Chapter 206 - 3-10 アンナ視点
"Anna, you're playing with me today, right? What shall we do? Magic practice? Or do you have a date with someone?"
The girl before me was Princess Margaret of the Tratia Empire, smiling happily.
As I promised Rachel-san, I had set aside time to determine if Margaret-sama was truly a reincarnator or if she really possessed the power of Foresight.
"Margaret-sama, have you seen these tools before?"
"Considering this is a kitchen and we're wearing aprons for some reason, I assume they're cooking utensils."
"Correct! You win!"
I held a bowl in one hand and a wooden spatula in the other, smiling with the brightest voice I could muster. Yes, today I had borrowed the smallest kitchen in the royal palace. There are many kitchens in the palace. The main kitchen is large enough for dozens of chefs and my presence would only get in their way. Therefore, I borrowed the kitchen intended for the palace servants, which was used the least.
Margaret-sama glanced curiously at the whisk and the bag of flour on the counter.
"So, what kind of game are we playing with cooking utensils?"
"I thought we could make cookies today."
"...Cookies? Is there any need for us to make those?"
Margaret-sama knit her brows in genuine confusion. Her expression was perfectly princess-like, as if the idea of cooking for herself had never even crossed her mind.
Wait. ...Was I mistaken?
I thought a reincarnator wouldn't feel much aversion to cooking. That's why I chose cookie-making... but Margaret-sama's expression was very similar to how noble ladies reacted when I mentioned cooking.
"Um. Are you not very interested?"
"It's not that. ...Hmm. Anna, you like sweets, but I didn't know you had a hobby for baking."
As Margaret-sama muttered to herself, I panicked internally, worrying I had offended her. However, my face relaxed when I saw the person who entered the kitchen after a knock on the door.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"...Who is that?"
Margaret-sama looked at my obvious joy with suspicion. I stood beside him to introduce him.
"He's our teacher for today's cookie-making!"
"...Teacher?"
"This is Samuel-san, a chef for the House of Marquis Marcel!"
"Your Imperial Highness, it is an honor to meet you. I am Samuel Emonier. I look forward to working with you today."
At my introduction, Sami-kun bowed with a tense expression. His stiff greeting made it clear how nervous he was to be in the presence of an Imperial Princess. Seeing the usually reliable Sami-kun acting so flustered was refreshing and, in a way, quite endearing.
However, Margaret-sama showed blatant distaste at Samuel's appearance.
"...You, what is your rank? Are you a commoner?"
"I-I am from a Baron's family. However, I personally hold no title."
At Sami-kun's words, Margaret-sama held her head and sighed.
"...He feels like a total mob character."
Her whisper just barely reached my ears.
Did she just say 'mob'? Was I imagining it?
"Well, whatever. Are we making these cookies to give to someone? If so, I'll go along with it."
"A present? Once they're done, I'll give them to you, Margaret-sama. Please enjoy the cookies you made yourself. And don't worry. With Samuel-san here, failure is impossible."
"Hah? You're going through the trouble of making cookies and not giving them to anyone?"
Despite my enthusiastic explanation, Margaret-sama's mood didn't improve at all.
"Things you make yourself are delicious! So, let's have a tea party once they're done! The three of us can eat together."
"...Wait, this chef is eating with us too? Isn't that weird? For a mere mob."
From the way she spoke, it didn't seem like she simply disliked eating with a mere chef. Based on her words and actions, I was now certain Margaret-sama was a reincarnator. She likely meant she didn't want to waste time on someone who wasn't a capture target.
In the first place, this isn't a game world. I felt a bit sorry for Margaret-sama, who was probably expecting to see the game's story play out, but I have absolutely no interest in those so-called capture targets!
"This isn't a formal setting. I believe I said at the start that titles like Princess or Saint don't matter here."
"I have no interest in eating sweets with a servant," Margaret-sama said, turning her face away with a deep sigh. However, noticing my troubled expression, she muttered a reluctant "Fine."
"Just this once! This is a special exception."
In a display of pure 'tsundere' behavior, she picked up a bowl despite her prickly attitude.
Wow, this girl. Her words aren't cute, but her existence is.
Perhaps because Sami-kun and I were looking at her with fond smiles, Margaret-sama glanced at us and looked startled.
"Hey, chef. Hurry up and give me instructions."
"Y-Yes! Then, let's start by measuring the ingredients."
I wondered what all that complaining was about. Once the cookie-making began, Margaret-sama became absorbed in the task, working in silence. In fact, she was terrifyingly efficient. It was as if she were used to making cookies. When I curiously asked if she made them often, she gave a flat "Hah?" and denied it with genuine distaste.
Even for cookies, could someone act so naturally if the recipe wasn't already in their head?
Even now, while letting the dough rest, she was checking the molds and asking Sami-kun if it was time to preheat the oven. Sami-kun was also surprised by the Princess, but he smiled happily as he led her to the oven to explain how to use the palace's equipment.
"Are you having fun, Your Imperial Highness?" Sami-kun asked cheerfully as she silently cut out the shapes.
"I-I'm not having..."
"Today's cookies will definitely be delicious. Not only are you efficient, but you're also very good at handling the ingredients and tools."
"...That's obvious. I won't forgive you if you burn them!"
Sitting in front of the oven with her knees pulled to her chest, waiting for them to bake with a soft expression, Margaret-sama's unnatural air vanished. She looked like nothing more than an ordinary twelve-year-old girl.