The Bride Of The Sacred Forest God
Chapters 15. Leftover Food Full of Love
It was time for breakfast for Aragaki and her four servants. Surprisingly, there are a few unusual things. Aragaki who is usually the one being waited on by her servant, for a few minutes she becomes the one waiting for them.
As soon as the four of them arrived, they immediately apologized to the master for arriving late.
“Force us, Aragaki-sama.”
“What did you guys do until it was too late like this? Is there anything that is very important?”
“We only..”
“Ya already, no problem. I-i understand. Sometimes I have to feel for myself how it feels to be the one waiting for the other. Come in and we'll eat together.”
Aragaki did not look angry nor did she look smiling, a flat expression on her face made the four servants half-willed and half-relieved.
They realize that they are all too focused on seeing Reda work until they almost forget breakfast time with her master.
Ryuunosuke came to bring breakfast with Reda at that time. Reda takes the time to help Ryuunosuke bring breakfast while he still has to wash dirty clothes in the back.
“Ryuunosuke, carefully bring it inside yes.”
“Good.”
Reda gave one by one his plate to Ryuunosuke.
Because the first day he was already banned from entering the dining room, Reda did not show himself at all in front of everyone in the room and remained behind the shoji that bound between engawa outside and the dining room.
“He really did not show his face anymore when Nushi-sama was in this room.” thought Ginko in heart
Not only was Ginko, his other three friends also noticed it but no one said anything.
When the last plate was given to Aragaki, she asked her little fox.
“Ryuunosuke don't want to accompany me to breakfast again?”
“Ryuunosuke will eat with Aragaki-sama if Reda-sama can eat with you too.”
“That will never happen.” Aragaki firmly said it
“Then, Ryuunosuke will eat alone in the kitchen. Aragaki-sama forbids Ryuunosuke from eating with Reda-sama so Ryuunosuke will eat by himself.”
The little fox left the dining room. He pulled the girl's hand with him to go to the kitchen.
The four servants did not dare to comment, but they did not expect that the beloved little fox Aragaki could reject his own master for the sake of the candidate ‘bride’ whose life might be less than 3 months.
Just as the four of them were feeling tense and awkward about the incident, Aragaki opened her mouth.
“The four of you, do you think I've been rejected by the boy?”
An actual question was already clearly the answer, but no one dared to be honest.
“Ka–we don't think so, Aragaki-sama.”
“I think, Nushi-sama is too much.”
“Ryuunosuke is only 200 years old, Aragaki-sama. If equated, its nature is similar to a human child aged 6-7 years.”
“I hope Aragaki-sama doesn't think too much about it.”
The four servants tried to give a good answer to the master, but in fact it was useless.
Aragaki already knows the answer. He only asked because he wanted to see the reaction of the four servants.
**
In the kitchen, Reda talks to Ryuunosuke.
“Ryuunosuke, why refuse Nushi-sama like that? That's not good.”
“Ryuunosuke just wants to eat with Reda-sama and Aragaki-sama! Reda-sama is the candidate of ‘bride’ Aragaki-sama! Why does Aragaki-sama hate you so much? Ryuunosuke is angry at Aragaki-sama!” the little fox looked angry with her hairy ears erect upwards
That made Reda worried.
“Ryuunosuke, tomorrow accompany Nushi-sama to eat yes. Nushi-sama really wants to eat with you.”
“No want!”
“Ryuunosuke, don't be like–”
- Kruuyuuk
There was a stomach sound that was loud enough to make the little fox's ears sway occasionally.
The voice came from Reda's stomach. Reda held onto her stomach with a red face as it held in shame.
“Reda-sama..Reda-sama is hungry, right?” Ryuunosuke looks panicked
“I–ini is not like that. I'm just–”
- Kruuyuuk
That stomach voice can't lie to anyone. Ryuunosuke hurriedly took the rice and made the egg stuffed rice from his breakfast ration.
Two pieces of rice were served on a small plate and given to Reda.
“Reda-sama, Ryuunosuke has already made this. Eat first.”
Reda smelled the fragrant and delicious aroma of the egg-filled rice kepal food. The girl swallowed her own saliva and was eager to eat it. However, he remembered Aragaki's message and his anger this morning.
The girl refused it.
“Ryuunosuke, that's your breakfast ration. Be eating. I'm it's okay. This stomach will fill up when I drink later in the day. In the meantime, I will hold him back because Nushi-sama does not allow me to take anything from this place.”
“But Reda-sama can hurt! What if suddenly Reda-sama falls unconscious?!”
Reda placed the small plate the little fox was holding onto the table and stroked her face gently.
“I don't want Nushi-sama punishing Ryuunosuke. Whatever happens, never break Nushi-sama's orders huh.”
“...” Ryuunosuke looks so worried about the girl
After comforting her a little, Reda went back to the back to finish her task this morning.
Ryuunosuke really did not know how to let Reda eat the food he made even though it was forbidden by his master.
“Reda-sama should not hurt. Ryuunosuke should think of something. But, how?! Reda-sama could not eat at all today.
