[TTH] 11 – ⚝ Zinon's perspective: The childhood friend I viewed as a comrade suddenly appeared as a woman. ⚝ (2)

"What is this...?"

Looking at the various dishes brought to the table before him, Zinon frowned.

A cake topped with muscat, a pot in which a candle was heating chocolate, and a plate piled high with fruits.

Then, the maids Wanda and Mira brought in warmed cups and tea.

Richeli, Julian, and, for some reason, Abigail, who was said to be the granddaughter of a gardener and had recently become friendly, were all smilingly surrounding the table.

"This is a cake made with muscat. Isn't the colour cute? It's best eaten fresh - it doesn't get watery. And this... haven't you seen something like this? You dip fruits or bread into this heated chocolate."

"Did you make this cake? This? And this?"

Looking suspiciously as if there might be poison in it, Zinon was met with Richeli's pouting and cute glare.

Wait, cute?

(No, no, she's not cute. I've never thought of her as cute.)

Richeli, shaking her fluffy platinum blonde hair, narrowed her peach-coloured eyes and smiled at Zinon's puzzled expression.

"I made it as a thank you. I haven't said it yet, right? As a thank you for the bunny, and also..."

There, Richeli closed her mouth.

"...Ah, then I'll have it without hesitation."

She hesitated because Julian and Abigail were there. She probably wanted to thank him for saving her from being assaulted by Abigail's relative yesterday.

That man.

The punishment for trying to violate the crown prince's fiancée would naturally be severe, at the very least lifelong confinement or banishment from the country, but since Richeli was the one who had seduced and driven him mad, Zinon had decided to forgive him after some hesitation.

Most importantly, the injuries he had sustained from being blasted away by Zinon's magic and strength would probably force him to live in a hospital for a considerable amount of time.

"Wow, it's so fluffy and delicious! I never knew my sister could make such a delicious cake."

With his emerald eyes sparkling, Julian was stuffing his mouth with the white cream cake topped with muscat.

"Sis, this chocolate also melts in your mouth. It's so delicious. I've never eaten anything this delicious!"

Abigail was holding her cheeks as if they were about to fall off, dipping strawberries and bananas skewered on a pick into the chocolate and eagerly bringing them to her mouth.

Richeli was watching them with a soft smile.

Noticing Wanda and Mira leaning forward in interest, she pulled out a chair and offered it to her maids.

"Please, Wanda, Mira. Join us and eat."

No, this was just...

The only explanation was that she must have hit her head.

Could it be that, along with her memory, even her personality had been lost?

If so, would the arrogant and brazen Richeli return once her memory returned?

"..."

Zinon couldn't shake off the feeling of discomfort. It was getting stronger each day.

It was completely...

(A different person.)

After all this...

This...

"Cute..."

"I didn't say that! I didn't say anything like that!"

With a loud clatter, Zinon accidentally slammed his fork onto the table, causing Richeli and the others, including Abigail, to jump in surprise.

"Zinon, what's wrong?"

"Sis, what's with this little one? It's super cute!"

A bunny sacred beast hopped onto Richeli's lap, her clear peach-coloured eyes wide open.

Abigail, her young grass-coloured eyes wide open, was mesmerised by the sacred beast's pink eyes, fluffy fur, and innocent expression.

"Oh, you came for the cake, didn't you? Even though you kept tasting the whipped cream and getting in the way when I made it."

Richeli gently touched the pink pads on the sacred beast's front paws, hugged it tightly as if it was too cute to resist, and repeatedly kissed its fluffy fur.

Zinon watched in astonishment while Wanda and Mira chuckled and placed a piece of muscat cake on a plate for him.

"Your Highness, please. This is what the Lady made for you. It's very delicious."

"Ah... yeah."

With his fork, he scooped up the fluffy sponge, and the soft sweetness melted gently in his mouth.

"Ah."

"...?"

"You just thought it was delicious, didn't you?"

"What...?"

Zinon's eyes reddened slightly at Richeli's happy remark.

"Zinon, you're blushing. This is the first time I've seen you embarrassed."

"Your Highness... is so cute."

"Hey, hey, Abby. You can't speak to the Crown Prince like that."

"I'm sorry, Your Highness."

Julian teased him, and when Mira hurriedly scolded Abigail for her innocent smile, she apologised obediently.

"No... it's good. This."

With a sigh, Zinon muttered and ate the cake while Richeli smiled softly.

***

Night.

After getting out of the bath in his royal palace room, Zinon dried his blonde hair with wind magic and lay on the bed in his bathrobe.

He sighed and picked up the blue magic stone on the bedside table, infusing it with magic.

"I made a cake for the first time in a while, but I'm glad you liked it, Bunny."

"Pyu..."

"There are such delicious fruits in this world. I wonder if Richeli found any food she liked over there?"

Richeli was saying something strange.

Zinon lay on his side on the bed, propped up his head with his hand, and stared into the air, listening to Richeli's voice that flowed into the bedroom.

From the beginning, Zinon had only felt distrust towards Richeli, who had regained her consciousness.

Day by day, that feeling deepened.

Yesterday, he gave a sacred beast to Richeli as a birthday gift.

He applied a magic pattern to the back of the sacred beast's hand.

In between his official duties, he had been monitoring Richeli's condition.

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We’re returning to Richeli’s perspective next chapter. TTH is on Patreon, if you want to read ahead~ ♡