Chapter 14: Chicken Porridge and the Butt

“I’ll be going now.”

“Yes, take care.”

Barely acknowledging my response, Rexton hurriedly left, holding the cat under its armpits with both arms.

It was surprising to learn that Rexton had a cat. Bringing it to the battlefield suggested he cherished it dearly. More surprising was the fact that the strict Duke allowed the cat to accompany him.

I slowly got up and looked at my right hand. I could still feel the fluffy and warm sensation.

I carefully brought my precious palm to my cheek, savoring the lingering feeling with a soft smile.

‘Such a cute thing. It was almost human-like in its shyness.’

It almost seemed like it understood human speech.

‘Could it be, as the chief healer said, that beastmen can transform into cats?’

No, it couldn’t be. Something that cute couldn’t possibly be. Rexton must have trained it well.

I shrugged off the ridiculous thought and, still feeling a bit wistful, glanced a few more times in the direction Rexton had left before heading back to the refrigerated storage to get more ingredients.

＊

Shadows flickered beneath long black eyelashes. The lamplight accentuated a smooth and sharp jawline. Rexton was patiently enduring the silence of his taciturn master.

His master was staring at an empty medicine bottle and another filled with a golden liquid. Having just used one, only one bottle remained.

Holy power that suppresses the curse. His master needed this to maintain his human form.

Xavier’s lips parted as he looked at the medicine bottle.

“How did you know?”

“I received a report that water was overflowing from Your Grace’s private shower, so I came to check.”

“You came out while I was showering…”

Xavier roughly shook his still damp, dark gray hair with his hand.

“But Rexton, since when has ‘it’ been called ‘Kiki’?”

“I apologize. In a hurry, I used the name of a cat I used to keep.”

Xavier, staring blankly at his troubled subordinate, gave a firm order.

“If you call it that again, I’ll charge you with insubordination.”

“Yes, I will correct it!”

Xavier gestured gracefully as he accepted Rexton’s salute and handed him the vial containing the highest-grade holy power from the table.

“Take good care of it.”

“Is this the last bottle?”

“Yes.”

Rexton respectfully accepted the vial with both hands and tucked it into his coat.

“Is Melvin coming tomorrow?”

“Yes, he’s expected to arrive in the afternoon. Will you be alright?”

“I’ll have to be.”

“Your Grace…”

No matter how careful they were, there was no way to prevent the involuntary appearance of the beast. Moreover, lately, even after consuming holy power, the interval between it’s appearances was getting shorter.

‘What used to be a 24-hour cycle is now decreasing to 22 hours, then 20 hours.’

And to think he had encountered the most awkward person when ‘it’ appeared.

The vivid memory of her deft hands kneading his firm buttocks was a significant shock to Xavier. It felt as if the sensation still lingered on his backside.

What shocked him even more was that he didn’t entirely dislike the touch.

Crack.

The empty medicine bottle in his hand crumbled like sand and scattered across the floor.

“What do you think of Lady Graham?”

“If she’s out of sight, you’ll forget her.”

“Right.”

Remembering the sky-blue eyes that had stared at him fiercely when he was in cat form, Xavier’s gaze deepened.

“I must forget such a beastly thing.”

＊

The cooking area was bustling with people from early morning.

“Wow, this chicken soup is really delicious.”

“The rice grains go down so smoothly. I feel full and ready to fight.”

“Never thought I’d taste a dish made by a noble lady in my lifetime.”

“In the field, distinguishing between nobles and commoners will only starve you to death, haha.”

“Hahaha, that’s true.”

Both combatants and non-combatants were enjoying their meals with satisfaction.

‘It’s made by hand, carefully deboning each piece.’

I turned to the chefs behind me. They gave me a thumbs-up. Their thumbs were red from manually pulling apart the chicken meat.

“Everyone, great job.”

“No, this is the first time I’ve tasted such excellent chicken soup, Deputy Master.”

“Thank you, Pierre.”

Clap, clap, clap. Someone else approached me with applause.

“Where did you learn to cook like this?”

“John!”

The chef who praised me in front of everyone yesterday turned out to be the head chef of the cooking area. He was also the first to arrive at the cooking area after me this morning.

Thanks to him gathering and leading the chefs I brought, the other chefs helped make the chicken porridge without complaint.

“I noticed yesterday as well, but my lady, you have a deep understanding of cooking. I’ve learned a lot.”

I learned from a cooking blog.

“Thanks to you, John, everyone followed my instructions. Thank you.”

“His Grace should know about this too.”

“Just say I helped out diligently.”

“So humble. Truly admirable!”

John smiled at me. I might not have luck with dukes, but I certainly do with chefs.

“Your Grace!”

“You’ve arrived!”

As Xavier entered the dining hall, loud greetings echoed from all around. I wiped my wet hands on my apron and watched him take his seat.

‘So, he badmouthed me last night, telling me to take it easy? How absurd.’

At that moment, Maya whispered next to me.

“Miss, sparks are flying from your eyes. Why are you looking at the Duke like that?”

“I have my reasons.”

“If you keep looking at him like that, you’ll surprise him again.”