**
In the dining room, somehow Aragaki's appetite is a little different. Kuroto who had just finished her meal asked her master.
“I was thinking about why the little fox was so obsessed with the false promises made by the humans from that village? I've told him to stop confronting more descendants of those who killed Ryoko, but he still won't listen to me.”
“...” all silent
One by one they began to put their chopsticks on the table and finished their breakfast.
“Why not continue?” Aragaki asked her loyal servant
“If Nushi-sama has no appetite, why do we enjoy it ourselves?” Ginko answered
“We want Aragaki-sama to also enjoy your food.” Nagi added
Aragaki smiled at the servant.
“My appetite has nothing to do with yours. You better spend all that. Poor Ryuunosuke who has painstakingly made it. After this, I will apologize to her for not finishing her homemade food.”
“Aragaki-sama..”
“I'll excuse you. Continue your breakfast. After that let the dirty girl take care of it.”
Aragaki stood up and left the dining room. He intended to return to his room after this.
Other than Kuroto, the other three did not finish their food at all. They're out of the room. Hakuren and Kuroto return to patrol the forest, while the two youko search for Ryuunosuke in the kitchen.
Ryuunosuke who was in the kitchen was busy peeling potatoes. Not long after, Nagi called out to him.
“Small change, we're done eating.”
“It's done?! Why so fast?”
“Nushi-sama is not appetite. As a result we are also not tasteful, forgive us yes.”
“Aragaki-sama said to have the village girl take care of the rest. Quickly call him and take care of the rest. Me and Ginko will be back on patrol.”
Ryuunosuke was a little curious and looked at himself into the dining room. Once inside, the little fox only saw one portion of food running out. The rest is still a little rice, miso soup and other side dishes.
He even saw his master's possession barely touched aka left much.
Ryuunosuke ran to meet his master in the room.
“Aragaki-sama, Aragaki-sama..”.
“Ryuunosuke, what are you running around like?”
“Aragaki-sama, why is the food not spent?! Does it taste bad?”
Aragaki stood up and walked over to the little fox. She gave a smile and stroked the head of her little fox.
“I'm just not having a taste for food. I'm sorry for you yes. But, I will look forward to lunch today.”
Ryuunosuke asked with an excited feeling. –
“The food...the food should be thrown away?”
“It's impossible to eat again, right? Of course it has to be thrown away. Let the dirty girl wash her dishes and–”
“So, the food will not be requested by Aragaki-sama right?”
What a strange question. Aragaki did not understand that question. He just nodded his head. Hearing that, Ryuunosuke immediately rushed over and ran towards the dining room.
After the departure of the little fox, Aragaki sniffed a bit of his hand. He smelled a familiar scent. The scent was so strong and lingered in his hands.
He did not forget what he had done a while ago. Aragaki stroked Ryuunosuke's head. The highlight of his eyes turned sharp and a sentence came out in a cold tone.
“You dirty girl it's so concentrated.”
**
In the back, Reda who had just finished washing two clothes and drying them started to breathe a sigh of relief.
“Thank God it's done.”
- Kruuyuuk
His stomach was ringing again. Reda could no longer lie to herself. She's famished.
“I just ate an apple for lunch and didn't touch anything again until this morning. I also have to complete all my duties as punishment. I don't think I can go to the forest to forage until all the work is done.”
Reda braced herself and began walking to fetch water to water the plants in the garden. Before he did, there was the sound of someone calling out to him.
“Reda-sama, Reda-sama!!”
“Ryuunosuke?”
Reda saw the little fox running around carrying something like a bamboo leaf wrap. With the girl's hand drawn, the little fox took her to a more shady place.
“Reda-sama, this is food for you! Ryuunosuke makes rice with many side dishes. Eat!”
“Ryuunosuke, I told you that–”
“This Ryuunosuke made from breakfast leftovers belonging to Aragaki-sama and others!”
“Eh? Food...remnant?”
Ryuunosuke's eyes began to blush holding back his cries.
“Sorry, Ryuunosuke can only make food for Reda-sama from leftovers. But, Ryuunosuke does not know how else to make Reda-sama eat. So, Ryuunosuke makes sure that Aragaki-sama does not want this food anymore.”
“Ryuunosuke..”
“I want Reda-sama not to starve! If Reda-sama is afraid to eat because Aragaki-sama is forbidden, this leftover food will not be banned by him. Believe that! Ryuunosuke has already re-selected this leftover food to make it worth eating by Reda-sama!”
Hearing that, Reda gave up. He knelt down to look at the sweet little fox. Unwittingly tears came out adorned with smiles of happiness.
“Ryuunosuke, why are you so sweet? I'm really grateful to you, little fox. Thank you.”
Ryuunosuke cried and hugged the girl with a feeling of pleasure. At that moment, Reda finally wanted to eat it.
The rice made from the leftover food was eaten until it ran out with tears that kept coming out because it was happy.
“Enak no?”
“Enak. Very yummy. I really like it.”
From a distance, Nagi and Ginko saw the sight. No matter what affected them, there was a strange feeling when he saw the girl crying and hugging the little fox.
****