***Arc 5 The One Who Obstructed, Chapter 86 The Balloon Princess and Needle Servant***

----A few weeks ago.

From Belgash to the Imperial State.

Several horse-drawn carriages were traveling north along a plain road.

Twenty cavalrymen protected the front and rear, and ten soldiers wearing black-coated armor were attached as escorts.

The number was small for a royal escort, but it was sufficient.

Increasing the number of escorts did not mean that the defense would be stronger.

The bigger they were, the less nimble they would be, and the slower they could react on the spur of the moment.

That's why the escorts are a few elites.

All the cavalrymen were also from nobility----they were all soldiers of magic holders.

What was required this time was an escort who could even escape at the worst possible moment when facing an army.

If the Imperial State of Arna were to become hostile, it would be meaningless no matter how many guards were present.

Because only an army can deal with another army.

That was why mobility was more important to them than group combat power.

They were the best of the best in the kingdom, personally selected by Selene, Krische, and the Corps Commanders, who had the ability to get the two people to safety.

Further safety measures on top of existing safety measures.

Not one of the carriages in the center of the line was particularly ornate.

The two escort targets were boarding just another carriage.

"... I'm hungry."

Reddish gold hair.

The face adorned with long, graceful hair was young, but her beauty was like that of a fairy in a fairytale.

The purple eyes, covered with long eyelashes, were large, and yet the face, balanced like a doll made to look perfect, had a magical charm that bewitched people.

The white and gold dress she wore was decorated with elegant lace, she was the first princess of the Kingdom.

----Kreschenta Fana Vera Alberan.

Her figure was truly that of a Blessed Child, or at least that's how it was supposed to be.

"Okay, say 'ahhhhh'. "

"...Ahhhhh."

But the figure sitting on the lap of the red-haired servant was as young as her appearance could be seen.

Her beautiful face was pouting (puffed up) and her large eyes were narrowed to show some dissatisfaction.

----Kreschenta, the Blessed Child.

However, no matter how you look at it, the way she stuffed her cheeks with the cookies brought to her mouth was the very picture of a selfish child.

"You know, please don't treat me like a child. Who do you think I am?"

"Kreschenta-sama. Krische-sama, little sister."

The servant, who said that with a nonchalant face and a soft smile on her baby face, stroked the head of the princess in her lap.

Against Kreschenta who got more and more dissatisfied, the servant hugged her body tightly.

Kreschenta's dissatisfaction increased as she felt the bulge against her back, but the servant, Bery, firmly restrained her from flailing.

"Flailing is no good. It was Kreschenta-sama who said your buttocks hurt."

"...Even so, I didn't say you could pat me on the head."

"A good servant is one who could act before being ordered by their master."

"The day will never come where I ask you to pat my head."

"You're not very honest, are you? Even though you were so obedient when Kreschenta-sama was playing pretend doggy with Krische-sama."

'You', when she was about to turn around, Bery's hand gently held Kreschenta's head.

"Look, Kreschenta-sama, it's a cookie, here, ahhhhh."

"Uu...mugu..."

A cookie sealed her mouth as she attempted to spin her complaints.

"Just because I'm a little hungry, you took advantage of it, and do as you please."

"This servant must be punished someday."

Even as she thought so, nutrition still held a higher priority to her.

Anyway, the cookies were very tasty.

The gentle sweetness of honey was soaked through the moist cookie, and the inside was probably nuts.

The cookies were savory in the mouth, and the crunchy texture made them a delight to the taste buds.

----She is good at cooking and good at making sweets.

In that respect, it's not like Kreschenta didn't value Bery.

Even excluding the troublesome fact that she was a subject of dependence for her older sister, she was incomparably more competent than Anne and others, and it was safe to admit that she was useful as a servant.

However, the biggest problem was that this servant had no respect for Kreschenta at all.

The awe and respect for Kreschenta that existed when they first met had completely disappeared.

Kreschenta establishes a pecking (priority) order for all things.

It was the same with people.

Having grown up in the noble society of the royal court, Kreschenta had clear standards in this area, and she changed her attitude and behavior accordingly.

She did not care if royalty from other countries or those associated with the royal family were disrespectful to her.

She also didn't mind the rudeness of it, as she had a tendency to find flowery words as bothersome.

However, this servant's attitude was different.

