Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut Volume 9 Chapter 2

Episode 2   Lisha Chapter - The Princess's Cooking Struggle Chronicle

–

Part 1

The morning of me, Lizsharte Atismata is usually late.

It's not like I'm indulging in indolence by misusing my authority as princess.

My night is late so my morning is also late. The situation is simply like that, it's an extremely natural affair.

I'll force myself to wake up if I have cla.s.s, but if it's rest day or holiday where there will be no cla.s.s, it's my custom to sleep until afternoon.

「Fuaaa……」

Inside the Academy's ground that is located at the first block of Fort City Cross Field.

I'm rubbing my eyes while yawning inside the Drag-Ride atelier there.

There is the smell of metal and oil. Countless disa.s.sembled parts and blueprints are scattered about. This is my workplace.

It seems that I fell asleep while still wearing my personal white gown that I am wearing above my uniform.

Lux doesn't come to wake me up because I told him that I won't be in the atelier today, and yet…

「Uu, my throat hurts……」

As expected, I shouldn't work until dawn.

But, well, once I got pa.s.sionate about what I'm doing, it's hard to stop midway.

It doesn't matter whether it's artisan or blacksmith, if they are someone with fixation, surely they will understand my feeling.

But──, today my condition is a bit terrible.

「……As expected, it will be bad if I caught a cold like this.」

It's troublesome but it can't be helped.

I dragged my languid body and head toward the nearby medical office of the Academy.

–

Part 2

「Ua, as expected this period of time is chilly……」

Outdoor at late autumn is cold on the skin, my shoulders are trembling.

Even though today is a holiday, several female students can be seen watering the flower bed at the courtyard.

「Good afternoon, Lisha-sama. Today is also cold isn't it?」

「Nn, good morning. I want to ask something, is our school's doctor coming?」

「The doctor……is it? Err, I greeted her when we pa.s.sed each other before this, so I think she might be here though──」

「I see, that helps. Thank you.」

After exchanging greeting with a junior which has subtly time difference from each other, I head toward the medical office in the school building.

When I'm standing in front of a mirror hanging on the wall midway, I saw my face.

Crimson eyes and honey blond hair that is tied into side tail.

And then, the pet.i.te body in uniform appearance.

This is me, the princess of this new kingdom, Lizsharte Atismata's appearance.

My face that is looking somewhat sleepy is a bit concerning but……right now it can't be helped.

「Is the doctor here? My throat is a bit painful so I want medicine.」

I knock on the door lightly and enter into the medical room.

The chalk white room that neatly tidied has the smell of flower and characteristic medicine.

「My, isn't this the princess. It's rare that you are visiting here isn't it?」

The exclusive female doctor of the Academy welcomes me with a smile.

She is still young for a doctor, and it seems among the students they are saying that she is quite the beauty.

「Ah……. The, then doctor, excuse me-!」

The student who was already inside rushed through beside me in a bit of panic out of the room.

Her behavior caught my attention a bit but, I put it out of my mind.

I sit down on the chair in front of the doctor and have her check my throat just in case.

「Even though the campus festival has been over just now, but there are already injured person. Everyone has it hard.」

「It's not injury. I'm only giving her a bit of counsel. The care of the student's heart is included in my work. ──Now, open your mouth?」

The doctor made a smile that is filled with implication and take a look inside my mouth.

It seems there isn't any particular problem with it. The examination is over with me receiving a bit of medicine.

「I think your throat is still fine. Just──it's not really good to stay up late you know? Your body's immunity system will also deteriorate doing that, you have a beautiful skin and hair there, it will be a waste to worsen them.」

「Right now I'm at the final scene of my development. Combined with the ancient doc.u.ments regarding Drag-Ride that has been newly deciphered, it will become possible to do something that no one has ever seen before. If that become reality, surely that guy will also be happy──」

「You said that guy, could you refer to Lux-kun there?」

「Hawah……!?」

The female doctor slipped out a chuckle seeing that she hit the bull's eye, agitating me.

Lux Arcadia.

He was once a prince of the old empire that imposed a despotic rule. Together with the establishment of the new kingdom, he was given the status of criminal that is burdened with the obligation as the ch.o.r.es prince. His nickname is the Weakest Undefeated.

