Chapter 21
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 21. Dinner of Horror
All rules made by humans have holes.
Because there are exceptions, loopholes, and above all, the uncertain element called humans who actually enforce the rules.
If a perfect rule exists, it should rightfully be called a law of nature.
Lucia Von Astellia.
My small and precious Princess is currently transplanting a system called 'Civilization' into the barbaric land of the North.
It is an excellent attempt.
A challenge worthy of respect.
However, the warriors of the North are a race closer to fists than letters, and more familiar with axes than ledgers.
"Does a manly man count numbers pettily!" "Are you doubting me right now! Do not insult a warrior's honor!" "There was no such thing in Grand Duke Valter's time!"
Look at that.
Voices of complaint burst out from here and there already.
To Northerners, procedures like signatures or confirmation were accepted as insults beyond annoyance.
So I decided to give a very little trivial help.
A system needs compelling force.
Punishment must follow the law.
It is necessary to explain very kindly and easily understandable that there are disadvantages if rules are not followed.
"Hey! Line up there! Write your name and take it!"
In front of the warehouse, an old warrior shouted loudly.
"No, don't you know who I am? I am 'One-Eyed Jack'! Just give it!"
One man in the line grumbled. A typical Northern outlaw style with a bulky physique.
"Jack or whatever, if you don't sign, I can't give even a piece of bread! It’s Her Highness's order!"
"Don't make me laugh. What does a Princess know about the North. Move. Before I overturn everything."
Jack raised his fist. The atmosphere became fierce.
Now is the timing for me to step in.
Now, what I have to do here is simple.
Convince everyone of the fact that 'keeping rules is ultimately for their own good'.
'It is a system Her Highness made staying up all night. It contains Her Highness's sincerity to make everyone's life better. It might be awkward because it’s the first time. But if you try a little, you will get used to it soon. Let us join forces together. For Her Highness, and for the future of the North.'
"Those with complaints, come forward. I will split your heads and inject numbers into them."
……No, although I tend to support cramming education, I didn't mean physical injection.
But the effect was certain.
Where did the momentum of shouting just now go? Jack hurriedly ran to the very back of the line and stood.
"N-No! I originally intended to line up! My hobby is lining up!"
Other warriors standing in line also bowed their heads all together.
"Order! Order is indeed the virtue of the North!" "Signatures are good! Good for writing practice too!" "Long live Her Highness Lucia! Long live the system!"
Well, anyway, the purpose was achieved.
Anyway, thanks to my warm word, the dissatisfied forces disappeared like melting snow.
As expected, communication is important.
Large kitchen of Frostgard Main Castle.
Fire burns vigorously in the huge furnace.
On the cooking table, top-grade parts of Glacier Bison are neatly arranged.
Glacier Bison.
This guy was a beast commanding the snowfield just a few hours ago.
The bastard was brave. The spirit rushing forward with horns at the front was worthy of being called a warrior.
Unfortunately, my fist was just a little harder.
Now the guy is merely a precious protein source.
I transformed my cloak and wore it like an apron.
'Lucia is too skinny.'
Her wrists were so slender that they seemed like they would break if squeezed with a little force. There is no color in her face, and there are shadows under her eyes.
Stress. Lack of nutrition. Overwork.
Every time I passed in front of her door every day, I saw her silhouette wrestling with documents.
Lucia is losing sleep every night organizing the North's administration.
A hungry Princess cannot save the world.
To endure the cold of the North, fat is needed. Protein is needed.
Today's menu is steak.
Swish. Swish. Swish.
Sliced the Glacier Bison tenderloin thickly.
3 centimeters thickness.
If too thin, juice escapes during the grilling process.
If too thick, the inside won't cook.
Knowledge acquired watching cooking programs in my past life.
Now grill.
Placed a cast-iron pan on the furnace.
Greased it, and heated until smoke rises.
Sizzle─
As soon as the meat touched the pan, a delicious sound rang out.
Sprinkle sprinkle-
Salt. Pepper. And a little bit of Northern herbs.
Seasoning is minimized to revive the meat's natural taste.
Sizzle sizzle.
Meat scent filled the kitchen.
Finishing.
Took the meat out of the pan and placed it on the cutting board.
Resting for 5 minutes.
If sliced immediately, juice escapes.
Cooking requires patience.
Like the relationship between me and Lucia.
'Complete.'
The steak placed on the plate was perfect.
Crispy outside, moist inside.
Medium rare with a bright red cross-section.
Visuals acceptable even in a high-end restaurant.
To think there is such a domestic Black Knight in the world.
As expected, I must be the most romantic man in the world.
Tension hovered in the dining room.
Lucia sat at one end of the long table, and I sat at the opposite end.
Lucia was staring at the huge chunk of meat placed in front of her.
"……This is?"
She swallowed dry saliva.
I tried to explain as softly as possible.
'I am worried because Your Highness is too thin. I prepared it with sincerity. I hope it suits your taste. Please eat comfortably without feeling burdened. You may leave some, but nutritional intake is important.'
Perfect.
Gentlemanly recommendation containing consideration and respect.
"You will be in trouble if you leave any."
Ah, again.
Why does 'Bon Appétit' change to 'Eat if you don't want to die'?
"Hiek! I, I will eat! I will eat it all! I will eat everything without leaving a single piece!"
Lucia hurriedly picked up the fork and knife.
Her hands were trembling.
Shiver shiver.
The plate and fork collided making clattering sounds.
The atmosphere is like a death row inmate facing their last meal?
She cut the meat and brought it to her mouth.
Squeezed her eyes shut and put the meat in her mouth.
Chew chew.
Stop.
And,
"……Huh?"
Eyes widened roundly.
"D…… Delicious?"
Her pupils shook.
