A Promise Beneath the Stars (Continued)

Although the temperature difference between day and night on the island is not large, it is still a little chilly.

But Euphemia, wrapped in her coat and warmed by the glow of the campfire that illuminated her face, felt no cold at all.

However, she looked at her teacher with a complicated expression, along with the skewers he was holding, which were being smoked by the campfire, and several grilled fish and shellfish next to them.

"Sizzle--"

Golden grease dripped slowly from the surface of the meat skewers, sizzling as it fell into the glowing embers, and a rich aroma of grilled meat gradually filled the air.

Its main selling point is its fragrant aroma.

How does one find edible and delicious meat, along with various bottles and jars of seasonings, on a deserted island?

The answer is, of course, that it was Yotsuba Mahiro took it out.

These are the leftovers from the Akame ga Kill World. I never expected they'd come in handy here, and they're just as fresh as they were back then.

As for the fish and shellfish, he just scooped them out of the sea at random.

Behind him stood a detached, exquisite wooden house.

With that level of refinement, it could fetch a good price even in Britannia if it were simply painted.

It was built by Yotsuba Mahiro herself, taking less than an hour to complete from felling the trees to assembling it.

What Euphemia saw before her eyes was hard to believe; it looked more like a picnic in the wilderness.

However, whether it's a disaster or a field trip, having a teacher by my side makes me feel exceptionally safe...

Thinking of this, Euphemia li Britannia tightened the coat she was wearing.

A faint scent of leather lingered around my nose, mixed with another aroma.

It smells nice, not unpleasant at all.

Euphemia li Britannia knew that was Yotsuba Mahiro's scent, and almost unconsciously, she took a few deep breaths from the collar of his clothes.

"What are you doing, Euphemia li Britannia?"

Mahiro, who had just finished grilling the meat skewers, noticed Euphemia li Britannia's actions and couldn't help but ask.

"N-nothing!"

The princess was startled and quickly waved her hand.

After a long pause, she whispered, "You... you saw everything?"

"No, I didn't see anything."

As a proper gentleman, one should not embarrass a lady, especially a princess like Euphemia li Britannia who is easily embarrassed.

But Euphemia li Britannia was well aware of this, and shyly lowered her head.

"Ugh... This is so embarrassing."

Looking at the jade-like feet peeking out from under the coat, the stockings long gone, the rounded toes intertwined, stepping on the soft sand, feeling the sand rubbing against the soles of the feet, there was also an awkward feeling of almost digging out a three-bedroom apartment.

"Here it is, it's done."

Mahiro sprinkled a few drops of salt on the grilled meat skewers and handed them to Euphemia li Britannia.

"How about trying my cooking?"

"Um."

Euphemia li Britannia nodded and took a small bite without hesitation. In that instant, the girl's eyes lit up.

The abundant oils practically exploded in her mouth, and the taste was unlike anything she had ever experienced before.

The juices preserved by grilling the meat maintain a certain temperature, and as you chew the tender meat, a natural sweetness from the meat itself bursts forth.

The flavors aren't overly complicated; the crispy skin, the sweet juices, and the tender meat itself complement each other perfectly...

It tastes somewhat like top-quality marbled beef, and also somewhat like tender and juicy chicken.

While it may not rival royal cuisine, its tenderness, juiciness, and perfect grilling make it a top-tier delicacy.

As she continued to swallow, she felt a sense of satisfaction, but at the same time, strange images kept appearing in her mind.

It looks like a mirror-like lake.

Lush green grass grows along the riverbank, and colorful butterflies flutter among the grass and flowers.

A white marble pavilion also stands to the side.

That was the garden outside the Aries Palace.

Euphemia li Britannia remembered it clearly because when she was little, her older sister often practiced there with Miss Alpha, while she herself would sit on the grass weaving flower wreaths.

Just as she was about to continue her reminiscence, her recollection suddenly came to an abrupt end.

Because she had already finished the small piece of meat she had bitten off, a strange warmth was gradually rising in her chest.

Subconsciously, she found herself taking a few more bites of the meat skewer.

That familiar feeling washed over me again...

In no time, the skewer of meat, grilled to a fragrant crisp, was finished.

As emotions accumulated, change finally occurred, but this change was completely unexpected.

"Waaaaah!!"

With a strange whimper, Euphemia li Britannia's cheeks flushed slightly, and she suddenly felt a moment of disorientation, her body involuntarily leaning backward.

Seeing this, Mahiro reached out and wrapped his arms around Euphemia li Britannia's waist to help her steady herself.

Are you alright?

"No, I'm fine, thank you."

Euphemia li Britannia blushed and responded in a voice barely audible, her hands awkwardly rubbing between her thighs.

Ugh, this is so embarrassing...

But...

"However... Mahiro- sensei, your cooking is delicious."

"Right?"