It was still understandable that her big sister----Krische, who was a bit silly and sloppy in many ways, acted as the person with a higher rank but....

Bery and Selene were clearly positioned as beings that should be below her in Kreschenta's mind.

After all she's the princess, a genius who was more gifted than anyone else.

Except for Krische, who was the only equal in terms of blood and ability to her, everyone in the kingdom should be in awe of the great and her talented self ----If she must say then, it was their duty.

And yet, here she was treated like a child.

Kreschenta felt a strong sense of resentment at the current situation of being treated like a child.

She was great. She was the best in the kingdom. Considering her excellence, she was the greatest in the world.

As Kreschenta took it for granted that she was superior to others, she felt a strong sense of discomfort at the way she was being treated.

She recognized that this was truly unforgivable.

But the current situation, at best she's being treated as a child. At worst, she's being treated just like a dog being fed. (domesticated)----No, not like, she was being treated like a dog.

Kreschenta's frustration only grew bigger.

The dissatisfaction that welled up in Kreschenta's face was making her soft cheeks swelled (puffed up).

"Kreschenta-sama, you shouldn't pout. You're ruining your pretty face."

Bery's hand squashed (popped) Kreschenta's cheek.

*fyuu~* The air leaked out with a pitiful sound, and Kreschemta glared at her.

"I'm telling you that's rude! J-just who do you think I am!?"

"Fufufu, no, it's just when I see you puffing out your cheeks...it's a conditioned reflex, please forgive me."

"I don't feel the sincerity at all!"

"Don't shout, Kreschenta-sama, people outside may hear you... Look, here, good girl, good girl."

"Uuuu...!"

She hugged her tightly and stroked her head.

Kreschenta's dissatisfaction grew, but she couldn't even resist.

Kreschenta was a creature that was very concerned about her appearance.

Lady-like, perfect princess----Kreschenta who cared about her image can't openly complain about her dissatisfaction.

However, after understanding Kreschenta's personality, Bery took advantage of it.

'She's vicious.'

'She must be punished one day.'

To distract herself, she reached for Bery's bag of cookies, but her hand was grabbed before she could reach it.

"That's no good, Kreschenta-sama. If I give it to Kreschenta-sama, you will probably eat all of it instantly. Here, wait."

"... Please don't treat me like a dog."

"Fufufu, Kreschenta-sama is bored, right? Don't worry, I'll reward you for being a good girl. ...Let's see, Kreschenta-sama, shall we play pretend doggy?"

"I will never do that again...!"

"Well, is that so?"

Bery took out a cookie while holding down Kreschenta, flickering it at the tip of her nose.

She giggled and looked very amused.

"Look, Kreschenta-sama, it's a cookie. It's a very sweet and delicious cookie. Ah, this was made by Krische-samma. The one with plenty of honey."

"Uuu..."

The rich aroma of honey tickled her nose.

The cookies looked mellow and were filled only with honey.

Unlike Bery, who preferred mixtures such as nuts and dried fruits, Krische cookies were often sweet and simple, and were Kreschenta's favorite.

She was truly despicable.

"How is it? Don't you want to eat it?"

"...I won't fall for that."

"My, it can't be helped then."

Bery broke the cookie into two in front of her and took half of it to her own mouth.

Kreschenta looked at it dumbfounded.

"... It's delicious. I can't compete with something simple like this after all. The honey spreads in your mouth... Let's eat all of Krische-sama's cookies?"

"T-that's cowardly. That's what One-sama made for me..."

"Krische-sama told me to eat together with Kreschenta-sama, so I did as promised. It doesn't last very long after all, so if Kreschenta-sama says you won't eat it, I have to eat it all."

The cookie that had been cut in half was shaken in front of her.

'Uuu', Kreschenta's eyes swayed left and right as she groaned.

"How about it? Will you won't eat it after all? Then, what a shame! I will----"

"W-wait..."

"My! What's the matter? I thought these cookies would not be suitable for the palate of the great and noble princess, but..."

"Uuu--..."

Bery chuckled and shook the cookie.

"Perhaps I was mistaken. Was the one here not Her Highness The Princess Kreschenta, but rather Kreschenta-sama, who loves sweet cookies?"

The balance swung wildly from side to side in Kreschenta's mind.

Pride and cookies.

