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“Ugh, what’s the point of it all…”
Any demon who would come across the Princess, who’d grown used to her antics, will merely look at her funny before passing her by.
After all, getting into her business was no good.
However, four certain monsters watched her, worried.
She was there on the floor, her body lying on the ground and her mouth muttering gibberish.
Normally, she’d be out and about, full of vigor in accomplishing today’s agenda for a good night’s sleep.
But now, she was likened to a slug on its last breaths.
What was going on with her?
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They stared at her for a good two minutes until someone spoke up.
It was Frankenzombie who did so, “it seems the Princess must be moping around because of her weight gain,” with a carefree grin and a wave of his hand.
“She can just go on a diet and exercise,” was Goblin’s suggestion.
Although a good idea that people would agree to, Quilladillo refuted, “it’s not easy as it sounds for some,” with a sigh of mutual understanding.
And when the three of them turned to Minotaur for input, he shook his head.
Thus, continue pitying her they did.
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She tried many methods of losing weight, both in exercises and dieting.
Though each of them worked well for a while, she’d just end up going back to her usual habits…
While so regaining the fats she’d previously lost.
“There’s no point to it all,” yet another muttering before Syalis planted her face on a polished tile.
Thinking back on it, her castle’s head chef was in charge of her everyday meals…
In other words, she used to have no worries.
“When I return, I should double that chef’s salary,” came her decision before going back to her constant mopping.
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When his pals had run off to the cafeteria, Quilladillo took this opportunity to try helping the Princess out again.
This time, by recommending his doctor and his trainer to her.
Of course, she made a face at him before muttering, “but those two go spartan on you. I doubt that would work for me,” with a dismaying sigh.
And then, she went back to planting her face on the ground.
He reasoned out, “Princess, you’ll never know unless you try.”
And with his words sounding less convincing…
His offer was rejected.
There was not much he can do, unfortunately.
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Leonard observed the Princess, a fretting frown to his face.
There, before him was her frantically switching between her hand reaching out for a red bean cake and forcing said hand back into her lap.
Again, again, and again.
A clash between desire and minding one’s weight, resulting in these indecisive moments from her.
Unable to bear watching her like this, he moved the plate farther away and out of her sight.
And when he placed it back into his fridge, he finally spoke, “I’ve heard of what happened earlier,” though unsure with the way he brought up the topic.
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Syalis lifted a brow at this.
“Oh, so you did…”
She let herself sink deeper into the couch.
“There’s no point,” she told him dryly, “I’ll just gain more weight than the ones I lost…”
Then, she looked to Leo who was quiet for a few minutes before he had fisted hands slightly raised to his sides.
“I think I can help you with your diet!”
She lifted another at this.
Well, she never tried out a diet that involved him before…
And perhaps his efforts might prove to be better than Nudist’s brother and bird boy…
So why not?
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She ran as much as she could in the treadmill, her legs persistent…
With one certain thought in her head;
And that was to have a taste of Leo’s cooking.
A variety more of it, actually.
She released deep breaths with every quick step.
Then, a hand was raised to wipe off the sweat coming from her forehead.
Not only did her legs ached a bit, her arms, too, from doing this.
But she let it not get to her and locked on that one goal.
Those pains seemed to go away when she did.
Good, she needed utmost focus.
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The quartet watched the Princess in relief.
“The Princess is determined today,” said Goblin with a proud huff.
“That ought to be the spirit!” followed by Minotaur who gave a big thumbs up at the sight.
But one member had a slightly different reaction to it.
It was Quilladillo who did so, “what exactly made her so determined?”
And soon enough, it came with a friendly slap from Frankenzombie.
“Whatever method she’s used, it has worked to her advantage,” he told him, “and that’s what matters.”
As Quilladillo watched on, he couldn’t help but wonder what better option was there.
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Leonard hummed merrily as he made his way from the public kitchen and into the storage area.
In his arms was a delivered package he’d been waiting for all morning.
It contained new ingredients he couldn’t wait to use.
Well, it had certainly been a while since he made something else besides the usual dishes he would cook.
‘The Princess trying them out,’ he mused to himself with a wide smile, ‘such a delightful sight!’
