Cooking with Wild Game (LN) - Volume 15 - Chapter 2.4

4

Leeheim was a young noble, the oldest son of the house of Saturas. The first time I had met him was at the dinner party held in the castle town, and my impression of him from back then was that he was a somewhat haughty and cynical young man. Over the course of the past month and a half or so, that impression hadn’t significantly changed.

In terms of appearance, he definitely had a look fitting for a noble. His dark brown hair was neatly combed down and seemed a bit oily, and over the top of his classy-looking attire he had on a white cloak. He was perhaps a little thinner than he should have been, but he had a handsome face and the way he moved seemed elegant enough.

And yet he was always wearing a cynical-looking smile, and his gaze always appeared to be appraising the people around him. I wouldn’t say he seemed outright malicious, but it definitely felt like it would take some time till we could reach a mutual understanding.

“Tsuvai, take care of the stall for a bit,” Reina Ruu called out to the young girl, then she bowed to Leeheim. “My thanks for the impressive gift from the other day... Those flowers are currently on display in the Ruu house.”

“I see. If they were to your liking, then I’m glad,” Leeheim replied, puffing out his slender chest with a look of satisfaction.

His eyes were fixed solely on Reina Ruu, and he didn’t seem to even notice me working at the neighboring stall.

So Leeheim really is infatuated with her, huh? Well, Reina Ruu would probably seem quite charming to just about anyone.

Reina Ruu was seventeen just like me, and only around 150 or so centimeters tall. Still, her face was really cute, and she boasted impressive proportions. A good bit of her fair skin was hidden under her veil and shawl while doing business, but that wasn’t enough to detract from her charm.

This is definitely preferable to Cyclaeus not even treating the people of the forest’s edge like fellow human beings... Still, just what is Leeheim plotting, getting close to Reina Ruu like that? I thought to myself as I looked over at Ai Fa.

My clan head had a composed look in her eyes as she watched over the exchange. Still, I figured she was also watching the four armed guards surrounding them like a hawk.

The same also seemed to be true for the customers around the stall. Everyone who noticed them either hurriedly finished their business and left, or otherwise distanced themselves from the stalls while trying to see what was going on.

But Leeheim paid no attention whatsoever to the happenings around him, instead continuing to converse with Reina Ruu.

“It seems business is going smoothly with your stalls as well. Still, I suppose that is only natural when you are selling food of this quality for so cheap a price.”

“Yes... The people of the post town really seem to enjoy giba cooking.”

“Hmph. If you left it up to me, you would have an even easier time earning coins in the castle town,” Leeheim stated, a bit of a teasing tone in his voice.

In the past, he had plotted to buy up all of the giba meat. The one to put a stop to the plan was Duke Marstein Genos himself, fearing the thought of nobles cornering the market.

“You really are too fine of a woman to be working a stall like this. If we just changed your outfit, no one would question it in the least if you spent your time in the castle town.”

“Even so, I am a woman of the forest’s edge...” Reina Ruu replied, her face looking like she was suppressing her emotions as best she could.

“Hmph,” Leeheim snorted, breaking out into a grin. “Well, so be it. I am rather busy myself, so let us promptly move on to the purpose of my visit here today.”

“Of course. Do you want to order a giba dish?”

“Before that, I have something else to take care of,” Leeheim stated, then he gave a pretentious snap of his fingers.

The attendant waiting behind him reverently held out a silk bundle. When Reina Ruu’s eyes fell on it, her brow furrowed ever so slightly.

“What is that? I can’t see any reason for you to be giving me further gifts...”

“There is no need for such stiff, formal thinking. Consider it a mere trifle in thanks for the delicious cooking.”

At that, Leeheim snapped his fingers again and the attendant gently unwrapped the bundle. What appeared from within was a dazzlingly brilliant silver necklace. There was a deep red jewel gleaming in the center, and the silverwork was quite elaborate, showing a level of craftsmanship the likes of which I had never seen before in this world.

“If you put this on, your beauty will only stand out all the more profoundly. Please, don’t hesitate to accept it.”

Reina Ruu just stood there silently.

“What is the matter? Is this your first time seeing an accessory made of pure silver?” Leeheim questioned with a smug grin.

I could tell that Reina Ruu was desperately holding back a sigh as she shook her head.

“My apologies, but I cannot accept this...”

“I told you there is no reason to hesitate, did I not? There is meaning to a lovely woman wearing such a beautiful accessory.”

Reina Ruu once again somehow managed to hold herself back, but there was now a clear look of defiance burning in her eyes. Though she had a cute and somewhat adorable appearance, the fierce blood of the Ruu clan flowed in her veins nonetheless.

“There is no custom among the people of the forest’s edge for accepting gifts from anyone but blood relatives. To be perfectly honest, accepting the flowers from before was also unjustified...but it didn’t seem proper to so bluntly refuse your generosity, which is why we took them.”

“Then simply do the same this time as well. Rather than being obstinate, simply accept it.”

“I cannot. I don’t believe this is a decision I’m permitted to make on my own,” Reina Ruu said, deeply bowing her veiled head. “If you continue to insist on offering me gifts even so, then please get permission from my father, the leading clan head Donda Ruu. If you have his approval, then I would be able to accept it.”

