Former village girl and the Flag Crusher Prince

Chapter 09: Don't believe what others say about His Highness

Right now, I'm very angry and the reason is simple.
I prepared everything for His Highness and me to eat the lunch, but in the instant I finished putting the dishes over the piece of cloth extended over the grass.
Kuro, the dragon ate everything, just in one bite! "She" (as his Highness explained me a bit early) didn't leave anything behind, not even a loaf of bread for us to eat.
It's true that since my stomach wasn't feeling well before I cannot eat very much... but she ate everything!!
I cannot forgive her.
His Highness was very hungry, but he couldn't taste anything of what I made because of that beast!!!

"I even asked your chamberlain what would you like and what not... I filled the basket with His Highness favorite dishes..."
"I'm really sorry..."
"Don't worry, it's not your fault. I'll make you a dragon steak for dinner as compensation"

We were walking down the mountain, exploring in the search of something we could eat.
At first, His Highness planned to go alone, but I was feeling better, so I asked him if we could go together, and he agreed.
Of course, Kuro was accompanying him, that big lizard is now walking next to His Highness as a proud escort, glaring at that selfish dragon I said.

"His Highness Lotus. I've an idea, I still have a knife, you can go chopping that lizard's meat into fillets and I'll go find some dry wood and start the fire"
"No! Azalea, Don't try to eat her! Kuro is my responsibility, it was my idea bringing her here"

After what I said, His Highness stood between me and Kuro, with his open arms as protecting her.
Kuro made a strange sound, as if mocking me because His Highness was defending her instead of me.

"But normally, they don't like human food.... Even the smell of it makes them sick. Uhmmm, Kuro what's the matter with you?"

His Highness said curiously and pet Kuro's chin.
She squinted and gave His Highness a cheek rub as if to return the favor.

I'm angry with both of them...
After all of this, they're playing with each other while ignoring my presence, so I decided to walk faster and leave them behind.
His Highness Lotus is too soft with Kuro, he's spoiling her.
Well, I don't care. It's not like I'm jealous of a dragon.

"Azalea. Wait ! Don't go on your own, it can be dangerous."

Humm, so he finally notices my existence! Well, I'm not a spoiled brat like that lizard, so I listened to His Highness' caution and stopped, waiting for him, who was very far away now.
While I was waiting and looking for something to eat, I noticed that a tree that was just nearby have a lot of <<Rokuza berries>>.

The <<Rokuza>> is a big tall tree that produces a lot of small, bittersweet berries.
It's not going to be a complete meal, but it's enough to fill up our bellies.
How lucky we have been! These berries are one to the favorites of His Highness Lotus.
I brought several desserts made with them, because the people at the palace told me about them.
I looked back at His Highness, who has just caught up with me and gestured, pointing to the fruit of the Rokuza tree.

"His Highness Lotus. There are Rokuza berries. Do you want me to go get some for you?"

"Hmmm... do you want to eat that, Azalea?"

I tilted my head at his subtle reaction, I thought he would be very happy, they're one of his favorites treats, and he was so hungry just a moment ago.

"It's not like I don't have hungry, but I was told by my handmaidens that this is His Highness' favorite food. I can climb trees very easy, for example... Do you see that branch over there? I can get some of those berries and get them down for you, I thought you would like the idea"

The tree was about three times my height, but there was plenty of strong branches to use as support.
My mother didn't call me a monkey in my previous life for nothing.

It's been a long since I've done such a thing, but I'm confident about it, as I was preparing to show off my skills, His Highness gave me a shocking statement.

"...it's hard to say this for me but-- Azalea, I'm not particularly fond of Rokuza berries."

"What?"

"You'll see some time ago, I visited the Kingdom of Bazanda with my father to greet the King of that country. When he saw I was a little child, he thought that the traditional meals of his country, served for all those diplomatic visiting, would not be my liking. So, he requested the cook to prepare a special meal only for me. I was served a traditional dish made of Rokuza berries. He said to me "You'll have to support eating a lot of strange and horrible meals in the future, and say that they're delicious because you don't want to hurt the feeling of other countries' people. You're too young, don't worry about that now. I requested a dish that, for as far as I know, is very popular among children, so I think you'll like it. If you don't let us know, and we'll prepare something else. I hope you enjoy".

I was only a child at the time and, after all the effort they put to make me happy, I ate it completely and smiling answered to him.

"Thank you so much! I love this dish"

The King of Bazanda, who just recovered for a terrible sickness, was so happy that started sending me Rokuza berries treats, dishes, desserts... every year."

"Ohhh... And that's why the cooks and maids thought it was His Highness's favorite food?"

His Highness nodded quietly.

