majesty’s warning, Lord Melvin escorted me to the carriage.
“Lord Melvin, thank you very much for today.”
“…I’m not sure I’ve done anything deserving of thanks?”
Lord Melvin cocked his head.
Is he just acting?
I decided to simply offer my explanation and gratitude.
“You’re the one who suggested I present the sandwiches to His Majesty. Thanks to you, I was able to learn some of his food preferences.”
I believed that Lord Melvin had suspected His Majesty would enjoy the sandwiches and recommended them intentionally. He’d seen them for the first time in his life yesterday, which is why I found the recommendation strange at first, but it made sense if he was nudging me toward finding out what the king liked.
Lord Melvin had noticed how the sandwiches contained all sorts of different ingredients and quickly figured out how to make use of them.
The man smiled when I expressed my respect and gratitude.
“I understand how you could see it that way. However, it was your own character and wit that allowed you to take advantage of the situation, Your Majesty. I don’t believe I deserve your thanks.”
Lord Melvin’s response was both fluent and evasive.
On his face was a beautiful, unreadable smile.
◇ ◇ ◇
GLENREED was seated in a chair in his office, staring off into space.
“You’re very observant, Your Highness. You have sharp instincts.”
He was picturing how Laetitia looked when she gave him that respectful gaze. She was a wise woman, and her praise certainly wasn’t troubling to receive, but the lack of annoyance he felt actually made him a bit uncomfortable.
“I’m not nearly so impressive…,” Glenreed murmured to himself.
It wasn’t self-depreciation or humility. He believed these words to be the truth.
He saw through Sienna’s act after only a brief encounter.
He caught on to the “lies” told by the refined I-Liena.
Those may be praiseworthy observations, but the king had different reasons for making them: he only noticed any of those things because of his unique sense of smell.
I’m not observant or perceptive. I just have a good nose…
Glenreed possessed the ability to transform into a wolf spirit—the creature that founded the royal family generations ago. Including his transformation powers, he possessed other unique abilities as well, including a special sense of smell.
Glenreed took in the air of the room as a reminder of that nose of his. The room had its own natural smell, but something different was mixed in the air. It came from the basket of sandwiches Laetitia had left him as a gift.
“That scent is as strange as ever…”
It was something he’d never smelled before meeting her. It wasn’t her perfume or the natural smell of her body. Glenreed didn’t understand it himself, but it didn’t seem to have a physical source of its own.
It was formless.
Glenreed’s nose could detect a note of something deeper. A person’s heart, or will—or perhaps even their soul. It was a strange sensation, but it was similar to the normal things he could pick up with his nose, which is why he referred to it as a “scent.”
The royal family Glenreed was born into occasionally produced those capable of transforming into wolf form. It was mainly kings who received this gift, particularly those whose reigns were prosperous for Wolfvarte.
Maybe that’s the most obvious outcome of such a power…
It didn’t matter how much effort a person put into disguising their words and expressions. He had the absurd power to discover lies and true personalities all through their “scent.”
His nose wasn’t all-powerful, however, and some untruths made their way past him unnoticed. On the other hand, the power of “scents” in revealing a lie or betrayal never proved to be misleading.
It was an incredibly useful power for the royal family.
Glenreed in particular, having taken to the throne so young, was particularly lucky to have that nose. As the man in charge of his kingdom’s fate, he didn’t hesitate to make use of those scents. However…
“It’s almost like cheating, in a way…”
Glenreed was born with his unique sense of smell. While he believed it was only natural to make use of his God-given talents, he still had some resignation in the back of his mind.
He felt guilty. He also still carried certain scars from his past.
My transformations help me, and they’re definitely a blessing, but they feel like a curse at the same time…
What would his life have been like if he wasn’t able to take the form of a wolf?
His relationship with his parents, the way he ruled after his father’s death—they all may have turned out different.
The fate of his older half brother, the wonderful person who had always looked after Glenreed, definitely would have been different.
That kind brother with red hair. He was gone from this world now.
Regrets, sadness, sentiments.
