Princess Connect! IF: The Future Pecorine Never Chose - The Princess's Smile: The Beginning of the Last Supper

The morning mist wrapped around the still-sleeping town. On the outskirts of Landosol's guild district, a thin, breath-like white haze drifted over the cobblestones, and somewhere in the distance, a faint rooster's crow could be heard. In that quiet hour, only one diner already had its lights on. On the signboard, warm handwritten letters swayed: "Pecorine's Table." In the kitchen, a girl with fluffy blonde hair tied up in a large ribbon was kneading dough all by herself. Her large, clear sky-blue eyes stared intently at her hands. She wore a light adventurer's outfit in white and blue, with an ingredient knife and a spice container at her hip. She stood just 158 centimeters tall, with a delicate frame—yet her arms kneaded the dough with steady strength. "Mm-hmm-hmm~♪" A hum escaped her lips. Her name was Pecorine. She was the guild master of "Gourmet Guild," one of only four adventurer guilds in this town, and a Rank A adventurer—fewer than fifty on the entire continent—who held the advanced culinary qualification known as "Taste Certification." She'd been baking a large batch of bread since morning. She wanted to serve fresh-baked bread for dinner when her companions returned. (Yuuki-kun, Kokkoro-chan, Kyaru-chan... I wonder if everyone's doing their best today too.) Her kneading hands tapped the counter in a steady rhythm—thump, thump. The sound echoed gently through the quiet kitchen. The sweet scent of bread dough mixed with the cold morning air, filling the whole shop. Her technique was superb. Knead, roll, rest, shape. Not a single motion was wasted. When that was done, she lit the fire under a large pot and began warming the broth she'd prepared the day before. "Alright, looking good." She smiled and wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. Suddenly, she touched her chest. Beneath her adventurer's outfit, an old ring hung from a thin leather cord. Pecorine gently clutched it. (Mother...) She murmured in her heart. That ring was the "Regalia Ring," passed down through the royal family of Granveld—her homeland. The one proof that only those of royal blood could make shine. Twelve years ago. The "Invasion of Void" that erupted centered on the western part of the continent swallowed her country whole. The entire territory, including the capital Regalia, was reduced to ash overnight. Pecorine, who was eight years old at the time, fled desperately to this free city of Landosol together with her mother, the Queen. But her mother said: "It is a queen's duty to protect her country. I will return. You must live strong. And someday, you must surely reclaim our nation." Leaving those words behind, her mother went back into the ashlands. Since then, her whereabouts were unknown. Pecorine had lived alone, holding her mother's words in her heart. And now, she had met her companions in Gourmet Guild—days of laughing together, gathered around the dinner table. (I wish this happiness could last forever.) But somewhere in her heart, she knew. She was merely clinging to this warm time while hiding the secret that she was a "princess." Someday, these days would end. She was afraid of that day coming. Her grip on the ring tightened slightly. "...Alright, let's bake." She spoke in a bright voice, as if switching her feelings. She lined the bread up into the oven. The fragrant smell of baking filled the kitchen. Past noon. Pecorine had gone out to the Landosol market to buy ingredients. The market was bustling with energy as always. The vegetable vendor's booming voice, the fishmonger's ice-crushing sounds, the pungent smell of spices. The laughter of passersby bounced off the cobblestone streets. "Big sis, what'll it be today?" "Meat for stew, and lots of fresh vegetables!" Pecorine selected ingredients with practiced efficiency. Her eyes could discern not just freshness, but even the place of origin and the best cooking method. This was the power of taste magic known as "Flavor Sight." Activating it required concentrating magical energy in the tongue, and fewer than one in ten chefs could use it. She was at the very top of that one in ten. (The carrots today have a strong sweetness. Perfect for stew.) She picked up a vegetable and brought it close to her nose to check the scent. Her gesture was as innocent as a child searching for treasure. After finishing her shopping, she returned to their base on the outskirts of the guild district, both arms full of paper bags. "I'm home!" Even knowing no one was there, she called out as always. Then, her eyes fell on the mailbox in front of the base. (Huh, there's something in there.) She reached out and felt a cool sensation. A single envelope lay quietly inside. "...A black envelope?" She tilted her head. There was no sender's name. Only the addressee. "To the Guild Master of Gourmet Guild, Lady Pecorine." The moment she saw those words, for some reason, something stirred deep in her chest. She placed the envelope on a table in the dining hall on the first floor of the base. Pecorine stared at the black envelope for a while. (Is it okay to open it?) Her hesitation lasted only a few seconds. She broke the seal. What came out was an old portrait and a letter. The moment she saw the portrait, all color drained from Pecorine's face. (This... why...) There, painted side by side, were her younger self and her mother the Queen. The official portrait of