Whose Hand the Chocolate Queen Takes Chapter 9

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Chapter 9

Lady Chocola: …I’ve kept on thinking about it. How, if no one ever found Annabella, my journey could continue.

I could still remain as Lady Chocola, the woman who wanders the world in search of the greatest chocolate. That kind of thing…

Akira: …

Lady Chocola: …So that’s why I thought that I must hide her. No one would ever find out, and the truth would stay with me. That was when you called out to me. That was when I took advantage of your kindness…

I prayed that when I put her in your pocket, you would be able to take her home with no one ever knowing…

To her, Lady Chocola must have felt like she was on a rocky ship in the middle of the sea. 

Lost and alone, when I asked her if she needed any help, she decided then to choose me. 

Lady Chocola: …In the end, however, you were accused of a crime, all because of my actions…

I am truly sorry. I am sorry to everyone here, who came to this fair.

She bowed her head politely, first to me, and then to the crowd around us, and then looked at the organizers.

Lady Chocola: I hope you can forgive me for disgracing your sacred venue. I’ve made a mess of the fair meant for chocolate lovers…

Please punish me in the name of our chocolate Queen. Whatever you feel is right. 

Akira: A punishment?! What…

Murr: Soooo, watcha gonna do? Give her a punishment?

Organizer: I, of course not…

The organizers, who were watching from the sidelines, choked on their words at Murr’s question.

They were once again unsure of how to handle the situation, and were troubled on what to do.

Shylock: Murr. Wasn’t this all your fault in the first place?

Murr: Mmm, ya think?

Lady Chocola: It isn’t. All he did was give me the opportunity to finally face what I’d been avoiding all this time.

I beg you, it is me who should receive punishment. I don’t care what happens now, my journey is over anyway…

Lennox: It’s too early to say that it’s over now.

Lady Chocola: What…?

Lennox: It’s true that finding the chocolate you were searching for may spell out the end of your journey…

but the end of a journey is the beginning of another. Where that end starts, is only something you can know. 

So if in the end there lies your long awaited goal, I think you should be celebrating it.

Lennox carefully spun his words together. These were words that he was familiar with, that he experienced himself, and they were straight from the heart.

Lennox: It’s not the end yet. Your feelings for chocolate haven’t disappeared now, have they?

Lady Chocola: Ah…

Lennox: There are things that won’t change, and things that do. So how about you start a new journey, along with your unchanging feelings?

Lennox’s soft voice brings comfort to my heart. 

Raising his hand eagerly to add on is Murr. 

Murr: He’s right! You can just start another journey!

Even if you know all there is to all the chocolate out there right now, there will be more chocolate to uncover in the future! 

You’ll be sure to find a new kind of chocolate that no one’s ever seen before. And if you don’t, you can be the one to make it!

Lady Chocola: Make…chocolate? Me…?

She widened her eyes, just like a little girl who witnessed magic for the first time, spells reflecting in the depths of her eyes.

Nero: Haha, that’s a good idea. Since you know everything about chocolate you’re guaranteed to whip up something special. 

‘Course, you’re gonna need to learn the basics, but thinking up of the recipes, which ingredients to use, and what colours to make it, is all part of the fun.

Rustica: Oh yes, by making it yourself, you can choose what colour you want! Would you want to see a seven coloured chocolate? Or perhaps, a transparent one?

Heathcliff: A transparent coloured chocolate? That’d be kind of cool to see…!

Lady Chocola: …That would be a delight to behold…

Gentleman: …Did you hear that just now? Lady Chocola’s going to invent a transparent chocolate! 

Madame: How would you even make that?! Does a transparent cacao exist?

Suddenly, everyone in the room was talking about how “Lady Chocola’s inventing a new kind of chocolate!”

Gentleman: Lady Chocola, when do you think you will complete that chocolate? Will you display it at the next chocolate fair?

Lady Chocola: Hold your horses, even if you ask me anything I still haven’t any ideas yet…

A crowd formed around Lady Chocola, questions from all directions coming at her. She was perplexed by their vigor. 

Except, they were positive, as if it were the day before departing for a long journey. Everyone held expectations and excitement, and soon enough Lady Chocola too regained the same light in her expression.

Akira: (Thank goodness…as it turns out, her journey still has yet to end, not for a long while.)

Shylock: By the way, Master Sage. Would that chocolate in your hand be the genuine Queen Annabella?

It’s got a lovely coating, finding this without the use of any magic must’ve been quite the task.

Akira: Ah…right. I’m gonna give this back to you, Lady Chocola.

Lady Chocola: …Why?

Akira: Because the one who found it was you. I think Annabella would prefer to take the hand of someone who loves chocolate from the bottom of her heart, anyway.

And…I’d like for you to have it too. I look forward to what kind of chocolate the world’s chocolate mastermind creates!

Lady Chocola covers her mouth with both of her hands as she stares at the chocolate in my hands. It seems that she was wondering if it was really okay for her to accept this.

It was then that one of the organizer’s coughed aloud, attention turning to them.

Organizer: This is the Chocolate Queen’s Fair, an event with a venerable and honourable history. 

Never in our years of holding this fair had we any incident such as this. In the name of our Queen Annabella, we have decided to act on the rules we had long established since our first event. 

Lady Chocola. It is without a doubt, you who had found our Queen from within the piles of chocolates here. 

The ownership of Annabella belongs to you. Please, recite your spell.

Lady Chocola: Is it really…alright for me to…?

Akira: Of course! You were the one who found it!

Though she was reluctant at first, after seeing my and the organizer’s resolve she quietly recited her spell.

That spell beautifully echoed throughout the venue, and a sparkling glow emanated from the chocolate coating, lightly tearing off. 

Lady Chocola: What beauty…!

The chocolate Annabella that appeared in her hand was like a mirror, rapidly changing colours from blue, green, and red, depending on the angle of the light hitting it. 

Its appearance was incomparable to stained glass when light shone on it, or any glittering gem. It was as vibrant and gorgeous as a kaleidoscope that enclosed the shine of a rainbow within. 

With mesmerizing beauty that touches your heart and takes your breath away, Lady Chocola takes a deep breath.

Lady Chocola: This is what I’ve been searching for all my life…

Aaah, what a goddess she is! There is not a word in my dictionary worthy enough to describe her! To think there was such a beautiful thing hiding in this world…!

Hehe, it is an honour to meet you, my Queen Annabella. 

Lady Chocola gently narrows her eyes, watching the chocolate Annabella with a satisfied look on her face.

She gives me a smile of warmth as she approaches us.

Lady Chocola: Thank you everybody, I owe it all to you. I finally was able to behold the greatest beauty out there. 

Murr: Wow, it’s sparkly, like a freshly polished jewel!

So enigmatic and mystical…it’d be no wonder if I were to fall in love with you now, my lady! 

Akira: Fall in love…?

Murr: Didn’t I tell you before? Those who eat Annabella gain the ability to completely charm others! 

Though, what if it’s the chocolate that charms the wielder, and manipulates them into not eating it…?!

Maybe that’s Annabella’s way of remaining uneaten, a self preservation technique so it can continue to be Queen!

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