CH 16

Tension ran between Alexei and Eleonora.

“You, are you admonishing me? State your name.”

Eleonora elegantly bowed and introduced herself.

“…I am Eleonora from the Purpleus dukedom.”

After hearing this, Alexei wrinkled his eyebrows.

“You and that girl, Sofia, are sisters?”

“…That is so.”

“The Purpleus dukedom seems to have terrible education. You think you can speak to me freely like this?”

Eleonora stared directly at the threatening Alexei.

(It doesn’t seem like he’s actually angry. If I look closely, he really resembles Ham-chan-pe. But his cold eyes are completely different from Ham-chan-dabe.)

Though it wasn’t to the extent of animals and magical beasts, Eleonora could somewhat understand human emotions.

“…No. I resolved myself to death to say this. Pie is the second most important food for me.”

Sergei spoke up in response to the goddess-like Eleonora’s mysterious statement.

“Eleonora-sama, this is all because of my ineptitude. Please apologize to his Highness.”

Alexei stopped Sergei and once again questioned Eleonora.

“If the pie is only your second favourite, then what is your favourite?”

“…It is ham.”

(My Ham-chan was a good child who treasured his food and tried his best to eat foods he didn’t like-dabe. He shouldn’t grow up like this emperor-pe! No, he should already be an adult-pe. But he’s different from the emperor. I’m sure he grew up to be a fine and gentle person-dabe.)

Alexei was shocked at this answer. Pie then ham. This combination couldn’t be a coincidence. The image of Pie calling out to him appeared.

Pie, with her soft green skin.

Pie, who always hugged him gently.

Pie, who laughed in her last moments.

Even now, he still held a deep attachment to her.

For some reason, her image overlapped with Eleonora’s though she looked completely different.

“How strange. Ham isn’t a dish, it’s an ingredient.”

Eleonora tilted her head.

“…It is a completed dish.”

There seemed to be no romantic interest between the two within this conservation since they had only been talking about food.

Yet Alexei seemed to feel some sort of attraction to her. For what reason he did not know. It was true that she was more beautiful than anyone in the room but if you take off that layer then, just like everyone else, there’s only a skull underneath.

He was not seduced by outer beauty.

“What part of ham do you like?”

Eleonora furiously wanted to answer his question, but she was able to keep that momentary passion within her.

(Ham has so many good points-pe! But I’m thinking about Ham-chan-dabe! Ham-chan’s ham-pe! Ham-chan is the best-dabe! The best in the world-pe!)

Eleonora gracefully smiled and slowly answered.

“…Everything. Its existence is priceless.”

Alexei was struck with unprecedented emotions as Eleonora spoke affectionately about ham as though she was the holy mother.

“Then what about the pie?”

Listening to their series of conversations about ham and pie, Sergei thought they might be referring to something deeper. But this was the first time the two of them met. Thus, he pondered on what they might be referring to, speaking suddenly of ham and pie.

Not even giving Sergei a glance, Alexei continued to question Eleonora about pie.

“…Pie is something precious that was given to me.”

(It was the name given to me by Ham-chan! I’m not a monster anymore. I am Pie-dabe. Pie is the most beautiful name in the world-pe!)

Her eyes were sparkling, and she seemed to happily answer from the bottom of her heart.

Seeing this expression, Alexei felt nostalgic.

“What kind of pie do you like?”

Eyes tinged with passion, Alexei asked about her favourite types of pie.

“…If it’s pie then everything. If it has pie in the name, I like it all equally.”

(Apple pie, custard pie, rabbit meat pie, even fish pie, I love them all-pe!)

With her head full of thoughts of pie, her desire to eat the nearby pie grew and she began sneaking glances at the table nearby.

(Even though there’s pie there I can’t eat any-pe! Let me eat the pie!)

Seeing her gaze toward the pie, Alexei couldn’t help but want to let her eat.

“I understand. Don’t dispose of the pie on this table.”

Alexei’s eyes narrowed as replied and looked at her with affection. Then, without hiding her joy, she smiled broadly and bowed, giving words of gratitude.