I who was enchanted by his strength and will enrolled him into the Academy, where he was taken in as the only male student here.

「Pardon me. I heard the story a little. He too accepted your request and became your personal knight──how nice being young.」

「……I, if the examination is over, I'll go back now.」

I who become embarra.s.sed get up to escape, but,

「But, it's a waste. Even though you are putting in effort to obtain him after much trouble, you are mistaking your method──」

「……What do you mean?」

My foot comes to a stop still hearing her words. I turn around.

There, the doctor is looking at me with smile that is full of implication.

「About what I'm counseling that girl who was here just now you see, it's about her discord with a friend at the same grade. It seemed that because she was immersing herself into the necessary study too much, their relations.h.i.+p became estranged.」

「After all everything needs to be done in moderation.」

When I reply carelessly like that, the doctor urged me to sit down by quietly pointing at a chair beside her.

After I'm sitting down while tilting my head, she begin to continue her talk.

「You're right. Certainly that girl made a mistake with her moderation. But, the relations.h.i.+p between man and woman is even more complicated you know? Event the instructor of you all, Raigree Balheart too, she immersed herself too much in her Drag-Knight duty that she missed her chance of marriage──she has the past of her lover running away from her.」

「Wa, was that so……?」

This is the first time I hear this but, I'm also a bit surprised that this doctor know about it.

Speaking of Instructor Raigree, even though she is a woman, but she is an accomplished Drag-Knight even since the era of old empire, even now she is an object of envy for the students.

「I, it's unfortunate, but she had no luck with man huh.」

「You appointed him──Lux-kun as your personal knight, and I think that it's a really good thing. But, right now it looks like you are feeling content with that contract and putting your effort into a wrong direction.」

「…….Fuh」

I showed a wry smile at the gentle warning of the doctor and lift up my face.

「I don't hate that, trying to threaten me who even though I look this but I'm still a princess, what's more it's just for killing time. ──But, right now I'm busy. My Drag-Ride research is also for Lux's sake, and it will also be necessary for me to prepare for the battle in the future. I'm going back now.」

「Now, don't say that. Can you please listen a bit more? Giving advice to student is like an occupational disease for me. Of course, I don't intend to force you or anything though──how about it?

The doctor isn't even perturbed by my objection and continues with a mature way of talking.

It's not a problem to ignore her but, I'm also a bit curious to just turn her down like this.

「Let's hear it, just in case. Although it's of a different type, but I too am someone afflicted with occupational disease after all.」

「Thank you. Then, I'll speak frankly. You are doing a really great blunder. If you are thinking to make him yours as a woman, then this mistake of yours can even be called as fatal.」

「Wha-……!?」

Those words that are like a surprise attack fl.u.s.tered me.

My face that is reflected on the mirror at the wall is becoming bright red.

「You have an important position and a really rare talent even in this new kingdom. You are fighting as a member of this Academy's Syvalles and as a princess, you are also developing Drag-Ride, and soon you will also begin your public duty as a princess. What's more, you are performing them with your all. You are thinking that doing those will also be for his sake──but you see」

The doctor paused her words for the moment and brings her face closer to me.

「I think that your effort is wonderful but──in the end, human is animal, especially the creature called 『man』.」

「……What do you want to say?」

「It will be difficult to make him yours with your method, that's what I'm saying.」

The doctor a.s.serted that and smiled wryly.

「Man won't be charmed at woman even if you show them a n.o.ble objective or pursuing the ideal. Rather than those kinds of things, they will come to like woman by following a more instinctual emotion. That's why at this rate you will fail. Especially in your situation, there are a lot of formidable rivals around you correct?」

'There is no such thing.' I cannot say that.

Several things come to mind hearing her words.

Krulcifer whose push is excessively strong recently, Lux's childhood friend Philuffy who is clingy on him, Syvalles's captain Celis who use the campus festival as excuse to give Lux an indecent kiss.

And then recently even that ero woman is sticking close to Lux.

「It's wonderful that you are putting so much effort. But──your thinking that it will link to him recognizing you as 『woman』 is mistaken. Like that, to him you won't be nothing more but 『his lord as a knight』 or 『an able mechanic』.」

The doctor's words are tearing apart my chest.

