Ch. 5: "Sorry...!"
The blades reflected the red evening light…-.
I made a spur of the moment decision and jumped in front of Zero.
Zero: “OO…!”
OO: “…!”
The blade of the knife hit my right shoulder and it exploded with pain.
Zero: “OO…!”
Feeling as if I were about to collapse from shock, Zero grabbed onto my waist and held me up.
Zero: “Do you know what you’ve just done!?”
Still holding me, Zero shouted in anger.
Zero: “This is Princess OO of the Traumere Royal Family. Do you really think you can get away with getting her mixed up in this little country’s power struggle!?”
Men: “Princess OO…?”
Man 1: “We’ll retreat for now.”
The men disappeared without a sound, just like they’d appeared.
Zero: “Are you alright!? You’re hurt…!?”
Zero’s voice shook as he held me.
OO: “It’s just a little cut, I’m fine. Anyway, who were those men…?”
Zero: “Aah… there are a lot of princes in this country. Their associates are in dispute over who should lead the country. I’m sorry for dragging you into it…”
Zero’s voice still shook, even though he was normally indifferent and spoke so eloquently, and I could tell he was truly worried about me.
Despite the circumstances, I strangely felt happy, and I ended up smiling.
Zero: “Why are you smiling…?”
OO: “I’m sorry… but.”
Zero arched an eyebrow in confusion.
As he supported me with his arm, our hands gently met.
Ch. 6: "...How's That?"
The next morning…-.
The incredibly bright sun shone and sparkled beyond the curtains.
(I’m glad Zero didn’t get hurt…)
The wound on my shoulder hadn’t been that bad, but Zero had immediately called for the court doctor who was wrapping my shoulder in bandages.
As he finished with the dressing, a butler came to my room.
Butler: “Lord Zero has requested your presence in the kitchen.”
OO: “The kitchen…?”
I followed the butler and found Zero cooking in the kitchen.
OO: “Zero…?”
I was shocked to see him in such an unexpected situation.
Zero: “Morning. How’s your shoulder?”
OO: “It’s fine thanks to you… um.”
Zero: “I wanted to thank you for yesterday. You saved me. This is my personal kitchen.”
OO: “You can cook?”
My voice came out louder than I had planned in surprise.
Zero: “Yeah, since cooking is a science. I can break everything down into minute calculations, so I find it relaxing. And since you didn’t like the gifts or the princess treatment, I wondered what would happen if I tried cooking. It may not taste good, but this is my thanks.”
(I’m happy….)
Zero: “…how’s that?”
He peered into my face.
OO: “I’m really happy…!”
Zero: “I see. It’s just about ready.”
Zero flushed, looking happy as he took the lid off the pot.
A delicious smell drifted out, and my stomach made a noise.
OO: “Ah…”
(That was embarrassing…)
Seeing me like that, Zero chuckled.
Zero: “Do you want a taste?”
Saying as much, he scooped up some of the soup.
Zero: “It’s onion soup au gratin. Be careful, the bread on top is hot.”
He blew on the soup to cool it down, then brought the spoon to my mouth.
(How embarrassing… but still.)
His feelings made me happy, so I chose to open my mouth.
OO: “It’s delicious…!”
The sweetness of the onions in the soup coupled with the fluffy bread, plus the sticky cheese all melted in my mouth.
Zero: “I’m glad.”
Zero smiled kindly, then he removed a crumb from the corner of my mouth.
OO: “…!”
Under that gentle gaze, my heart started pounding.
Zero: “For some reason, when you’re happy, I’m happy. I’m happy, but at the same time I can’t relax.”
I watched him as his expression became troubled, and I was filled with a lovely sense of happiness.
OO: “I’m really happy as well. Because you cooked for me.”
A warmth was filling me up from inside, and I smiled at him.
Zero: “You’re a strange girl. You get happy over this more than any dresses, jewels, or treatment.”
