TFLCM - Chapter 63

It was a night when darkness had settled deep. I swallowed hard and headed to the kitchen.

'Please let no one be here!'

I took out a map from my pocket, praying and praying that I wouldn't meet anyone on my way.

It was a map of the castle obtained from Julie.

Julie feigned innocence, saying that she didn't know how many times she had lost her way at first because the castle was so vast.

I searched for the kitchen with all my senses on edge. I was wearing a cloak and even a hood, just in case I looked like a suspicious person.

They say that if you earnestly wish for something, the universe will grant it.

He is a god who even forced me to reincarnate as Zion's older sister; can't he even let me go to the kitchen?

I headed to the kitchen relying on the map and my intuition.

'There it is!'

Fortunately, I found the kitchen without running into anyone. I cautiously opened the door.

'No, this is...!'

The fragrant smell of meat seeped into my nostrils. I almost lost consciousness for a moment.

'Meat!'

I headed inside, keeping my footsteps silent. There was no one in the kitchen. I cautiously approached the cooking utensils.

***

10. Truth

There, meat dishes that looked like they had been made just recently were piled up like a mountain. Good heavens, meat piled up like a mountain. I couldn't believe it even as I said it, so I rubbed my eyes.

'They ate this delicious food all by themselves. So that's it, right?'

At that thought, anger welled up inside me. However, being of a cautious nature, I did not forget to look around with my fork in hand.

There was no one in the kitchen. It was so quiet that I felt like I could become a solitary gourmet. 

'No. Surely they wouldn't have made this much if there wasn't a use for it somewhere?' 

I tried to regain my composure. No matter how wild my wolf instincts ran, I had to assess the situation. 

But...

'And why does it smell so good?!'

I wiped the corner of my mouth, cursing the meat in front of me. Fortunately, I hadn't drooled yet. 

'Right, let's just have one bite. A piece won't even be noticeable. There's so much of it; surely they won't notice?' 

I picked up the meat with the fork I was holding. 

Then, with a heart pounding with excitement, I took a bite. 

Just one bite, I tell myself.

I thought so at the time.

***

"Why is there so much trash?"

Returning to the kitchen after brushing her hands, Marie let out a deep sigh as she looked at the mountain of meat piled up. 

Despite all that practice, she hadn't been able to make a satisfactory meal. 

It wasn't enough to eat only good food, yet to think she could only make dishes like that. 

This was a failure as a chef. She needed more practice. 

However, the meat brought from the West had run out. She had used up all of it just for practice. 

The kitchen staff had finished off the first batches she made.

They all said it was delicious and ate well. Honestly, the taste was truly outstanding.

However, as it happened two or three times, their expressions darkened rapidly.

Later, they covered their mouths, saying they absolutely couldn't eat it. There was even someone who ran out, saying it felt like oil was flowing instead of blood.

Marie sighed and ordered them to go run an errand. The servants, one after another, rushed out of the kitchen.

'How am I going to manage all of that?'

Actually, there was a way. She could have just thrown it away. But her pride as a chef wouldn't allow it.

'Still, since I can't give it to her, I guess I'll just have to throw it away.'

Thinking that, Marie approached the pile of meat.

"Hmm?"

That was strange. There was definitely meat up here with X-shaped cuts on it?

No, looking closely, it wasn't just that meat that was gone.

Marie remembered all the characteristics of the food she made.

Various types of meat were not visible, such as meat cooked medium, meat cooked well-done, and meat intentionally cooked crispy only at the ends.

Therefore, there was only one answer.

'Someone came into the kitchen.'

Marie, having quickly reached a conclusion, looked around.

She wasn't angry because they secretly ate the meat. It was to ask how it tasted.

However, there was no way that someone who ate secretly would have left a trace of themselves.

"If you were going to eat this much, you should have at least said something! What kind of morally bankrupt behavior is this!"

It was around the time Marie, who had gotten angry without realizing it, was fuming.

“We’re back!”

"I bought everything you asked for!"

The servants, carrying armfuls of luggage, looked at Marie with bewildered expressions.

"What is wrong, Marie?"

"Who ate the meat secretly? Without saying a word!"

“Yes? Really?”

"No! Who would be so rude!"

The servants were furious. To the people working in the kitchen, the words 'I will eat well' or 'I ate well' were the reason for their existence.