Certainly, it's great that I made Lux as my personal knight, but it's not like my relations.h.i.+p with him at personal level is deepened because of that……, perhaps it's true.

「……I, I get it. Bu, but──what should I do then?」

Until now I'm spending a life that is mostly unrelated with man, so I don't really understand the way to make a boy the same age like Lux happy.

And so when I ask bluntly, the doctor gives me the answer.

「Let's see, to make a boy in your heart fall for you, first it's important to confirm your weapon.」

「My, weapon……?」

「Yes. Just like how everything has strength and weakness, first you need to be aware of your strong point, and then attacking using that. It's a solid method. ──And so, first can you take off that gown for me?」

The doctor is giving such instruction along with a smile.

Somehow this woman's mood is suddenly getting better, so I'm feeling somewhat uneasy, but there is no turning back after this far.

After I took off my white work gown, I'm getting stared from the top of my head until the tip of my toes with a gaze that is like licking all over my body.

After a while, it seems that the check of the 『weapon』 in my possession is finished.

「First I'll point out your weakness. To start with, that outfit is no good. Your bed hair is still remaining, and the smell of metal and oil drifting from you after tinkering with Drag-Ride for the whole night is also a minus.」

「Guah……!?」

My heart is mercilessly gouged out and I spontaneously groaned.

The, the things that I'm feeling complicated about…….

Those things can't be helped isn't it? If I'm picky about those, I won't be able to research or doing maintenance…….

「Before meeting with him, you should take a bath and wash off the smell. Then use a bit of perfume too. Also──you have a special status of being a princess, so wearing things like lovely clothes is also important.」

「I, I see……」

I almost don't have any other clothes than uniform. It's hard to say that.

After all, something like a timing to dress up won't come to me except when I'm back in the palace at the capital.

At that time I will just wear the dress that the maids prepared for me.

「……And, have you finished already with the talk that will depress me?」

「Yes, then next I'll give a follow up.」

The doctor smiles wryly seeing my resentful gaze to her, then she continues her talk.

「First your beautiful hair and eye color are really leaving an impression. Your slender and pet.i.te body is really feminine and lovely. Your b.r.e.a.s.t.s too are big for your built, if you make use of it well, boy won't be able to hold themselves back.」

「U, ah……」

Although she is of the same s.e.x, but it's still embarra.s.sing no matter what to get my face and body commented like that.

When I'm getting aware of the heat in my face, the grin of doctor who sees that is getting deeper.

「That embarra.s.sed expression is also really good. It's your strong point to be able to react naturally like that.」

「……The, then, it will be fine as long as I just watch my appearance in front of Lux?」

「No──that's still the half of it.」

「Eh……?」

The doctor brought her face closer with a suggestive smile.

「To establish a lead from your rivals, it's essential to fulfill the more instinctual desire of the boy further. I will specially instruct you in the specific method to do that now.」

「Ma, man's instinctual desire……you said?」

The bewitching expression of the female doctor that I'm seeing for the first time caused me to gulp.

A concrete plan to make man your prisoner.

I listen attentively to that method and promise to execute it.

–

Part 3

「Eerrrr. A boy's favorite food……is it?」

Ten-odd minutes later. I headed from the school building to the girl dormitory and visited the room where the Academy's famous trio──the Triad are gathering.

The silent first year student, Noct.

The boisterous second year student, Tillfur.

And then, the leader, the third year student Sharis. The members who composed the trio are the people who I first talked with.

──After that, I was taught 『the way to fulfill the instinctual desire of man』 from the doctor and decided to give it a try, in order to grasp Lux's heart.

–

『Boy's instinctual desire──that is appet.i.te for food. Boys at that age are always hungry. How is it, do you think that you will be able to do it?』

『O, of course! Even like this recently I'm also practicing cooking bit by bit. I've become more or less able to cook──』

I nodded strongly at the doctor's words and showed a smile.

But, the doctor smiled wryly with a bit of troubled looks while continuing her talk.

『That's really great. But, it's still not enough. Isn't there any other child who is more skilled than you in cooking?』

『Uu……』

Certainly that's true.

