Living as a Recluse Deep in the Forest - Episode 20: A Sudden Remark

 As the twilight deepened, thick plumes of steam billowed from the long table set out in the garden.

Large, rounded wooden bowls sat before them. Inside were glossy, white udon noodles. Then—slowly, thickly—a golden-brown broth was ladled over the top. The scent of curry. But it was subtly different from the one they had enjoyed during the day.

"Alright, sorry to keep you waiting. Be careful—if you spill this, it’s going to be a disaster."

Yuu placed a bowl in front of each person. Tiny bubbles, still simmering, clung to the rim of the bowls. But before they could dive in—

"First, a confirmation."

Yuu glanced sharply at the attire of the group seated at the table.

"You’re all wearing clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, right?"

Everyone nodded vigorously. Aurora, the maids, and the guards were all dressed in durable forest-wear today. To begin with, they hadn't brought a single expensive dress for this forest expedition.

"Good."

Yuu nodded with satisfaction.

"Then slurp away without holding back. ...Honestly, it’s probably impossible to try and eat this elegantly at first anyway."

With those somewhat ominous words, he set down the final bowl. Spread out before them was a sight quite different from the udon they were used to. Atop the white noodles was a curry-colored broth. Bits of onion and meat drifted and dipped within it. The scent rising with the steam was—unmistakably—the curry they had eaten earlier. Yet, at the same time, it was mixed with a mellow, rounded aroma that felt more composed than the lunch version.

"...Let's eat."

Aurora picked up her chopsticks and murmured the words almost like a prayer. The maids and guards followed suit in unison.

"Let's eat."

Chopsticks reached for the bowls. A single strand of noodle was lifted from the thick curry broth. The white of the udon was entwined with the color of the curry. A golden-brown film clung to the surface of the noodle— Someone swallowed hard.

"...Oh, whatever!"

Aurora took a breath as if bracing herself, then slurped the noodles in one go. Slurp—

"H-huh...!?"

The moment it entered her mouth, her tongue was greeted by the same curry aroma and faint spice from earlier. But the differences rushed in immediately after. It was lighter than the lunch curry. It was fluid, yet the thickness remained firm. And what spread slowly through her mouth was... the savory depth of the dashi. Beneath the violent fragrance of the curry, the taste of the broth asserted itself quietly but surely.

(...What is this?)

Aurora’s eyes widened.

(It’s definitely curry. I can clearly taste the curry from earlier. And yet—)

The midday curry had been like a knight clad in heavy armor. Every strike was powerful and overwhelming—a presence that punched you right from the front. But the broth of the curry udon she was eating now...

(It’s soft...!)

Even though it was the same curry, it was somehow gentle, a flavor that embraced the palate. The dashi acted as a linchpin, rounding out all the sharp edges. The chewy texture of the udon layered on top of that. With every bite, the sweetness of the wheat and the flavor of the curry mingled on her tongue. The parts that had soaked up the broth contrasted with the parts that remained white. That contrast appeared and vanished repeatedly within a single strand of noodle.

"Wh-what is this...?"

The words escaped Aurora’s throat of their own accord.

"Why... why is it like this...!"

Next to her, one of the guards groaned, overcome with emotion.

"It’s curry. It’s definitely the curry from earlier. And yet..."

He stared at his bowl through the steam and shouted.

"It’s completely different! I can’t believe it’s the same thing!" 

"The base is certainly the same curry from lunch!"

A maid declared, pausing her chopsticks. She was naturally sensitive to scents and flavors.

"My tongue and nose tell me so. And yet... it’s entirely distinct! It has been perfected as a completely different dish!"

Another maid laughed through teary eyes as she slurped her udon.

"The udon... the udon fits so well...! To think that udon coated in curry could be... could be this delicious...!"

Noodles were sucked up from the bowls one after another. Everyone must have realized it was "hot" from the first bite, yet their momentum didn't slow in the slightest.

"Slurp... so hot...!" 

"Eek, the broth splashed!" 

"See? I told you."

Yuu gave a wry smile as he handed out the towels he had prepared in advance.

"That’s why I made the condition about wearing clothes you don’t mind ruining. If you eat this in a fine formal outfit, you’ll literally cry. Especially in white clothes." 

"...I see."

