Translator: Naruin

Editor: Aqua

Proofreader: Michi

The three 'Cherished Ones' who have been announced to the public are those from the spirit, beast, and dragon kingdoms.

Even if they are well-known, there's nothing to worry about as their own kingdoms have the national power to protect them. Moreover, those two from spirit, and beast kingdoms are strongly patriotic to their own countries that even if other kingdoms tries to recruit them, there's no need to fear that they will be moved.

Well, the 'Cherished One' from the beast kingdom is in love with the dragon king and is willing to marry into the dragon kingdom if there's a chance, but the dragon king had no intention to do so. Also, the race she was born in is a highly esteemed race that it is unlikely for them to move to another country.

In addition to these three people, there are two more 'Cherished Ones' who have not yet been made public. They are from the kingdoms of Serlanda and Yadakine.

The one from Serlanda country is a girl still in her mid teens. She was kept in an orphanage from a town far away from the capital, and was only discovered when she was already a teenager. 

It was a human country with few people who could see the spirits, and unfortunately happens to be in a remote region where information from other countries could not easily enter.

It was only revealed by chance when the orphanage she was in was randomly selected for a survey and someone who could see spirits was there. 

Since there was no particular attachment to that country, there was a possibility that if another country offered a better condition, the girl would be willing to make a deal. So the people involved in the deal was hidden in the back of the castle of Serinda, protected by the state.

From a different point of view, she is having quite a cramped life, but she doesn't feel any inconvenience. She can wear dresses that she never could when she was at the orphanage, have luxurious meal that she once couldn't bear to eat, and live a pampered life surrounded by the splendid men that had been gathered to keep her from getting bored.

Today, she was surrounded by fine men selected from high-ranked n.o.bles of Serlanda while having a tea party at the garden.

It was a typical tea party that had already become a regular routine since the time she came to the castle several years ago.

There, an uninvited guest appeared.

It was a small person in a black attire wearing a strange mask.

The mask hid the face and the clothes covered the entire body so it is difficult to know if it is a demi-human or a human, a man or a woman. If Ruri was here at this place, she might have been surprised, “Why is there a ninja in this place?”

The black-clothed person only looked at the 'Cherished One'. 

The men around the ‘Cherished One' immediately called out those who protects her from the rear. 

The sentries who are standing guard nearby appeared in the crowd and separated into two groups. One group points their weapons against the black-clothed person, the other one escorts the ‘Cherished One' to safety.

“'Cherished One'-sama, this way!” -Escort guards

“Eh, yes…” -'Cherished One' of Serlanda

The 'Cherished One' began to move into the castle. Meanwhile, the person in black stayed calm despite the fact that he is surrounded by soldiers and never took his eyes off her.

“Capture him/her!!” -Soldiers

The soldiers closes in all at once. The black-clothed person who is surrounded by dozens of soldiers will be caught immediately. Everyone thinks so, but he shows off an unusual jumping power by leaping above the soldiers' heads and landing behind them, he then ran to their 'Cherished One' without touching their side eyes.

The speed was so unearthly that the guards, who were going to confront him, got pa.s.sed by one after the other until finally a dagger was thrown to their 'Cherished One'. She, who was frozen with fear, couldn't avoid in time causing the dagger to go straight into her chest.

“'Cherished One'-sama!” 

Screams come from the surroundings. When the black-clothed person saw that the dagger had stabbed the 'Cherished One's heart, he/she immediately disappeared from the spot in no time just like how he/she came.

“Doctor! Call a doctor !!” -Someone from the crowd

-Royal Castle of the Dragon Kingdom- 

Ruri's figure could be seen in the kitchen of the 1st district, the place where the dragon king lives.

“Fu fu fūn fu fūn ♪” -Ruri

While humming a song, Ruri, who is not in her cat form, sprinkled powder on a table, placed the dough on it and stretched it with a rolling pin. 

Around her, the spirits looks with interest at what she's doing.

The chefs of first district who were in charge of the dragon king's and the 'Cherished One's meal were worried about whether she could really make something that could be eaten, but they watched too closely that they were driven out by Ruri. 

There's still time before meal preparation so there wouldn't be any inconvenience.

She molded the cookie dough and put it in the oven to bake. 

From here on, it's the fire spirits' turn. With their kind of heat control, Ruri's baked cookies can make even the first-cla.s.s chefs bow. 

After a while, a sweet smell spreads out.

“Ruri, we've done it” -Fire Spirit A

“Yes, it's perfect! We're geniuses! ” – Fire Spirit B

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