Although I'm secretly practicing somewhat, based from what I saw from the cooking at Ries Island, there is no way I'm a match against Krulcifer who was able to cook using the available stock at hand on the spot.

Or rather, I feel like I still cannot win even against Lux who has been doing odd jobs for long time.

『There is one important point in that. That boy's──favorite food, it's fine if you only practice that one. If you become able to cook at least his favorite food better than anyone, you will be able to overcome the wall of skill and experience.』

『……I see! Then I'll do that!』

After the strategy is decided, what's left is only to carry it out.

I who received the doctor's education quickly think to practice Lux's favorite food──and notice suddenly.

……Wait a second?

Thinking back, what is Lux's favorite food?

I who was aware of the fundamental lack of information first begin to investigate in order to learn it.

–

「Let's seeee. As expected if it's a boy, they will like meat more than vegetable won't they?」

After a short pause, Tillfur answered my question like that.

The answer is somewhat lacking but, my question is also ambiguous so it can't be helped.

It will be troubling if my tactic get seen through, so there is also no way I can say Lux's name.

「Hmm, meat dish……huh. How about you two?」

I'm taking memo with a small paper and a quill while trying to ask Sharis and Noct too.

「Unfortunately few of my relatives are male, so I don't happen to have an answer I'm confident with.」

Sharis smiled wryly like that awkwardly, while Noct nodded with her usual calm expression.

「Yes. I'm also the same……but, if I'm forced to say my personal impression, I a.s.sumed that there is no food that he particularly like or hate.」

「I see, it seems that the food he hate is few, huh……. Hm?」

While I'm taking memo, I tilted my head at Noct's way of talking that is a bit strange.

「……Wait a second, what's with your line. Do you know what I'm trying to do?」

「Eh? Lisha-sama, aren't you wis.h.i.+ng to make something for Lux-chi to eat?」

「Uah……!?」

Tillfur's sentence that she said with a serious face caused me to spontaneously feel fl.u.s.tered.

「Ho, how did you know that!? I still haven't ask until that detailed!?」

Sharis suddenly smiled at the question I spontaneously said.

「Princess Lisha. This might be an uncalled advice but, in this world, there are things that even though you don't notice it yourself but is obvious from a glance when seen from the outside.」

「No, it's not that exaggerated though. She is completely transparent already……」

「Yes. In the first place, even including the staffs there aren't that many male in this Academy.」

Well, doesn't matter.

If it's only these three who realize it, it shouldn't be that much of a problem.

In the end it seems that the three doesn't know about Lux's preference, so I begin my next investigation.

Perhaps it will be faster if I ask Lux directly, but I want to keep that as the last resort.

I want to practice while keeping it a secret as much as possible, and it will be also troubling if those around me notice.

After all I have to take the lead no matter what in the end.

「At the welcoming party that Princess Lisha opened at the beginning, it seemed that he was enjoying eating every food though. How about trying to observe him at that kind of time?」

「-……!? I see, there is also that way!」

I who get a flash of inspiration from Sharis's words decide my next strategy.

「That helps a lot, you three! Then, please don't mention anything about this to other!」

I told the Triad that before waiting for a chance.

–

Part 4

「Thank you for your hard work today, Lisha-sama.」

「Y, yeah……, it's good you came. Then, let's eat.」

「It's lonely that everyone isn't here today but, let's eat.」

At the lunch time the next day, by coincidence I obtain the chance of eating lunch together with Lux, just the two of us.

Normally Krulcifer, the childhood friend the airhead girl, so various other women will sit together with Lux, so it's fortunate that this situation immediately arrives on my lap.

We are sitting on the curb at the courtyard, eating the foods from the dining hall that are placed on a wooden tray.

Sandwich with olive oil and pepper, salty soup with chicken bones and vegetables, fresh baked bread, chicken grilled with herb, and a fourth of orange. And then tea, those are the menu for today.

The menu isn't that extravagant, but there is no doubt that this meal is quite balanced.

I don't really know what kind of food Lux had at the era of old empire, but at the very least he looks like he is really enjoying this lunch.

It doesn't seem like there is anything he doesn't really like, but conversely it's also difficult to understand what he likes.

「……Eh? Lisha-sama, is there something on my face?」

「Ah, no, it's nothing.」

I almost got misunderstood because I stared too much.