OO: “Eh…”
Zero: “If you’ll show me that expression, I’ll cook for you anytime. …my unpredictable princess.”
He placed a kiss on my forehead…-.
OO: “…!”
I could hear the pot simmering.
Yet it seemed so distant compared to the pounding of my heart.
END
Secret Story: Unpredictable...
The day following when we’d been attacked by the men in the castle courtyard…-.
Zero: “…”
As per usual, I carried on with the recipe’s instructions.
However…
(I wonder if this will make OO happy? I figured it would serve as a thank you at least, but…)
I thought back to how she was injured protecting me, and a pain spread across my chest.
Zero: “…this is the first time I’ve cooked with those kinds of feelings.”
I sighed as I mixed the soup, then placed the lid over the pot.
Then…-.
OO: “Zero…?”
I turned to see OO with a shocked expression on her face.
Zero: “Morning. How’s your shoulder?”
OO: “It’s fine thanks to you… um.”
(Good, her complexion looks fine too.)
After being relieved that OO seemed well, I spoke to address the confusion on her face.
Zero: “I wanted to thank you for yesterday. You saved me. This is my personal kitchen.”
OO: “You can cook?”
Her eyes opened every-so-slightly wider.
Zero: “Yeah, since cooking is a science. I can break everything down into minute calculations, so I find it relaxing. And since you didn’t like the gifts or the princess treatment, I wondered what would happen if I tried cooking. It may not taste good, but this is my thanks. …how’s that?”
(Though it is ultimately within the range of preferences. Based on the statistics, the probability of this making her happy is low, but…)
I looked at OO, watching for her reaction, but contrary to my expectations, her expression changed in the blink of an eye, and she smiled.
OO: “I’m really happy…!”
(Eh?)
At her smile, my heart leaped in my chest.
(…I see. So, this is the kind of thing that makes you happy. And when you’re happy, so am I…)
It was then, as I thought those things, that I took the lid off the pot.
OO: “Ah…”
A small noise came from her stomach, and she looked down in embarrassment.
Seeing her like that, I couldn’t help smiling.
Zero: “Do you want a taste? It’s onion soup au gratin. Be careful, the bread on top is hot.”
I spooned out some of the soup and blew on it, then brought the spoon to her mouth.
OO: “It’s delicious…!”
She looked up at me in delight.
Seeing that, I felt myself filled with happiness just like a moment ago…
Zero: “I’m glad.”
I gently removed a piece of the bread that had gotten stuck at the corner of her mouth.
Zero: “For some reason, when you’re happy, I’m happy. I’m happy, but at the same time I can’t relax.”
(Perhaps it is because I harbor feelings for you as a member of the opposite sex…)
Mobilizing all of the knowledge and information I’d gathered until now, I sorted through the emotions that had sprung to life inside me.
Watching me like that, OO…
OO: “I’m really happy as well. Because you cooked for me.”
Seeing her smile like that, I felt happier than I ever had before.
Zero: “You’re a strange girl. You get happy over this more than any dresses, jewels, or treatment.”
OO: “Eh…”
Zero: “If you’ll show me that expression, I’ll cook for you anytime. …my unpredictable princess.”
(But… that goes for me too.)
As if drawn in, I placed a kiss on her forehead.
(I can’t believe I would do something like that… I’m sure you as well… no, nobody could have predicted that.)
I looked down at her as I removed my lips, and OO looked away.
However, her cheeks were bright red…
Zero: “To speak frankly, emotions such as affection and love are difficult to understand. That’s why I can’t be certain, but… in all likelihood, I’ve fallen in love with you.”
OO: “Zero…”
Her cheeks grew even redder.
Seeing that, I took a deep breath…
Zero: “I understand you have the same feelings as me. …is that a problem?”
I watched her closely, not wanting to miss her reaction.
Then…
OO: “…no.”
She was reserved in her answer.
At that, I could sense the feelings that had just been born within me grow even more.
END