As he went about with his business…
Unbeknownst to him, others watched him with a curiosity of a cat.
“Why’s the Demon Cleric so chirpy…?”
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“The Demon Cleric’s been using the public kitchen more often?”
Great pushed his spectacles up as he stared at the chefs.
“Yes, but he’s using his salary to make deliveries,” they clarified, “so while it’s not much of an issue, we deemed it necessary to report this.”
He waved at them dismissively and they left, leaving only him and his liege.
“Without a doubt, it’s because of the Princess,” the Demon King said with ease, eyes still on the documents.
“How can you be so sure, my liege?”
“You should know him by now, when it comes to her.”
Right…
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With the conference over, Leonard was ready to leave when he was called by his liege.
“Demon Cleric, these past few days you’ve been rather busy,” said the curious Demon King.
But something about his sharp gaze told him otherwise.
“Y-Yes…”
“With what?”
There was definitely something the latter was trying to get out of him.
“It’s, uh… just personal interests is all. If you’ll excuse me…”
He left in a rush before the Demon King said anything more.
‘His liege must’ve heard from the cooks,’ came his immediate conclusion, ‘about me being in the public kitchen more than usual…’
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Great watched the Demon Cleric’s retreating back before turning his attention to his monarch.
“My liege, why did you let him off so easily?”
The Demon King gave away a huge grin as he answered, “just for curiosity’s sake.”
‘But you already knew, so why?’ Great thought, his brows raised in confusion.
Then, the latter continued, “I do hope that he leaves some for us, too,” with raised arms tucked beneath his head.
Ah. Now, he knew the reason.
And with that, he pushed up his spectacles once again. “Knowing him, he’ll do just that.”
Both men smiled in unison.
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Brushing away what occurred earlier, Leonard assumed the task at hand.
So far, he had…
Cut the nori in equal sizes,
Made sure that the lean meats were marinated thoroughly from yesterday,
Chopped an assortment of vegetables into julienne cuts,
And long since boiled the rice before anything else.
As he looked over to his station, Leonard was reminded of a certain pointer.
“Oh, right! There should be more filling than there is rice,” he told himself, nodding.
And then, his gaze swept over an array of spices, herbs, and the like.
“Hm, what should I make for the sauce…”
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Syalis could hardly wait as she crawled through the vents…
With eating a delicious meal after a day’s worth of workout on her mind.
Until she found her way to Leo’s room.
She opened the metallic lid and hopped out. Smiling as she did so.
He turned to her the next second. “Princess, welcome– hold on!”
His back then faced her briefly and to her. With a towel in his hand.
“Dry yourself!”
And she took it, making her way to his little bathroom.
Honestly, this man would fret so much.
But no matter, good food was waiting for her.
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Leonard checked if the Demon King and Great had more than enough shares…
Before closing the doors of his fridge and then turning back to the Princess.
He smiled as he watched her happily munching on an onigirazu.
Walking closer to her, however, that smile grew smaller with each step.
‘This won’t last long,’ he thought to himself, holding back a sigh, ‘perhaps this method might not also be effective for her…’
After all, every exercise and diet she tried out…
Had never worked out in the long run.
But it was best to just enjoy this routine for now.
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This time, it was onigirazu.
The juiciness of baked or grilled meat,
The light crisp of the vegetables,
And that sweet aftertaste.
Oh, how glad she was able to eat–
Syalis suddenly stopped when she noticed the man standing by her side.
He was in deep thought and that smile all stiff.
She disliked it.
“Leo.”
“Yes?”
“Come, come sit here and eat with me.”
Though his steps were hesitant, he still compiled and sat down.
It took him an entire minute before he had a bite…
And that smile grew wider and more natural.
There, she preferred this more.
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His breath was caught in his throat…
And he could hear his heart thumping so loudly.
Why was the Princess staring at him so intently?
And with such a sweet smile on her face at that.
There was nothing interesting about him eating his own cooking…
And so, in an attempt to calm himself, he said, “it’s delicious.”
“Right?”
She turned back to her onigirazu and let out a merry sigh…
After another bite of it. He couldn’t help but smile at the sight.
“Say Leo, I’d like more of your cooking.”
“It would be my pleasure.”
Together, they laughed.