However, there is no way I can overlook Lux eating, so I keep stealing glances at him.

Even so, the cooking here is delicious.

I don't have the confidence of making something this delicious, but if I narrowed my training to focus only at Lux's favorite food, will I be able to manage somehow?

When I am staring hard at the side dish on the tray and Lux's mouth while thinking such thing, Lux suddenly directed his fork that got chicken meat stabbed on it toward me.

「Please. Lisha-sama.」

「Eh……?」

「You must be hungry aren't you? I'm still recovering from my injury, so I cannot eat that much.」

Seeing my perplexed face from suddenly getting addressed, Lux abruptly smiled and said such thing.

「Yo, you're wrong! It's not like I'm looking at your meal because I want some──it's……」

「It's okay to not act so reserved. Please eat.」

Overwhelmed by Lux who is showing a carefree smile, in the end I accepted the meat.

(Ho, how could this be……! Now it looks like I'm a glutton woman!)

I helplessly eat the roasted chicken even while feeling shocked.

The taste is nice, but most likely this isn't Lux's favorite food because he offered it to me like this.

「Is it delicious, Lisha-sama?」

「Ah, yeah……」

However, when I'm looking at Lux who looked somehow happy, I can even think that perhaps this isn't so bad.

「If possible, I want, you to continue feeding me like this though……」

「Eh……?」

Realizing the words that I unintentionally spoke, my face spontaneously turns red.

「I, it's nothing at all! The, then, I have work so bye!」

I quickly gulped the meat and leave from that place hurriedly.

–

Part 5

「Fuu, I failed……. But, just what in the world Lux's favorite food is?」

The cla.s.s is over already, it's after school.

I'm walking inside the school building once more while thinking that all this time.

Thinking that Lux might buy snack somewhere because I stole half of his chicken, I was watching Lux, but that guy was just continuing his ch.o.r.e works indifferently.

「No other way. This is an emergency measure but, I've got no choice other than searching for someone who seems like they know more……」

Thinking that, I searched around inside the school building, before finally I found that person's figure.

「……? Princess, what's your business?」

When I stand beside her chair, a female student look at me with an absentminded expression.

A daughter of a great financial conglomerate and the headmaster's little sister, Philuffy Aingram, the airheaded girl.

「There is something that I want to ask frankly, do you know Lux's favorite food?」

She is more or less Lux's childhood friend. If it's this girl, surely she knows one or two his favorite foods, no doubt about it.

I didn't really want to ask because it might cause my strategy to get exposed, but well, this girl looks like she is slow on the uptake in that kinda thing, so it will surely be all right. Maybe.

「Lu-chan, like hotcake or the like, you know?」

「I, is that so? That's unexpected……」

I who obtained answer right away feign calmness while taking memo hurriedly.

It's not like I don't feel that the answer is unexpected for a man, but perhaps it's unexpectedly might be so.

「Also, things like donut, or cookie, or pie or cake too──if I remember right.」

「……Wait a second!? Come to think of it, before this you tried to make Lux eat a stupidly huge pile of hotcakes right!? Isn't that just your favorite food!?」

I become suspicious of where this is going on and stop taking memo while asking.

「……That's so. But when I made them, Lu-chan will also be happy and eat them. So it's not wrong, I think.」

I sigh inside my heart and crush the memo I had just written in my grip.

I got the hunch that this one is a miss.

Surely they weren't something that Lux hate, but it's dangerous to just accept this airheaded girl's statement at face value.

「……Yosh. Now that it has come to this, I'll ask the most likely winner!」

I resolved myself, left behing the airheaded girl who is tilting her head, and headed toward a certain place.

–

Part 6

「Nii-san's favorite food? I also don't know though?」

「There is no way that's true! Never mind that just tell me!」

When I reflexively yelled, the students at the surrounding turned their gaze to glance here. The girl in front of me turns an exasperated fixed stare at me.

「Lisha-sama. This is a library, so can I please ask you to be a bit quieter?」

「I, I got it. More importantly what's the meaning of this? No matter what you should know about it, you're his little sister after all.」

Yes. I searched for Lux's little sister, the civil official prospect student──Airi Arcadia, and came until the library inside the Academy's ground.

