𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟒𝟑: 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮
Under the large shade of a tree near Eugene’s castle.
Today, a lively party was being held under that shade.
“There’s plenty, so please help yourselves!”
Just as Mabel said, a variety of colorful dishes were lined up on the table.
There were mashed boiled eggs mixed with mustard and pepper, sandwiches with finely chopped beef seasoned with a sweet and savory sauce, and accompanied by lettuce. There was also a salad with fresh vegetables like tomatoes and corn and a whole roasted turkey.
Next to them were cupcakes, baked goods, and most notably, a large plate filled to the brim with cookies.
Starting with ones filled with jam in the center, there were cookies with a mixture of cocoa and vanilla, and thin ones adorned with almonds. From cookies adorned with large sugar crystals scattered throughout to ones shaped like masks, the array of cookies lined up was enough to make the men marvel in awe.
Row and Mutabilis were invited to the party. And since Mable had immunity to their charm, they comfortably took off their masks.
“Well, I noticed this when I had sweets before, but Mabel-chan, your cooking is amazing.”
“I wouldn’t say I’m amazing, but it’s pretty much the only thing I’m good at.”
“Still, aren’t these cookies a bit overbaked?”
As Eugene gazed at the cookies with a somewhat cold expression, Mutabilis, who had been sparkling with excitement since earlier, clenched his fist and strongly retorted.
“Don’t worry! I’ll eat them all properly!”
Upon hearing those words, Mabel narrowed her eyes with a happy expression, saying, “Thank you.”
In fact, this party was held at Mabel’s request.
“Well, you see, when I was captured by Wiski, I made a promise to Mutabilis to make him cookies…”
Eugene, who had been hesitant and troubled, finally came to a conclusion: he would reject the idea! He also prohibited giving the cookies to him as a gift.
“Why?!”
“Can you imagine someone being happy when their fiancée gives something to another man?”
Since becoming officially engaged, Eugene had become more open with Mabel than before. However, he occasionally showed a strict side when it came to the opposite sex, revealing surprising jealousy.
Of course, Mabel understood that it was because Eugene cherished her, so she didn’t feel bad about it. However, Mutabilis was also a benefactor of the Eakes Kingdom. If possible, she wanted to keep her promise.
“In that case, would it be okay if everyone is present?”
―And that’s how the cookie party came to be.
Ignoring Eugene, who frowned, Mutabilis, as he declared earlier, took his place in front of the cookies and began to carefully take one type at a time onto his plate and eat.
“Hey, this is delicious!”
Every time he took a bite, he had a truly happy smile on his face, and Mabel, who was watching, couldn’t help but let her guard down and smile as well.
As the mountain of sweets gradually but steadily disappeared, Row, holding a cup of coffee, spoke bitterly to Eugene.
“But seriously, how could you forgive this?”
“What do you mean?”
“This. I thought you would never do something like this because it’s you.”
“…”
In response to Row’s words, Eugene silently picked up the sandwich that had been left on the plate. As he silently took a bite, Row directed a slightly lowered gaze and said, “Hmm,” with a teasing smile.
“Well, I guess you must have compromised after realizing a certain point.”
Upon hearing Row’s muttered words, Eugene almost choked on his tea. He managed to maintain his composure, but Row’s teasing smile continued.
“If you’re too possessive, you’ll be disliked, you know.”
Listening to Row’s innocent advice that seemed to have a star attached to the end, Eugene quietly turned his gaze toward Mabel.
The cookies that had been so plentiful were now less than half, and Mabel was diligently pouring tea for Mutabilis. Occasionally, Mabel herself would eat a cookie and exchange comments with Mutabilis.
Seeing the two of them laughing together, Eugene let out a sigh.
“I’ll excuse myself for a bit,” Eugene spread his wings and returned to the castle alone.
That night, as Eugene was reading a book in his room, Mabel came to him.
“Thank you for today. Mutabilis and Row-san seemed really happy.”
