Chapter 99

In an attempt to hide my agitation, to feign nonchalance, I reached for the sweets.

I picked up a pink macaron—

"Hmm?"

It was Ichigo's meow, lower than usual.

Her paw was placed on my hand, as if to stop my movement.

I realized that the pink macaron, the strawberry-flavored one, was the last one.

"Hmmmm~?"

*Are you going to fight for it? Fight over the strawberry macaron?*

Her eyes were sharp, as if challenging me.

Her tail seemed to puff up, as if she was ready for battle.

"Ichigo..."

While I was talking with His Majesty, Ichigo had been silently devouring the strawberry macarons.

She had been munching from the edges, savoring each one carefully, almost delicately.

When I reached for the last one, she seemed to react.

"Don't worry. I won't take it."

I smiled wryly and withdrew my hand from the macaron.

Ichigo is a serious strawberry fan.

She usually seems so laid-back, but when it comes to strawberries, she gets really serious.

"Meow!"

Quickly, Ichigo reached for the macaron.

She tried to grab it with her paw...

"What's wrong?"

Ichigo stopped her front paw.

Her eyes were wide, staring intently at the macaron.

She seemed to be thinking, her whiskers twitching.

"Meow!"

From top to bottom.

Ichigo moved her front paw, looking back and forth between the macaron and me.

"Um, are you going to split the strawberry macaron in half and give me some?"

Did she want to use magic to cut it in half?

When I asked, she shook her head.

"Meow!"

Ichigo's paw pointed at His Majesty.

Could it be...

"Are you saying you want to give some to His Majesty, so you want to divide it into three parts?"

"Meow!"

*That's right. I'll share it with a heavy heart.*

She nodded solemnly, as if to say that.

"Ichigo, you're so kind..."

I was moved by Ichigo's consideration for His Majesty, even though it was our first meeting.

"Hmm"

A small laugh.

It was His Majesty.

He seemed to be amused by the exchange between Ichigo and me.

Oh no.

My face felt like it was turning red.

I had been talking to Ichigo as usual, but His Majesty was also there.

...I hadn't meant to let my guard down, but for some reason, I had.

It was a bit strange.

I hadn't spent much time with His Majesty, yet I felt and acted as if I knew him well.

"You don't need a share. You and the gardener cat can have it."

His Majesty regained his expressionless demeanor and said this before taking a sip of tea.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

After that, the tea party continued, and His Majesty finished telling me about the "Rose Gathering."

Once a year, the rose garden, which is usually off-limits to non-royals, is opened to the public.

His Majesty and I will guide the guests and give them bouquets of roses as souvenirs.

In the past, there were years when crafted items resembling roses were given instead of fresh ones...

But the limited beauty of the roses, which will eventually wither, is what gives them value.

For the past few decades, fresh roses have been given based on this idea.

While some argue that giving fresh roses every year is monotonous,

there is also a concern about the cost of preparing crafted items for all the guests.

This year, His Majesty plans to give fresh roses again.

"...Even a glamorous event has its budget constraints."

While thinking about the various challenges His Majesty faces, I was enjoying stroking Ichigo's fur in the carriage on the way back.

Ichigo, who had eaten her fill of macarons, was curled up next to me, purring contentedly.

Eventually, the carriage stopped, and Lucian opened the door.

Just as I was about to head to the palace with Ichigo—

"Ichigo?"

Ichigo slipped out and walked in a direction away from the palace.

It was unusual for her, as she usually stays around the palace or nearby.

Where is she going?

Curious, I entered the palace.

Then, Butler Borgan approached me.

"Princess Letitia, a letter has arrived from Chief Court Magician Bodley."

Thank you for reading.

Thank you also for the votes in the survey!

After a quick count, the results were:

1st place: Ichigo, 2nd place: Glen Reed, 3rd place: Guu-sama.

I was surprised and delighted by the number of votes I received, more than I expected!

The close race between 1st and 2nd place has me thinking about writing two side stories: one focusing on Ichigo and one on Glen Reed... I hope I can manage to write them.