The Bride Of The Sacred Forest God
Chapter 9. The Rejected Cuisine

In the morning, Reda wakes up before sunrise. He couldn't stop crying all night until his eyes turned red. While taking a bath, he saw his face in the reflection of the water on the wooden tub.

“If Ryuunosuke sees this, he will definitely be sad. I must be able to look cheerful so that the sweet little fox does not cry as well as yesterday.”

In every way he could, he tried to wash his face with a thick liquid used to remove the smell of sweaty and sticky body odor.

After finishing the bath, Reda also took the time to use a little firewood and use a stick of matches left to boil warm water.

Reda was about to use it to soak a cloth from her clothes that had been washed to wash her face.

“I hope by putting a towel in my eyes, will reduce red eyes due to crying overnight. I don't want Ryuunosuke to be sad.” thought

Reda uses all the ways she thinks of to make herself perform at her best in front of her sweet little fox and Aragaki-sama as well.

Not long after, the little fox ran over in a great hurry. Incidentally, Reda had just finished washing her face.

“Reda-sama, Reda-sama, Ryuunosuke come!”

The little fox looked excited. He carried a bamboo basket filled with cloth, a small bamboo bottle and rice head wrapped in large leaves.

“Good morning, Reda-sama!”

“Good morning, Ryuunosuke. Did something happen until you got that spirit?”

“I'm glad to be able to work with ‘bride’ candidates this morning! It feels like a dream! Ryuunosuke has never worked with a candidate for ‘bride’ so far as they have always tried to escape from day one. But, this time Reda-sama and Ryuunosuke will go serve Aragaki-sama! Ryuunosuke happy~”

Reda was surprised to hear the sweet little fox speak at length in the morning with a constantly swaying tail and a blushing face. Makes her not regret having tried to cover her red eyes due to crying.

Ryuunosuke came in and gave Reda his clothes and breakfast. Three warm cockerel rice with pickled cucumbers, tomatoes and celery as well as warm tea in a small bamboo bottle were carried by him.

The food may be very simple in the eyes of others, but for Reda who always had difficulty getting food during this time in the village, it could not make her stop smiling because she was happy.

She was so happy to be able to eat food that to her looked so luxurious in the morning.

“This is all my breakfast?”

“Really! Ryuunosuke made it. Eat up! After this, we will cook breakfast for everyone and Aragaki-sama.”

Reda nodded and ate her food. Of course, the little fox ate with him. While chewing the rice head in his hand, Ryuunosuke asked Reda.

“Reda-sama, did you sleep well last night?”

Reda stopped eating her pickles and asked the little fox, “What's wrong? Does my face look like one who can't sleep?”

“Ryuunosuke didn't see it. Merely, I was worried that Reda-sama found it difficult to sleep due to fear. During this time, other ‘brides always try to escape at night and get caught by Hakuren-sama and Kuroto-sama.’

“They always try to escape and no one ever tried to do his duty as a candidate ‘bride’. Ryuunosuke thought it might be possible.It may be Reda-sama also changed his mind last night.”.

Her fox ears came back down and her expression became sad. Reda then stroked her head gently while saying, “I will not break my promise to Ryuunosuke. We promised to fight for Aragaki-sama's smile, didn't we?”

Hearing that soft remark, the little fox became excited again and finished his rice crazily. Reda said in her heart.

“Thank God I didn't show a tired face in front of him.”

After eating, Ryuunosuke said something.

“Oh, Reda-sama.Ryuunosuke apologized for not having time to bring candles and miyaks to light this place. But Ryuunosuke has already prepared it so I will go home again and pick it up yes.”

“No need, Ryuunosuke. Its alright. Later after finished work, I will bring it myself.”

“But, Reda-sama and I don't know how long it will serve Aragaki-sama. If we get home at night, how about?”

“No problem. I might just need a shower. No need to think about candles. I'd better change my clothes first. After that, we go straight to prepare breakfast for Aragaki-sama yes.”

Ryuunosuke nodded. Reda brought her new clothes and replaced them. After that he was ready to go to Aragaki's place. With Ryuunosuke holding her, they left together.

The sun was just about to rise and the two men had woken up early in the morning to run their first day working together.

From the guard post, Hakuren and Kuroto saw the two coming.

“Kuroto, they've come.”

“That girl actually came with Ryuunosuke to do her first day huh. I didn't expect this day to arrive.”

“We see will last how long the girl is here.” Hakuren's speech sounded cynical but actually he himself was curious about the first day of the village girl.

As far as she and her friend, Kuroto remembered, the girl who became the candidate of ‘bride’ never lasted more than a week. The rest were escape attempts made until the third month came. Then after three months, Aragaki will immediately behead or throw it to the guardian demon Higashi no Mori, Nue.

“I hope he doesn't disappoint. Ryuunosuke even to the point of looking happy like that. I don't know why I'm so little hope to him even though I still hate humans.” Hakuren thought

In the kitchen of the main residence, Ryuunosuke and Reda reached the kitchen.

“Reda-sama can cook?”

“I don't know. I've only ever seen villagers cook but I never did.”

“Once, no problem. Ryuunosuke will teach you.”

“But, for some ingredients and recipes.I remember some. Maybe I can make it. Before it was given to Aragaki-sama, would Ryuunosuke want to taste it for me?”

The little fox looked pleased and nodded quickly. He was even eager to prepare all the ingredients for Reda to cook.