“I see.”
With a cold response from Eugene, Mabel timidly held out a plate she had with her.
“Um, I thought maybe you haven’t eaten yet.”
On the plate were neatly arranged cookies.
It seemed like she had taken the trouble to separate them by type.
“Weren’t they for Mutabilis? Why are you giving them to me?”
“Well, that’s one reason, but…I also wanted Eugene-san to eat them.”
While listening to Mabel’s almost fading voice, Eugene widened his eyes for a moment.
Perhaps feeling embarrassed by the lack of a response, Mabel quickly said, “N-Never mind,” and tried to hide the plate.
“For me?”
However, Eugene stood up and snatched the plate before her.
Ah, seeing the cookies swaying on the palm of his hand, Mabel let out a scream.
“G-Give it back!”
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t eat them.”
“Huh?”
“Here.”
Saying that, Eugene sat on the sofa at the back of the room, still holding the cookies, and gestured with his chin to the seat next to him.
“. . .?”
Reluctantly, Mabel sat down where she was told, and Eugene raised the plate from earlier in front of her, parting his thin lips.
“Here.”
“Y-You, Eugene-san..?”
“You wanted me to eat them, right?”
Mabel furrowed her eyebrows at Eugene’s smirking expression, thinking, “He’s definitely teasing me.” But if she backed down now, it would play right into his hands. So, she mustered up her courage, took a cookie in her hand, and gently brought it to Eugene’s mouth.
Her hand momentarily paused at the touch of his soft lips. But Eugene quickly bit into the cookie. Crunch. It was gone in an instant.
“One more.”
“…Can’t you eat it yourself?”
Mabel thought, ‘Enough already,’ but it was rare for Eugene, who was usually distant, to be so dependent. They had been talking with Mutabilis and Row all day, so she was honestly happy to have this time alone with him.
The cookies quickly disappeared, leaving only one left. Mabel picked up the one with red jam on it and, with a practiced motion, brought it to Eugene’s mouth.
“Here, this is the last one―”
As Eugene bit down, she felt heat on her fingertip. Eugene had ended up biting her finger.
“Eek?!”
Startled, Mabel dropped the cookie, and Eugene picked it up as if nothing had happened. He continued to munch on it just like before.
Meanwhile, Mabel, who had been bitten, turned bright red and tightly clenched her hand.
‘I-I got bitten on the finger?!’
It was just a gentle bite, so it didn’t hurt. However, Eugene’s body temperature and breath were directly transmitted to her, and even though it was her own finger, she couldn’t forget that sensation.
Eventually, when Eugene saw the empty plate, he chuckled.
“You wanted to eat it, didn’t you?”
“That’s not what I meant!”
Indignant, Mabel stood up forcefully, still holding the empty plate, and ran out of Eugene’s room. After closing the door behind her, she finally let out a big sigh.
‘That surprised me…’
Feeling her heart beating faster than before, Mabel tried to calm herself down and took a deep breath as she descended to the kitchen.
“. . .”
On the other hand, Eugene was also regretting his actions a little.
He had gone too far. The image of Mabel happily talking with Mutabilis at the daytime party and the words Row had said kept flashing in his mind, causing him to do something mean-spirited.
(Oh god…How old am I to be doing this!)
He had shown such blatant jealousy.
Moreover, he had directed it toward Mabel, who was much younger than him.
Despite having been older than others, when it came to Mabel, he was completely at her mercy, just like an ordinary young man.
Sighing, Eugene looked at the book that hadn’t progressed a single page since earlier.
‘If I say, “Let’s have another party,” will she forgive me?’
Imagining Mabel’s eyes shining at those words, Eugene instinctively covered his mouth with his hand. If he decided to do it, it would be tomorrow. With that in mind, Eugene stood up and gently closed the book he had been reading.
(End)
[insert page=’4633′ display=’content’]
[insert page=’4587′ display=’content’]
Leave a Reply