the Granveld royal family. Something that should have vanished into the ashlands when that country fell. Her hands trembled. She slowly opened the other letter. The words written there were cold, sharp—like a blade. "Your Highness the Princess. I am fully aware of your true identity. Three nights from now, come alone to Veilhorn, capital of the Nocturne Empire. Your blood is needed for the reconstruction of Granveld. If you refuse, I will publicize the identities and weaknesses of every member of Gourmet Guild across the continent, and sell them all to the slave markets." The sender's name was Kaiser. Supreme Commander of the Nocturne Empire. (Kaiser...) Pecorine knew that name. The Nocturne Empire—a military dictatorship dominating the northeastern part of the continent. The man at its apex. Originally an operative of an intelligence agency called Kaiser Insight, he had staged a coup twenty years ago and seized real power. A man skilled at grasping people's weaknesses, threatening them, and dominating them. The second page of the letter contained something even more terrifying. Yuuki, Kokkoro, Kyaru. Each of the three's origins, family structure, weaknesses, daily behavioral patterns. (Yuuki-kun is bad with mornings, and always gets woken up by Kokkoro-chan. Kyaru-chan actually loves sweets, and secretly eats them late at night...) Even things like that were written in meticulous detail. She clutched the letter and portrait with trembling hands. (These people are serious. If I refuse, they'll really...) Her chest tightened. She could barely breathe. (Because I'm a princess. Because of me, everyone will be in danger.) Pecorine took a deep breath. Then slowly exhaled. (Mother... what should I do?) The answer had already come. To protect her companions. And to honor her mother's dying wish. She would go to the Empire alone. It was the beginning of a new solitude—one where she could not tell her companions the truth. Dusk. As the sky dyed crimson, the three companions returned to the Gourmet Guild base. "I'm home!" A cheerful voice echoed through the dining hall. Yuuki had finished an ingredient-gathering request and set down his large pack. "Welcome back, Big Sister." Kokkoro smiled brightly, carrying a basket with the results of her herb gathering. "...Hmph, I'm back." Kyaru seemed to have returned from magic training—looking a bit tired, but somehow satisfied, she muttered quietly. Pecorine poked her head out from the kitchen to greet the three. "Welcome back! Everyone hungry? Today it's special stew and fresh-baked bread!" Her voice was bright and lively, just as always. Steam rose from the dishes lined up on the table, and an appetizing aroma spread through the dining hall. "Whoa, today's unusually fancy." Yuuki's eyes sparkled as he peered into the stew pot. "Big Sister, did something good happen?" Kokkoro tilted her head with innocent eyes. "Hmph, it's the same as always, isn't it?" Kyaru said curtly, but even as she did, she took a piece of bread and helped herself to a second bowl of stew. "Eat lots so you can do your best tomorrow too!" Pecorine said with a smile. Behind that smile, her heart was about to tear apart. (I'm sorry, everyone. I'm sorry. I'll be gone soon.) She couldn't tell anyone. She mustn't. If she told them, she'd drag them all into it. So she smiled. Just like always. "This bread is so fluffy. Pecorine, you really are a genius." "It's true. Big Sister's bread is the most delicious in the world." "...Well, it's not bad." Their words pierced her chest. So warm, so kind—and that made it all the more painful. "Thank you. Eating with everyone really makes it delicious." She replied with a genuine smile. Late at night, after dinner ended and the companions returned to their respective rooms. Pecorine sat at the desk in her room. On the desk were the black envelope and the old portrait. She reread the letter once more. (If I go, everyone will be saved. Isn't that enough?) But somewhere in her heart, another voice spoke. (Is that really okay? Leaving without telling anyone anything?) She shook her head. "I'm a princess. So I have to protect everyone." She murmured softly, but certainly. It was a word to convince herself. Her mother's words revived. "Live strong. And someday, you must surely reclaim our nation." (Mother, I will properly do what a princess must do.) She carefully folded her apron—the one embroidered with the Gourmet Guild crest—and placed it on the table. Then she added a single note. "Everyone, thank you for everything until now. I will definitely come back. —Pecorine" Finally, she removed the ring from her chest and gently brought it to her lips. "...Mother, please watch over me." She kissed the ring, then hung it at her chest once more. She turned off the room's light. Passing through the dining hall, she turned back one last time and gazed at the pitch-dark interior. There were so many memories here. Laughter. The clatter of dishes. Delicious aromas. (Thank you. Truly, thank you.) She quietly opened the door and stepped outside. The night wind gently swayed her blonde hair. The stars shone coldly. Pecorine began walking alone down the road toward the Nocturne Empire. Her back looked small—yet stronger than anyone's. The Gourmet Guild's final supper quietly drew its curtain.

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Episode 1

Name: Princess Connect! IF: The Future Pecorine Never Chose
Author: Novelia

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