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Azur Lane: Episode of Belfast Volume 2 Chapter 4 Part 7

The taste of the fruit doesn’t really change depending on how the skin is peeled, but for some reason Bel-chan simply nodded her head without trying to voice that thought out loud in front of Her Majesty.

「I’m honored for you to give me this important task…… Your Majesty, please just sit back and wait! I shall prepare the best meal ever in a short while!]

When Belfast spoke weakly from inside the futon like that, Elizabeth only nodded her head in apparent satisfaction.

Then, as if she suddenly remembered something important, Warspite looked down at tucked away Belfast.

「Speaking of which, it seems that Dorsetshire, who was your partner during that last military commission, also came down with a severe case of cold. So you are not the only one who was affected.]

「Is that…… Is that so?]

Belfast had an expression on her face as if she wanted to say something here, but Bel-chan did not quite understand what was going on here and what could the significance of Warspite’s words really be.

It was then that Elizabeth raised her voice a little bit.

「Oh! That’s right! Today I have to attend the meeting of the entire Home Port’s factions as the representative of the Royal Navy! I’m afraid that I have to go now, but when the meeting is going to be over, I will come visit you again, Bel! And with that being said, we are leaving, Warspite!]

When Elizabeth left the room while waving her hand at the sickly Belfast, Warspite immediately followed right after her after bowing her head to the two maids a little bit.

Just then, Bel-chan also finished peeling the apple that she was working on for a while now.

She then put the sliced pieces of the apple on the plate and she asked while looking at tucked away Belfast.

「Do you think you can eat it like this, Nee-sama?]

「Yes, of course. Just…… Just give me a moment.]

Belfast said so as he sat up on the bed, her expression becoming rather painful.

Seeing her quite like that made Bel-chan’s chest fill with the feelings of anxiety and uneasiness.

Perhaps she wasn’t able to take care of her elder sister as properly as she thought she would, and her symptoms were getting worse little by little instead of getting better? Bel-chan was sure that it was the case here.

Unbeknownst to Bel-chan, Belfast picked up one of the pieces of the sliced apple and placed it inside of her mouth.

Bel-chan then could hear the sound of chewing quickly and judging from the expression on Belfast’s face, that apple must have indeed been very delicious.

「How about you, Bel-chan? Would you like to have a slice as well? It’s very sweet and very delicious, I assure you.]

When she heard Belfast ask her that question, Bel-chan quickly shut the cover of the book that she was reading and shook her head in a panic.

「T-Thank you very much, Nee-sama, but I will have to refrain…… I am the one who should be taking care of you here, after all.]

「Oh, no need for you to worry about it. Here, just take it and see for yourself.]

But even if Belfast herself was saying that it was okay, it was Bel-chan who was reluctant to accept something that was supposed to help her elder sister to feel better.

At that point, Bel-chan suddenly wondered if Belfast was showing her concern for her because maybe she was having a rather gloomy expression on her face? Was that it? She could think of no other possible reason as to why Belfast would suddenly want to share like that..

「Hmm? What’s wrong? Did something happen?]

Looking at Belfast tilting her head in puzzlement like that, Bel-chan could only smile faintly in defeat.

「Well then, since you insist, Nee-sama, I shall help myself to one piece.]

Bel-chan then picked up a small piece of the sliced apple in one of her hands and carried it towards her mouth.

The moment she took a quick bite out of that slice, she could feel the sweet and slightly tart taste spreading inside of her mouth, carried by the rich apple juices.

「Hmmmnnnh!]

As the little maid smiled and held her cheeks with both of her hands, she couldn’t help it but to move her legs in a flurry of sudden excitement and delight.

Belfast looked at Belle-chan with a smile on her face as she gently laid her hands down.

「Excuse me, Bel-chan. I think I will lie down again for a little while……]

Belfast took one sip from the water cup and quietly closed her eyes, and after a while the only thing that Bel-chan could hear reverberating throughout the room was the soft and steady sound of her breathing.

「Alright then, in that case I…… I think that I will just keep my watch over you for the time being……]

As she said that, Bel-chan put the plate with the sliced apples on her lap and then she just continued to watch Belfast’s sleeping face for a little while.

* * *

「—— Bel-chan. I have brought you some food, as promised.]

Hearing that voice made Bel-chan jolt and wake up all of a sudden.

「I’m really sorry, it seems that I…… It seems that I have fallen asleep here.]

Rubbing her eyes with her hands, Bel-chan looked towards the door and saw Sheffield standing there with a tray in her hands. Warm chicken soup and rice porridge cooked in a clay pot were placed on top of that tray.

And much to Bel-chan’s surprise, both Kent and Suffolk were behind Sheffield as well.

「So? How is the Head Maid doing?]

「I think that Nee-sama is doing a little bit better.]

Belfast’s complexion was slightly better than before right now. However, there was no grounds for saying that she had definitely improved her condition, so Bel-chan could only give vague answers like that and hope for the best.

Sheffield, who had guessed it by looking at Bel-chan’s concerned face, and then said without further questioning.

「Anyways, let’s wake her up for the time being, or else the soup is going to get cold. And we don’t want that to happen, even if we can wait a little bit.]

When Bel-chan nodded her head, she gently shook Belfast’s sleeping body.

「Belfast-nee-sama, please wake up. The food is here.]

After shaking Belfast’s shoulder several times, Bel-chan could see that her elder sister finally opened her eyes and then she stared at everyone currently present in the room.

「…… everyone? What are you……?]

「Oh…… The Head Maid, how are you doing……?]

When Kent asked that anxiously,

「Yes, well, you see…… I think I’ve gotten a little bit better.]

Saying that, Belfast smiled in a faint way.

Kent smiled happily when she heard Belfast’s words just now.

「Really…..? If what you are saying is true, then at this rate you should make a full recovery by tomorrow.]

「Yes, I hope that it’s going to be like that. So please, just let me rest for a little bit longer. I should be fine by tomorrow. And besides, I don’t want either you or Kent to have to see me in such a miserable state.]

「Yes, we understand that, Head Maid.]

Even as she nodded, Kent seemed to have a hard time seeing Belfast look so pitiful like this. As if to reflect her mental distress, even her trademark black ribbon was also hanging down a little bit today, as if it was depressed.

「Head Maid, here. This is my special rice porridge.]

Suffolk said while pointing towards the tray. She then picked up the rice porridge and a spoon and brought them to Belfast.

「When you have a cold, you have to warm yourself up and eat really nutritious food! …… Then you should look at the scenery outside to become drowsy, so that you will have an easier time falling asleep……]

Belfast chuckled a little bit as she watched Suffolk with still sleepily eyes as she spoke up.

And when she ate a bite of Suffolk’s proud rice porridge,

「……It’s delicious. It really is.]

She opened her eyes wide and said so.

「I tried mixing in various things that I love. Does it warm you up?]

「Yes, and I love you, Suffolk, more than anything else.]

「Ehehehe. I will feel embarrassed when you praise me so much like that~.]

Aside from Suffolk, who was scratching her head with a slightly dejected look on her face, Sheffield brought another chair towards the bed and placed a tray on top of it.

「Please go back to sleep after you are finished with your meal. Now then, if you’ll excuse us. We still have our chores and duties to fulfill, such as cleaning, so we will be going now.]

「Um, Sheffi——]

Belfast suddenly addressed Sheffield and stopped her from leaving.

「About my sister……Do you happen to know where Edi went?]