“Alright, I’ll go get Sara and the others.”
With the sweets for the tea party prepared, I decided to go fetch the stars of today’s event, Sara and the others. I teleported around the manor to save time, then entered the tea party venue with Sara and Sanya, along with some maids.
“Sorry to interrupt your conversation, but allow me to introduce today’s guests of honor. All the way from the distant eastern nation, the princesses Sara and Sanya.”
“I’m Sara.”
“I’m Sanya. Pleased to meet you.”
After introducing the two of them to the gathered faces, they each gave a brief self-introduction. Then I declared the tea party opened, and had them take their seats at the prepared tables.
I had previously informed Sara and Sanya that a tea party was being held to deepen ties, so while they seemed nervous, they weren’t confused. Naturally, they’re disguised as humans with magic to prevent their demon lineage from being exposed.
Queen Sariya and Princesses Tiara & Sheryl sat at one table with the demon princesses Sara and Sanya, while the noblewomen sat at another table.
“First, please enjoy this.”
Saying that, I make eye contact with Sobas, and my servants cooperate with the helper servants to serve tea and sweets to each table. For tea, which is essential for a tea party, I decided to serve a royal milk tea flavored with the high-grade tea leaves I made before, processed into an Earl Grey-style blend with added milk and sugar.
And for the tea accompaniments, I figured something standard would be good, so I’m serving the freshly made cookies. They’re round, about 3cm in diameter, just the right size to eat in one bite.
“What a wonderful aroma. But I don’t recall ever encountering tea leaves with this scent.”
“I personally processed existing tea leaves and added milk and sugar to achieve that flavor.”
“I see, so you did that…”
As she says that, Sariya takes a sip of the milk tea. The aroma of the tea leaves and rich flavor instantly spread through her mouth, enveloped by the subtle sweetness of the sugar.
While the others also seem to be enjoying the unfamiliar scent first before savoring the tea like Sariya, however…
“Nom nom… Rolando-kyun, these cookies are delicious.”
“…Pardon me, everyone, I’ll be right back. You come with me.”
“I’m not done eating yet. I’ll come after I finish these―”
“Just come here!”
Come to think of it, she’s in the venue too. In our briefing with Nagartinya beforehand, I said she’s an acquaintance, but can’t she eat a little more gracefully?
If this continues, it will damage the refined atmosphere of the tea party. Judging that to be the case, I took Nagartinya, who was still voraciously munching on cookies like the cookie monster from a certain educational show, out of the venue.
“Hey, can’t you eat a little more gracefully? Everyone else was put off.”
“…But when you say stuff like that to me…”
“What are you mumbling about? Anyway, we can’t have poor etiquette with royalty present. Be more well-behaved.”
“Booo…”
“Respond with Yes or Yes Sir.”
She seemed dissatisfied, mumbling something in response to my scolding, but none of it reached my ears. However, since this is a formal tea party with royalty, she has to maintain basic manners or it will cause problems for me.
While it may be somewhat harsh to demand that of her, I at least want her to act in a way that won’t make others uncomfortable watching her.
Although still looking displeased, she nods at my words, so without further lecturing, we return to the venue together. But oddly, the place was shrouded in silence.
The only sounds were of tableware clinking, besides that, not a peep could be heard. The reason soon became apparent. The attendees weren’t talking at all, just quietly eating the sweets.
Strangely, when people eat delicious food, they tend to become less talkative. A famous example being “Everyone becomes quiet when eating crab.” (+) [1]
It seems that’s common knowledge in this world too, as everyone is focused intently on the cookies, not saying a word. Aside from Nagartinya, the rest of the attendees are esteemed royalty and nobility, so their manners are exquisite. And yet, the cookies are disappearing at an astounding pace.
“Oh my, we’re out already?”
“These are the most delicious cookies I’ve had.”
“It’s my first time eating them too.”
“Could I have some more?”
I faltered for a moment as over a dozen gazes turned my way, but put on the smile of a heartless noble and uttered ruthlessly.
“I’m afraid not. And just to reiterate, the amount I served to everyone was prepared with the assumption that there would be leftovers, so there really should have been plenty, no?”
It’s customary when nobles host events like meals to prepare more than enough food to avoid anyone still feeling hungry. Following that, I prepared around 30 cookies per person, but looking at everyone’s plates, not a single cookie remained besides those on Nagartinya’s plate. And at this very moment, the cookies on Nagartinya’s plate also went extinct.
