episode_0004

Ron Taylor, chef at the Duke of Bertain.

He was a man who took great pride in his job.

Bertain is the central duke among the five great dukes.

It is not easy to enter the kitchen of such a master.

But Ron did it.

And not just as a subordinate, but as a chef.

The third son of a country boy earned the position of chef through pure skill.

The chef with such great skills is currently.

“Um… … .”

I was sitting alone in the kitchen, nodding off.

It’s possible because there’s still a lot of time left until the duke’s mealtime.

dripping.

Ron woke up, rubbing his sleepy eyes, at the sound of a knock at the door outside.

There was only one person who came here before the Duke’s meal time.

“Oh my gosh… My Lady, I thought you weren’t coming today… .”

Ron, who was stretching as he went out, stopped.

The man standing in front of the door was a white-haired man I had never seen before.

“Are you a chef?”

“Yes? Oh, yes.”

“You were sleeping.”

“I dozed off.”

“It is strictly working hours now. What would you have done if it had been you, the Duke, who had come to see you instead of me?”

“I’m sorry. There’s still some time left until your Majesty’s mealtime… … No, but who are you?”

Ron, who had been bending down reflexively, asked belatedly.

“I am Luke Bucklin, who has been appointed as Princess Elin’s tutor starting today.”

The man with a sensitive expression nodded.

“Tutor? Ah… .”

The youngest princess is given a tutor.

I forgot about it because it was something I wasn’t interested in.

“I heard that the princess’s meals are set aside separately.”

“Oh, you came to get it instead? Please wait a moment.”

Ron went into the kitchen and brought out the plates he had prepared in advance.

“Does your majesty usually eat at this time?”

“No? Usually, you would have come earlier, but since you didn’t come for a while, I thought you were skipping dinner today.”

“Does it often happen that your majesty skips meals?”

“Well, it happens quite often.”

Luke’s eyebrows twitched.

“Please make sure that this never happens again. Your Highness is in the growing stage where you need to eat and grow a lot.”

“Yes, yes… .”

Ron answered absentmindedly.

Anyone looking at those blazing golden eyes would be unable to help but do so.

“Here it is.”

When I held out the plate, feeling as if I was being evaluated for some reason, Luke’s eyebrows furrowed fiercely.

“What is this?”

“Yes? It’s dinner, Your Majesty.”

“… … This?”

Luke doubted his ears.

“Have you had any recent crop failures?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a decrease in harvest…”

“Then why do you serve this as a meal?”

Luke pointed to the plate.

All that’s on top are baked potatoes and tomatoes.

Even the potatoes were cold and the tomatoes were on the verge of bursting.

“Princess Elin is so short-spoken, so this is enough.”

“The amount is not the problem. Why is the freshness like this?”

“That’s because the princess came late today… .”

“It’ll only take an hour or two. Does that make sense?”

“Ugh… .”

Ron put his hand to his forehead as he kept nagging at her.

I immediately knew what kind of person Luke was.

The type of person who has the hardest time surviving in the Bertain Dukedom.

He was the type who cared about Elin.

“I also know that this kind of meal is not enough.”

“Thank goodness I know.”

“But I can’t help it. This is the Duke’s order.”

“Command?”

Luke’s eyes sharpened.

Ron gulped at the impression that reminded him of a beast.

“Yes. The Duke has restricted Princess Elin’s food intake.”

“Is there a reason?”

“I don’t know for sure, but I think that those who don’t develop don’t deserve to eat… … .”

“Ha.”

Before Ron could finish speaking, Luke let out a hollow laugh.

“Let’s do it this way, Chef.”

Luke wiped his face with the palm of his hand and flicked a silver coin.

“From now on, the chef has accepted a bribe.”

“… Yes?”

“The greedy tutor said that because he was curious about Chef Bertain’s skills. That would be a good excuse.”

“What is that now… .”

Before you ask what I’m talking about.

Luke threw the potatoes and tomatoes that Ellen had given him as food into the food waste bin.

“So from now on, Chef, you just have to cook for me. With the best quality you can.”

“… … ”

Ron is not stupid.

If I made food like Luke said, it was obvious whose mouth it would end up in.

And that was an act of disobeying the Duke’s orders.

Just as Ron was about to shake his head.

Luke flicked another silver coin.