Glenreed believed he had sealed all those emotions away inside himself. But they were now bubbling up in the pit of his stomach.
Just as he was on the verge of being pulled into the abyss of depression by his past, a smell in the air tickled his nose.
This “scent” is…
His mind landed on that blonde hair and those amethyst eyes. They pulled Glenreed back into the present. Laetitia was already gone, but the traces of her scent, or whatever it was, still emanated from the sandwiches.
It seemed she made them personally instead of leaving them in the hands of her chefs. For that reason, they still held her essence even after she was gone.
“She made them herself, for me…”
His heart felt strangely relaxed after he said it out loud.
As he pondered this phenomenon, his nose caught a familiar smell approaching. Melvin was back from seeing off Laetitia. As soon as the man entered the office, his eyes were drawn toward the sandwiches.
“Are those a souvenir from Her Majesty? Don’t mind if I do—”
“Absolutely not.” Glenreed grabbed the basket before his aide’s hand could touch it. “I’m saving it for a midnight snack.”
“…Have you finally found yourself an appetite? It would certainly be a welcome change.”
“Don’t be disgraceful. And didn’t you already have enough during your so-called poison testing?”
It was hard to picture Laetitia ever poisoning his food, considering both her position and her personality. But a simple tasting was required for any food presented to Glenreed, just to guarantee absolute safety.
Melvin wasn’t usually in charge of that role, but just for today, he had nominated himself. He had already told Laetitia to prepare one extra serving of each food she brought to the castle. Before she met with the king, Melvin conducted a simple poison test by eating one of each sandwich.
“Are you sure you didn’t ask Laetitia to bring these just because you wanted to eat them?”
“Oh, most certainly not.”
Melvin smiled in a vague expression, but Glenreed’s nose didn’t lie.
Melvin was not being honest.
“I mean it. Perhaps it would be better to say that’s not the only reason.”
Glenreed sniffed the air.
…That didn’t appear to be a lie, but it didn’t smell like the full truth either.
The king’s nose couldn’t go any further than that.
“…Oh well. It doesn’t matter. These sandwiches are mine.”
Despite their many years together, Glenreed could not fully interpret the heart of his trusted aide. But either way, the king did have a basket of sandwiches all to himself now.
◇ ◇ ◇
“MM…”
I began to squirm in bed as morning sunlight filtered through my eyelids. I rubbed my eyes and attempted to sit up.
“…You’re sure heavy today…”
I looked around with drowsy eyes.
Lately, without fail, I would awake each morning to find Berry’s weight on top of my chest. The cat loved to eat. She would often sit on me to beg for breakfast, though strangely, she didn’t seem to be doing that today. I could see she was facing away from me.
I sensed a sorrow from Berry’s back as she stared at the strawberry plants…or at least, I thought so.
“Berry…”
“…Mew, mew…”
Her cry seemed somewhat sad and weak too.
The plants she was facing were picked clean of strawberries.
Spring had come and gone. The early days of summer were already upon us. Just like the strawberry patch outside the villa, these plants were bare, signaling the end of the season.
Berry’s Gardener Cat magic allowed her to grow and eat strawberries outside of spring, but there was a limit to the magic she could use in a day, meaning the harvest would see a steep drop off.
To Berry, who only had eyes for strawberries, it was a season of suffering.
“Don’t be sad, Berry. The jam I made should last for a while still.”
I leaned over to stroke her fur. Her round head was tiny enough to fit in the palm of my hand.
“Plus, yesterday’s final harvest is still in the kitchen. I’m going to make a lot of strawberry treats today to celebrate the end of the season.”
But Berry’s expression remained gloomy…or at least, it looked that way to me.
Worry for Berry lingered in my mind as I dressed myself and headed for the kitchen.
◇ ◇ ◇
A long day spent in the kitchen resulted in a line of food to present to Berry, her eyes absolutely sparkling.
“Mraw mraw mraw mraw mraw mraw!!”
Translation: “Am I in heaven?!”
…That seemed to just about sum it up.
