Chapter 311 (1/2)

“Oh my, why are you looking at me like that?”

“Hmm.”

“Well, what I want to ask is…”

“Which gift do you like best, Aristia?”

Everyone looked at me curiously, with their eyes sparkling, when one of them asked me.

I suddenly got goosebumps on my back. I felt it all along, but I felt like I would really be in big trouble if I didn’t reply properly. Even my father, who was usually indifferent, was staring at my lips.

“Well…”

“You shouldn’t say you like them all. Just pick your favorite one, okay?” said Allendis.

How did you know?

Quickly glancing at him, who smiled at me, I was lost in thought for a moment. However, no matter how hard I thought, my answer was still the same from the beginning.

“…Well, I like chocolate best.”

“Yeah! I knew it from the beginning.”

“Well, why did you pick it, my lady?”

“Oh my, it’s the masterpiece of our hard work…”

“…”

Alendis hugged me with great joy, but Sir League and Lina made an upset expression. Although my father didn’t express it, he seemed to feel sorry for my choice. As everybody seemed not to have readily accepted my choice, I pulled Allendis apart from me and said, “I like all of your gifts and I really appreciate it, but Allendis made this chocolate after months of hard work. Besides, he asked me first what was my favorite gift…”

“Thanks, Aristia. After all, only you appreciate my hard work. Hey, have another chocolate. I will make a lot more chocolates for you in the future. ”

“… You boasted you would beat all the knights, right? Considering that, how could you take time out to make chocolate by yourself? Maybe I taught you too leniently. Verita Jr, I think I can increase the intensity of your training starting tomorrow, right?”

“Oh my… Marquis Monique, that is too…”

When my father turned after speaking to him in a subdued tone, other knights took turns to add their own comments.

“Hey, guys, let’s give our master a hand. I’m going to throw down the gauntlet to you next year, Verita Jr.”

“Vertia Jr, I’ll certainly beat you next year!”

Why are they mentioning next year? No way, they can’t mean what I have in mind!