As expected, if it's his little sister than she definitely know something like his favorite food. That was what I thought, but──.

「It's true. It's no use even if I lie or anything. It feels like Nii-san kept saying delicious for most food in general since the past. But, rather than awfully luxurious food, I think Nii-san will like homely normal food better perhaps?」

「……Is, that so?」

I'm troubled by the bland reply of the little sister.

「Yes. That's why, Lisha-sama doesn't need to ask anyone further about this.」

「Wha-……!? I, it's not like I'm asking around at everyone you know!?」

I who got my motive found out by the little sister ran away as though escaping.

However, what to do?

If even the little sister doesn't know, doesn't that mean Lux doesn't really have anything he like or hate?

If that's the case, as expected those who already has prior experience in cooking like Krulcifer will be in a completely advantageous position──.

「Is it as I thought, that this is hopeless for me……」

After that too I asked around at several more people indirectly, but I didn't get any good information.

–

Part 7

「──Yosh」

At the evening that day.

The time slot that has gone past the bath time where most of the students are sleeping.

I'm walking inside the quiet girl dormitory while following behind Lux's figure.

This method isn't really smart, but now that it has come to this, I can only ask Lux directly.

The truth is I want to practice cooking while keeping it a secret from Lux, but I have nowhere to go already.

And so, today I stop my daily Drag-Ride development and observed Lux's action.

「However, that guy is really doing any kind of request huh……. Even though the campus festival had just ended.」

According to Lux, for the present his body fatigue's is recovered, so he wants to do various works while he can.

The requests from the female students ranged from something proper like consultation of what armaments to choose for their Drag-Ride or skill coaching, until a tea party under the name of life consultation.

Furthermore there were also things like consultation of picking clothes which obviously troubled Lux who is a male.

Things like carrying teaching materials from the Academy, helping with cleaning, paperwork sorting.

In addition he was also made to help with many works from dormitory side like picking up trash, managing material, and so on.

「Fuu, the requests for today are mostly finished now……」

Lux who came out from the public bath muttered that with a relieved face.

As expected from someone who has continued doing life of ch.o.r.es for five years, his work ethic is admirable.

(I've got to go easy a bit on him when I make a request too……)

I'm thinking such thinking at the corner of my mind while resolving myself to talk to Lux, it was then──,

「Now then, I should start soon I guess.」

Lux is starting to walk with a fast pace. I stopped the voice that almost comes out from my mouth.

Strange.

Even though he had just said that he has finished working, from his walking pace Lux is obviously not heading toward his personal room in the dormitory that has been newly a.s.signed to him.

For a moment I was wondering if he is heading to the room of other woman, but unexpectedly his destination is the dining hall that is connected to the dormitory.

The time for dinner has finished a long time ago, the Academy's exclusive cooks has all left.

But, when I saw Lux opening the lock and entered inside the kitchen, it seems he has properly asked for permission.

(However, what is he going to do? Even though Lux has taken dinner already, and the requests for today should be finished──)

I too sneakily enter the dining hall so I don't get noticed and hide behind cover.

When I'm peeking at the situation with my heart pounding hard, Lux is lining up ingredients and taking a small pot into his hand.

He finely cut meat and onion, fry ingredients like mushroom with olive oil, add in some slight leftover soup, then he boil the pot further.

A nice scent is gradually drifting around. Even I gulp from smelling it.

Some time has pa.s.sed since dinner. Normally I won't be that interested with more meal, but the aroma of spices is stimulating my appet.i.te.

「It has been long time since I made it but, does it turn out well I wonder?」

Lux moved the content of the small pot onto a plate and begin eating.

He brought the spoon several times into his mouth to savor it slowly, and before long his expression burst into relieve.

「Yep. As I thought, my skill has decreased compared to when I was doing ch.o.r.es but──I think it will be all right if I practice a bit more.」

After nodding in acceptance of something like that, Lux washed the pot and begins to tidy up the place.

Before Lux is returning this way, I quickly exited the dining hall.

And then, I mutter with conviction.

「……Finally, I did it.」

I found it.

Lux was cooking alone late at night secretly from everyone and then eating it.

It's an action that is really unlike Lux, but exactly because of that there is no doubt about it.