Of course. Who am I.
A man with Technique Stat A.
Cooking is ultimately timing.
My perfect physical ability realized grilling without 0.1 second of error.
Lucia's expression gradually relaxed. Fear goes, and joy comes.
Munch munch.
Cute.
Looks like a golden rabbit eating grass.
'As expected, sincerity works.'
I looked at her with gratification and cut my share of meat.
It was then.
The dining room door opened, and a red-haired uninvited guest intruded.
"Oh, meat smell!"
Freya Grombalt.
She looked alternately at my plate and Lucia's plate, then whistled.
"Quite sweet? You gave the best part of the hunted meat to Sister. The very center of the tenderloin, not much of that comes out even if you catch one whole beast."
Freya grinned and pulled a chair to sit. And snatched my share of the plate.
"In the North, that is the best flirting. Because it means 'The best part of my prey is yours'. In other words, a confession saying 'I will feed you with my life'."
Oh.
Such profound meaning?
As expected, Northern culture has a strangely romantic corner while seeming barbaric.
"Is, is that so……?"
Lucia stopped chewing the meat. Her face turned red.
Freya grinned.
"Sister is surprisingly active too? You're eating without refusing."
"N-No! It’s a misunderstanding……!"
Lucia screamed.
After that day, the 'Fattening Lucia' project gained speed.
Every evening, I airlifted rare ingredients of the North.
Health foods overflowing with wild vitality that cannot be tasted in the Empire.
"Wh, what is this……?"
Lucia asked pointing at the plate.
Her fingertips were trembling minutely.
On the plate, something blunt and fluffy was braised in soy sauce.
"Braised Frost Bear Paw."
I answered proudly.
"Bear…… Paw? B-But the claws are stuck in it as is?"
"It’s a handle. Grab and tear."
Lucia grabbed the bear claw with a crying face.
"Sorry Bear…… But it’s delicious…"
A few days later.
"The color is purple? And it’s foaming…?"
Lucia's complexion looking down at the soup bowl became similar to the soup color.
"Snowfield Spider Elixir Soup. Poison removed."
"Th, There was poison?!"
"Trace amount of poison helps blood circulation."
"That is not called help but life threat!"
When she didn't lift the spoon, I stared quietly.
"I'll eat! I'll one-shot it!"
Lucia squeezed her eyes shut, lifted the bowl, and guzzled it down.
"Ughhhhh…!"
The sight of her body trembling is very cute.
Another few days passed.
"Waaaaah…… I want to eat dessert…! Lemon tart…! Cheesecake…!"
Lucia cried.
In front of her lay 'Horned Deer Bone Marrow Dish'.
Health food of Northern warriors where they cut the bone whole and scoop out the marrow inside with a spoon.
"I'll give dessert later."
"Really?"
"Right. Deer Blood Pudding."
"Waaaaaaah!"
Lucia scooped and ate the marrow while crying.
"Delicious…… Annoyingly savory…… But the visual is too much……"
Grumbling sounds were heard, but I couldn't hide a pleased smile.
Look.
She freaks out every time, tries to run away, and cries, but eventually eats it all.
In the end, she doesn't refuse my sincerity.
Is this exactly bonding?
As days go by, flesh is rising little by little on her cheeks that were gaunt.
Complexion is returning. Eyes also gained strength.
As expected, romance comes from food power.
'A woman who eats well is pretty.'
Today too, seeing the plate Lucia emptied cleanly, I fell into happy contemplation of what health food to prepare tomorrow.
Next morning.
Lucia's bedroom.
Mirrors reflect the truth.
Lucia was facing a cruel truth today.
"……."
The woman in the mirror was unfamiliar.
No, rather than unfamiliar, she had changed.
Cheeks.
Blood returned to the cheeks that were only pale. Something that could be called a flush was there.
Body.
Flesh attached to the body that was gauntly thin during the fugitive life. The place where shoulder blades protruded now drew a soft curve, and appropriate flesh rose on the flanks where ribs showed.
Hair.
Blonde hair that was frizzy and split regained its luster. The hair from the capital days, which shone like platinum in the sunlight, returned.
Skin.
Rough texture became fine. Skin that was chapped and cracked by the snowfield wind was now smooth.
Lucia pressed her cheek firmly with both hands.
Squish.
"Gained… weight……"
If it were the old Lucia, she would have been happy.
If it were Lucia from the capital days, she would have spun around in front of the mirror for an hour.
She would have called the maids and boasted 'How is it? My skin got better these days, right?'.
But now?
Not happy at all.
Memories of the past few days brushed Lucia's brain.
Every morning, nutritious breakfast. Every lunch, meat dish like a protein bomb. Every dinner, bizarre banquet called health food.
And the black man who always watched her meal from the opposite side with flashing red glint.
Like a slaughterhouse owner checking the marbling of livestock.
"Feeding nutritious food every day, fattening up, making healthy……"
Blood drained completely from Lucia's face.
"Is the shipping time approaching!?"
Hiek.
Must run away. No, can't run away. Then how?
"Just work more. Become more competent. If I become irreplaceable manpower……"
Lucia headed to the office in a hurry.
Shouted as soon as she opened the door.
The civil officials in the office were startled.
"Yo, Your Highness……? Since morning how……"
"Give me more documents! I can work well! Don't eat me yet……!"
Lucia picked up a quill pen.
Scratch scratch. Scratch scratch.
I am not meat. I am not an ingredient. I am labor force.
It’s a loss if eaten.
'If you eat me, who organizes these complex ledgers? Who cleans up after those ignorant Northerners?'
There is no fool who eats the goose that lays golden eggs.
So I must lay golden eggs.
Right now. One per second.
Empire's Princess Lucia Von Astellia.
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