With the wyvern meat secured, Rest had officially checked off the party's main course.
Still, a feast required more than just meat.
If he wanted to complete the ultimate full-course meal—not that it was his only motivation—he still had quite a list of ingredients to track down.
"You’re heading to the Royal Capital, right? In that case, I’ll take care of transporting the wyvern," Yuri offered with a smile.
She wore her usual look of boundless confidence, puffing out a chest that was remarkably well-developed for a girl her age.
"The kind villagers have even arranged a carriage for me. The meat is already frozen solid, so I’ll be fine on my own!"
"Ah—yeah. I see... Well, I suppose..."
Her suggestion was a godsend. Dragging a wyvern all the way back to the Clover territory before doubling back to the capital would have been a massive waste of time.
Yuri wasn't a child, anyway. While her sense of direction was famously nonexistent, it wouldn't matter as long as the coachman knew the route. She should be more than capable of handling an errand like this.
"So, just leave the wyvern to me and go do what you need to do... Sluuurp."
"Wait... why am I suddenly feeling incredibly anxious?"
Specifically, he was worried about Yuri sneaking bites of the wyvern meat.
Was it really wise to entrust such rare ingredients to this drooling little glutton? By the time she reached the Count Clover Territory, the meat might have vanished entirely, forcing him to trek back up the mountain all over again.
"I-It’ll be fine! I want to show you that I can be useful, Rest! I’m always causing trouble, so I have to prove I’m worthy of being your wife!"
"Oh, so you were worried about that..."
This was a surprise. In her own way, Yuri was actually concerned about being a burden.
After all, she was currently a runaway who had literally kicked her father and brothers out of her way. She probably feared that if Rest rejected her, she’d be dragged back to her family as an unwanted nuisance.
"You really don’t need to worry about that... Although, honestly, there are plenty of other things you probably should worry about."
Like her behavior as a proper lady. Or her total lack of a sense of personal space with men.
Regardless, Rest had no intention of shipping Yuri back to the Marquis Catreia House. Their engagement had been born of circumstance, so he couldn't quite say he "loved" her yet, but if asked how he felt, he wouldn't hesitate for a second to say he liked her.
The idea of her belonging to another man made him uneasy, and he genuinely wanted her to stay with him.
"Well, I’m honestly touched that you want to help. Since you’re offering, I’ll leave it in your hands."
"Right, leave it to me! I promise I won’t sneak a single snack!"
"Just make sure you watch out for thieves as much as your own stomach... I’m counting on you."
With that settled, Rest entrusted the wyvern meat to Yuri and set off for the Royal Capital.
He used magic to fly to the capital and made a stop at the Marquis Rosemary townhouse first. Since dropping in unannounced would be rude, he sent a messenger to the Duke Crocus House to request an audience... but the reply came back the very same day, urging him to visit at once.
I heard Celestine was incredibly busy... yet I got an appointment almost instantly?
Though he found it strange, Rest made his way to the Duke Crocus Mansion.
"We have been expecting you."
"Lady Celestine is waiting inside."
A pair of maids greeted Rest upon his arrival. They bowed with the flawless precision expected of servants serving a ducal house.
"Um... sorry for the short notice. I brought a gift—"
"This way, please."
"Come in, come in."
Before Rest could even hold out the block of wyvern meat he’d brought as a gift, the two maids practically dragged him inside. Their pushiness was starkly at odds with their supposed mastery of perfect etiquette.
"A-Ah...?"
Confused, Rest followed them down the hall. The carpeted corridors were lined with paintings and artifacts that were opulent without being tacky; it felt like walking through a museum.
"It’s this room."
"Now then, go ahead. Open the door."
"Y-Yes...?"
Finding himself at a room deep within the estate and feeling a shove from the maids, Rest gave a bewildered knock.
"Come in."
"Pardon me, then."
Once granted permission, Rest pushed the door open.
"Huh...?"
Then, he froze. It was as if someone had cast ice magic directly on him.
"Ah, welcome. My apologies... for being caught in such a state of undress."
Standing there was Celestine Crocus—friend, fiancée, and the woman currently in the middle of a wardrobe change.
Staring at Celestine in nothing but her black lace lingerie, Rest’s jaw dropped so low it might as well have been unhinged.