Wolf’s POV
“I’m going to cook today.”
The person who suddenly said that and thrusts a cloth at me was my fiancee – Lycoris Radiata. I was not surprised by her visit, as she has been visiting the mansion quite often lately.
When I first met her, she made me very upset with her somewhat sexy slanted eyes and teardrop mark. She has a mature appearance, and is quite tall for a ten-year-old girl, but now that I have surpassed her height, it is easier to accept that.
When I saw her like that, I frowned.
This was because her thick, gently wavy black hair was tied up with an unsophisticated string, and her forehead was covered with a crooked triangular piece of cloth. Her. Dark red dress, which suits her well, is covered up by a thick apron.
It’s an attire similar to the apron dress that maids wear for work and the white thing they wear on their heads (I don’t know the official name).
“No one lent me an apron dress.”
“Of course.”
She noticed my suspicious look and puffed out her cheeks. I can almost imagine the family members being confused by the duke’s daughter who asked to dress as a servant.
“But I managed to find a clean cloth and made this. Oh, don’t worry. Yours is a neat one that I borrowed from the steward.”
I unroll the fabric that was just pressed against me. It’s a just a triangle with strings attached, and a very simple vest. The rectangular one is probably a waist apron, but why is it necessary to wear a vest?
“Properly, black.”
She declares with some pride.
“Please put this on and come to the kitchen with me.”
“It’s fine. Lord Ranankura was very supportive. It’s not a loss if a man can cook. You’ll be living in the school dormitory when you turn 12.”
I understand that my father is kind to her, but this doesn’t really make sense.
“There’s probably a cook in the dormitory…”
However, Lycoris ignored my complaints as she wrapped the black apron around my waist and put the vest over my shirt. I always wonder whether to scold her or enjoy this closeness.
At the very least, this vulnerability must be corrected before she has more opportunities to come into contact with men her own age after enrolling in school or making her debut in society.
Lycoris, oblivious to my complicated feelings, keeps muttering things like “Garcon-style ~cute~”. I don’t know what the first half is about, but ‘cute’ is definitely a taboo word for an impressionable man of my age. I really, from the bottom of my heart, want to stop it. But I don’t want to be seen as an accusatory narrow-minded man.
It’s not because my rebellious spirit was completely diminished by her calling me cute, but I ended up coming to the kitchen with my arm being dragged by her.
“Today’s challenge is Okayu.”
“What is that?”
“It’s difficult to explain the taste verbally. It’s easy, so try making it.”
Thus, the sudden cooking class began.
It starts with washing your hands carefully, then washing the vegetables and unfamiliar grains, chopping them up, and adding them to the pot.
Even the fruit, which is so sour that I don’t like it, is chopped up, and when I ask, “Do you want to add something like this?”, the answer is, “It’s a very important ingredient, so I can’t leave it out.” For some reason, today was completely at her pace, and I could’t understand why none of my wishes were being taken into account.
In the meantime, something called ‘Okayu’ was completed, and I scooped it into a small plate with some trepidation, thinking about the sour taste of the ingredient I dislike.
“Wait!”
I stop when I hear her panicked voice.
“I’ll taste it first. I’d be disappointed if it tasted weird.”
Her argument doesn’t make sense.
Even though she was the instructor, I was the one who made this dish. Even if it ends up tasting weird, she shouldn’t be ashamed.
Her intentions were finally clear. Well, I expected that to be the case.
Ever since the incident where I was almost poisoned, the people around me have been paying extra attention to what I eat. The kitchen manager personally requested to taste for poison, and soup was not served on the table.
I thought they didn’t have to do that, and I said so, but they didn’t listen.
I haven’t reduced my food intake.
But unfortunately, I started to feel depressed during dinner time. It seems that she was aware of my slight discomfort.
“…Yeah. Pretty good.”
After finishing the poison test for me, she quickly washed the small plate she had used and handed it to me.
“Would you like to try it too?”
(Isn’t it cunning for you to look so anxious here, even though you were so forceful in getting me to cook?)
Something about Lycoris, who was looking at me with a slightly upturned gaze due to the difference in height, made me feel helpless. I have very mixed feelings, like I want to cherish her, and like I want to be mean to her.
“Oh. Let me try it.”
When I said that and opened my mouth a little, she looked troubled.
However, in the end, she gently brought a small amount of ‘Okayu’ to my mouth with the small plate.
In my mouth, there was a moderate sourness and a natural sweetness from the grains.
Not bad.
I gulped and felt hungry.
My fiancee is kind of caring and affectionate.
A theatrical line I had heard somewhere came to mind: ‘If your hand offers it to me, I’ll gladly take the poison in my mouth.’
If I actually say it in words, I’ll probably be scolded for being disrespectful.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thank you for reading!