But if I ate secretly and disappeared, I couldn't hear those words!

At that time, all the people were filled with anger.

Eve, crouching and hiding in a corner, covered her mouth. The fork in her hand was covered in oil.

She definitely intended to take just one bite and leave. But when she came to her senses, she had already polished off two plates.

'What should I do? Should I go out now and apologize?'

However, Eve, who had suddenly become someone without any sense of morality, did not dare to step forward in front of them.

But wrong is wrong.

Having come to the South as a wolf, she could not become a shameless person who even secretly stole and ate food.

Eve fumbled with her ears and tail. Fortunately, it was hiding quietly.

Yeah, I'm being honest. If I say I did something wrong...!

That time when she was trying to follow her conscience.

Clink!

A sharp sound was heard. The fork had slipped from her hand due to the oil on it.

The kitchen fell silent as if someone had poured cold water on it. A streak of cold sweat trickled down Eve's back.

In the midst of that, as the kitchen was filled with silence

"Looks like you're still here...?"

Someone muttered in a voice filled with joy and madness.

Eek! It was a voice so terrifying it made wolf ears pop out.

Eve, startled, ran out immediately.

With a loud crash, Eve appeared. At her sudden entrance, everyone in the kitchen looked at Eve with surprised expressions.

"I! I ate it! I'm sorry!"

Eve lowered her head with a tearful expression.

"It was so, so delicious that my hand just started moving without me realizing it. I am sorry. I should have said something before eating; I am sorry for being shameless. I am sorry for having no business ethics..."

Back then, she kept apologizing like that.

"...No way."

Someone muttered as if sighing.

“Companion?”

At the name being called, Eve slowly opened her tightly closed eyes.

Their faces were filled with joy, not anger.

So it's just like meeting someone you've been longing for...

Huh?

Eve blinked blankly.

Marie looked at Eve with a deeply moved expression.

She was deeply moved that Eve ate the meat she had made with such gusto.

"My dear companion, it is an honor to meet you like this..."

“Um, me?”

"Actually, I really wanted to see you."

“Me, me too!”

"Me too!"

The beastmen standing behind Marie scrambled to speak. Eve, who had been standing there foolishly, racked her brain to figure out the situation.

'You don't look angry?'

No, more than that; it seems like they really like me...

As Eve gaped like a fool, Marie cautiously approached.

"Did it suit your taste?"

"What... Ah, the meat? Yes, it was really delicious. I've never eaten anything this good before. I feel guilty for eating it secretly..."

"That's such a relief to hear that!"

Marie clapped her hands in delight. Her curled hair swayed back and forth.

"Young lady, you'll like it too!"

"...?"

"What seed?"

“Baby?!”

Eve looked down at her stomach in surprise. Her belly, slightly bulging from eating a lot of meat, caught her eye.

'This is just a belly bulge!'

Eve shook her head vigorously. No matter how much she wanted to survive in the South, she didn't want things to go this way.

Judging by her memories of her past life, such a lie almost certainly resulted in bloodshed. If Eve were to die, she would rather burn to death than see blood.

Marie blinked at Eve's strong denial.

"...Are you not?"

"Yes. I don't have children."

Eve cleared her throat for no reason, realizing she hadn't been able to eat it yet.

"Anyway, it really isn't a child. That aside, I'm sorry for eating it without permission. It looked so delicious that I just..."

“That’s okay.”

Marie waved her hand quickly.

"We prepared all of this for you. We are truly sorry that the food is not perfect."

As Marie repeatedly apologized, the beastmen behind her also bowed their heads in apology.

'Is this really something to apologize for?'

Eve suddenly became curious about their cooking skills. Her gaze turned toward the shopping basket piled high.

Gulp.

Eve, still hungry, swallowed hard.

"Then, would you like to see your skills?"

Eve's words contributed greatly to reviving the culinary spirit that had faded.

“Of course!”

The other servants, including Marie, rolled up their sleeves.

The smell of meat grew stronger.

"What is this smell?"

The smell spread even to the dragons' training outside.

Arm exercises were essential to become Young Master Zion's playmate. They exercised with all their might.

I was just getting hungry, and to think of such a good smell...

The dragons approached the kitchen as if possessed.

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