Whose Hand the Chocolate Queen Takes Chapter 5

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Chapter 5

Lady Chocola: Unfortunately, I still have yet to. After all, the chocolate I want is the one and only Annabella.

In fact, the reason I came here today was to take her hand.

Annabella, as the most prominent of chocolates, is the world’s number one sought after chocolate, and the one I hold deep admirations for! 

As she said this however, she cast down her eyes with a sad expression.

Lady Chocola: I am supposed to know all the chocolates in the world, yet I still have not laid my eyes upon her figure…

Murr: Well, Annabella is only presented about every hundred years! 

Lady Chocola: Yes, you’re right about that. The last time she appeared was the year I was born into this world, so I have been waiting all my life. That’s why, I must have her hand!

Rustica: Such zeal you have! Could you be my bride?

Akira: (HUH?)

When I turned around to that voice, it was nonetheless Rustica!! Next to him was Shylock, who waved to us politely.

Rustica: Are you wearing that chocolate brown dress for our wedding? Please, enter the cage, my lovely dear.

Akira: (Crap, he’s Target-Locked her!!)

Rustica, WAIT,

Despite my panicking, Lady Chocola is calm and merely returns a pleasant smile to the birdcage-in-hand approaching Rustica.

Lady Chocola: Wrong person, sir. My only love is chocolate, so I couldn’t be your bride!

Rustica: Oh, is that so…? My deepest apologies. As you say, you certainly look the bride to chocolate instead. 

I should have guessed, considering how your wonderful dress looks as if it could melt with a touch.

Lennox: Rustica put away his birdcage just like that…

Shylock: Hehe, looks like her love for chocolate won. 

It is an honour to meet you, Lady Chocola. 

I’ve heard tell of you, a young madame who had become the number one chocolate critic, following in her great grandmother’s footsteps.

Lady Chocola: My, am I elated to meet you too! Upon this name do I travel the world in search of every chocolate out there, which is my purpose for coming here today! 

Rustica: So you go on searching for those you love too, my lady? We are kindred souls.

Traveller of Love, my Lady Chocola, I would be delighted to meet your fated partner. Where are they now? 

Lady Chocola: You mean Annabella? Well she is somewhere here, being kept safe. 

Soon we will be able to meet her, but I do wonder in what way she will be revealed…oh how I long to see her…

Rustica: I cannot wait to meet her! Then please, until the time approaches, will you speak of your travels with me? Your days of searching for your love, if you would. 

Lady Chocola: Why, of course I will! It’ll be long, I warn you.

I’ve been one with chocolate since the day I was born after all!

And today I will finally meet the last chocolate, my Queen Annabella! 

Aah, have I waited for this day…

Murr: Say, is it really okay with you to find your last chocolate? 

Lady Chocola: Excuse me?

With eyes beaming of curiosity, Murr asks her a question.

Lady Chocola tilts her head as she blinks dumbfounded, and a smile rose from her bewilderment.

Murr: The reason for your travels was to know all those unknown chocolates out there, right? But that’s gonna be all over now! 

The journey which you sacrificed your entire life for is soon coming to an end. Will you find satisfaction, or despair? 

Lady Chocola: W-Why…obviously it is satisfaction!

Murr: Really now? Desire and emptiness are two sides of the same coin. 

What follows desire comes emptiness, what follows emptiness comes desire. 

Lady Chocola: …

Murr: What is it you will desire after this journey ends? 

Tell me what else you like other than chocolate, my Lady Chocola. 

In response to Murr’s questioning, Lady Chocola’s face darkens, and she avoids his eyes. 

Lady Chocola: That, that is…

Shylock: My sincerest apologies, Lady Chocola. I find your devotion to your title at such a young age inspiring. 

Please, do not mind what this man says. Think of him as a wild cat who doesn’t know any better, I’ll be sure to discipline him later.

Murr: Meoww!!

Shylock: Now, I believe it is time for our queen to make her appearance. The preparations must be done by now. 

Akira: Oh, yeah…it looks like everyone’s going to the top floor. 

Lady Chocola: Ah, then we must hurry! Please excuse me, everyone. 

Lady Chocola bows gracefully to us before she hurries towards the upper floor. 

Nero: …’zit just me or did the crowd get bigger?

Heathcliff: There’s tons of chocolates set up in the center of the room! Is there some special activity?

Akira: Nero, Heath!

Heathcliff: Master Sage, and everyone too.

Akira: Hey! It’s about time Annabella shows up, so we all came up. 

Rustica: Quite the number of chocolates we have here. Perhaps all the chocolates throughout the fair have been gathered. 

In the middle of the room were tables continuously being filled with chocolates. To the ever expanding luxury, the surrounding people cheer. 

Chocolate statues of what looks like a fairy, tri-coloured truffles, flowing chocolate waterfalls, all of them called for your attention.

When all the chocolates of the chocolate fair had their representative, a long bearded man in a tailcoat appeared in the center of the room. It was apparent that he was one of the organizers.

Organizer: Wizards, witches, and all! Thank you for your patience. Our Queen Annabella shall make her entrance! 

As he loudly announced, the crowd began to clap so enthusiastically it felt like the room would break. But as to cut it off, the man raised his right hand. 

Organizer: Now, I shall explain to you all the qualifications to acquire Annabella this time. 

At those words, I could hear people gulp down their breaths. The room went silent in anticipation for his next words…

Organizer: The truth is, our Queen Annabella is already before your eyes, hidden within the many chocolates in front of you! 

Akira: What…!

The room had become noisy again. Reasonable, considering the hundreds of chocolates laid before us. 

Organizer: Annabella normally has a beautiful shape and colour like a jewel. However, this time she has disguised herself with the coating of any other chocolate here, and is hiding her true form. 

For example, this chocolate here on this tray could be her, or maybe the chocolates within that box. 

It will be difficult to discern, but I assure you she is truly here, waiting for one of you to find her!

In short, the contest this time is whoever can find her within this grand selection of chocolates is the winner! That is your qualification! 

Gentleman: Wait, wait! Annabella is a rarely ever seen, mirage of a chocolate! 

There are barely any here who have ever seen her true form! Since she’s disguised herself, how can we even search for her without having seen her once!? 

Organizer: If you make good use of your wits and senses, you will be sure to know the real Queen when you see it! 

However, you mustn’t use magic. If you believe you’ve found her, please find a table with a Judge to determine there. 

Nero: …We seriously going through all this chocolate?

Heathcliff: We have no other choice. Though…it seems there are thousands of chocolates to search from…

Lady Chocola: I shall be the one to find her! 

While everyone else was still baffled at the proposition, Lady Chocola raised her voice loud and clear. 

Lady Chocola: A change of appearance is not enough to stop me! I am the world’s number one chocolate critic, Lady Chocola, after all! 

Gentleman: As expected from Lady Chocola…I suppose I must get my act together as well. I won’t lose when it comes to chocolate!

Madame: Don’t forget me now! There’s no way I’m letting this once in a 100 years opportunity go!

Inspired by Lady Chocola’s drive, morale rose, and the rest of the wizards all started sifting through the chocolates. 

Arthur, who was watching the scene before him, had curiosity burning within his blue eyes. 

Arthur: It’s like a treasure hunt! Shall we go join them?

Murr: You betcha we are! Let’s compete on who’ll find Annabella faster! I’m gonna start over there!

Rustica: Then I’ll start my search from this chocolate piano.

Lennox: I don’t have a lot of confidence, but I’ll help out. I’ll go look at those white chocolates over there. 

Akira: Then I…

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