Back in Fire Dragon-sama’s room.

After the maid set me down on the floor, I was surprised to find Fire Dragon-sama already back.
The sun still hasn’t set yet. What happened to his work?


Once the maid who had carried me in left the room, Fire Dragon-sama ordered, “Give me an apple.”
After I handed him one, he explained to me, “I finished work early today. You can sleep early tonight, too.”


If that’s the case, maybe I can relax a little too.


“Fire Dragon-sama… hold me.”

“…What?”


Fire Dragon-sama looked at me with a puzzled expression.
Being stared at like this is a little embarrassing.


“Why do you want me to hold you?”

“I want… sunlight.”

“…I see. I was wondering why a maid would be giving orders to her master.”


Aahhh!
He’s right! That was way too disrespectful!
Since he told me I could relax, I let my guard down and spoke without thinking.


“Never mind that. You certainly are an amusing Alraune. No one has ever ordered me to pick them up.”

“I’m… very sorry.”


Fire Dragon-sama picked up my flowerpot and carried me over to the window.

The scenery outside, which I hadn’t seen in quite some time, was bathed in a crimson glow by the sunset.


Looking down, I could see the botanical garden where Barometz and I used to live together.
From up here, I realized it was much closer than I had originally thought.


As I scanned the area for anything else interesting, I noticed the Hydra, the caretaker, along with the one-horned minotaur.

They were transporting another new plant.
They said they built the botanical garden to search for me, but it seems they plan to keep expanding it anyways.

As I watched them, though, something about the plant the two of them were carrying caught my attention.


──Wait a second!
The plant they’re carrying… could it be… that?


I can’t be sure from this distance, but if my hunch is right, then eating that plant might let me escape from the Demon King’s castle.

It’s decided then! I have to get to the botanical garden!


Though that’s easier said than done. I can’t move on my own. After all, I’m a plant.
At moments like these, I wished I’d accepted the Dryad’s offer.



“Fire Dragon-sama… I want… to go… to the botanical garden.”

“No. You are my maid. I will not permit you to act on your own.”


N-No way.
Looks like my affection level with Fire Dragon-sama still isn’t high enough.
And I thought I had been working pretty hard, too.


Since it’s come to this, he leaves me no choice but to use my original plan: seduction.
Men are sure to fall for this.
Even my fiancé, the Hero, fell for that trashy junior’s charms, so I know it’ll work!


“Fire Dragon-sama… what do you… think of this?”

“…Why are you wiggling around? What’s gotten into you? Well, I suppose a dancing plant is quite rare, but…”


Are my seduction tactics not working…?


No, the issue here is more fundamental than that.
I don’t even know how to seduce at all!


Having lived my whole life as a noble-born saint since childhood, I never had to do anything of the sort.
But hey, even if I don’t know how to do it, it should be fine as long as I’m using my body, right?
I think I read that in a manga from my past life.


In that case, I just have to show off my body—no, wait.


That trashy junior of mine was probably using those ridiculously huge breasts of hers to seduce the Hero.
So the Hero must’ve been lured in by her big breasts.
As his fiancée, thinking about it is just depressing.


But compared to that trashy junior… how do I stack up now?

I’m completely flat.

I’ve got no curve and no sex appeal either.
Being a little girl won’t cut it!
I guess my only hope is to bet on Fire Dragon-sama being a lolicon


“Fire Dragon-sama… what’s your… type?”


Our eyes met.
The two of us stared at each other for what I could only assume to be a long time.
After a while, Fire Dragon-sama, clutching his head and closing his eyes, replied to me.


“…I’m not good with children.”


I’m out!

Forget seducing, I’m not even his type.
Operation Seduction failed!


“I don’t know how to deal with children. I can never tell what they’re thinking when they say things like that, and they look so fragile that I feel like they’d break if I touched them.”


Come to think of it, Fire Dragon-sama, you don’t have any children, do you?
If the reason you’re not good with me is a matter of not being used to children, then maybe there’s still a chance…


“I don’t know what’s been troubling you, but rest assured, you’ll grow up to be a beautiful Alraune.”

“What… do you… mean?”

“Your mother was beautiful. If you’re anything like her, you certainly won’t be lacking.”


──Did I hear that correctly?!

Fire Dragon-sama said I’m pretty!
He even went so far as to call me beautiful!


Hehehe. I’ve hardly been complimented since I became an Alraune.

Especially lately, all I’ve heard are things like, “That’s scary,” “It’s a monster,” and “It’s going to eat me!”
Maybe because of that, I’d lost all my resistance to compliments.


So, if I grow up, there won’t be any problems at all, right?
Definitely. Once I become an adult Alraune, my breasts will be nice and full.
Then, with beauty that even Fire Dragon-sama acknowledges, maybe I could finally pull off my seduction plan!
If he’s praising me this much already, then Fire Dragon-sama is bound to end up head over heels for me!


I’ve got to grow up fast
If I had known it would come to this, I would’ve photosynthesized more to store nutrients.
Even though I was the one who turned myself into a little girl, it’s still frustrating.
I want to grow up!


“You’re so desperate to go to the botanical garden that you’re crying…”


Fire Dragon-sama walked over to the window where I sat.
With his fingertip, he gently scooped up the nectar streaming down my cheek.


“Your nectar is as sweet as always.”


Lightly patting my head, Fire Dragon-sama gazed out the window, deep in thought.


“If you insist on going, then I have one condition.”

“A… condition?”

“It doesn’t have to be anything difficult. Accomplish something noteworthy, and as your reward, I’ll take you to the botanical garden.”


Even if he says I need to accomplish something, there’s only so much someone who can’t even move can do.
Just what am I supposed to do?


“Fire Dragon-sama… is there… anything… you want… from me?”

“What do I want from my Alraune…? Food, I suppose.”


That made sense.
After all, he recruited me because he liked the taste of my nectar.


“Your nectar is already part of your regular duties as my maid. So surprise me with some unusual food besides your nectar. If you can do that, I’ll count it.”

“Understood!”


My attempt at winning his heart over had failed, but if I could win over his stomach, that should work just as well.


Leave the cooking to me.
I’ve cooked homemade meals for the little witch before, so I’m confident in my cooking, just a little though.
Looks like the time has come for my experience in the forest to finally pay off.

My motivation and spirit are surging.

At last, the time has come to show off my Alraune-style vegetable cuisine.


As a capable maid who can also cook, I’m going to give it my all!

***

Author’s Note:

Fire Dragon-sama seems to have a soft spot for the Alraune. It’s probably because of her nectar.

Next Time: Three Days of Cooking with Chef Scylla