That dish is exactly Lux's favorite food for sure.

It also fit with what his little sister said, 『a normal cooking that isn't extravagant』.

I withdraw for today with the memo of Lux's action and cooking procedure that I took as my prize.

And then, I consult my acquaintance about the cooking's name and the way to make it, and reproduce the menu.

It seems that it's a traditional stew cooking that has existed since the era of the old empire, so the cooking method isn't that difficult.

It will be standing out if the likes of me is practicing cooking with too much exaggeration, but at minimum I want to do better than Lux's own cooking.

(As I thought, here──I can only ask the master in the field.)

At holiday, I found an elderly cook who is taking out the trash and tried asking him resolutely.

「The trick to make brown stew you say? Ha-ha-ha. This work is really worth doing it huh, to be addressed directly by the princess like this.」

「Enough, just teach me! I don't have much time……after all I'm not good at cooking even at the best of times.」

I pressed the cook who is laughing in amus.e.m.e.nt and convey my intention to practice cooking.

After I remind him to not tell anyone about this matter, I persuade the cook, and during several days, I'm learning how to cook brown stew that originated from the old empire era.

Making the soup from zero is something difficult for amateur, so I took some from the cooking at the daytime beforehand.

Lux was doing various things at night, so I made it every day by making time in early morning.

Although at the start there were a lot of hards.h.i.+ps, my practice succeeded until the point where I can make one that is quite delicious.

「Oo, princess, your skill has improved. Now you can help out even at our dining hall without trouble. There is nothing that I need to teach you anymore.」

「Isn't my skill nothing great at all!? Are you making fun of me!?」

When I spontaneously retort like that at the dining call hook who is teaching me for a short while these days, the elderly man scratched his head with a troubled look.

「Oi oi, that's a misunderstanding. To improve the taste more than this will need more familiarity with the cooking in general and improving the skill in fine detail more. The Drag-Ride that princess and everyone else are riding is also like that right? Perhaps this too is a big matter for princess, but I'll get fired from my job by the guys above if I caused princess to even make light of this occupation.」

The elderly cook stroked his beard while saying that in wry smile.

Even I understood and accepted it after hearing that.

「……I see. I guess. I'm indebted to you, thanks.」

I accepted the cook's explanation and said my thanks before leaving.

Recently I was concentrating single-mindedly at cooking practice but, I also got a lot of things that I should od.

Here I should ask Lux to have a taste once without hesitating.

「Yos.h.!.+」

I fire up myself and prepare.

And then today, I'll make my challenge.

–

Part 8

「Lux. That──tonight, there is something that I want to talk with you for a bit, do you have time?」

The curfew has pa.s.sed, the dinner and bath time has also pa.s.sed──the night.

I went to where Lux is cleaning the dormitory's public bath and said that to him.

「I'm fine with that. There is still a few requests left, so it will be a bit late but──will it be in Drag-Ride's atelier again?」

「N, no. Tha, that's──I'm all right with the late time. I'm also doing my own work for a bit. But, I want us meeting in your room……」

「My room……, is it? I understand. Then, I will go back right away after I finished up.」

「Ah, yes……. Don't forget it.」

Lux looked puzzled for a moment, but he immediately pulled himself together and smiled. Seeing that, I feel uneasy wondering if he already knows.

I'm not good with lying at this kind of time if I say so myself, but it can't be helped.

I resolved myself and finished up my work in the atelier. I already locked the place earlier than the appointment time and headed toward the dining hall.

I have taken permission so I open the door's lock and head inside the kitchen.

I have asked for soup leftover at afternoon, so what's left is only to make it like usual.

But──at that time, I can see faint light from inside.

I tilt my head in puzzlement at this unexpected situation. There, a single silhouette is standing.

「Eh? Lisha, sama?」

「Lux──……wait, why are you here!? I haven't called you here!」

Yes. Lux who should be coming after I finished cooking is in the dining hall earlier than me for some reason.

What is the meaning of this……?

「E, err, why is Lisha-sama in the kitchen too? I was sure that──」

「We, well fine. Anyway let's talk later.」

After exchanging conversation that is strangely not mes.h.i.+ng with each other, I enter the kitchen as planned and begin to cook stew following the procedure.

