I’ll Never Set Foot in That House Again! Volume 3 Read online

  Prologue

  My name is Chelsea. I’m the adopted daughter of Margrave Sargent, a research fellow at the Royal Research Institute, and the contractor of the Spirit King Ele...

  I’ve gained a lot of titles, but the most recent one is “Lord Glen’s fiancée”. To think that a year ago I was living through abuse in the barony of my birth, yet here I was engaged to Lord Glen, younger brother of the king and a nationally recognized appraiser.

  I’d say the fact that I sometimes had to pinch myself to figure out whether I was dreaming or not was quite understandable.

  “Chelsea? We’re nearly there, but... Why are you pinching your cheek?” asked Lord Glen, who had been sitting across from me in the carriage on the way back to the capital from the Sargent Margraviate.

  I quickly pulled my hand away from my cheek, resting it on my lap.

  “No, it’s nothing,” I answered, shaking my head lightly.

  Lord Glen gave me a confused look. His deep-blue hair, reminiscent of the night sky, sparkled in the light coming through the window, while his blue eyes that just seemed to suck you in stared at my face.

  “You won’t tell me what you’re thinking about?” he responded, tilting his head to the side.

  Seeing him do this, I couldn’t stay silent. “Honestly, um... Sometimes I just can’t believe that I’m really your fiancée...” I told him the truth behind why I pinched my cheek, despite my embarrassment.

  After a few blinks, Lord Glen let out a happy chuckle, then said, “You absolutely are my fiancée, Chelsea.”

  My heart skipped a beat as he gave me a different smile than usual. But to think he’d ever say that! My heart felt as if it was being squeezed... And at the same time, my cheeks heated up.

  “If possible, I’d much prefer you just look at your engagement ring rather than pinching yourself on the cheek,” he continued with another laugh, pointing at my right hand on my lap.

  On my right ring finger was the engagement ring Lord Glen had given me. On it was a stone the same blue as his eyes. The ring was a magic tool that would automatically cast defensive magic if the wearer was in danger, and it wouldn’t come off easily. Since he’d asked me to save my left ring finger for my wedding ring, I was wearing it on my right.

  “All right. I’ll do that next time,” I said with a nod, looking between my ring and his eyes. From now on, I’ll look at the ring and remember Lord Glen’s eyes instead.

  While I was thinking that, the carriage stopped in front of the Royal Research Institute’s entrance. The knights guarding us opened the doors from the outside, and Lord Glen got out first before holding a hand out to help me down. As I took it and stepped out of the carriage, I saw a building the same gray color as the palace to my right...and someone in a white robe with a red stole running out of the institute in our direction.

  The one who ran up to us out of breath was the son of Marquis Forium, Lord Tris, who was also helping me study my [Seed Creation] Skill. For some reason, he stopped about ten steps from me before opening his eyes wide in shock, yelling, “Welcome home, Miss Chelsea! You’ve grown a lot, huh?!”

  “I’m finally back home. I had a growth spurt after falling ill with a mana fever,” I replied.

  After planting the Spirit Tree cutting in the nearby Radzuel Empire, I fell ill with a mana fever and had to stay in the Sargent Margraviate to recuperate. A mana fever occurs when the mana pool inside of you falls out of balance with your body. After the fever subsides, you have a growth spurt as your body tries to match the size of your mana pool. Thanks to that, I’d grown to be just a little bit shorter than the average twelve-year-old.

  “I heard all about that. But I didn’t think you’d get this big!” Lord Tris said with a few nods as he walked towards me. Then, when he was about a step away, he smiled and said, “And not only did you grow, but you’re more ladylike! That ring looks great on you!”

  Since you could take off normal engagement rings and put them back on, they went on your left ring finger before being switched out with your wedding ring at your ceremony. Lord Tris must have thought I was wearing it for fashion since it was on my right ring finger.

  “Th-Thank you very much,” I said, giving him a smile.

  Next, he looked over at Lord Glen. “Welcome back to you too, Lord Glen. Wait...what’s with that murderous look?”

