Side Story 5: True Feelings |
Even after becoming king, Jenkins's status as a Saint still required him to perform tasks for the Church.
It was an ordinary summer evening shortly after his wedding when Papa Oliver rushed over with a copper pot.
"The Church wants you to handle this. You can destroy it or seal it, your choice."
"Aren't you going to help me with it?"
Jenkins hoped Papa Oliver would stay, but his old mentor had no time to spare.
"Old Jack and I have plans for a drink. You've graduated, my apprentice. It's time to be a bit more mature and handle these little things on your own. By the way, don't forget we're going fishing next week."
Papa Oliver patted him on the shoulder, turned, and climbed back into his carriage.
So Jenkins was left to take the copper pot, which emanated a faint yellow spiritual glow, back into the palace. Dinner was still half an hour away, and the ladies of the house were all occupied, leaving Jenkins to deal with the dangerous numbered item with only Chocolate for company.
He found an unused guest room and, after stepping inside, sealed it with his power to prevent anything nasty from escaping. Then, he and Chocolate, now in her human form, sat down together on the red carpet.
"So, how does this thing work?"
Chocolate asked curiously. She had assumed a very ladylike posture, just as Dolores had taught her.
"Papa Oliver didn't say, but since it's a pot, I suppose we open it."
Jenkins ventured a guess and reached out to lift the lid. Instantly, a plume of blue smoke billowed out, coalescing into the massive form of a blue spirit.
"This scene looks a bit familiar," Jenkins remarked. "I think I've seen something like it in one of Dolores's books."
The blue, hat-wearing djinn observed the two people before him. He let out a booming laugh and issued a challenge.
"I know you wish to destroy me. I can see fate! If each of you can answer three of my questions, I will destroy myself! But be warned, I will ask the most mortifying questions, questions that strike at the darkness in your hearts. If you are not prepared, do not play!"
The djinn's game required at least two participants who knew each other well, a condition that Jenkins and Chocolate perfectly met.
"Let's start! Let's start!"
The petite girl with the fish-shaped barrette in her hair slapped the floor excitedly, completely forgetting to even lick the pendant hanging around her neck.
"Then we shall begin with you~"
The blue djinn pointed at Jenkins, who looked back at it, equally pleased.
"First question: What are your true feelings about the two ladies living in your home?"
the djinn asked.
It seemed the djinn had mistaken Chocolate for Jenkins's wife, which was why it had posed such a question. For an ordinary married couple, this would have been a fatal blow.
"I desire them. Anathasia and Princess Sophia are both beautiful, elegant, and captivating. Yes, I desire them greatly."
Jenkins didn't use his divine power of Lies to deceive it. Hearing his answer, the djinn immediately glanced at Chocolate, who showed no reaction whatsoever.
"Is it my turn now?"
Chocolate asked, completely unconcerned about Jenkins's feelings for a dragon and an ancient princess.
The djinn paused, confused for a few seconds, before hesitantly speaking.
"Very well, milady, it is your turn. Let me see what question I have for you..."
He fell silent for a moment, apparently stunned by the question he'd conjured.
"Three days ago, the black-and-white princess dress belonging to Dolores Williams was ruined. Who was the culprit?"
It truly could see into people's darkest corners. Chocolate was startled by the question. She glanced hesitantly at Jenkins, and seeing him watching her, she lowered her head and murmured:
"It was me. I'm sorry I didn't tell you right away. I didn't mean to do it. I just wanted to try it on and see if it fit, and I accidentally damaged it."
She apologized to Jenkins, who just smiled.
"Half your usual dessert tonight. Not for ruining Dolores's dress, but for not being honest about it."
"Meow~"
Chocolate's spirits sank, and she immediately began to hold a grudge against the djinn.
"And now it is your turn again."
The djinn turned its attention back to Jenkins, who was quite curious to hear its next question.
"What do you think of the maids in this palace?"
It was certainly skilled at finding the darkness in people's hearts.
"I'd love nothing more than to take each and every one of them to my bed."
Once again, Jenkins answered truthfully. It was merely a thought, not a plan of action. He had considerable self-control, a fact he was rather proud of.
The djinn glanced at Chocolate's expression again. She looked as unbothered as if she'd just heard tomorrow's weather forecast called for sunshine.
"My turn, my turn!"
Chocolate raised her hand eagerly. The djinn grew even more hesitant, for it had seen an even more baffling question: "Last Sunday night, who switched places with Miss J and went out for the evening in her guise?"
"Hmm?"
Jenkins's eyes widened as he stared at Chocolate, who lowered her head to study the carpet, avoiding his gaze.
"It was me."
"Hmm?"
Jenkins was stunned by her admission.
"How many times have you done this?"
"I am the one who asks the questions in this game," the djinn interjected.
"Shut up."
Jenkins shot it a glare before turning back to Chocolate.
"This was the third time."
"I'll deal with you later," he said, sounding rather cross, then looked up at the djinn. "You. Ask your question. Now."
"Right, right... No reason for me to panic. Ahem. Sir, for your final question: What are your true feelings about your cat?"
This time, Chocolate lifted her head, her large eyes fixed on Jenkins, awaiting his answer.
"My eternal family."
"That's too simple an answer," the djinn declared. Chocolate, however, simply blinked.
"My eternal... family, lover, and companion."
Jenkins looked a little embarrassed, but Chocolate seemed very satisfied.
"Quick, ask me! Ask me!"
she chirped.
"Very well, milady, your final question..." The djinn was growing terrified. The ethics and morals of these two were completely abnormal, and he was beginning to worry about his own fate. "What are your true feelings about this man?"
"I want to eat him!"
"Hmm?"
Jenkins and the djinn both voiced their confusion at the same time.
"Just kidding! We'll be together forever. Jenkins belongs to Chocolate, and Chocolate belongs to Jenkins. Always and forever, even when the world ends, we'll still be together!"
With a tremendous BOOM, the copper pot and the blue djinn within exploded like a steam bomb.
After the loud bang, the door was pushed open. Hathaway, Briny, Alexia, Dolores, Julia, Miss J, Miss Windsor, Jessica, and Sigrid—all nine ladies—filed into the room.
They found Jenkins and Chocolate sitting on the scorched black carpet, their faces smudged with soot.
"Haha, what on earth happened to you two?"
Hathaway laughed as she went to help Jenkins up. Alexia and Dolores helped Chocolate to her feet.
"Honestly, Jenkins, how old are you now? You're still playing with steam bombs inside the palace," Miss Windsor and Jessica grumbled in disapproval.
"It wasn't a bomb... alright, fine, it was a bomb."
He had no intention of repeating their earlier conversation to anyone else.
"Did you need us for something?"
"Of course! It's time for dinner," Briny declared. "Don't tell me you forgot about that. The family eats together."
Julia smiled and began dusting the soot from Jenkins's clothes.
"Right. The family eats together."
Jenkins echoed with a smile, looking at every woman in the room. As his gaze met each of theirs, the ladies would blush and nod in return.
Chocolate took him by the hand, and they all left the room together, leaving the empty space to echo with the phantom sound of a family's laughter.
It was just another ordinary day for Jenkins. In the days after everything had ended, the kind and beautiful "princesses" and the foreign prince who was a god lived happily ever after.