Afterword
IT’S my first time riding on a steam train.
The train is pitch-black and big and heavy-looking. It appears very powerful too, but can only move forward or backward, so I don’t think it’s that powerful after all. The passenger compartment is relatively quiet and sways somewhat less than a carriage.
“Would you like some school-specialty treats?”
Before I can respond, the door opens to reveal an attendant pushing a cart stacked with colorful boxes and bags. There seems to be a variety, so I try to order a bunch as my stepmother would have, but my lord husband stops me. In the end, we each pick a different one so we can swap.
“Oh… Is that what you chose? Whoa!”
A black frog stretches its limbs languidly as I open my box. I attempt to bite its front leg, and… Oh! The frog leaps off my nose and out through the gap in the train window.
“O-Oh. Are you all right, Abby?”
“Tastes a bit like mud, but it’s mostly chocolate. Sorry for letting your half of the frog escape, my lord.”
“I-It’s fine. I don’t mind… Here, have my candied pineapple.”
Pineapple! I’ve never tried it before! It’s crunchy and sweet, so tasty!
Soon we deboard the steam train. We ride a small boat across a large lake toward a huge castle with numerous spiky towers.
“I heard it’s a magic school, but it’s a castle,” I say, awed.
“Yes. It does look like one.”
We’re in another country to tour a foreign magic school. It’s a different institution from the well-known one in our kingdom, and for some reason we received an invitation to visit.
We’re shown into a large room lined with benches that resembles the chapel where we held our wedding. Directly opposite us is an old, wrinkled hat. The tour guide announces the start of the enrollment ceremony.
My lord husband frowns. “What? We’re just on a tour.”
“Huh? That can’t be righ—” Hmm? The hat’s wrinkles sort of look like a face. It doesn’t have eyes, yet I can feel it watching me. Then…
“Come, you’re nex—”
“It spoke! The hat spoke!”
“Aaargh?!”
“Ah, Abby! Let go!”
The hat struggles in my grip, but I’m stronger! I got it! A talking hat! I’ll give it to Ethan as a souvenir!
✦ ✦ ✦
IN the next volume, Abby goes to magic school. Coming soon!
Or not. Don’t be disappointed.
Thank you for your continued patronage! This is Mameta! I’m glad to present the third volume of Dinners with My Darling. Thank you! Thanks to everyone who supported the series! We did it!
I hear the manga version is doing well in Japan too. I’m also looking forward to the series. Since I’m not allowed sneak peeks, I’m always surprised and yell “ABBY IS SO CUTE!” when I do eventually read a volume. The manga version is interesting, isn’t it? Toi Ishino-sensei is a god.
If you haven’t picked up the manga yet, please do! The second volume will be out on November 10th in Japan! And to everyone who picked up the novel after reading the manga version, thank you! And welcome!
Now, about this volume. I worked on it while continuing the series on the web novel site Shousetsuka ni Narou. I ended up penning a different ending for each version and revising the book at the same time. My initial plan was to finish the web series before revision, but…everything was delayed in the summer heat… I got confused while writing and have learned not to do multiple things at once.
In addition to the two side stories, I managed to write and edit about thirty thousand more words in the book version, though it took some tears. So that was good. I’m so glad…
The web series is ongoing as I write this afterword and is scheduled to end right as the third book is published in Japan. That’s how I’m planning to conclude everything.
If there’s a fourth volume, it’ll be a completely new plot. Can I do it? The thought makes me tremble. If only! Fellow writers, please feel free to feed me ideas. The snippet in this afterword was also an idea from someone. Thank you. Please send me more.
I’d like to express my gratitude to everyone who has loved Abigail, Gerald, and my merry crew of characters; my editor CutieU; Hanazome-sensei, who breathes magic into the adorable couple; Ishino-sensei, who churns out the manga at an amazing pace; and everyone involved in bringing the series to publication.
Praying to meet you all again. Have a nice day!