  I glanced up at Lord Glen, but I didn’t see anything like what Lord Tris was saying.

  “You must have been imagining things...”

  “Really? Doesn’t really matter, but... Ah! More importantly, where’s my souvenir?” Lord Tris asked, holding out his hands.

  “It isn’t quite a souvenir, but...” With that warning, I willed the bracelet made from a Spirit Tree branch on my wrist to give me back a bag of seeds. When I did, the bag popped into existence in front of my eyes.

  “Where the heck did that come from?!” he cried out in shock as he reached out to catch the bag.

  The Spirit Tree bracelet that I got from Ele was connected to a personal storage room for me in the Spirit World, and I could put anything I wanted inside. When I wanted something back, I could either will it back or verbally whisper it, and whatever it was would pop out in front of my eyes. Since the items always came flying out, I dropped a lot of things before I got used to catching them.

  After I explained all of that to Lord Tris, he nodded in understanding. “So what is this?”

  “While I was recuperating, I did some research on my Skill on my own. During my research, I created a variety of seeds, so I thought that they might be good to study...”

  Before I even finished speaking, he’d excitedly reached in the bag and pulled out a seed. The one he’d grabbed was round and flat like a coin, and had a picture of a fork, spoon, and knife in the middle.

  “This...doesn’t look anything like a seed, y’know?!” Lord Tris’s jaw dropped as he stared at it.

  Lord Glen gave it a serious look before saying, “I just appraised it, but it’s incredibly interesting. It’s called an ‘Experimental Cutlery Seed,’ and it produces a single set of wooden cutlery consisting of a fork, spoon, and knife. Since it’s experimental, it only lasts for one generation, and they rot after a night.”

  “I experimented with many different things, but I’ve found that I can create seeds to make anything as long as it’s wooden,” I added.

  As long as I had a proper blueprint, I could even create a seed that could sprout into a table and chairs. Putting an illustration of whatever the seed would grow into onto the seeds themselves was the best thing I could think of.

  Still looking shocked, Lord Tris put the Experimental Cutlery Seed back in the bag before pulling out another one. This one was round and light blue, and had the same type of little cork in it as the Elixir Seed and Aopo Seed.

  “What’s this one?” he asked, holding it in the palm of his hand.

  “This one’s a ‘Fruit Water Seed,’ and it’s got fruit water inside, just as the name suggests. It also says it tastes great,” Lord Glen explained, having used his [Appraisal] Skill again. “This one is another single generation one, huh?”

  “This is the best souvenir ever! I wanna plant ’em and check ’em out ASAP! No, I wanna try drinking the Fruit Water Seed first!” cheered Lord Tris as he returned the seed to the bag.

  While we were all talking, the second carriage arrived. Ele, the Spirit King who spent most of his time in the form of a cat, hopped out. Since my total mana had increased, he now looked like an adult cat instead of a kitten, and seemed a bit more graceful.

  «I will check on the Spirit Tree,» the silver-furred Ele murmured, floating up
into the air before flying towards the Spirit Tree planted directly beside the Royal Research Institute.

  “Hm? What’s up with him?” Lord Tris asked, looking confused.

  When Ele was in cat form, only people who were contracted with a Spirit or had the [Appraisal] Skill could understand him. Apparently everyone else just heard meowing.

  After I explained that he was just going to check on the tree, Lord Tris smiled brightly. “He’s still just going at his own pace, huh?”

  I nodded in agreement while Lord Glen just gave a strained smile.

  Next, Micah the foxwoman (also my personal chef) stepped outside.

  “We’re finally here~!” she said, immediately stretching. Then she walked up to stand next to me.

  Having been watching her, Lord Tris gave her a big smile. “Hello! My name’s Tristano. I’m researching Miss Chelsea’s Skill with her. You must be...Miss Micah, right?”

  “Yep! I’m Micah the foxwoman~!” she replied, twirling in place before giving Lord Tris a smile of her own. She’d done the same twirl when we first met her in the Sargent Margraviate. “I’m Chelsea’s personal chef~! ...But how do you know me?”

