Chapter 674: Who Is the Glutton?

They had probably seen chocolate-brown food before, but never in a sweet. There might have been burnt biscuits. Had they imagined something like that?

“It’s not a failed batch. Chocolate is naturally this colour.”

“But the colours differ slightly, don’t they? They become a lighter brown towards this side.”

“As expected of you, Ijidol. You noticed. Those pieces contain more milk.”

“You can leave out ‘as expected’.”

Ijidol pursed his lips, making Axel laugh. Apparently, Ijidol had become firmly established as the group’s glutton.

“What about this dark one?”

“That’s bitter chocolate. It contains almost no sweetness.”

“I see. Then I’ll choose a sweet one.”

Axel answered without hesitation. What a child. Perhaps bitter chocolate was still beyond him.

While I thought that, both of them selected a piece. Once they had done so, I chose one for Mira.

“Which would you like, Mira?”

“Kyuu, kyuu, kyuu!”

Mira pointed rapidly at several pieces with both paws. The greatest glutton here was apparently Mira. Even so, Axel, Ijidol and Nero watched warmly, as though the scene was charming.

It seemed I would have to harden my heart for Mira’s own good.

“Only one, Mira.”

“Kyuu…kyuu.”

Mira ultimately chose the piece with the highest milk content. I placed it upon Mira’s paws, and Mira began eating with obvious delight, savouring every bite.

Axel and Ijidol followed. Nero and I naturally chose pieces as well.

“What is this!? It’s delicious!”

“It’s sweet and wonderful! May I have another?”

“Only one more.”

“Kyuu!?”

Mira spun towards me with astonishing speed. I could almost hear a whoosh. Their eyes had widened too, as though asking why Ijidol could have two when Mira received only one.

“Very well. You may have one more too, Mira.”

“Kyuu!”

In the end, everyone ate two pieces. Our supply had diminished considerably, but chocolate eaten together tasted especially good.

“I understand now. No wonder you wanted to make chocolate, Julius. It’s delicious.”

“I’m glad you approve. We plan to sell it as a new Heine Trading Company product.”

“It will definitely sell, but the Heine Margraviate is rather far away.”

Axel nodded repeatedly, while Ijidol looked disappointed. Fortunately, I had good news. We had decided to sell it at the royal capital branch as well. The cacao would naturally be shipped from the Heine Margraviate.

When I explained that, Ijidol’s eyes sparkled.

“As expected of Julius! Now I can share it with my whole family.”

“I never imagined you had planned that far ahead when you made the cacao plantation. I assumed it was a sudden idea or a magic-potion experiment.”

“How rude, Axel.”

Everyone laughed. I was glad I had visited the royal capital. The scent of trouble was everywhere, but many enjoyable things awaited me too. Was it selfish to wish that Axel and Ijidol would visit the Heine Margraviate?

That afternoon, we went to see the holy sword as planned. Sister-in-law Daniela naturally accompanied me.

Axel and Ijidol wanted to join us, but the matter was one of the kingdom’s most important secrets, so I refused.

Learning the truth might burden them. I could not allow that merely because they were curious. If they asked for details later, I would have to evade their questions.

“This is where the holy sword is studied. Even I have never visited before.”

“That demonstrates how secret it is.”

Was it really appropriate to let me enter? Security was genuinely strict this time. Nero and Mira had to wait elsewhere, though Lionel was with them, so they should be safe.

I was the one with the problem.

“Let’s go in.”

An accompanying guard knocked and entered. It was an ordinary room without windows. Not even one painting decorated the walls. The plain room contained only a table, chairs and several researchers.

Huh? Where was the holy sword?

“Welcome, Your Highness Princess Daniela, Lord Julius.”

The man who appeared to hold the highest position bowed. They had clearly been informed about me. They had probably also heard that I had restored the Raven Kingdom’s holy sword.

Otherwise, an authority in his field would hardly bow to a mere child.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Julius Heine. His Majesty asked me to examine the condition of the holy sword.”

I deliberately reminded them that I was here on His Majesty’s orders. That should prevent anyone from treating me unjustly.

They probably had no intention of doing that. The man was looking at me like a kindly grandfather.