“There is no need to go bringing leading clan heads or the sort into the conversation. My, you really are a hardheaded girl,” Leeheim said, still wearing a faint smile as he grabbed hold of the necklace that his attendant was holding out. And then, he placed his other hand on Reina Ruu’s shoulder. “Come now, turn around. I will put it on you personally.”

“Please, let go!” Reina Ruu shouted, angrily slapping away Leeheim’s hand.

The necklace he had been holding fell to the ground.

Leeheim stood there dumbfounded for a moment, and then his expression grew furious. “What do you think you’re doing?! Don’t you know who I am?!”

“It doesn’t matter who you are! Touching someone of the opposite sex outside of your family is a taboo!”

“That’s nothing but a custom you all went and created! It has nothing to do with a noble such as myself!”

“Even if you’re a noble, I’m still a woman of the forest’s edge! I won’t simply allow someone to trample over our customs!” Reina Ruu retorted, her eyes burning bright with anger.

Instantly, Leeheim shrunk like a dog that had water thrown over it, taking several steps back. “Wh-What is that look in your eyes?! Are you trying to make an enemy of the house of Saturas? We rule over this entire post town!”

“And so we people of the forest’s edge have no choice but to silently stand here and take it, no matter what outrageous deeds you may attempt?” Reina Ruu questioned, resolutely pressing Leeheim. “From what I’ve been told, Duke Genos himself acknowledged the validity of the people of the forest’s edge living according to our customs. Were those words just lies? Or perhaps Duke Genos’s commands are not valid here in the post town, as it is Saturas land?”

“Th-That’s...”

“We must correct the relationship between the people of the forest’s edge and the nobles of Genos that had been distorted by Cyclaeus, correct? Am I the one who trampled over that promise, or are you? If I am at fault, then I shall do whatever it takes to apologize, even if it means my very body is torn to shreds!”

“Hold on, Reina Ruu. Losing your temper like that truly will cause bad blood,” Ai Fa stated, placing a hand on Reina Ruu’s shoulder from behind. Then with a calm yet firm glance, she looked over the armed guards surrounding Leeheim. “That goes for you residents of the castle town as well. Do you intend to draw your weapons on an unarmed woman? No one wishes to see blood shed over a quarrel such as this.”

When I saw the guards go a bit pale at those words, I finally realized: in all likelihood, nobody here had expected such staunch resistance from Reina Ruu.

“Reina Ruu, you are a member of the main house of the leading Ruu clan. And from what I have heard, that man there is the eldest son of a count’s house. I cannot imagine it being seen as acceptable for two people in such positions to quarrel without the knowledge of the heads of their houses.”

“Yes, you’re right... I understand. I acted thoughtlessly,” Reina Ruu replied, looking truly disheartened. And then, she bowed to Leeheim. “I beg your forgiveness. It was never my intention to quarrel with you.”

Leeheim was trembling, his emotions seemingly still in flux. Ultimately, though, he went “Hmph!” and turned away. “How truly unpleasant! I’m leaving! And I shall never visit such a place again!” he uttered before stomping away.

And as the guards went to follow after him, Ai Fa called out, “Hold on. I ask that you take that accessory with you. Reina Ruu has not accepted it, so it is your responsibility to return with it.”

Bowing repeatedly as he went, the attendant scooped the accessory up off the ground. And then, he hurried to catch up to his master.

Before long, Leeheim disappeared into the wagon, which then vanished to the north. At that point, I sensed a number of folks around me all sighing in relief.

“Hey, are you going to be all right? It’s not exactly wise to go picking fights with nobles, you know,” one of the customers called out from the other side of the stall. He was a familiar face, and a resident of the post town. “That was the young lord of House Saturas, wasn’t it? You oppose someone like that, and you won’t be able to keep on running your stalls.”

“What’s that? I’m not going to let him get away with it if he tries to take down these giba stalls!” a nearby customer from the south indignantly chimed in.

At that, Reina Ruu turned my way, her blue eyes tearing up.

“Is our relationship with the nobles going to be ruined because of me? I won’t be able to show my face to everyone if we can’t keep doing business because of something like this...”

“I-It’ll be fine. We’ll try consulting with Melfried and Marstein through Polarth. There was just a disconnect between how the two of you felt, so I’m sure everything can be settled smoothly.”

“Right. Melfried and Marstein both seem like reasonable men. They will show us what they believe to be the best path forward.”

It was a rather unusual state of affairs, with both me and Ai Fa trying to comfort Reina Ruu. But that just went to show how clearly dispirited she looked right now.

Reina Ruu has a pretty impulsive side to her too, huh? I can see how she couldn’t put up with Leeheim’s attitude.

Still, it wasn’t like Leeheim had been acting out of any ill will on his end. Rather, his affections got away from him and made a show of themselves in a bad way. But considering how the people of the forest’s edge and the nobles of Genos practically lived in different worlds entirely, it made sense that discrepancies like this would arise now and again.

Even so, we decided to live hand in hand. As long as everyone remembers that, then I’m sure we’ll overcome this.

I truly did believe that. And I had no choice but to strive my hardest to make it so.