Author’s Note:
Here, a release 3 days ahead of time. Enjoy.
On my way to the castle, I thought about what to do about the request.
Bringing Noa and Shuri to the capital… If we rode on Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, getting here should be no problem. With the four of us, two people could ride on each bear, and the journey shouldn’t take too long.
Still, maybe it would be okay to reveal the Bear Gate to those two. If I did, traveling would become much easier, and we could spend the extra time doing other things. I had to consider this carefully, though, as it was an important tool I had to keep a secret.
I continued to ponder which to choose all the way to the castle gate. As usual, the soldier at the gate noticed me before I even came close. Well, my outfit could most likely be seen from a mile away, so that wasn’t anything special.
Just I was about to greet the soldier myself…
「Oh, if it isn’t Eleanora-sama.」
He called out and saluted at someone behind me.
「Good work.」
Came a response.
Turning around, I saw Eleanora-san standing right there with a big smile on her face.
「Eleanora-san? How long have you been there?」
「Huhu, Yuna-chan. I’ve been walking behind you this entire time, but you never noticed. It was quite funny.」
「It’s rude to stalk someone like that, you know.」
Even thinking back, I really never noticed anybody following me.
「Your backside is so cute, though. Especially with how your small tail sways around as you walk.」
「Please don’t look at people’s butts!」
I rebutted and covered the tail on my outfit.
Admittedly, I also liked looking at Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear’s tail sway but only now did I realize how embarrassing it was having someone stare at my own butt.
「It’s cute, though.」
She said disappointedly as my tail disappeared from her sight.
「Anyway, why did you follow me without saying anything?!」
「At first, I was going to catch up to you and call you, but then I noticed your tail and ended up staring at it all the way until we reached the castle.」
This person…
「So, are you here for work, Eleanora-san?」
「Yes, more or less. My job isn’t only to take care of your shop, after all.」
「You’re still doing your other work properly, right?」
「Yuna-chan, don’t be so mean. I always do all my work properly.」
『Always』sounded a bit suspicious to me, but it did make sense for her to be here for other work. Still, whenever I saw Eleanora-san, she always appeared to be slacking off…
「Let’s not just stand here and chat. Shall we go to Princess Flora’s room?」
Eh, didn’t she come to the castle to work? I really wanted to say that but couldn’t bring myself to. I was too tired of her shenanigans, so I ignored her. Even if Eleanora-san was skipping out on her work, that was His Majesty’s problem, not mine.
Both of us were let past by the gatekeeper and headed inside.
「By the way, I didn’t know you could make candy from just sugar. How did you find out about that?」
Was she trying to fish for more information about me?
Either way, I couldn’t tell her it was something I had learned from another world.
「That’s a secret, of course.」
「Oh, too bad then. Still, you should be careful to whom you reveal your recipes. Your dishes are all very special and peculiar, so some people are surely going to be very curious about them. If something happens, just let me know. I will do anything within my power to help you.」
Was Eleanora-san concerned about the students making the cotton candy recipe public?
「Please do take care of me if something happens.」
I accepted her offer.
「Of course. When you make something new, bring it to me right away, okay?」
Was that her real motive behind her offer?
It was very difficult to understand what Eleanora-san was thinking. I hoped Noa and Shia didn’t grow up to be like her.
「Yuna-chan, did you just think of something awfully rude?」
「Nope, I thought that you were being very kind and considerate.」
「Really?」
She looked at me with doubt. Not like I could tell her what I actually thought just now.
I broke eye contact, and we continued heading towards Princess Flora’s room.
「Yuna-chan, can you look me in the eye properly when you talk to me?」