Berry was brimming with excitement at the sight of all the strawberry treats.
Shortcake, strawberry chiffon, condensed milk drizzled over strawberries, strawberry cookies, strawberry jam sandwiches, and fragrant strawberry tarts with a cookie crust.
They were all sweets Gilbert, the chefs, and I succeeded in making over the course of this strawberry season.
I placed portions of each treat on Berry’s dish. Her eyes lit up and she leaped into action with her special fork. The cat’s tiny mouth sank into a bite of shortcake, with no concern for the whipped cream sticking to her whiskers.
“So cute…!!”
Lady Natalie squirmed with joy.
Both of us had identical grins.
Berry was always adorable, but the sight of her stuffing her cheeks with strawberry sweets was even more destructive to us. Watching her eat so gleefully made me happy as the maker of those treats.
With a smirk on my face, I dipped my fork into my own strawberry tart. The refreshing flavor of the sweet-and-sour fruit, the thick custard and cream—it all came together on a bed of cookie crust.
Lady Natalie ate her tart as well, her eyes happy and relaxed as she watched Berry.
I had invited her today because she seemed to love my strawberry cookies last time. I could tell she liked the tart too. She had a smile on her face as she took bite after bite.
“It’s both sweet and sour. How delicious! I see why Berry’s so taken with it…!”
“Hehe. Thank you for your kind words. I’m very glad you like it.”
“It’s all thanks to you, Your Majesty. It would have been such a waste to never try a strawberry because I was too scared to eat something that looked like a Demon Gem. Where did you learn about the concept of strawberry foods?”
“I once read a book that described the delicious taste. It piqued my curiosity, and when I happened to try one, they had a wonderful sour-sweet flavor. That made me want to use them in cooking.”
“Indeed. This flavor is the kind that takes hold of you the second you taste it.”
Something about Lady Natalie’s comment raised a sudden question in my mind.
Why exactly did I love strawberries?
The reason came from my past life, where I was a different person. Strawberries were “my” absolute favorite fruit back then. But where exactly did that come from? I tried to think back but couldn’t find the right memory at all. Being born and raised in Japan, maybe I just came to love strawberries somewhere along the way?
That sort of thing wasn’t uncommon, but it didn’t feel right, for some reason.
Later that day, when I was tucked into bed, I tried to recall those past-life memories, with no results. There was nothing left in my brain about the reason I fell in love with strawberries, nor about my past-life name. I felt like my name was spelled with two kanji characters and pronounced in three syllables, but I didn’t have any proof at all.
“Cappy… No, wait… No… Jiro…”
What appeared in my mind just before I drifted off was the image of my beloved dog Jiro, who I was never to meet again.
◇ ◇ ◇
“JIRO…”
The next day, I stroked the fur of a fluffy creature and murmured to myself.
Is Jiro still doing okay in that world?
He was a very old dog. I hoped he made it through the intense Japanese summer, but—
“Aroooo…?”
Lord Aroo gave an annoyed cry at my side. With a gasp, I looked over at the wolf.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I just spaced out for a moment.”
I scratched his neck softly as an apology. Apparently, Lord Aroo’s warmth had reminded me of Jiro, and I had called out the dog’s name without thinking.
Lord Aroo had recently begun letting me pet him more, but only when he was in the mood for it. I was focusing on this precious opportunity to stroke the creature when I suddenly recalled something.
Didn’t people sometimes say that Shiba Inu were the breed of dog most similar to wolves?
Thinking about it, they shared the same upright ear shape and cute yet noble kind of facial features. They did seem to resemble each other a bit.
I thought over the comparison, enjoying my fluffy petting time with Lord Aroo, when suddenly…
“Your Majesty!”
Lord Aroo’s ears perked up when he heard the flustered voice calling for me.
One of the maids who worked at my villa was hurrying my way.
“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”
“Lady Kate has just arrived!”
“Lady Kate? I wasn’t expecting her.”
“She seemed to be in a terrible rush.”
“…Understood. I’ll be right there.”