He glanced at Euphemia li Britannia, his eyes full of smiles, picked up a branch and poked the campfire, speaking slowly and deliberately:

"This is the most tender meat from the entire body of the Cloud Giant Dragon. Even without any seasoning, the roasted meat is extremely delicious."

"Cloud Giant Dragon... Teacher, are you talking about dragon meat?"

"Yes, it's dragon meat. This isn't a figment of imagination, nor is it the kind of four-legged, winged lizard from fairy tales. It's the real dragon, coiled in the clouds."

Moreover, that dragon is the strongest creature in the Akame ga Kill World, a species that even an adult Tyrant would find difficult to match.

A single whisker can be used as a dividing line, revealing its gold content.

Upon hearing this, Euphemia li Britannia covered her surprised mouth with her hand, then, as if remembering something, lowered her hand.

"Teacher... actually, you're from another world, right?"

"I bet Beatrice told you, didn't she?"

Mahiro smiled and asked in return, while Euphemia li Britannia nodded gently.

Seeing this, he added, "Actually, it's alright to tell you. It's true that I come from another world. The dragon meat you're eating now is actually from a creature from another world. The reason I'll become your teacher, your sister Cornelia's teacher, and your brothers and sisters' teachers is because when I was transported to this world, I happened to be transported to the royal palace..."

Like telling a story, Mahiro some of his past experiences, slowly telling them to Euphemia li Britannia.

That's why he said that he, Yotsuba Mahiro, is Yotsuba Mahiro, does not belong to any country, and is the only Yotsuba Mahiro.

After all, he's not even from this world.

After hearing his story, Euphemia li Britannia's eyes slowly shone with admiration and longing as she rested her chin on her hand.

"That's wonderful, being able to travel to different worlds and such."

Despite being a princess of Britannia, she was like Canary imprisoned in a cage, unable to even travel to different parts of the world, let alone traverse it.

Even her current experience of being stranded on a desert island is invaluable to her.

Thinking of this, Euphemia's eyes slowly dimmed.

"What's wrong? You seem unhappy. Is something on your mind?"

"No."

Euphemia li Britannia shook her head and replied with a smile.

"Come on, don't I know you? You keep everything on your mind, even to Cornelia, whom you love the most, you won't reveal a single thing."

"Hehehe..."

Euphemia li Britannia grinned sheepishly and stuck out her tongue shyly.

"As expected, nothing can be hidden from the teacher..."

"Of course, but I guess you also want to visit another world?"

Mahiro exposed the princess's ulterior motives.

Euphemia li Britannia timidly raised her head and tentatively asked, "... Is it okay?"

"Hmm, definitely no problem, unless you still have some attachment to the Britannia royal family."

"I don't feel any attachment. Right now, besides Lelouch and Nunnally, the only people I care about are Princess Cornelia..."

She really had nothing to miss.

She had long since witnessed the intrigue and backstabbing within the royal family; even her seemingly kind-hearted brother, Prince Schneizel, was ruthless and unscrupulous...

Although she could understand it, she just couldn't bring herself to like it.

"That works then."

"But I still have unfinished business to do..." Euphemia li Britannia said hesitantly.

"It's okay. After you've finished what you want to do, take your older sister Cornelia and Nunnally with you, and let's leave here together and go see what my world is like."

"Then you can't bully us, teacher, or we'll band together and fight back against you!"

"Hehe, do you think I'm that kind of person?"

"It's a deal then, teacher, you can't go back on your word!"

"Yes, yes, I will never go back on my word."

Laughter from the two echoed through the night.

However, as time went by, the night gradually darkened.

The sound of the waves crashing against the shore filled the night, and the cool breeze blowing from the sea made people shiver. Although a campfire had been lit, it was already half-extinguished.

Mahiro looked up at the sky and said:

"Alright, it's getting late. Go get some sleep. You should be rescued by tomorrow. If not, I'll personally take you back."

"Okay, thank you, teacher."

Euphemia considered meeting Yotsuba Mahiro here the luckiest thing that happened to her today, not to mention having chatted with her teacher for so long.

She, who had been feeling down, was now full of fighting spirit again, as if she had found her direction in life once more.

This time, the goal is to resolve the issues between Yotsuba Mahiro and Lelouch, no matter what.

She has decided to do it.

At the very least, we must not let something like what happened to Crown Prince Clovis happen again!

The girl, who was thinking about these things, slowly stood up, but perhaps because she had been sitting on the ground for too long, her legs were a little numb. Her foot, which was on the reef, suddenly twisted and she involuntarily fell to one side.

"Ah--"

With a soft gasp, Euphemia tumbled back onto the beach.

Turning around, Mahiro grabbed her, frowning as he asked, "What happened?"

A flicker of pain crossed Euphemia li Britannia's face. She bit her lip, sat on the ground, and gently cradled her ankle in her hands.

"I accidentally twisted my ankle..."