  “I heard all about you from Lord Glen. He told me you could make some great stuff. He spoke so highly of your cooking... I wanna try it too!”

  Miss Micah’s tail wagged side to side at his words. “I guess I’ll just have to cook you up something good if you’re gonna compliment me like that, Lord Tristano!”

  “Really?! I can’t wait! Oh yeah, and you can just call me Tris!”

  “Roger!”

  Lord Tris and Miss Micah hit it off in no time, bumping their fists together. After that, they started chatting about what he wanted to eat, and what she could make.

  I’m jealous of how quickly they became friends... I thought to myself as I watched them.

  ＋＋＋

  Leaving the two men behind, Miss Micah and I headed inside the brown brick building...the Royal Research Institute’s lodging house. Once we were inside, we turned left down the hallway. I gave the two knights standing there a little nod, and got grins back.

  Miss Micah’s eyes had been darting around everywhere since we’d come inside. Her eyes gleamed in excitement. She might have thought it a bit strange, since it was built differently from buildings in Radzuel.

  After walking a little bit further, we stopped in front of a strong-looking black door.

  “These are my quarters,” I told the foxwoman, before opening the door.

  Inside was my large room, and my six personal maids stood lined up at the ready.

  “Welcome home, Lady Chelsea,” they said in unison the moment we stepped inside, giving me a bow.

  “I’m home.”

  I’ve been away for over half a year... This is kinda embarrassing, I thought as I gave them a smile, and they all smiled happily back.

  Then Martha and Gina, who had been assigned to me first, walked closer.

  “You’ve grown so much while recuperating.”

  “I’d heard the news, but you really are taller, and even a bit more filled out!”

  Gina was tearing up a little, while Martha gave me a huge smile.

  “Yes. The margraviate’s physician informed me that I’ve grown to the proper size for a twelve-year-old.”

  They looked a bit shocked when I said that. I wonder why?

  When I gave them a confused look, Martha explained, “We were just surprised to hear you speaking like a proper lady. You must have studied hard!”

  I was very glad to hear that my hard work had paid off. While I stood there simply being happy, Gina’s gaze fell on Miss Micah, who had been standing behind me.

  “It’s wonderful to meet you. I’m Gina, head of Lady Chelsea’s group of personal maids.”

  “Nice to meet you too~! I’m Micah, a beastwoman! I’m Chelsea’s personal chef!”

  The two smiled at each other after giving their introductions.

  “His Majesty has told us about you. But we’d like for you to become one of Lady Chelsea’s personal maids from now on,” said Gina before explaining further.

  Since I was a research fellow at the Research Institute, Miss Micah would need to use the institute’s kitchen to make my meals. But since that kitchen was built to make food for large groups, it wouldn’t have the utilities or supplies for her to cook only my portions.

  “Since we imagined you wouldn’t want to work in the kitchen as a normal chef, we thought it would be best for you to become one of Lady Chelsea’s personal maids and use the kitchen in this room.”

  I didn’t even think of where Miss Micah would actually work! As I looked around in a fluster, Martha smiled at me.

  “His Highness has everything under control,” she said. “You needn’t worry about a thing, Lady Chelsea. You’re also still a minor anyway, so just leave this all to the adults.”

  It was true that I was still only twelve. I had three years until I’d be an adult. But is it really okay to leave everything to them?!

  While I panicked, Miss Micah crossed her arms and looked at the kitchen. “I’m all for becoming one of Chelsea’s personal maids~! And I’ve got no problem with cooking in her room, since it’ll mean I can give her her meals all nice and hot,” she said, walking towards it. “But I do have a problem with how little I’ll be able to make in this modest kitchen.”

  The kitchen in my room was just a tiny thing, with a single magical burner, a little sink, and an itty-bitty refrigerator. It was big enough to make tea, but that was about it.