While wiping away the splashes, the maids looked at each other.

"So this is why Master Yuu insisted on clothes we don't mind getting dirty." "Yes. Fortunately, we only bring durable clothes when we come to the forest. No one would bring an expensive dress here." "To think the day would come where being in an environment where we can't wear nice clothes would actually work in our favor..."

They giggled among themselves, but their hands never stopped. The sound of slurping udon. The sound of scooping curry broth. The occasional screams of "Hot!", "Haffu!", and "Ah, it splashed!" The air in the garden was filled with a happy clamor.

Amidst all this—Aurora alone suddenly stopped her chopsticks.

The words the maid had just spoken lingered in her mind. Nice clothes. As she looked down into her simmering bowl, she remembered.

(...Sister’s words.)

Before heading to the forest. The conversation they had in a room in the royal capital came back vividly.

“Listen, Aurora. It’s not good to ignore the Sage’s intentions. I agree with you on that.”

Regina had been wearing her usual soft smile, but her eyes had been strangely serious.

“But... is that enough? He is a Sage with such wonderful knowledge. Other countries might try to recruit him.”

Recruitment from other countries. And then—

“...Actually, even if it’s not a country. Other women might try to approach him, you know?” 

“—I’d hate that.”

The words that had spilled out when her mind went blank back then. Even now, remembering it made her face flush with heat.

(...That's right, I brought it.)

Aurora thought back to the contents of her luggage. Her usual practical, forest-only clothes. Equipment fit for a Knight Commander. Perfect for walking in the woods. But they possessed zero elements that emphasized her "womanhood." Among all those clothes, there was one item—one that stood out.

A beautiful dress. It was designed with some ease of movement in mind, but it was clearly "clothes meant to be seen," not "clothes meant for battle." She had chosen it with Regina. Standing before the mirror, putting it on and taking it off repeatedly while her sister teased and adjusted it—

“This much is perfect. Right between cute and mature. It’s the perfect balance to make your charm shine, Aurora.”

She remembered her sister's playful face.

(Am I really... going to wear that here?)

Yuu’s house was a special "safe zone" even within the forest. Monsters didn't enter. The ground was dirt, but the floors of the terrace and the log house were solid. Even if the hem was a bit long, she wouldn't be dragging it through the mud.

(...I want to be by his side.)

That wish, at least, was clear. She wasn't chasing the ghost of her former husband—the Duke's son lost on the battlefield. The only thing they shared was black hair. His personality, his way of speaking, his way of life—everything was different. They had known each other for two years now. She knew well that they were different people.

(...Then, what is this feeling?)

On the way home from the forest. After reporting in the capital. In sudden moments, she would think:

I want to come back again. To this house. To this person.

For the Kingdom. For the national interest. For diplomacy.

She was slightly aware that those were just excuses. The truth was—she simply had fun being here. Talking to Yuu made her heart feel lighter.

(...As long as he doesn't say... it doesn't suit me.)

For a second, a moment of weakness leaked into her heart.

(I really... don't want him to say that...)

Regina’s words echoed in her head again.

“There isn't a man alive whose heart wouldn't flutter at the sight of my cute little sister dressed up with all her heart.”

I wonder. Is that really true?

(...That’s what Sister says, but...)

Sometimes, Yuu was hard to read. He showed incredible insight regarding magic, cooking, and daily life hacks. Yet, in the most crucial areas, he would sometimes tilt his head with a blank look.

That was precisely why—precisely why it was scary.

(If I resolve to change... he seems like the type who would just say, 'Oh, that looks hard to move in,' with a straight face...)

Just as she was about to clutch her head at the imagination—

"Oh, right."

Yuu, having just finished his bowl, took a sip of water and spoke in a casual tone.

"Sorry, but I'll be heading out for about a week starting tomorrow."

The hand holding her chopsticks stopped dead.

"............Eh?"

A voice devoid of emotion escaped Aurora’s lips.

The maids. The guards. Everyone looked up at the same time. Twilight was falling over the garden. The red light of the campfire illuminated their faces. The expressions that had been melting with the deliciousness of the curry udon just a moment ago froze in unison. Only Yuu wore his usual, slightly tired smile.

"...Eh?"

Aurora could only repeat the same word once more.

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