Why is Lady Kate here?
I didn’t exactly get it, but I decided to listen to her situation.
That was when I realized Lord Aroo was no longer at my side.
He was standing a bit further away from me, his ears perked up to listen to what the humans were discussing. Lord Aroo never let me continue petting him whenever other people showed up. Perhaps he was actually shy on the inside. Or at least, wary of others.
“Until next time, Lord Aroo. I have to go home for today.”
“Aroooo…”
“…Lord Aroo?”
I tried to leave for the villa, but the wolf stayed by my side.
“What’s wrong? You want to go inside?”
“Graaawh!”
It appeared to be an affirmation.
“…Don’t tell me you’re thinking of sneaking into the kitchen to steal a sandwi— Ow, ow, ow!!”
He rammed me with his head.
“You think I’m some kind of petty thief?!”
I could practically hear the angry denial.
“Okay, okay, sorry. I get it. Will you stay with me when we’re inside and behave yourself?”
“Grah!!”
I wasn’t exactly sure how much he understood of my order, but after I listed my demands, he seemed to be agreeing with me.
Lord Aroo was a wolf, sure, but was it possible he actually understood human speech?
I found it strange, but I had to head quickly to the villa.
Lady Kate and a man in a chef’s uniform were standing at the front door.
“Good afternoon, Lady Kate.”
“Your Majes— Eek!!”
Her tail stiffened and puffed up. I could see that it was indeed bent.
…What had her so on guard all of a sudden?
“Is something the matter?”
“What’s with that wolf?!”
“He’s one that the wolfkeepers take care of.”
“I-I know that!! But that’s not a normal wolf!! He’s so intimidating! It’s like speaking to Father or His Majesty…!!”
“There’s no need to be so afraid. Lord Aroo does look very intense, but he would never attack anyone. Isn’t that right?”
I called out to him for approval.
Apparently Lord Aroo actually was a strange wolf in the eyes of other people.
“This Wildcat’s pretty sharp,” his eyes seemed to say as he looked at Lady Kate.
“…Whatever. There’s something more important than that weird wolf right now.”
“Grrr…”
“Who’re you calling weird?!”
I soothed the grumpy Lord Aroo and led Lady Kate into the parlor.
She opened her mouth as soon as she sat down on the guest couch.
“Your Majesty, I came today to ask for a favor. Would you be so kind as to lend me the chefs from your villa for a few days? I’ll be sure to compensate them fairly, of course.”
“…May I ask why?”
“…! Of course…you’d be curious…”
She bit her lip, struggling to continue.
The silence continued.
I racked my brain for a while until I landed on something.
“…Is it for Manilla Day?”
“Wow, you know about that?! You weren’t even raised here!”
“But I’m the queen of this country. I’ve studied up accordingly.”
I was correct, apparently.
Manilla Day was an anniversary celebrated only in the eastern region of Wolfvarte, where Lady Kate came from. The east was a mountainous land with soil unfit to grow grain crops. But what made up for the poor soil was the rock salt known as “white gold” that could be harvested from the region.
The Manilla salt mine was known for its vast size and long history. The day of its discovery was said to be celebrated in the eastern region by serving loved ones well-salted meals.
Lady Kate wanted to observe those native customs at her villa. The holiday was ten days from now, so it was coming up fast.
“I’m sure your chefs are all very capable. What about them?”
“…They ran away.”
“Ran away?”
“…It’s all Sienna’s fault…!!” Enraged, she loudly gritted her teeth together. “I was planning to invite my father for Manilla Day this year. I wanted to prepare a lavish meal for him, as a display of my power as a candidate and to do my father proud as his daughter.”
“And Lady Sienna got in the way of that?”
“…I just know it was her. Why else would all my chefs resign right before the holiday? On top of that, they’re all leaving to work for people Sienna has connections with.”
“…I see. So why did you come to me for help?”
“Since you presented a wonderful dish at His Majesty’s birthday party, you must be employing the absolute best chefs, right? The man with me today is one of the few who agreed to stay behind. He knows your head chef, Gilbert, and had a lot of praise for his skills.”
