Young Master, Please Put Some Pants On! - Chapter 16

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 16

“Good grief, why do you stop reading!”

“Just a moment!”

The part she had read last night was similar to today’s. It was about how Pururu made a wish and went to sleep early, then the next day Pururu’s wish came true.

“…And so Pururu became the happiest monkey in the world. The end!”

When she finished reading the children’s storybook, Garulus’s eyes sparkled as he hurriedly burrowed under the blanket. Then he closed his eyes tightly, clasped his hands together, and murmured in a small voice.

“Please let me gather my Ant Army again. Very big ants.”

He seemed to be trying to fall asleep quickly, his brow furrowed with effort. Mellis pressed her lips together to hold back the laughter that was about to escape. It seemed the content of the children’s storybook had made quite an impression on him. A clever plan came to her mind.

* * *

The next evening. Mellis silently glanced at the clock. It was a little past 8:40. Garulus’s movements had subtly slowed down as drowsiness began to wash over him.

“Haaaam-”

Garulus let out a long yawn. Mellis didn’t miss the opportunity and quietly sat on the edge of the bed as she called to Garulus.

“Garulus, shall I read you a book? I found an interesting one.”

“That’s a wonderful idea.”

Garulus wiggled closer and peered at the book curiously.

“Chin, gul. Beloved… monkey. Oh, another monkey book!”

As Mellis had expected, Garulus showed interest in the fact that a monkey was the protagonist and scooted closer. It was thanks to her having observed his tendency to enjoy fairy tales featuring monkeys.

“Once upon a time, there lived a very cute monkey named Lala. And Lala had a best friend, a rabbit named Lulu. Then one day…”

When she read fairy tales with monkeys as protagonists, Garulus would become deeply absorbed in the book. After spending hours rummaging through Garulus’s bookshelf and skimming through all the children’s storybooks, fortunately Mellis was able to find one book that perfectly matched the content she was looking for. It was a book about fighting and making up with a friend.

“Lala, who had fought with Lulu, was very upset. She wanted to make up with her friend, but Lala didn’t know how to approach her.”

The book’s content was simple. It was about a monkey who had fought with a friend but couldn’t apologize due to pride, then found the courage to extend her hand first. It was a fairy tale she really liked because it delicately expressed the emotions after fighting with a friend, and because the monkey baked cookies herself to express her embarrassed feelings.

“…And so Lulu and Lala became the most irreplaceable friends in the world once again! The end!”

Mellis closed the book and carefully gauged his reaction. But Garulus seemed somewhat dissatisfied, frowning and rubbing his chin with his thumb and index finger.

“Hmm. To make up so easily with a traitor. What a spineless monkey.”

“Oh come on, it’s because she loved her friend that much. And Lulu also wanted to make up with Lala, so she brought a carrot. But Lala was the one who found courage first. She’s a very brave and cool monkey!”

Mellis subtly emphasized the words ‘brave’ and ‘cool,’ hoping her strategy would work, but Garulus still had a lukewarm expression as he tilted his head.

“But even though that rabbit was in the wrong?”

“Who was wrong doesn’t matter. They’re friends. They’re precious friends, so isn’t it too much of a waste of time to hate each other because of pride?”

Despite her calm tone, her heart was racing with anxiety.

“I still don’t understand! I don’t get it!”

Contrary to her expectations, Garulus snorted and disappeared under the blanket. At his more negative reaction than expected, Mellis bit her lip hard.

‘It’s okay, I still have the second phase of the plan.’

* * *

“Phew…”

The next day, Mellis occupied the small kitchen and stirred the cookie dough until her arms felt like they would fall off. Behind her, cookies that had already gone into the oven were baking with a sweet aroma wafting through the air.

Children’s storybook strategy phase 2. Making cookies with Garulus. Soon it would be time for Garulus to pass through the corridor across the way after finishing his lessons. A curious monkey who loved snacks surely wouldn’t be able to ignore the scent of freshly baked cookies and would come here as if enchanted.

“Let’s see. The ingredients are perfect, and the cookies are almost done baking.”

It was perfect timing. She smiled contentedly as she slowly surveyed the ingredients spread out before her. From flour to chocolate chips and butter, all the ingredients were the finest quality supplied to the Imperial Palace.

“Things seem to have gotten a bit bigger than planned, but that’s actually better.”

It was thanks to the Head Chef, who had cooperated with surprisingly enthusiastic attitude after hearing her plan last night. Not only did he readily offer the small kitchen, but he even showed the generosity of letting her use any ingredients inside freely!

The Head Chef, who had experienced fatigue numerous times between the two of them, patted Mellis’s shoulder saying he was counting on her.

“It should be ending soon…”

While she was diligently fanning at the doorway to spread the savory cookie aroma far and wide, before long she heard the sound of footsteps running tododododo from the distance.

“Perfect!”

Mellis quickly hid the fan and stood in front of the kitchen counter with a nonchalant expression. As she pretended to stir the already finished dough enthusiastically, a brown crown of hair peeking up appeared through the gap in the door.

“Sniff sniff sniff. There’s a very delicious smell coming from here!”

Just as expected. Garulus entered the kitchen with his eyes gently closed, flaring his nostrils.

“Oh? Mellis. What are you doing here?”

“Garulus! Help me!”

“What’s wrong!”

When she cried out in an urgent voice, Garulus ran over with a face full of curiosity.

“I need to finish baking all these cookies by today… but there’s too much work for me to do alone. Could you help me just a little?”

“Yes! I’ll help you, so don’t worry!”

At her earnest plea, Garulus nodded firmly and rolled up both sleeves.

“As expected, only our Young Master! First, go wash your hands, okay?”

“Okay!”

Mellis watched Garulus’s back as he stepped on a low chair and washed his hands squeaky clean with soap bubbles, quietly curling up the corners of her mouth.

Everything was going according to plan.

* * *

“Ready to go!”

Garulus, wearing a bright yellow apron and head covering with butterflies drawn on them, made a V sign toward Mellis.

“Great! Shall we start then?”

The most important point of this strategy was to have Garulus make the cookies himself. The two prepared two bowls and began making cookies together.

“First, mix the butter and sugar well…”

“Mix well…”

Unlike usual, Garulus showed high concentration and put his heart and soul into making cookies. The sight of him stirring the dough with his tongue sticking out was so adorable. Mellis had no choice but to turn a blind eye even when she saw him dipping his finger into the dough to taste it under the pretense of sampling.

“And then add lots of chocolate chips.”

“Add them! I like chocolate, so I should put in a whole lot!”

And so Garulus’s dough became densely packed with chocolate chips. While the dough was kept cold for a moment, the two ate the cookies that Mellis had prepared in advance, one each.

“How is it? Is it delicious?”

“Mmm. It’s very sweet and melts softly in my mouth! The ones I baked will taste exactly like this, right?”

“They’ll taste even better than this.”

“Hehe. But why are you baking so many cookies? One, two, three… no, there are over a hundred!”

The mention of a hundred was close to an exaggeration, but the cookies baked so far did easily exceed fifty. Of course, this too was part of Mellis’s second plan.

“I’m planning to give them as gifts to others. It’s already been several weeks since I came here, and when I think about it, I haven’t properly greeted everyone yet, have I?”

After her recent conversation with Kermanomon, Mellis had fallen into deep thought. While it was true that she had been incredibly busy without a moment to spare, she had used that as an excuse to always stay cooped up in her room. As a result, aside from Anna, Garulus’s maid, and Noel, who was in charge of security, the number of people she had properly conversed with could be counted on one hand.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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