“No matter how much money you give me, I am the proud chef of Bertain. I cannot disobey the Duke’s orders… .”

This time, I bounced 5 silver coins at once.

“Uh, uh… !”

Ron caught all the silver coins that were flying in all directions like an acrobatic feat.

“You’re amazing.”

Luke, who threw the silver coin, was clapping.

In an instant, I feel like I’ve become a beast of burden.

“… … Please wait a moment.”

Of course, I didn’t mean to be offended.

Although he is a baron, he is the son of a family that barely manages a poor rural estate.

That day, Ron’s loyalty to Berthain crumbled in front of seven silver coins.

* * * * *

“Wow, that’s amazing. As expected, the position of chef wasn’t won through gambling.”

Ron cooked the meal in no time.

The joy of receiving a huge salary coexisted with the anxiety that I would be kicked out if I got caught.

“Now you’re an accomplice.”

“… Yes?”

Luke hit that spot right on.

“What is your name?”

“… This is Ron Taylor.”

“Yes, Chef Ron. ”

Exactly.

When you snap your fingers, a small hole appears in the air.

After a while, the hole sucked up all the food smell, destroying the evidence.

“Please continue to take care of me in the future.”

Luke patted Ron on the shoulder.

“In the future too… ?”

“Then you were trying to get 7 silver coins for one meal? If you were thinking of doing that, you should have just reported it to the Duke and… .”

“Okay, okay, wait! Okay, I understand. I understand!”

Ron nodded, his face clouded with tears.

“… What would you do if you were caught by the Duke?”

“It’s a shame.”

“Yes, yes?!”

“Just kidding. Don’t worry. I’ll take full responsibility. Isn’t this food just for ‘me’?”

“What kind of joke are you making with such a serious face… .”

You seem more timid than you look.

Luke left Ron behind, pulling a cart full of food.

“The chef just needs to prepare balanced meals from now on.”

Instead of opening the door and going out, I snapped my fingers.

Then a portal of appropriate size opened.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

“That… How about just the time zone… .”

“Yes. I will try to avoid other Bertains’ meal times.”

The portal closed after Luke’s body was fully inside.

The kitchen was quiet as if a storm had passed.

“Haa… I think something is wrong.”

All that was left was Ron, letting out a deep sigh.

* * * * *

Woof-

The teleportation location is in front of Elin’s room.

I came to the door because I was afraid that if it suddenly appeared out of thin air, I would be surprised.

dripping.

“Princess. I’m here.”

This time I knocked along with the horse so that no one would jump out in surprise.

“Your Majesty?”

But there is no response from inside.

what?

I don’t think you’d go anywhere with those feet.

“I will go in, Your Majesty.”

I opened the door quietly.

“Princess… … Ah.”

As expected, Elin was in the room.

I was just asleep and didn’t hear the knock.

“The room is a bit warm.”

The room was warm because the insulating magic circle had been left in place.

If you lie still on the bed, you will feel tired, just enough to fall asleep.

I would never want to disturb the sweet sleep of a child suffering from insomnia.

But don’t you have to feed them?

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I’m too late.”

He put a hand on my shoulder.

I was trying to wake him up by shaking him.

Just before Luke’s hand touched it.

“… Okay, I was wrong!”

Elin woke up, causing a fight.

“I won’t do it again. I’ll work harder. I’m sorry I’m useless. Just one more chance… … .”

And then, while tightly wrapping myself in the blanket, I muttered like crazy.

“… … Ah.”

I looked at Luke’s face and slid the blanket down.

Before I knew it, my face was covered in cold sweat.

…was careless.

I didn’t mean to, but I think I scared you.

“You tried to touch me without thinking. I apologize if you were surprised, Your Majesty. ”

“Oh, no. It’s just… …I’m a little scared of touching. It’s not your fault.”

Every time I touch your body, I wonder what happened that makes you so scared.

Having raised Elin several times, I could easily imagine it.

Luke said, trying to push away his complicated feelings.

“I brought you food.”

Only then did Elin truly wrinkle her nose.

Sniff sniff.

“… … ?”

And he tilted his head.

“What is that?”

Their gaze was fixed on the cart Luke was pulling.

“It’s dinner time, Princess.”

“… I think I brought the wrong one. My dinner is potatoes and tomatoes.”

“It changed from today. My diet has been so poor so far.”

“Huh… ?”