The man behind Lady Kate bowed his head.
I was happy to hear the nice words for Gilbert, but there were certain risks that came with Lady Kate’s request.
So far, I hadn’t shown support for any one of the four candidates for queen.
I liked Lady Natalie and wanted to be friends with her. But our tea parties were also my way of settling the chiffon cake plagiarism matter. And she was essentially out of the running anyway, which made it easier for the two of us to grow close.
None of that applied to my relationship with Lady Kate.
The two of us shared nothing in common, and she was also the most likely woman to become the next queen. It was hard to lend her my chefs so easily. That would be the same as giving her my support.
“…Lady Kate, I’m sorry to hear about your chefs leaving, but I have to think about my own situation.”
“…I know. It’s not fair of me to ask you for this, is it…?”
Lady Kate still looked flustered as she spoke, apparently understanding that it would be difficult for me to come to her aid. On top of that, considering her personality and feelings toward humans, I imagined it was no easy task for her to request my help in the first place.
Yet she was drawn straight to my doorstep anyway.
I had a theory about why she was so desperate to obtain chefs.
“If your father isn’t satisfied with your Manilla Day preparations, is he going to remove you as a candidate?”
“…Yes, he will. He’ll be able to replace me with Sienna, I figure.”
Lady Kate squeezed her fists on top of her lap.
“I know I’m very emotional, and that’s not befitting of a noblewoman or a member of the royal family. I’ve tried to change, but it’s just so hard, and Sienna never lets me off the hook. She always says I’m not qualified to be a candidate. I think that’s why Father’s started to change his mind… If my meals are lacking on Manilla Day, he’ll think I can’t control my villa, and there’s no doubt he’ll remove me from my position.”
“…I see.”
I quickly thought through this conundrum when I heard Lady Kate’s confession.
It wasn’t uncommon in this kingdom for a queen candidate to later be substituted. Of course, it wasn’t a welcome practice, but there was still precedent.
Lady Sienna’s age and family should make her perfectly suitable as a replacement. That made the stakes of their power struggle all the higher. If Lady Kate’s father backed Lady Sienna, he would make up a reason for Lady Kate’s departure, such as illness, then take her back to her home region.
Even if Lady Sienna’s substitution resulted in a bit of confusion or weakening of her status, with her family’s power and connections, it wasn’t unreasonable to think she could become the next queen.
“…I wouldn’t welcome Lady Sienna as a candidate, but do you have any other means besides receiving my help? It may cost quite a sum of money, but could you hire a temporary group of chefs from somewhere else?”
“I tried that, but it wasn’t possible. I don’t have many friends in the capital city, and Sienna’s already made sure I can’t use any of my other connections. I could ask someone else, but then I’d be dragging them into my fight with Sienna, and I don’t want to do that…”
Yeah, it’s not going to be that easy, is it?
Without the proper time to gather a new team from scratch, she had no choice but to ask for my help.
I thought back to the oversalted dish served to us at Lady Kate’s villa. There was no doubt in my mind that Lady Sienna had controlled the kitchen workers in order to do that.
“Including the man behind you there, how many chefs stayed behind at your villa?”
“There’s seven in total. But I lost the ones who worked on my new meat dishes, and there’s no way the rest can learn to make the same ones in time. Plus, there will be ten guests coming for Manilla Day, including my father, so they may be too busy to work on extras…”
I see.
With her main chefs gone, she couldn’t supplement quality for quantity either. Most eastern families made more lavish salted meals than usual for Manilla Day, but among families like the duke’s, what was truly sought after was newly invented meals or a large number of dishes overall.
“……”
Lady Kate stared at me, her expression urgent.
I could easily turn her down, but…what was the best option here?
The main reason I revealed the chiffon cake plagiarism at His Majesty’s birthday party was because I had no other choice, due to how I was roped into it. Unlike then, I was now an outsider with multiple solutions, which made it all the more complicated.
I could reject Lady Kate’s request and stay neutral.