  Standing in front of the kitchen, Miss Micah used Clean to wash her hands before pulling out a pan and ingredients and whipping up an omelet. Then she split it into eight pieces, putting each piece on a small plate from her Item Box, and passed them out to everyone present. All the maids looked a bit at a loss, being handed a plate so suddenly.

  “It’s a sweet omelet. Try it~!” Miss Micah encouraged everyone, eating her portion to show it wasn’t poisoned. Her tail wagged, so it must have come out well.

  When I saw that, I cut a bite-sized piece off of my own portion before putting it in my mouth.

  “Delicious...!” Miss Micah’s sweet omelet looked simple, but the taste was a relief, making it a hit in the Sargent Margraviate.

  After seeing my reaction, Gina immediately took a bite, and gave a bewitching smile afterwards. Martha had already finished hers, and was looking sadly at her empty plate. When the other maids ate their pieces, they all chattered about how delicious it was.

  “Aww, I wanna cook something even better~” lamented Miss Micah.

  I could have sworn that Gina and Martha’s eyes glinted when she said that.

  “This is exactly the kind of thing we’ll need His Highness to handle.”

  “Yes! Let’s have him redo this entire kitchen!”

  All the other maids smiled and nodded along at the suggestion.

  “By the way, what other things can you cook?”

  Miss Micah thought for a moment before starting to whip something else up. She ended up making three dishes. First, she made tomato and cheese dressed with her specialty dressing. Second was fried potatoes and bacon covered in various spices, which filled the room with their unique scents. Last was lightly toasted bite-sized bits of bread topped with cheese.

  “These are the kinds of things I can make with the current kitchen. Since I made them so quick, there isn’t much~” she explained, putting a bite of each onto everyone’s plates. Then we all ate our samples.

  “Your cooking is always so delicious, Miss Micah,” I quietly praised.

  “I’m glad you like it~! It makes cooking worth it~” Miss Micah’s tail wagged in response to my praise.

  In the end, she became one of my personal maids with a focus on cooking, and would live in a separate room in the lodging house like the other maids.

  1. Future Plans

  The next morning, I woke to the sounds of my curtains being opened. I must have really been tired, because
I hadn’t noticed anyone coming into my room.

  “Good morning, Lady Chelsea.”

  “Good morning, Gina.”

  After I replied from my bed, Gina looked right at me. “Are you tired from your journey? If you feel off at all, please tell us immediately.”

  It seemed that she was really worried after I spent half a year recuperating back in my family’s home.

  “I slept well, so I’m fine.”

  Gina looked relieved after I said that. “Let’s get you ready for the day.”

  Then I washed my face, fixed my hair, and put on a dress. Since I’d grown taller, all of my outfits were from the Sargent Margraviate.

  “Lady Chelsea, you’ve really grown so much,” Gina murmured, looking at me in awe.

  For the span of time until my kitchen was renovated, I would be eating what the head chef made me like usual, but... The portions brought out for my breakfast were bigger than they were when my stomach was smaller, but it still wasn’t enough food for me now.

  “Chelsea can eat a lot more nowadays~ This is too little!” muttered Miss Micah before heading to the room’s kitchen to make me a little bit more.

  On the table were the bread, soup, salad, crispy bacon, and scrambled eggs made by the head chef. Accompanying them were the potato salad and ham and lettuce sandwiches made by Miss Micah. They were all small portions, but there were more dishes than before.

  “Looking at it like this, you can really tell that Lady Chelsea can eat more now...” said Gina, giving me another look of awe after seeing all the food on the table.

  After saying my prayers to the earth gods, I ate the breakfast that the head chef and Miss Micah made for me. Since I’d been eating nothing but Miss Micah’s food during my stay at the margraviate, the head chef’s food felt a bit nostalgic.

  “Miss Martha got everything okayed~! The kitchen should be renovated in no time!” Miss Micah declared, tail wagging.

  “It’s quite amazing that you’ve got all the permission necessary the morning after deciding things,” I said after swallowing what was in my mouth.

  While I was taking a break after finishing my breakfast, a messenger came from His Majesty the King, telling me to come to his office once I was dressed.