Ellen blinked, as if she didn’t quite understand.

“From now on, your majesty must eat a balanced diet.”

I opened the cover covering the plate.

Instead of cold potatoes and rotten tomatoes, Elin was greeted by a soup with a fragrant aroma and a freshly grilled steak.

“… … Teacher?”

“Why are you like that?”

“This is not food I can eat.”

“There is no food that the princess cannot eat. At least in the duke’s house.”

He answered casually and set up food in front of Elin’s bed.

“And as I said before. These are the foods you will eat every day from now on. There is also fruit prepared for dessert, so eat slowly.”

He handed me a fork and knife.

But Elin just stared blankly down at the food.

I tried to make it warm.

If this continues, everything will get cold.

In the end, I scooped up some soup myself and blew on it.

“Your Highness. Oh, please do.”

“Ah… ?”

Ellen opens her tiny mouth.

It doesn’t seem like you knew what you were going to do.

I just do it because I’m told to.

He put a spoon in between them.

Elin’s hair stood on end as she swallowed the soup unintentionally.

“Does it suit your taste?”

The answer came a long time later.

“… … delicious.”

“Thank goodness. There are many other things, so please take your time and enjoy them.”

Only then did Elin slowly move her fork and knife.

“Ugh… .”

However, it became more appropriate to say that the steak was chopped rather than sliced.

Was the strength this weak?

He looked at Elin quietly and then reached out his hand.

“Your Highness, could you please give me some dishes for a moment?”

“Huh… ?”

Ellen obediently handed over the fork and knife.

Luke cut the steak into very small pieces.

So that it can fit into a small mouth.

“Now it will be easier to eat.”

He handed the fork back again.

Then Ellen’s face turned white.

“… Sorry.”

“What do you mean?”

“Hey, I’m bothering you.”

“?”

I didn’t understand for a moment.

So, are you saying this now because I just cut the food for you?

“Because I did something wrong… … You may punish me.”

Then, close your eyes tightly and put your cheek in.

He bit his lips tightly, pretending that nothing happened.

He was shivering as if he wanted it to end quickly.

You want me to punish you for causing such a fight earlier?

A hollow laugh escaped my lips.

“If you want a penalty, I will give it to you.”

He raised his hand.

Elin, who noticed the presence, cringes.

The trembling becomes more intense as if preparing for what is to come.

however.

Talk.

Luke’s hand was simply resting on Elin’s cheek.

“… … ?”

Luke poked her soft cheek with his index finger.

Compared to his skinny body, his cheeks were soft.

“Okay, it’s done. Eat before it gets cold.”

“It’s over…?”

Elin absentmindedly touches her cheek.

Was it because the situation was so unexpected?

Even though his hand touched his face, this time he didn’t have a seizure.

“Yes. And the reason I punished you just now is not because you bothered me.”

“… Then?”

“This is the punishment I gave you because you tried to punish me on your own.”

Ellen’s eyebrows slightly furrowed in the middle.

“… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Listen while eating.”

I felt like it would take ages just to eat, so I put a piece of steak in Elin’s mouth.

“First of all, your highness, you did nothing wrong just now.”

“… I can’t even cut something like this by myself… Ugh.”

“That could be possible.”

As soon as I confirmed that the meat was gone from his mouth, I put another piece back in.

“The princess has never bothered me. I have ‘helped’ the princess.”

“… Help?”

“Yes, so in this case, I’m not saying sorry.”

He said, forking the steak again.

“Please say thank you in the future.”

Elin, who had been mumbling for a while, swallowed the steak and opened her mouth.

“… … Thank you?”

It was a thank you in an awkward voice.

“That’s enough.”

Luke, smiling with satisfaction, put food in Elin’s mouth whenever she was hungry.

“Ugh… I can’t go in anymore… .”

“No way, Your Majesty. I haven’t even eaten half of it yet.”

Until the stomach capacity reaches its limit.

“I’m really full… .”

“Hmm. I can’t help it. This is the last one.”

“It was like that before too.”

“Really, really, this is the last one.”

Luke shouted ‘last’ over and over again.

“Ugh… .”

It was around the time when Elin was holding her protruding belly and crying that it stopped.

“Let’s stop here for today.”

An alarm bell rings, warning that if you feed it any more, you will incur Elin’s hatred.

Luke barely swallowed his regret and looked forward to the next time.