Chapter 207 - 3-11 アンナ視点
"Oh, it's delicious!"
We were sitting in the kitchen's dining area, munching on freshly baked cookies. Margaret-sama, who had been unable to wait and took a large bite first, immediately relaxed her cheeks.
"Hey, this is good, isn't it!"
The way she had been speaking ill of Sami-kun was gone. Now seemingly quite attached to him, she turned her large eyes toward him for agreement.
"Yes. It's so delicious I can hardly believe it's your first time. They're good enough to sell in a shop."
"Right? It's strange... the whisk and the spatula just felt right in my hands. I thought, maybe this is what it means for your body to remember something."
"Eh?"
She doesn't remember cooking or even wanting to, but her body is familiar with it? What does that mean? I'm sure she's a reincarnator, but does she not have all her memories?
Ignoring my confusion, Margaret-sama continued to smile happily, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
"I mean, this is the first time I've ever been so absorbed in something! At first, I thought cooking was beneath me, but I guess I was wrong. I'm glad you invited me, Anna."
"I'm glad to hear that. Let's make something together again."
"Really? Then there are things I want to make! Macarons, cream puffs... tiramisu would be good too!"
Counting them off on her fingers, Margaret-sama glanced at Sami-kun.
"You, I'll allow you to be my instructor next time as well."
"That is truly an honor." Sami-kun bowed respectfully with his hand over his heart.
"Wait, you're not a pâtissier, are you? Can you actually teach properly?"
"Don't worry! Sami-kun is a hard worker and a genius chef who thinks about cooking twenty-four-seven. He can certainly serve as an instructor that will satisfy you, Margaret-sama."
"...If you say so."
Pushed back by my intensity, Margaret-sama nodded slightly.
Oops, did I do it again?
Whenever it comes to Sami-kun, I can't stop my urge to gush about him. Back in my previous life, I remember Megu—Makoto-kun's sister and my best friend—often being put off by my love talk. I still have the maidenly heart that wants to look good in front of the person I love. Seeing me talk so fast, I looked at Sami-kun fearfully, wondering if he was disillusioned.
But my fears were groundless. Sami-kun blinked in surprise, but his sharp eyes softened into a happy smile. Watching us with a bored expression while munching on cookies, Margaret-sama suddenly looked at us as if she'd realized something.
"Wait... 'Sami-kun'? Eh, I mean, what kind of relationship do you two have? Why are the Saint of Light and a random chef chatting so familiarly?"
"Ah, that's... um."
This was bad. For some reason, I had become too casual while in the presence of an Imperial Princess. I had been acting with my usual distance from Sami-kun, but thinking about it now, it was a mistake. As Sami-kun and I broke into a cold sweat, Margaret-sama's suspicious gaze sharpened.
"In the first place, aren't you two a bit too close?"
She crossed her arms and stared. I flinched and looked away.
"D-Do you think so?"
"You were smiling at each other every time you did something while cooking, and once the cookies were done, you were praising each other's work."
"W-We were doing that?"
I didn't remember. However, I truly believe everything Sami-kun makes is the best in the world. That's why I praise him from the bottom of my heart. I couldn't exactly deny it. Sami-kun is also a very kind and cheerful person who easily finds the good in others. Praising the cookies was just a natural flow. Meeting each other's eyes, we were both surprised by how natural this time had felt, and we shared a small laugh.
Margaret-sama grimaced at us and slumped onto the table, sighing with disinterest.
"How stupid. Why do I have to watch a mob and Anna flirting? I'd watch Louis and Anna all day, but this gives me nothing."
Pouting and resting her head on the table while swinging her legs under her chair, she clearly didn't realize what a bombshell she'd just dropped. Sami-kun looked at me with a start, and I nodded to him without Margaret-sama noticing.
"...Is Your Imperial Highness a 'Louis-shi'?"
"Nooo. I'm a Theodore-shi. But he's a hidden character and his route has low sugar content, so it's a bit underwhelming."
Margaret-sama fell for my trap so easily that I couldn't help but smirk. If I saw my face in a mirror right now, I'm sure I'd look quite villainous.
"I see. A 'Theodore-shi,' then."
I murmured each word meaningfully. Margaret-sama snapped her head up, her eyes widening so much they looked like they might fall out. Then, her face went pale and she began to tremble.
"Y-You tricked me! You fake Anna!"
She stood up, knocking her chair over, her pale face now turning bright red.
"Oh, stop. I am the real Anna Carroll here. I live as Anna, and I have the heart and thoughts of Anna. The game is the thing that's fake, you know?"
As I sighed and shook my head, Margaret-sama stared in shock.
"Liar, liar, liar!"
"No, I'm not lying."
"...But, this place is... this world is..."
The previously furious Margaret-sama now looked lost, her eyes wandering in shock.
"Now, Margaret-sama. Tell me. ...Who exactly are you, and where did you come from?"
As my smile deepened, Margaret-sama bit her lip and stood there, looking down in silence.