With great seriousness, Reda pays attention to the way Ryuunosuke makes Aragaki-sama's favorite food.

“Aragaki-sama is happy rice is fluffy and warm, he has not eaten so much so far so it is only necessary to fill half a small bowl. He also enjoys breakfast with miso soup and vegetable tempura. For other menus, usually Ryuunosuke makes karaage or boneless grilled fish because Aragaki-sama does not like fish with bones.”

Listen and try to remember all the messages.

“I understand. In that case, I will cut the vegetables and make the soup yes.”

Radishes, carrots, tofu and eggplants are cut neatly and carefully. He began boiling it and adding some recipes that he remembered had been used by food vendors in his village.

Reda was so confident and the result did not betray her. Ryuunosuke tasted Reda's soup and he loved it.

“It's yummy~” its thick tail is wobbling quickly sign that it's delicious

Once everything was ready, the two immediately went to the dining room and arranged everything.

“Reda-sama, now we wake up Aragaki-sama.”

“Iya. We wake up yes.”

The two went towards Aragaki's room from outside engawa. Slowly, Ryuunosuke opened the door of the room slightly.

Aragaki who has been awake and just finished wearing her yukata.

“Aragaki-sama is awake?! It's shocking!” Ryuunosuke was slightly surprised by this surprise

“Ryuunosuke?”

Aragaki who had just finished with the obi on her waist walked up to the little fox. His little fox with Reda immediately greeted him.

“Ah! Ii'm sorry. Good morning, Aragaki-sama.”

“Good morning, Aragaki-sama” Reda also said good morning to her

Although there was no answer after Reda finished, she did not think about it. The girl gave a good morning smile to Aragaki.

That cold face did not change making Ryuunosuke get scared. The fox tried to divert the conversation.

“Ryuu–Ryuunosuke just wanted to wake Aragaki-sama up. Can't Aragaki-sama sleep last night?”

“I slept well, Ryuunosuke. But, the thought of having to be woken up every morning by that dirty girl for 3 months made me unable to get up later than you guys. This is part of my rejection of him. So don't expect to wake me up while here because it's an impossible thing to do.”

“...” Delayed. The smile on her lips briefly disappeared and her eyes began to slightly redden withstanding the crying. But, this was her first day and she had already tried to cover the scars in her eyes with a cloth and warm water.

“You must be patient, Reda. Only 3 months before you die, make yourself useful. Don't cry, don't cry. The morning has just arrived. Don't cry!”

Trying to encourage himself, he looked back at Aragaki's handsome face and gave her a smile back.

“Aragaki-sama, forgive me if I interrupt your break time. We have prepared breakfast for Aragaki-sama. Please come to the dining room now.”

Without seeing her who was resting on the floor, Aragaki passed through it just like that. His cold attitude was really heart-piercing, yet it was the thing that Reda had understood.

Ryuunosuke looked at Aragaki with a sad face. The fox tried to strengthen Reda.

“Reda-sama, does it hurt you?”

“I'm fine, Ryuunosuke. It's still morning. We will definitely make a lot of changes. Let's fight!”

Hearing that optimistic sentence, Ryuunosuke became excited. He helped Reda stand up and held her hand again to go to the dining room.

In the dining room, Aragaki used to eat with his four servants yesterday and also Ryuunosuke.

“Ryuunosuke, I thought you would skip breakfast and be busy chasing the ‘bride’ candidate who tried to escape. I was shocked to see the two tengu were here for breakfast.”

A satire in the morning came from Nagi's mouth. He had seen the cynical Reda like her sweet sentence yesterday it had vanished with the night that changed dawn.

Ryuunosuke wants to retaliate but Reda forbids him.

“Do not always reply to that sentence, Ryuunosuke. Think of it as a reprimand so that we are more excited again.” whispered Reda

“Cih!” nagi Decak

Aragaki sees Ryuunosuke's place empty without food.

“Why don't you prepare breakfast for you, Ryuunosuke?”

“Ah! Ryuunosuke had already eaten with Reda-sama this morning. Starting today, Ryuunosuke will eat with Reda-sama every day.”

Aragaki still did not say anything and started to taste miso soup in her bowl. It was a sign that they could eat their food. The four maids drank miso soup in bowls and were surprised by the taste.

“What is Ryuunosuke made of?!” Kuroto was surprised when he drank it

“It's delicious! I've never tasted soup like this! Ryuunosuke, you are truly a genius!” Ginko even looks happy

“Ehehe, this is actually made–”

- Craaash

A bowl was thrown towards the front. It was a bowl of miso soup that was said to be delicious by his four servants. Aragaki throws it while staring at the cynical Reda.

“Dirty girl, you made that soup. Right, right?”

Instantly the atmosphere was silent. Ryuunosuke panicked and the four maids were shocked to hear him.

“This is made by the village girl? Seriously?” think of the fourth in your heart

“Jawab me. Even if you're lying, I can smell your rotten scent in that bowl and that vegetable. You made it, didn't you?”

“Ma–forgive me if my cooking taste doesn't match Aragaki-sama's tongue. It's true, I cut and cook it.”

Hearing that, Aragaki throws all her food. None of them were touched back by the four servants. Angrily, Aragaki snapped at him.

“Don't ever serve me dishes touched by your dirty hands!”

The culmination of a broken heart, started this morning.

****