That was the easiest option for me. But I didn’t want Lady Sienna to become a candidate—for my own reasons, certainly, but there was an even bigger problem with her supporters.
Lurking behind the war between sisters was Lady Kate’s faction’s favorable treatment of humans and Lady Sienna’s faction’s distaste for us.
Lady Kate wasn’t the friendliest person toward me, a human, but it was comparatively better than a lot of beastfolk. Lady Sienna’s gentle approach, on the other hand, was countered by the occasional slip of her mask. On top of that, many of her supporters openly looked down on humans. I needed to prevent her from becoming a candidate, much less the next queen, if I wanted Wolfvarte’s relationship with my homeland to remain strong.
Of course, there was also the chance His Majesty wouldn’t allow for Lady Kate to be swapped out for her sister. But the more likely outcome, instead of earning the scorn of their duke father with a rejection, was to allow the sisters’ exchange as a favor to their family.
That would give the king the upper hand in his relationship with Lady Sienna. He may even be able to exercise full control over her and her family, though relying on such a tactic in the first place could backfire for him.
But…I can’t use that as an excuse to give too much support to Lady Kate.
As I looked up in thought and made eye contact with her, something came to mind.
“Lady Kate, can I ask you something?”
“…What is it?”
“Why do you so strongly desire your candidacy in the first place?”
It was natural for her, the daughter of a duke, to seek the title of queen. But I wanted to hear her true reason from her own mouth. Now that I was struggling with what to do, I needed to know what it was she wanted out of this.
“I…”
She hesitated.
Was it something she didn’t like sharing?
Maybe it was a way of besting her half sister, or perhaps she was interested in the fame that would come with the position. If it was something like that, then I probably needed to give her a firm rejection.
I waited for her answer, and she finally opened her mouth.
“…For the kingdom.”
Her face was red as she blurted out her answer.
“I’m sure you think that’s ridiculous, right?” she continued. “I know, I know!! I’m just some girl who can’t control her emotions, so how can someone like me speak of helping the kingdom?!”
“No, I wasn’t—”
“But what else can I do?! Sienna’s a schemer, Lady I-Liena’s true character is a mystery, and Lady Natalie was just a puppet!! None of them are fit to be the queen!! Nobles are supposed to work for their countries, right?! So what other choice is there but for me to work hard, grow, and become the queen?!”
Embarrassed, she turned away after her long-winded response. She seemed to think it was immature, an unsuitable opinion for someone like her.
“…Lady Kate, I think that’s wonderful.”
“What’s that?! Are you mocking me?!”
“No, I mean it. You could have lied and made up whatever would sound best, but you shared your true feelings, right?”
Even though she was bad at concealing her emotions, I was moved by her earnest passion for the kingdom. I also came to realize a few other important things.
“You want to be queen for the good of your kingdom. In other words, if a more suitable candidate appeared, you would give up your seat and support her endeavors?”
“…That’s right. Father has other motives, though…”
“You also said Lady Natalie was a puppet, in past tense. Does that mean you acknowledge how she’s changed?”
“Between the birthday party and the time you’ve spent with her, I do think she’s changed. She speaks her own words now.”
She’d noticed Lady Natalie’s transformation despite the fact that the two weren’t close.
Lady Kate’s emotions often made her careless, but perhaps she was more observant when it came to people than I had given her credit for.
“Would you step down from the contest if you felt that Lady Natalie or Lady I-Liena were suitable to be the next queen?”
“…That’s my plan. It’s just hypothetical for now, though…”
Lady Kate was hesitant, but she gave a firm nod.
I didn’t sense any lies in her words.
“…I understand. Thank you for letting me hear your feelings on the issue. Though it isn’t much, I think I may be able to help you a bit.”
“May I borrow Gilbert and the others?”
“No, that’s not possible. People would believe I was supporting you as a candidate. Also, there would be no point in serving my chefs’ meals to your father, would there?”
“That’s true, but…”
Lady Kate was becoming more and more disheartened. Her cat ears slumped downward.
