Chapter 16: Girl's Troubles (2)
Morning, August 30:
"Just now, those servants were quietly saying that the supposedly weak-looking catgirl of the Royal Knights is actually a muscle woman, meow! Isn't that too much, meow! She's the one who got trapped under that broken door, but somehow I'm being labeled as a careless, door-destroying muscle woman, meow!"
Ferris complained loudly.
"These rumors will disappear in a few days. Speaking of which, today we're leaving for the capital, huh? It feels nostalgic… I wonder how Beatrice and the others are doing."
Reinhild glanced at Subaru, who looked lost in thought with a longing expression, and momentarily got distracted.
—Ouch.
Pain shot into her brain. Even a fruit knife in Reinhild's hands was a divine weapon, sharp enough to slice iron as if it were mud. The blade effortlessly cut a deep wound into her finger, visible down to the bone.
"Reinhild!"
Noticing the situation, Subaru quickly grabbed Reinhild's hand. Panicked, he tore open his clothes to bandage the wound, but then noticed Ferris nearby. Hastily, he moved Reinhild's hand in front of Ferris.
"Ferris, help treat this quickly."
"No, I can't use magic near her, and you don't even need me. Reinhild's healing ability is so crazy it's almost abnormal, meow."
Ferris watched as Reinhild's finger wound vanished visibly before her eyes, then picked up the fruit knife from the floor and spun it around.
"Subaru, be careful when flirting around. It seems Reinhild inherited the obsessive bloodline of the Trias family (Wilhelm's main line). If Reinhild gets blinded by jealousy, it's not just you—she could destroy the entire kingdom."
"Reinhild wouldn't destroy the kingdom," Subaru instinctively replied.
"So you're planning to flirt? How bold, meow."
Ferris teased.
"No, no, no, that's impossible! My heart belongs entirely to Reinhild."
"Not convincing enough, louder!"
Reinhild sighed at the two of them and stood up.
"I should start packing. Ferris, I'll leave Subaru in your care."
"Is that really okay? Leaving us alone in a room… what if Subaru does something overboard? Yesterday, he couldn't even get up from lying on the bed."
Ferris made a pitiful expression.
"Don't say things that could be misunderstood. It's just your daily care. And no matter how cute you act, it doesn't change the fact that you're a boy."
Noticing Reinhild's stiff smile, Subaru couldn't help but roar.
"So, just because I'm not a girl, meow?" "No way!"
"All right, all right. Take off your clothes…"
.
.
.
Forcing herself to ignore the faint sounds from behind the door, Reinhild pressed her hand to her chest and sighed.
—Let's go. Staying here will interfere with Ferris treating Subaru.
Even with this clear awareness, Reinhild's steps weren't as light as usual.
"Is this what worry feels like?"
Her mind drifted to the earlier casual conversation. It was just small talk, but…
Rem, Beatrice, Lady Emilia, Lady Crush…
Reinhild's thoughts filled with all the talented women around Subaru. Only Rem had openly declared affection, but the rest clearly liked him too.
The thought amplified her own anxiety.
—Why worry? Subaru will never betray me. —Really? He's a guy, right? Can any man resist that many top-tier women?
She sighed as she loaded the last box onto the dragon carriage, then silently opened her luggage and gazed at the treasured mementos inside, recalling their cheerful journey.
"No change, huh."
Reinhild sighed again, feeling a bit frustrated.
They had been dating for three days, but nothing had changed in their interactions. If anything, she felt even more tense than before.
She had also read the messages and knew that in many people's eyes, Ferris and Subaru's closeness seemed far greater than hers with Subaru.
"Ehh~~"
Although proud of Subaru's excellence, Reinhild thought:
"What should couples do after becoming one?"
Closing her eyes, she reflected on the couples around her and sighed helplessly.
"Do you want to ask Ferris to help solve your worries?"
Reinhild suddenly sat up and saw the mischievous glint in Ferris' eyes. Her instincts and Divine Protections sounded alarms.
"Well…"
"Reinhild, think carefully. I'm probably the person who understands men and women best around you, meow. Are you really going to ask that overly serious Julius? Or Markus, that rock? Or… plus, their current relationship with you isn't suitable to ask such things, right?"
Reinhild fell silent. After careful thought, she realized only Ferris—who had confirmed her feelings and returned as a friend—was truly worth consulting.
"Actually…"
"I see. I understand. Seeing the one you love surrounded by so many talented women naturally makes you nervous. But clingy women aren't popular. In such a situation, you just need to improve your feminine charm, right?"
"Feminine charm? For example?"
Reinhild's expression turned serious.
"Reinhild, you know, to capture a man's heart, you need to capture his stomach. Making delicious food that Subaru likes is the most important thing for you, meow."
Ferris smiled confidently.
"Let me teach you how to make ordinary home-style dishes, meow."
Ah, right—girlfriends usually prepare lunch for their boyfriends.
A spark appeared in Reinhild's eyes.
"Then I'll be counting on you."
.
.
.
"Although I expected some differences, but this… this, and this… is really made with the same ingredients, same steps, same method as mine?"
Ferris nodded at Reinhild and immediately collapsed to the floor.
"I lost, I lost…"
Ferris muttered for a long time before regaining his composure. Looking at the food he had been proud of, he suddenly lost the desire to pick up his chopsticks. He turned to Reinhild's creations instead, hesitated, and his natural curiosity finally flared.
"Why is it glowing?"
Reinhild, tidying the kitchen, paused for a moment, then answered matter-of-factly.
"Because Subaru likes glowing food."
Clearly, the power of love allowed Reinhild to surpass herself.
"Well, next time, let's stick to normal food."
Too bright food wasn't suitable for consumption anyway, especially the ones emitting purple light, which caused considerable psychological stress.
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