The tilt, which should have been large, gradually leveled off, then reversed, and then----

"W-woof..."

"My, it seems I misunderstood. I'm sorry, fufu, I misunderstood. Kreschenta-sama, do you want a cookie?"

"Uuuu...woof."

Bery happily pressed the cookie to her, and she took and swallowed it with her cherry-red lips.

'Good girl', The sweetness of honey seemed to seep out from the cookies as she tasted them while being patted on the head.

Desire oppressed by pride----Kreschenta was released from strong stress.

The head, where everything that had been suppressed had been released, was overflowing with euphoria.

It filled her body to overflowing, and her cheeks relaxed.

"Fufu, really, what a cute child. Here, Kreschenta-sama, the next cookie."

"W-woof..."

And so Kreschenta became a dog.

Bery and Kreschenta have been having the same exchange for the past few days and spent about half of their days doing so.

The northern border was about seven days from the fort.

From there, it took four days to reach Nauthiana, the royal capital of Arna Imperial State.

Because they were using the road connecting the Kingdom and the Imperial State, though the towns along the way were reasonably large, naturally there were days when they had to stay out in the open.

The sixth day of the trip was just such a day.

The nearest town was a small one with the appearance of an inn town, and there were no estates or inns suitable for the first princess of the Kingdom to stay.

In such cases, it was normal to camp out.

This was partly a matter of dignity, but also for security reasons.

A princess needed to avoid places where people of unknown origin could freely enter and leave, and be careful about the meals that were served, even if it's only a cup of tea.

She would not be allowed to stay in a place where the origin of the servants was not known.

Considering security reasons, forming a camp was much safer.

After purchasing food and provisions for the journey, the group pitched their tents a short distance away from the town and began preparing for the evening meal.

Setting up the cumbersome tent. The fire watch and lookout.

The camp was a heavy burden for the soldiers.

Precisely because it was a nerve-wracking trip to escort a noble, it's normal to want to at least rest in a soft bed.

But on this trip, the soldiers were more than happy to camp out.

"Kreschenta-sama, you should add a little more salt."

"Hmm...this much?"

"Yes, that's about right. I'm going to put the leaf next--"

The cooking was always done by the culinary researcher----a hobbyist chef, Bery Argan.

And her assistant was the much respected, Her Royal Highness The Princess Kreschenta.

When one was able to enjoy the cuisine of such two people, even a little fatigue was not a hardship.

On top of that, if it turns out to be so delicious that you wouldn't think it's a camp, there's no one who wouldn't be happy, and that reaction was perfectly justified.

In particular, the cavalrymen accompanying the princess were chosen for their abilities and loyalty to the Kingdom, and the other day, when receiving the meal, some of them even cried as their hands trembled at the princess's cooking.

Naturally, there were those who objected to the fact that the two of them were cooking, saying that they should not let them do the cooking.

'I am in the middle of learning cooking from Argan-sama. If it's not for an opportunity like this, I won't even be allowed to hold a kitchen knife at the royal palace...can I?'

They were beaten by Kreschenta's upturned puppy dog eyes.

Her eyes moistened and her hands rested on her chest.

Slightly sad eyes with an elevation angle of 45 degrees.

Kreschenta had mastered the art of using the most of her own cuteness and good looks to get her own wishes.

In this respect, Kreschenta had the ability to overwhelmingly outperform Krische, who had equal potential.

And now the second time, no one had any doubts about the two of them cooking.

While helping out with things like setting up the tent and carrying the food, the soldiers around them watched the two of them skillfully prepare the food, giving them a feast for the eyes.

"............"

Kreschenta was always serious when it came to this.

Kreschenta's violet eyes watched the movements of Berry's hands.

It was merely chopping an onion----but the years and years of practice accumulated there, and the amount of passion devoted to it, was astonishing, making it difficult to imitate easily.

Size, fiber, shape. Each piece had its own unique character, and the angle of chopping was slightly changed by hand.

The wicked onion that would irritate Kreschenta eyes and make her shed tears in her hands was as if a completely different thing in Bery's hands, docile and obedient----she was truly an onion trainer.

Of course, that's not all.

When the skin of the radish was peeled, the moon shone through, and there was no resistance to the blade passing through it.

From past experience, Kreschenta knew that Bery could handle several things at the same time.