“I want to surprise him.”

“You say that, but I see honey dripping from your eyes. You really came to get married, didn’t you?”

Huh? How did it come to that?

“Where do you see honey? It’s annoyance, dripping annoyance!”

Despite my protest, Maya wasn’t convinced.

“Getting up secretly to make chicken porridge at dawn for the Duke isn’t something you do out of ordinary affection. I’m raising both my hands and my braided hair in surrender.”

Maya lifted her twin braids in surrender with a cheeky reply.

“That’s not it!”

I turned my head in disbelief, only to lock eyes with the Duke.

He frowned at my apron. I quickly averted my gaze, pretending not to notice.

“Maya, I did it for the people here, to prove my worth. Understand?”

“Yes, yes, I understand. I’m on your side, Miss, shh!”

Maya narrowed her eyes into crescent shapes and pressed a finger to her lips in a gesture of quiet.

“Came to get married… cough.”

“Are you hungry? Eat a lot, Maya.”

I scooped a spoonful of chicken porridge and put it into her mouth before she could say anything else unnecessary.

Slurp, slurp.

Maya swallowed the chicken porridge quickly and spoke with a dazed expression.

“…Yes, it’s really delicious.”

I sat her in an empty seat, listening to her rave about the chicken porridge, and looked for a place to sit with my own bowl.

Coincidentally, the seat opposite the Duke was empty, as if deliberately left vacant. Next to it, John was smiling broadly, giving me a thumbs-up.

‘There’s no need for this!’

Even as I signaled with my eyes, John gave me a double thumbs-up instead.

Sigh, I guess I don’t have luck with chefs either.

“Ahem, this is the only seat.”

The Duke silently watched as I awkwardly sat down. John placed a bowl of chicken porridge in front of Xavier.

“Enjoy, Your Grace. Lady Graham made it diligently from dawn.”

Without a word, the Duke picked up his spoon and glared at me.

“Lady, where did my words go?”

“You told me to take it easy, so I took it easy.”

My response deepened the frown in his dark green eyes.

“What?”

“Didn’t you get my message through Rexton?”

“I heard it.”

“I’ll work hard and leave when I’m ready, so don’t worry. You’re familiar with ‘small requests,’ right?”

The Duke’s brow furrowed. Then, as if giving up, he slowly brought the spoon to his mouth.

His teal pupils widened momentarily, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. As he slowly spooned one mouthful after another, his pace gradually quickened.

‘This is the chicken soup of my soul, you rascal.’

I chuckled to myself and took a big spoonful, filling my mouth and chewing. The chicken was chewy, leaving only a savory taste behind.

‘Meat is the ultimate truth.’

Across time and cultures, meat was the ultimate truth. Watching Rexton eagerly eating chicken porridge beside the Duke, something came to mind.

“Rexton, how’s Kiki doing?”

“…Pardon? Kiki?”

“The cat you keep, Rexton. The one with teal eyes I saw at dawn…”

Cough.

Duke Xavier, who was drinking water, coughed into his napkin. Rexton, catching a glimpse of this, answered quietly.

“Yes, Kiki is doing well.”

“I prepared some chicken br*ast for Kiki. Would it be alright to give it?”

A brief silence followed. Despite the bustling dining hall, our table felt like an isolated island.

The response came simultaneously.

“Absolutely not.”

The Duke was more adamant than Rexton.

“Why does the Duke say so? I was asking Rexton.”

“Hmph, hmph.”

“Oh, it’s just that His Grace is very fond of Kiki. If you give it, we’ll gladly accept it.”

Rexton quickly added, and Duke Xavier glared at him fiercely. The memory of the item in the Duke’s personal tent came to mind.

“Oh, now that I think about it, the cat toy in the Duke’s tent belonged to Kiki.”

“Yes…”

Rexton trailed off, silently eating his chicken porridge.

“Since it’s unseasoned chicken br*ast, it should be fine… Rexton, do you think Kiki will like it?”

“Ah, probably.”

“That’s a relief. I’ll bring it later. By the way, Rexton, have you ever touched Kiki’s butt?”

“B-butt?”

His face turned pale. Was it such a shocking question?

“Yes, touching a cat’s butt is a privilege reserved for its owner.”

“Hmph, Kiki is a male…”

“Oh, he’s a male. That soft texture! I’d love to touch that sleek butt again. It seemed like Kiki enjoyed it too.”

Cough, cough.

Rexton choked on his chicken porridge and guzzled water. Meanwhile, the Duke’s expression turned as rigid as a plaster cast.

“Oh my, Rexton, are you alright?”

“I-I’m fine.”

“It’s so firm and springy, it’s satisfying to pat. You should definitely try it, Rexton.”

Pffff.

Rexton turned his head and sprayed the water he was drinking like a fountain.

Drenched by the water cannon, the Duke wiped his face with a napkin and tossed it onto the table, glaring at me.

“Rexton, let’s go.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Without a word of farewell, the Duke left with Rexton in tow.

‘Hmph, why does he act like that when it’s not even his cat?’

I pouted and scraped the remaining chicken porridge from my bowl.

Ah. I miss Kiki.