A Maiden’s Unwanted Heroic Epic

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As Krische blurts it out, Anne's shoulders jump and she starts repeating, “I'm sorry,” again.
Krische's brow was slightly wrinkled and she looked a little angry —-probably because Anne almost ruined the dish.
She looks a little different from when she is displeased or sulking, she is trying to hold back her anger.
It's rare to see such an expression on Krische's face, and it makes Serene let out  small chuckles.

“Well, well, look, we've made some delicious food, so let's enjoy it.
There, Krische-sama, please sit down.”

“Oh, onee-sama, Anne-sama will be here today too, right?”

“Ah…
yes.”

Krische glances at Anne and she sits next to Kreschenta as instructed.
Kreschenta's mouth loosened in satisfaction, but Krische, who pulled Bery to sit down next to her after setting the table, pouted.
It was clear that Kreschenta liked Krische a lot.

On the first day, Kreschenta suggested that they should sit in pairs.
Serene, who was careful not to be rude, sat next to her, but she looked at Bery and Krische with a clearly dissatisfied look on her face, as expected even Selene would notice her motive.
Bery seemed to have noticed, but Krische acted as if the seat was already decided.

From then on, it was Krische and Bery, Selene and Kreschenta.
Kreschenta tried to sit in the opposite position, saying that her hair was dusty as she tried to change her seat, and tried to sit next to Krische, but Krische wanted to sit next to Bery.
If Kreschenta sits in the opposite position, then Krische would change her seat so it becomes face to face, if Kreschenta sits next to her, then Krische would stand up, quickly helping Bery by pulling her to her side, defending the position.

The offense and defense of the two were at the same level, but that's why it was heartwarming.
When a servant she knew named Anne had arrived and was introduced to Kreschenta, she said “So there will be five of us for meals from now on”.
This was probably the reason for the lack of resistance to the presence of servants, which is uncharacteristic of royalty.
She wanted a reason for Krische to sit next to her.

When Selene smiled wryly, there was something childish about it, and Kreschenta glared at her with a slightly sullen look.

“W-what is it?”

“No.
Just thinking, Kreschenta really likes Krische.”

Kreschenta blushed and did not answer.
When Serene sat down in front of Krische, Krische looked at Anne with a furrowed brow.

“…
Anne, please sit down quickly, the food will get cold.”

’

“B-but…
Sit with Her Highness Princess…”

“I don't mind.
Such a lively meal is not very common in the royal palace, so please sit down and stop worrying about it.”

“Y-yes…”

Anne nervously sat down next to Selene.
Selene smiled and offered a small silent prayer, “Thank you for the bounty of the earth,” as she watched Bery soothe Krische, whose cheeks were puffed out.
In Bogan's absence, it was Selene who would declare the start of the meal.
The other four followed suit, and after a short silent prayer, they began to eat.

Although it is not proper to talk with food in one's mouth while eating, the conversation itself is often conducted in a normal manner.

“How is it?”

“Yeah, it's really delicious.
Really, Krische is really good at cooking, aren't you”

“Ehehe…”

It is usually Krische who is the first to open her mouth, asking for feedback on the quality of the food.
In the past, the meal was relatively quiet and Bery would explain the day's dishes in an upbeat tone, but Krische has since taken over that role.
Bery used to talk to Serene a lot in those days, but in retrospect, that was probably just her being considerate.

Surprisingly, or perhaps I should say, unsurprisingly.
Kreschenta is quite a glutton, and she seems to like food quite a bit.
Though it's delicious, it also could not be called a lavish dish, but she didn't show any displeasure and seemed very satisfied after moving here from the estate.
Perhaps it's because it was made by Krische, but her style of being well-behaved while hastily stuffing the food into her stomach resembled krische.

The nobles who possessed manners basically have a large appetite, but the amount of food the two of them ate was still large, and while Selene ate one piece of bread, they had finished eating two pieces.
Krische took a piece of her own bread and placed it in front of Kreschenta, who looked at her and blushed shyly as she tore into it.

Serene could tell that she was just wearing a mask, which was also a source of concern for her.
When she asked Bery, she explained to Selene, 'She is very similar to Lady Krische, but it's probably fine.'
However, compared to Bery, Selene, who knows how Krische is on the battlefield, is more anxious than Bery.

Selene thinks it is a miracle that Krische grew up to be a good person.
It is because she was raised by kind and understanding people like her parents and Bery, but her nature is still dangerous.
Unlike Krische, she still does not have a good grasp of what kind of person Kreschenta, who was raised in the royal palace ,is like, and she is uneasy about it.
This is because Selene knows that the royal palace is an ominous place, swirling with conspiracies and trickery.

She loves Krische from the bottom of her heart, but at the same time, she also admits that Krische is a deviant who doesn't think anything of killing people.
Selene has been trained to be objective at all times, and she clearly sees this side of Krische as dangerous.
And that Krische's true nature lies there.

It is Bery's love and goodness that allows Krische to live her life as she is now, as a slightly weird but a normal girl.
It's vexing, but Selene admits that she would not have been able to educate Krische so well herself, and that's why she respects Bery more than anyone else.

But that doesn't mean she thinks that Bery's goodness is perfect.
She did not believe unconditionally that just because Krische had turned out well, Kreschenta would be the same too.
Of course, Bery also understood that and wanted to be entrusted with it, but Selene was extremely afraid in the event that it's impossible.

The sight of Kreschenta stuffing her cheek with bread like this was adorable, just like Krische.

’
But if she was asked whether Kreschenta is as good as Krische, she could not relax if she chooses Kreschenta.

“Anne, how is it?”

“T-this dish was really prepared by the two of you…?”

“…? Yes.”

“I am in awe of how good it tastes compared to what I made.
…
If you're so good at cooking, what should I do to take care of you…”

To answer Anne, Krische thinks for a moment and then tells her with a smile on her face.

“Um…
Bery does a lot of things for Krische so, ah, When Krische is there Krische helps Bery so Anne doesn't have to take care of anyone.”

“Ah, umm…
that's, yes…”

“K…Krische-sama…”

It was a clear rejection that could not be hidden.
Anne was depressed, and Bery was flustered, wondering what to say.

Kreschenta looks at Krische and then at Anne as if observing her.
—-The inorganic eyes that Krische sometimes shows.

“That's not good”

Krische, who glanced sideways at her, and pouted her lips, saying quietly, “I have a good memory you know.
I'm just looking at her a bit.”
Bery was startled for a moment, but she did not show it on her face and changed the subject, saying that the pie was very delicious.

Selene reads and understands the meaning from Krische's words and Bery's reaction.
She managed to read it somehow—-She also had known Krische for a long time.
And from that, she understood.

How much better it would have been if Krische had been a mere princess.
Selene unconsciously pressed her eyes, Krische turned her gaze to Selene.

“…Selene-sama, you look very tired.”

“I'm fine.
Thank you for your consideration.”

“Please don't push yourself too hard.
It would be a problem if Lady Selene collapsed in this situation.”

“I've gotten the gist of it, and compared to when I first started, it's a lot easier now.
That's not going to happen.”

Krische smiled and looked at Serene.
And then asked, “May I talk to you later?”

“A talk, is it?”

“Yes, I have talked with onee-sama and Argan-sama, but not with Selene-sama yet.
Of course, only if you have time, is fine.”

“If that's the case, by all means.”

Krische and Bery look at the two of them, but Kreschenta tells them that sharing your purpose is important.

Anne, who was depressed alone, couldn't hear the conversation at all.