Ch. 120 - A Popular Person's Elegant Day Off 2
“Fwaaah... Th-This is so delicious!”
With just one bite, Charlotte let out a delighted cry.
The pancakes sitting on the table in front of her were about 30% larger than the ones pictured on the flyer. But they tasted even better than they looked.
The pancakes were perfectly cooked and so light they felt like they melted on her tongue.
Even though one pancake was enough to be gobbled up in no time, the rich whipped cream and fruit toppings only made them more irresistible.
Charlotte’s knife and fork didn’t stop as she smiled and cheerfully carved into the massive mountain of pancakes.
Siting at the table with her, Gosetsu and Luu continued to eat, smiling as well.
“This is indeed... among the finest sweets I’ve ever tasted. Easily in the top five,”
『Do humans eat this every day...? That's not fair! Luu want to be human, too, like Grandma! 』
"It's okay, you can eat as much as you want, even just like that. Do you want more?"
『Yay! Let's eat!』
Even though Luu was still a young Fenrir, she was quite large. Naturally, the first portion she’d been given was gone in a flash.
After refilling Luu’s plate with a fresh serving, Charlotte let out a small sigh.
“Still, even if I don’t eat it every day… I feel like I’m going to gain weight from today alone.”
"Well, it's true, even if we share it between three people, it's still quite a lot of calories."
"Ugh... I thought so."
She knew it before taking even a bite, but being reminded of the reality still stung a little.
Back when she lived with the ducal family, sweet things like this were rare indulgences. That’s why being surrounded now by such sparkling, delicious foods felt almost like a dream――but unfortunately, this was reality and the more she eat, the more she gain weight. It was only natural.
Gousetsu gave a wry smile as Charlotte stared gravely at the pancakes.
"It's no good worrying about it too much. Besides, Lord Allen wouldn't mind at all no matter how much weight you gain, as long as it wasn't affecting your health, right?"
“Y-Yes… I think you’re probably right.”
Allen definitely wouldn’t care. At most, he’d suggest a bit of light exercise and go running with her.
But that didn’t mean Charlotte could just leave it at that.
Because...
“Allen-san is always so calm and cool… I don’t want to show him any sloppy side of myself… mm?”
Feeling a little embarrassed, she looked down at her lap as she spoke her true feelings.
But then she suddenly looked up, and Charlotte's eyes widened.
“What’s wrong with you two? You look like you just swallowed some very bitter medicine…”
“No, we were just... reflecting on how that man actually looks ‘calm’ to you.”
『That guy’s just pretending to be cool in front of Mama…』
Gousetsu and Luu just looked at each other with disapproving expressions.
Charlotte could only frown.
“Is it really that different for you two?”
"Well, he has his good points... but overall, he's just entertaining to watch."
『Exactly. And sometimes kind of annoying.』
"Geez. You two are always so harsh on Allen-san!"
Charlotte could only shrug. She knew that Gousetsu and Luu didn't dislike Allen. They just viewed him as if he were a mischievous child.
That was just puzzling to Charlotte.
(Allen is always so confident, so capable... to me, he's like a...prince from a fairy tale.)
Of course, she couldn’t say that out loud. Even to Gousetsu and Luu, who knew her well, she was too embarrassed. To stave off her embarrassment, she turned her fork back to the pancakes. She resolved to start exercising tomorrow.