Whose Hand the Chocolate Queen Takes Chapter 10

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Chapter 10

Shylock: Quite the funny thinking you have, Murr. So the ending to this story is that Annabella has feelings, now?

Akira: (It’s kinda hard to imagine a sentient chocolate…)

Even so, by going off of that assumption, it does create an explanation for Lady Chocola’s abrupt actions earlier.

She was the one who looked forward to this fair the most. It’s strange to think that it’d be her who would make a mess of it. 

Upon finding the Queen, she may have been overwhelmed and taken over by its charm that she got possessed. 

Murr: Too bad though! ‘Cuz in the end, the chocolate was found by you! 

O Queen Annabella, it’s because you are such a charming chocolate that you must be eaten!

Clerk 1: Welcome. How would you like a gelato, made with masses of chocolate?

Clerk 2: We’ve only got a few Dreamy Chocolate Cakes left, come gather, it’s syrupy and delicious!

After the revealing of Annabella, the chocolate fair regained it’s usual energy.

Organizer: Excuse me.

When I was about to go around and have another look at the fair, I was called out to by an organizer. 

Organizer: I would like to apologize once more for our mistreatment earlier. We are terribly sorry for the manner we treated you in. 

Akira: Oh, don’t worry about it. I think anybody would have thought it was me in that situation. 

Organizer: Nevertheless, it was our fault for not making sure beforehand. It was thanks to you and your friends that the fair was able to continue too. 

Hence, we would like to make amends…

The organizer turned his back toward me. What he was looking at, was the tables and tables of chocolate that had been used in the contest to help camouflage Annabella.

Organizer: We would like to give you and everyone here at the venue those chocolates for free. 

Akira: WHAT! I mean, can we really…?

Nero: Uhm, ain’t that a lot? Even when you divide it by everybody at this venue it’s still a whole bunch…

Murr: You got that right! Then let’s do this.

Eanul Rambul!

Akira: Wow!

When he recited his spell, the chocolates of the tables had begun to float. 

Gentleman: What…! The chocolates are flying!

While everyone was a blunder, the multicoloured chocolates were in the air fluttering and twittering about, enjoying their time flying around. 

Lennox: When you look at them like this, you can really see how many different chocolates there were here. 

Stars and hearts, fishes and instruments, all kinds of chocolates were dancing while enwrapping us in a sweet fragrance alike a dream. 

Murr: Master Sage quick, you gotta choose before everything’s gone!

Akira: Okay, then I…

There was a cat shaped chocolate floating right before me, so I reached my arm out. When I did, the cat shook its tail around as it came closer.

Akira: Cute…mgrugh–

Heathcliff: Wha, it flew right into your mouth…!

Nero: It was like it was alive or somethin’...I hope that’s Murr’s magic…

Akira: That was surprising…and really yummy!

The chocolates around us were dancing happily while flying in the air. 

Murr: Ahahaha! They’re doing a dance of appeal to get you to eat them! 

Rustica: How amusing…alright then, me too. Amorest Viesse. 

Shylock: Inviebelle.

The wizards each said their spell, giving life to the chocolates.

Throughout the venue were wizards who loved chocolate, smiling as they touched the sweets. 

Oz: I don’t understand Western wizards. 

Arthur: But this way, splitting up the chocolate goes faster!

The organizers were watching this warm scene with joyous eyes. There were only the things they loved here, not too little or too much, granting pure happiness. 

Akira: (I’m really glad I came here today.)

(I can’t wait to tell everyone back at the manor about this fair. I’ll show them my gratitude along with these souvenir chocolates…)

A Queen’s Banquet, held irregularly amongst many years. There is still no end in sight to the extent of love and enthusiasm these wizards have for chocolate. 

Lennox: Master Sage, let me carry those for you. 

Akira: Thanks. There was just so much I was drawn to, I picked out a lot…

Arthur: We’re done with picking out chocolates, but I’m kind of sad to leave…

Shylock: That goes to show how much fun we had here at this fair, I know the feeling. 

Rustica: Next time I would like to bring Chloe along.

Knowing him, his brain would flood with ideas from all the sights here and make new clothes from it.

Heathcliff: Yes, I’d love to have Shino along next time too, he said he had training with Cain today so he couldn’t.

I bet he’d be surprised out of his mind if he saw how many chocolates there were here. 

Nero: Haha, and if Riquet saw this he’d probably faint.

Arthur: We don’t know when the next fair will be held, but I hope to come with you again, Lord Oz!

Oz: …Same here. 

Akira: (That could be tons of years…how would I be doing then?)

Murr: Master Sage, say aaah!

Akira: Hm? Grrmmm–

Out of the blue, Murr had stuffed something into my mouth.

What was spreading throughout my mouth was the rich aroma of chocolate. Melting on my tongue was the taste of something fruity, spicy, and konjac-like at the same time. 

Akira: …

Breaking into a smile, Murr brought his face closer to mine. Apparently he was observing my reaction. 

His eyes shined brighter than any jewel. Being stared at by those made me feel something I didn’t know how to put in words.

Murr: How is it, Master Sage?

Akira: …No idea what to say. It was delicious, though.

There was a deep undertaste to it, and many layers to its flavour…I’ve never eaten a chocolate like that before!

Murr: That sounds awesome! As expected of Annabella!!

Akira: Ah, so that was Annabel–HAUH?

At the dumbstruck me, Murr chuckles like nothing big happened.

Murr: Yeah, I’d just received it from Lady Chocola! I’m guessing the taste was ten times the appearance? 

Akira: I…I can’t believe I…was that really alright…!?!?

I ate a legendary chocolate, in ONE BITE…!!

Murr: Hey, one bite’s alright! It was bite sized after all. 

Annabella had quickly melted in my mouth already. All that was left was a memory and the aftertaste. 

Akira: (I didn’t even get to savour it…even though it was a big shot chocolate…)

I ate it, the Queen Chocolate that only appears about every 100 years, the chocolate that charmed Lady Chocola, and the chocolate that was sought after by everyone here at the fair. 

I, who wasn’t even a wizard, who normally would have had no chance at getting this chocolate, ate that.

Still, what was on my tongue was the euphoric and vivid memory of the flavour that left an etching impression on all my cells, like I had had a wonderful rendezvous with a secret lover.

Akira: …Annabella was a special chocolate. Was it really okay that I ate it?

Murr: Of course! If we want to thank the special Sage from another world, a special chocolate seems only fit!

Master Sage, thanks for always having fun with me!

Akira: Murr…

I came here to find chocolates to show my gratitude to others, but also received a chocolate of gratitude. 

I’m still not sure if it was okay for me to eat the Queen of Chocolate, Annabella like that, but…

Akira: Thank you. The chocolate, and your words, make me happy! 

Murr: You’re very welcome! Alrighty, when we return to the manor, it’s observation time!

Akira: Why?

Murr: You know. If you eat the Queen chocolate, you gain the super awesome ability to charm others! We need to verify it.

Oh, and you need to leave me in your room for good luck or whatever anyway, so this is a Winwin moment right here! 

Akira: Ah…Ahaha…

The legend did smell fishy, but Murr’s eyes were shining bright with curiosity. 

Whether he gave me Annabella out of gratitude to me or because he wanted to see the legend for himself,

I will never forget this moment. That special chocolate’s sweetness, and the special day that today was.

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