Translated by Jyzciel

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It's been 42 days since I started living in the rural.

Thanks to everyone, I've fully recovered from my cold!! Looking back now, it might have been something like the flu.

I'm not sure if there are cold germs in this world, but since I made a brief return to the city once, I might have unknowingly caught it.

I thought I was being diligent with handwashing and gargling, but I need to be more careful.

Alright, with that said, to celebrate my recovery today, I want to hold a Pancake Party. There's no particular reason for it.

I just want to eat as many pancakes as I can. I think I bought a lot of pancake mix... I opened the upper shelf to check.

Oh! There it is.

Ideally, it would be better to use a hot plate, but since it's just me, Kinako, Kuro-mame, and Schnappy today, I'll quickly cook them in a frying pan.

Eggs, milk, and... what else should I add? There are various recipes on how to make pancakes fluffier.

I've never tried it, but yogurt is also recommended. Today, let's stick to the classic mayonnaise.

I began cooking, and then Kuro-mame who was playing in the yard must have been lured by the smell, rushing to the veranda. Of course, Schnappy came runnig too.

"Wait for it, it'll be ready soon!" I said while suddenly feeling a sense of unease.

"Huh? Where's Kinako?" I couldn't see the figure of Kinako, the biggest foodie.

"Hey? Kuro-mame, where's Kinako?"

「Woof!」 He barked as if troubled.

"Hmm? Did something happen?" Then, I heard voices coming from the depths of the yard.

"...Is this... it?"

「Woof!」

"...Perhaps... not..."

「Woof」

I can't hear the details of their conversation, but it's clear that Kinako is in trouble.

A voice like that of a young boy. Then, from the depths of the yard, a boy of about 10 years old appeared, holding Kinako firmly.

".........."

".........."

I and the boy froze in shock at each other.

((Who is this?))

Perhaps thinking the same. An indescribable silence passed between us.

The boy was dressed in a strange outfit, like the traditional Chinese robes worn by emperors of the past. Flowing golden hair.

Two horn-like protrusions grew from his forehead. His skin was as ivory white, and for some reason, there was a divine radiance shining from his back.

His eyes were a deep green, like emeralds set in. He was a breathtakingly beautiful boy, the kind you wouldn't forget once you saw him.

Beautiful...

No, I can't afford to be mesmerized.

"Um... who might you be?" I asked, and the boy opened his eyes in genuine surprise.

"Do you... not know... about... me?" As if he couldn't believe it, he stared intently at me.

Huh? Could he be the number one child actor in this country or something? A nationally acclaimed idol that everyone knows?

".........." I was bewildered, not knowing how to respond.

I was bewildered, not knowing how to respond. He furrowed his brow, deep in thought. Then, almost forgetting amidst the confusion, the pancakes were just about ready.

"Would you like to have some pancakes for now?" I invited the mysterious beautiful boy into the house.

I placed freshly baked pancakes on a plate and prepared butter, honey, and several types of jam beside them.

"Eat them while they're hot. Putting butter on first makes it delicious." I suggested. The boy's eyes sparkled, and he reached for the fork and knife.

However, he suddenly stopped, tightened his expression, and lowered his hands.

"I apologize for receiving such hospitality. It is said that one should not eat what an unfamiliar person has made." He said this, lowering his eyes sadly.

"Huh? Is that so?"

"There is no taster today... so..." He hesitated, and I caught on to his words.

Taster? Wait... does that mean... Could this beautiful boy be someone of considerable nobility?

Wait a minute!!

He's been calling himself *YO (余 ), which is a term only one person in my world uses!! Probably...

**T/N: YO (余 ) is an archaic and formal way of referring to oneself in Japanese. It is an older form of the pronoun "I" or "me." In modern Japanese its now Watashi, for general use.**

If we were in a different era, he would be the most important person in Japan... the one who would take down villains and wrongdoers. A chill ran down my spine.

No way... This guy is undoubtedly the Emperor of this country!!

Unaware of my internal conflict, this Emperor continued to resist the temptation of the pancakes with all his might.  I was moved by his earnest struggle. I really wanted to get him to eat them somehow.

Within a few minutes, I held a full-fledged brainstorming session in my mind and concluded it.

"I've got it! Why don't we make them together? That way, it should be safe, don't you think? And after they're done, we can give a piece to Kinako and the others."

"What? Are you suggesting that you use your family as taste-testers?" The little Emperor was surprised by my own proposal.

"Yes, I want you to know how serious I am... If my family's lives are at stake, I wouldn't harm you, right?"

".........." The Little Emperor hesitated.

"These are delicious sweets called pancakes. Eating them makes you feel happy. So, I really want you to try them." My earnest feelings must have gotten through.

"Alright, I'll trust you and give it a try."

"Thank you. By the way, I apologize for the late introduction. I am Aotsuki, Rinsakura.'"

"I am..." He looked troubled, his eyes shifting.

"It's okay, no need to force yourself. Now, let's get started." Saying that, I put a relatively small apron on him.

Then, the two of us baked several pancakes. Even if there were a few mishaps and some got burnt, Schnappy happily gobbled them up.

As expected, when the beautiful boy looked at Schnappy, Schnappy lowered his head even more respectfully than he did with Mr. Chronos.

It's confirmed then.

I could only silently watch this scene unfold. After about 15 pancakes. It seemed the beautiful boy had successfully baked a pancake with all his might.

I delicately placed that one pancake onto the plate, treating it as something precious. I also put the pancake I had personally cooked onto a plate.

"It turned out very nicely." I commented.

"Ah..." The little emperor smiled happily.

"Well then, shall we?" I suggested.

"Lady Rinsakura." he spoke up.

"Yes?"

"Would you mind trying the pancake I made?" Blushing profusely, he extended the plate toward me.

"Eh? Is that okay? You've cooked it so skillfully." I hesitated.

"That's precisely why. I want you to taste it. In return, Lady Rinsakura, please offer me what you've made."

Is this okay? I thought it might be inappropriate, but he insisted, and it seemed rude to decline.

"Alright, let's make the exchange, then." So, we savored each other's pancakes to our heart's content.

"This is delicious... It's my first time eating such a warm and tasty treat." He said, narrowing his eyes.

Unexpectedly, the position of an emperor might be lonely... If possible, I'd like to let him try various other things. As I watched the beautiful boy earnestly savoring the pancakes, I felt a twinge of melancholy.

And it was around the time we finished eating everything.

"Lady Rinsakura, is there something on your mind? Do your parents operate a quiet restaurant in the middle of this forest? Is there anything I can help with?"

Here we go again! What's the ordinary definition of a regular house in this country? I really need to ask Chronos about it thoroughly next time.

"Well, it's a bit hard to explain... This is just a regular house. It's not a restaurant."

"What! How can such mysterious and strange dishes come from here, then?" How many times has this conversation happened...

"Yes, and Kinako and Kuro-mame aren't my parents. I am of the Human Race. Kinako and Kuro-mame are just ordinary Shiba Inu dogs."

".........."

It seemed he was at a loss for words. He looked at me and Kinako alternately several times.

No animal ears here! Honestly, if I could have them, I'd want them.

I silently fumed a bit in my heart.

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