“Please don’t be so upset. In exchange, I’d like to help make suggestions for new dishes to serve.”
“New dishes…?”
“Your chefs will be the one preparing the ingredients and cooking the food. I can’t guarantee it will be a success, and I need to consult with His Majesty first before implementing anything, but if you’ll still agree to it, I can provide a bit of assistance.”
“…Yes! Please…!!”
Lady Kate bowed her head deeply.
As I explained my thinking to the girl, Lord Aroo remained at my side, his ears perked straight up to listen to us.
◇ ◇ ◇
“I see. So that’s what all the fuss at Kate’s villa was about.”
King Glenreed nodded.
After Lady Kate came to visit my villa, I sent a request to speak with His Majesty that very day. Now, one day later, I was at the palace for an audience with the king.
His Majesty was a busy man, so I didn’t imagine I’d be able to see him so soon, but I was glad to meet with him today, considering the impending deadline of Manilla Day.
After explaining the situation to him, choosing how much to share with him directly, I asked for his opinion.
“If you were approached with the request to trade out Lady Kate for Lady Sienna as a candidate, would you agree to it?”
“Sure. I would. But I’ll bet you predicted that, right?”
“Yes. I believed that would be the most beneficial choice for you, Your Majesty.”
By allowing Lady Sienna to take Lady Kate’s place, the most powerful candidate would now be in debt to the king.
Even if Lady I-Liena ended up taking the crown instead, Lady Sienna’s powerful family wouldn’t be able to attack Lady I-Liena either, having received such a favor from His Majesty in the first place.
From King Glenreed’s perspective, having equally matched candidates in terms of power was the best way for him to control them, even though he wanted to avoid any serious conflict between them.
“Laetitia, I think the plan you came up with—developing a new menu instead of lending out your chefs—is the best one for you right now. That way, Kate will owe you without your having to get too close to her.”
“I appreciate your words. By the way, I already have one of my new creations here with me…”
Lucian, who was standing behind me, presented a dish to the king that had already been tested for poison. It was a gift for His Majesty as well as an opportunity to ask if it was appropriate for Manilla Day.
“…What an unusual presentation.”
I explained the details of the food to him, as well as how to make and eat it.
“I see. This might just fit well on a Manilla Day table. I’m no expert when it comes to taste, but as for the appearance and the way it’s eaten, I think the people of this kingdom might enjoy those unique traits.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. Do you believe I’ve overlooked anything or should be aware of anything in particular?”
“Not when it comes to the food, but…can I ask you to tell Kate a few things for me?”
“…Should I encourage her to request additional servants from you?”
“Exactly. As quick as ever, I see. I can’t step in to help Kate directly, as that would be favoritism, but that’s not the case if she submits a request first. Kate runs her villa, but the villa is part of the castle, of which I am the head. If she submits a complaint about a lack of staff, I’ll be able to temporarily dispatch more servants, at the very least.”
“I’m sure that would be a great help to her.”
An increase of servants.
I imagined that not even His Majesty could quickly assemble a group of top-grade chefs, but that didn’t mean it was completely hopeless.
It was possible that some of the remaining chefs at Lady Kate’s villa were controlled by Lady Sienna. I feared they could secretly alter the Manilla Day dishes just as had happened when I visited.
Without the proper number of chefs, it would be difficult for them to watch over each other to prevent any meddling. But if His Majesty ordered the newly dispatched servants to keep an eye out for anything suspicious, it would be an effective deterrent.
It seemed like a good thing to plan for, even if it never amounted to a real threat.
It was also a favorable exchange from His Majesty’s perspective too, I imagined.
Lady Kate would be in his debt once he supplied her with servants.
All that was left for her was to do a good job and protect her seat as a candidate. If she failed, the king could easily switch her out for Lady Sienna, who would instantly be indebted to him as well. Neither outcome seemed too problematic for him.
“That’s all I can do in this situation. The success of the plan is completely up to you and Kate now.”
In His Majesty’s words, I could swear I sensed something of a challenge.