Lux too is starting to prepare some kind of food at the side. A few minutes later, he put it on plate and brings it to the table.

And then──.

「Err, this is……the same thing, isn't it?」

「……Seems so.」

Lux is making a really complicated expression. I too am responding with a perplexed face.

On the table are two plates of stew lining up, the contents' appearances have almost exactly the same coloring.

……What's this?

Strange. How did it become like this……?

Don't tell me, even Lux himself was practicing to make his own favorite food, such thing──.

「Oi, just what's the meaning of this? Why are you making the same thing like me here!?」

「E, err, that──it looks like Lisha-sama is overworking recently which make you hungry, and I was told that this dish is good for late night meal though……」

「……Wa, wait a second! Just why in the world you are thinking like that!?」

Seeing Lux making an awkward smile, I reflexively asked back.

「Err, everyone of the Triad told me, that Lisha-sama is interested with cooking──I was thinking to make something for you, but it has been a long time so I practiced for a bit.」

「Are you an airhead-!?」

My goodness.

For him to simply think that I'm getting hungry just from the story that I'm harboring interest toward cooking…….

「Wait? That means, in the end this isn't your favorite food?」

「Ah, I believe that the taste properly turn out deliciously, so please don't worry.」

「That's not it!? What I want to ask isn't that──」

Haa…….

Like that, strength left my body and I hung my head down. Seeing that Lux look my way and mutter with a serious face.

「Could it be, Lisha-sama made that for me?」

Stared by surprised eyes, I nodded a bit.

「……We, well, you too seem to start doing ch.o.r.es again, I thought that perhaps you will get hungry after your works.」

Actually──I want to become able to make Lux's favorite food though.

I cannot say the truth from embarra.s.sment and say a really doubtful lie.

「Thank you very much. I'm happy that Lisha-sama is concerned about me. Recently I'm busy with other ch.o.r.es, that even though I'm Lisha-sama's knight, I became slightly negligent in that role.」

However, when he turn such straightforward smile toward me, my chest suddenly become warm inside and I reflexively averted my eyes.

「Err, we already made this, so won't Lisha-sama eat together with me before it get cold?」

While my body is shaking from the tantalized feeling, Lux said that to me with a troubled looking smile.

Reluctantly, I exchange my cooking with his and eat the stew.

The meat that dissolves into the soup, the flavor of the vegetable, and the aroma of spices that invite the appet.i.te gives the dish a deep taste.

I believe I have been training quite a lot, but as expected, Lux's stew feel like it's slightly above mine in regard to his experience.

But, why is it I wonder.

Even though the dish that I cooked should be inferior to what Lux cooked himself, Lux is eating it with a smile.

Is it simply his consideration for me? Or else──.

Does my feeling, reaches him?

(Well, it's fine I guess. Something like this once in a while is also not bad……)

My strategy failed, but just from seeing Lux eating my cooking happily, I can only stare at that with a blank mind as though I'm drunk.

「Still, I'll say this to correct you, it's not like I'm regularly feeling hungry, so I don't need any late-night snack.」

「Eh……!? I, is that so?」

Lux slightly showed a disappointed face at me who snapped a pointing finger at him, but this is a strategy.

If Lux is holding expectation to me for practice and Drag-Ride training too, then there is no way I can make light of that.

At the current time when Sacred Eclipse and danger to new kingdom are approaching, I have to give my all for the sake of fighting.

Even so──as expected I want to find a bit of free time, practice, and raise my skill in cooking to surpa.s.s Lux.

Because I want to be connected with Lux not just through battle and Drag-Ride, and not just with relations.h.i.+p as knight and princess.

「Just you wait in antic.i.p.ation, Lux.」

I talked with a tone that is filled with a bit of implication and declared that proudly.

Lux accepted it with a troubled smile.

「……I don't really understand but, I'm looking forward to it. Also, the meal today is delicious, Lisha-sama.」

「Ua…..-, that……right.」

When I'm told such thing right from the front, I averted my face aside with a face that became heated and flashed red and muttered.

To feel happy from the bottom of my heart even though it's just flattery, I'm really simple.

–

But, seeing how I can feel completely satisfied with just those words and smile, perhaps the path for me to improve my skill is long.