Simply imitating one technique was meaningless if she cannot imitate the thinking circuit that fluidly combines them.

That was why Kreschenta's brilliant mind was spinning full throttle as she observed and considered Bery's every move.

One of the factors that made Krische's regard Bery as absolute was the high level of cooking technique.

Kreschenta thought that learning this part was essential for the "Operation to make Onee-sama cling to me".

But her cooking skills were unassailable----Kreschenta had to admit that Bery was far ahead of her in this aspect.

Her vast knowledge and experience with food, cookware, and ingredients coupled with her genius and creativity----was constantly growing.

The her today leave the yesterday her behind.

She tried to catch up with her, but she couldn't close the distance, and Bery's back seemed to be in a haze.

Unlike Krische, who had accumulated experience since childhood, Kreschenta was a complete novice.

Although her palate was excellent, having been raised on court cuisine, it did not give her a significant advantage over Bery.

Her handling of the knife, her seasoning.

Kreschenta, like Krische, was a pathological imitator when it came to each and every one of these skills.

She had already shown impressive growth that would even make a professional astonished, but she was up against Bery Argan, an artist who would make no compromises when it came to cooking.

As expected, Kreschenta was not good enough to deal with her one-handedly.

"The meat is just about ready to be cooked."

"...I don't think it's cooked all the way through though."

"It would be good if you give the cow a little rest."

Berry quickly transferred the meat from the bonfire net to her plate.

The color of meat that was not yet cooked------Berry put it on a plate and covered it with a cloth.

"Miasma and insects are vulnerable to heat, so meat is basically cooked by grilling, boiling, or frying. However, if you overcook it, it will lose its deliciousness, so there is a way to adjust the heat just right for anything."

Bery continued while tasting the soup.

"In the case of beef, after the surface is cooked, let it rest for a while, and use the remaining heat to cook the inside. Because cows are less prone to miasma and insects, many people eat them without cooking them. ...For me personally, it's safer to let it rest for a while and let it heat up slowly, and it feels delicious. It will also soften."

"Soft..."

"Yes. Soft meat is more delicious, isn't it?"

Bery point's to the finely chopped onion that was rubbing against the meat earlier.

"There are a number of methods to tenderize the meat, such as marinating it in a little chopped or grated onion like we just did, or marinating it in milk. ...... Well, we'll get to that. Basically, the ingredients are honest, so the more effort you put into it, the better it will taste."

Bery explained happily.

That was another point that Kreschenta didn't like.

Bery revealed her hand easily.

She was able to show her hand so easily to the genius, Kreschenta.

The knowledge in her head was unfathomable, and new methods and concepts were presented to her even as she learned and learned.

Someday the limit will come----Though Kreschenta was letting her spit out her knowledge while thinking so, Bery smiled calmly while spitting out her huge amount of knowledge.

This was unforgivable in the face of serious Kreschenta.

When Kreschenta pouted her lips without realizing it, Bery smiled wryly and said she shouldn't make that kind of face.

"It's important to relax and have fun when cooking. Keep your mind and heart flexible, and think about what you can do to make it delicious. Krische-sama is always looking like she's having fun too, isn't she?"

"...Muu, I understand."

"Even if you don't rush, Kreschenta-sama absorbs things very quickly. The next time you cook with Krische-sama, you might be surprised at how good you are. I'm sure she will be very pleased."

Krischenta's cheeks relaxed as she imagined this for a moment.

Krischenta then shook her head, realizing that she was being watched with amusement.

"W-what do you want me to do next?"

"Fufufu, Kreshcenta is truly cute. Well, then----"

The grilled meat was so tender that you wouldn't expect it to be in a camp, and the sauce made with onions, red wine, and grated fruit was that of a court dish.

Add to that a sweet pumpkin-based soup and a pumpkin pie made in a frying pan.

Before she knew it Bery had even prepared an assortment of cut fruits.

However, the food she made while Bery was completely in control and instructed her was beautiful and delicious, so she shouldn't complain.

Bery tended to eat less for someone who could use magical power, and ate in moderation.

She looked happy as she watched the people around her and Kreshcenta eating deliciously.

"This pumpkin soup reminds me of the one the corps commander used to make.......Well, it's a luxury to be able to eat something like this in the camp."

One of the soldiers in black coated armor said so.

Kilik, the leader of 19th Squad assigned to the escort------he was a middle-aged man with one eye.

