Since arriving to another world, Yugo hadn't eaten anything. Although he was determined to lash out at Yukina for blackmailing him into marriage, he wasn't mentally strong enough to resist a savory aroma from invading his nose.

  In front of them both, on white table cloth, was a steamy stew full of various vegetables and small meatballs. The fatty liquid of the stew glistened as the table shook when Yukina delved-in first with an ornate wooden spoon.

  Yugo was now determined to devour this free, luxurious, meal instead. Yet, his narrow eyes quickly expanded when he noticed a basket of sexy warm bread, seemingly homemade, sitting enticingly nearby. Moreover, smoked fish and cheese, fresh teal berries, dried fruits, and nuts were decoratively laid out within reach for him to greedily stuff himself. And of course, he did.

  "You look pleased."

  Yukina abruptly commented while pointing her spoon at Yugo.

  "Y-yeah! I feel like a kid in a candy store!"

  As he continued to nom-nom, Yugo noticed that his partner had barely eaten anything.

  "Hey? Are you feeling alright?"

  "Hm?"

  "Your bowl is not even half empty...?"

  "Do not worry, there is no poison."

  "...Huh?"

  "I am simply not interested in food."

  "...Huh?!"

  "Did I say something to upset you?"

  "Yes, a lot actually!" Yugo dropped a piece of bread into the stew and facepalmed. "First of all, it's super hard to tell if you're being serious or not when your face is always the same. Could you try to be a little less indifferent? Thanks."

  "..."

  "Second of all... how come you're not 'interested' in food? Look at how many tasty things there are around you!"

  "I agree. I have no qualms with the quality of my food. My servants do a good job."

  "Have you told them that?"

  "No."

  "Well you should! This stuff's better than 90% of the crap I've been eating. It's delicious, I guess it's high quality, and most of all, it's got plenty of love in it!"

  "Love...?"

  "Duh. Haven't you noticed? Your servants love you."

  "I have. However, I have never heard the notion of 'love' as an input in cooking."

  "Well, when the food's good, then it's probably got a lot of love in it. At least, that's how it is in my world..."

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  "I see." Yukina gently raised her eyebrows and scooped up another spoonful of the warm stew before putting it in her mouth. "Tell me about your world."

  "Sure thing- Hooold up!"

  "Hold what?"

  "Stop distracting me! I've got questions, and you better have the answers."

  "Very well then, I shall hold this spoon up..."

  Yugo placed his hands on the table and leaned forward.

  "Why didn't you stop your dudes from chasing me?"

  "You seemed popular, so, I wished to not disturb your moment of glory."

  "Are serious or joking?!"

  "Heh." Yukina smirked slightly.

  "Oi!!!"

  "In truth, I believed you could have stood your ground against my courtiers."

  "The hell are you talking about?? They were trying to kill me!"

  "Is it so wrong of me to have dreamt that an otherworlder such as yourself would've come with incredible powers upon arrival?"

  "Seriously, what the hall are you talking about?"

  Yukina sighed. "It is practically impossible for a mere thief or scoundrel to scurry his way into the bedchambers of a monarch. Especially here, in Sylvik. And yet, you found yourself by me while claiming to be from another world. So, was it not fair for me to assume that you are magically potent?"

  Yugo relaxed and sat back down. "Yeah, I guess so... But just for your information, I'm just a regular dude."

  "A dude..." Yukina tilted her head to the side.

  "Yeah, just a dude..." Yugo stretched his arms up. "Anyways, me and Fura were planning to find you. But you found us first. How?"

  "Tis simple. Sir Alric reported that you had disappeared in the middle of the chase. And usually, the only way that would happen is if my court wizard had pulled you away."

  "Alric told you that? I thought he was one of the people trying to kill me..."

  "..."

  "No comment?"

  "...No comment."

  Yugo slouched on his seat, sighing. Meanwhile, Yukina continued to gently eat gradually.

  "I see you do not care for table manners."

  "True, I don't care. Instead I have so many more questions, but, I honestly don't care about them either. I just want to go home..."

  "...Will you not ask?"

  "What?"

  "Why I chose to marry you?"

  Yugo chuckled. "Like I said, I don't care anymore... But if I had to guess, it's cause all those people at our wedding were trying to force you to marry someone you didn't know or want to marry. Right?"

  "There is more to it-"

  "Yeah, yeah. There always is. Something, something... this country doesn't take a female ruler seriously? Maybe you need to forge an alliance with another kingdom? Or, you're required to continue an ancient bloodline cause tradition says so? Ah, how about, you think you can do everything yourself but it's an open secret that you actually need a co-ruler to govern better?"

  "Oh? You are correct, it is one of those... How did you know?"

  "Hah, trust me, I wish I didn't..."

  I can't believe wasted so much time mastering so many random RPGs that my stupid little sister couldn't complete herself...

  "So, which one did I get right?" Yugo asked.

  Yukina rested her chin on her hand and stared directly at Yugo with little emotion.

  "That shall remain a secret. But, I am glad to have married you..."

  "Yeah yeah, whatever. Can we make a deal?"

  "A deal?"

  "The way I see it, I'm not getting back home any time soon. But since magic apparently exists here, then there's probably a way for me to go back. At least, that's usually possible in these types of stories..."

  "..."

  "...So, I'll play along and pretend to be a king or whatever. But in exchange, I want to be sent back to Earth as soon as possible! Do you accept?"

  Suddenly, Yukina stood up and walked to the windows. She stared at the mountainous view for a moment before responding. "I... I accept."

  A smile soon erupted across Yugo's face as he fist bumped into the air. "Sweet!"

  Meanwhile, Yukina looked down at her yellow dress before finally turning around to face Yugo.

  "I have finished eating. Have you?"

  Yugo joyfully nodded.

  "Follow me."

  Yukina moved past Yugo and tapped on the double doors into the room. A maid from the other side immediately responded by opening them.

  "Where are we going?"

  Yugo asked as he joined Yukina in the hallway with teal berries in his mouth.

  "Since we have just agreed upon a deal, we may as well attend to urgent business right away."

  "And that'll be...?"

  "The Royal Council."

  "Y-yeah, that sounds pretty important..."