The Kingdom of Bazanda is famous as the producer of the Rokuza berries.
It would be taken as an insult to send back a product that represents the country, even more if it's the King who sending the gift.
His Highness Lotus let out a rare sigh.

"I don't hate the Rokuza berries, but it's not something I like them very much either. I have explained everything to the Royal Chef and my personal assistant. However, if I explain it to everyone in the castle, the King of Bazanda might hear about it, so I thought that leaving the maids -and the other people there - with the misunderstanding wouldn't do any harm."

"...."

I felt how my face turned red.
Whyyyy-- I worked so hard, I believe on what that maiden said and worked so hard on all of those berries dishes!

"Hmm?　However, when it comes down to it now--"

"Your Highness. Then the bread made with Tarble's green oats...."

"A souvenir from the messenger of the Tarble Empire. Considering the difference in power between our countries, I could only praise it. I even prefer a hard old loaf of normal bread than... soft "semi-liquid" bread like that.

"Then, the roasted Butio's Bird...."

"We were invited to a Hunt with the Princes... It was my first catch and well, I thought we will eat what we caught. When they saw me eating it... Well, It's no wonder they're misunderstood."

"The spinach with yellow flowers is..."

"Something made them believe that it was my favorite food, and they served it to me considering that, I had no option but to keep silence, and others misunderstood me."

"Oh, my God! Everything I brought you today--"

Who would have thought that all the information the maids had about His Highness' favorites foods were all misunderstandings...

As I was inwardly breaking out in a cold sweat, Kuro, who was behind me, purred to call His Highness attention.
I turned around too and saw that she was carrying with her mouth a branch, that she broke from a nearby tree, there was some red big fruits on it.

"Oh. You've found red Rupua! Thank you, Kuro."

His Highness stroked Kuro's cheek and took a single fruit from the branch, he bit it and looked pleased by the taste.

The look on his face made me realize, that Kuro knew about His Highness likes and dislikes about food.
Is it possible that Kuro stole the lunch because she knew that His Highness' favorite food was not inside?

"Azalea. You should eat one of these too. It's good."

Having said that, His Highness offered me another fruit ripped from the branch.
I received it with a "Thanks you", and bit it. When I glanced at Kuro, she had something similar to a triumphant smile on her face.
It's so annoying....

"What's wrong? You have a very annoying look on your face."

I tried to deny putting a polite smile but it looked very forced, without realizing it, I was squeezing the red Rupua on my hand, but he didn't notice since he was looking around with urgency.

"Is something wrong, Your Highness?"

"Hmmm............."

His Highness didn't reply to my question but said

"Azalea. Wait here with Kouro for a bit, I'll come back soon"

Without a moment's pause he was running towards the trees behind us, there were so many all together that the vision was difficult and there can be beast living in that part of the mountain.

"Ah, Your Highness! I think going there is dangerous--"

Just as I was about to follow His Highness' trail, Kuro stopped me from behind, biting my clothes very carefully.
I was able to get my clothes out of her mouth, but I had to use so much strength that I fall when she let it go.
Anyway, I tried to stand up again and ran after him but...

"Hey!　Don't stop me!"

I turned around to protest because she was biting my hair now, but suddenly my vision went black....
The raw warm smell and fetid breath made me realize that my head was inside Kuro's mouth.

"Aaaaahhhh!　What are you doing?　Let go of me!"

Instead of letting go of me, Kuro started to make movements and sound, as chewing. Like wanting to scare me <<Stop or I'll eat>>, tired of this, I exclaimed.

"All right! All right, all right, all right!　I'm going to stop chasing him, so let me go and get away from me!"

She understood perfectly, because in that same moment she opened her mouth to let me go and calmly moved away.
I glared at her while wiping her saliva from my face with a handkerchief, she didn't go far, just some steps away from me.

"So you're a very prideful and solitary creature, but you're loyal to your Master.... Oh, my God.-- Yeah, I understand!! I suppose I've no option but to stay here and wait... "

As I was mumbling angry words against her, I sat down next to Kuro.
She ignored my presence and lay down, as if she was preparing for going to sleep. I started eating the Rupua fruit he gave me.
After eating enough, and after a slight hesitation, I patted her belly thanking her for the lunch, but she turned around giving me the back.

"Thanks for the help earlier. Thank you. From now on, I'll make sure to take care of him properly."

I didn't know what Kuro thought about that because I couldn't see her face, but I interpreted her short "purr" as a favorable reply.
She slept for a while and later, woke up letting out a small growl as she began to move her body.
It was at that moment that I saw His Highness coming back and called his name to rush him, but His Highness told me with a bitter look on his face.

"I'm sorry, Azalea. Things got a little messy."

His Highness Lotus was carrying in his back a man covered in blood.