He was the actual leader of the two groups that are accompanying them on this trip, along with the 20th Squad.

"Is it Argan-sama guidance?"

"No. I'm the one who learned most of the things that use pumpkins. ...It's Krische's favorite food."

Bery said that happily and gently traced the pumpkin pie.

Her profile illuminated by the light of the bonfire.

Her face, which usually looked so young, was somehow mature, and the way she gazed at the pie with affection was as beautiful as the maiden in the bard's tale.

Graceful flowers blooming in a garden.

It was not a distinct beauty like Selene.

A single flower shining in the deep forest.

Not a fantastic beauty like Krische or Kreschenta.

It was a flower in the shade of a tree that you would suddenly notice when you sat down and saw it blooming beside you.

Her beauty was not glamorous or vivid, but it certainly attracted people's hearts.

She had that kind of charm.

"When I saw the pumpkin, I suddenly thought. Is Krische-sama on the battlefield at this time?"

"If they move their face, then it's probably so...... Rest assured, there is no one in the world who can compete with the Corps Commander. I don't know if the enemy brought a dragon though, but... haha, well, she certainly is worthy of such comparison."

"Yes......But I am a little worried because she is a person who often forces herself."

She took a small bite of the pie and swallowed it.

And traced her lips with her fingertips. It was a gesture that was somehow tinged with heat.

Kilik, admiring the gesture, agreed.

The other day's delaying action------he understood what she was trying to say when he recalled the Krische at that time.

"That's... certainly."

Like a mother who's worried about her daughter.

Like a maiden waiting for her lover's return.

Like a virtuous wife thinking of her husband who was sent to war.

Kilik wondered what words he should use to describe her.

Her anxiety, proportional to her strong affection, made her all the more attractive.

As if it were only natural, he said something to ease her worries.

"But as far as we are concerned, we are more united than ever before, and we all truly respect the Corps Commander. We are all making every effort to minimize the burden on the Corps Commander, including Captain Dagra, so we will not have to go through what we went through the other day."

"......Thank you very much."

Bery smiled and bowed her head, and Kilik shook his head flustered.

Every gesture was beautiful, and Bery behaved truly like those of a noble.

However, there was nothing sarcastic about it, and it was so natural that it would unintentionally awe even a serious person like Kilik when he faced her.

Even Kreschenta, observed each and every one of Bery's movements and reactions as she silently proceeded with her meal.

Even for Kreschenta, who grew up in the royal palace and observed the behavior of nobles, the Bery's atmosphere as an aristocrat was unique, making it an object to be observed.

Voice, facial expressions, hands, lips, and eye movements.

There were many things to learn from Bery's behavior, which unconsciously attracted the favor of others.

Despite the fact that Princess Kreshcenta was here, the current atmosphere was Bery's.

She drew the attention and affection of those around her, making them want to protect her.

What could be done to manipulate that atmosphere freely------ Kreshcenta was always thinking about that in her life, and that was what she was looking for.

----However, she still felt dissatisfied after all.

Currently, during this journey, it's clear that Bery was attracting more interest and favor than Kreschenta, and she didn't like it.

The princess----it was a very grave situation for a servant to gain popularity and attention while she was the one who will be the queen of the kingdom.

Unaware of her own dissatisfaction, she puffed out his soft cheeks.

Bery, who noticed her, smiled wryly and patted her cheek.

*fyuu~* The air leaked out with a pitiful sound.

"Fufufu, it's not the time to be worried huh."

"... That's right, Argan-sama. I'm more worried about Argan-sama getting sick from worrying too much about Onee-sama. I don't know what Onee-sama would say to me if that happened."

"... Yes, I'm sorry."

Bery wiped Krechenta's mouth that had become dirty with a handkerchief and Krechenta blushed.

The men looked at each other.

Krechenta, who was a young girl but behaved in a respectable and splendid manner, seemed to be a little selfish to Bery, just like how she looked on the outside.

It made them feel closer to the burden she carried on her delicate shoulders, and today too, she gained more of their respect.

But Krechenta was unaware that what she sought was right beside her.

And today, she was still frustrated and felt defeated and her one-sided rivalry became even stronger.

Minor dissatisfaction and joys.

The journey of the young princess and the servants who supported her was progressing smoothly today as well.