I understand women have an astounding fixation on sweets, but to exceed my expectations to this extent – it’s moderately terrifying.
“Then please enjoy these next.”
Following that, I served the sweets I had prepared – sweet potatoes, hotcakes, crepes, pudding – but those too disappeared into the women’s stomachs.
Especially Nagartinya and, surprisingly, Queen Sariya, ate with bottomless vigor, already finishing four whole servings.
(Hmph, that old lady means business.)
(That girl’s got some appetite.)
While exchanging cautionary glances, they steadily worked through the sweets on their plates. I watched the two with a mix of amazement and exasperation, wondering just what they were competing over.
“Princess Sara is so lucky to get to eat food like this every day.”
“No, not at all.”
“I want to live in this manor too.”
“Don’t you have the royal castle?”
Tiara pouts in response to my retort. Seeing her like that, Sara smiles in amusement.
“By the way, do you plan on getting engaged to our Tiara?”
After that, it seemed like the tea party would proceed normally, but this one remark from Sariya was about to drastically change the mood.
1. TLN: It just conveys the idea that sometimes the best way to enjoy a meal is in quiet appreciation.
“Alright, I’ll go get Sara and the others.”
With the sweets for the tea party prepared, I decided to go fetch the stars of today’s event, Sara and the others. I teleported around the manor to save time, then entered the tea party venue with Sara and Sanya, along with some maids.
“Sorry to interrupt your conversation, but allow me to introduce today’s guests of honor. All the way from the distant eastern nation, the princesses Sara and Sanya.”
“I’m Sara.”
“I’m Sanya. Pleased to meet you.”
After introducing the two of them to the gathered faces, they each gave a brief self-introduction. Then I declared the tea party opened, and had them take their seats at the prepared tables.
I had previously informed Sara and Sanya that a tea party was being held to deepen ties, so while they seemed nervous, they weren’t confused. Naturally, they’re disguised as humans with magic to prevent their demon lineage from being exposed.
Queen Sariya and Princesses Tiara & Sheryl sat at one table with the demon princesses Sara and Sanya, while the noblewomen sat at another table.
“First, please enjoy this.”
Saying that, I make eye contact with Sobas, and my servants cooperate with the helper servants to serve tea and sweets to each table. For tea, which is essential for a tea party, I decided to serve a royal milk tea flavored with the high-grade tea leaves I made before, processed into an Earl Grey-style blend with added milk and sugar.
And for the tea accompaniments, I figured something standard would be good, so I’m serving the freshly made cookies. They’re round, about 3cm in diameter, just the right size to eat in one bite.
“What a wonderful aroma. But I don’t recall ever encountering tea leaves with this scent.”
“I personally processed existing tea leaves and added milk and sugar to achieve that flavor.”
“I see, so you did that…”
As she says that, Sariya takes a sip of the milk tea. The aroma of the tea leaves and rich flavor instantly spread through her mouth, enveloped by the subtle sweetness of the sugar.
While the others also seem to be enjoying the unfamiliar scent first before savoring the tea like Sariya, however…
“Nom nom… Rolando-kyun, these cookies are delicious.”
“…Pardon me, everyone, I’ll be right back. You come with me.”
“I’m not done eating yet. I’ll come after I finish these―”
“Just come here!”
Come to think of it, she’s in the venue too. In our briefing with Nagartinya beforehand, I said she’s an acquaintance, but can’t she eat a little more gracefully?
If this continues, it will damage the refined atmosphere of the tea party. Judging that to be the case, I took Nagartinya, who was still voraciously munching on cookies like the cookie monster from a certain educational show, out of the venue.
“Hey, can’t you eat a little more gracefully? Everyone else was put off.”
“…But when you say stuff like that to me…”
“What are you mumbling about? Anyway, we can’t have poor etiquette with royalty present. Be more well-behaved.”
“Booo…”
“Respond with Yes or Yes Sir.”
She seemed dissatisfied, mumbling something in response to my scolding, but none of it reached my ears. However, since this is a formal tea party with royalty, she has to maintain basic manners or it will cause problems for me.
While it may be somewhat harsh to demand that of her, I at least want her to act in a way that won’t make others uncomfortable watching her.
Although still looking displeased, she nods at my words, so without further lecturing, we return to the venue together. But oddly, the place was shrouded in silence.
The only sounds were of tableware clinking, besides that, not a peep could be heard. The reason soon became apparent. The attendees weren’t talking at all, just quietly eating the sweets.
Strangely, when people eat delicious food, they tend to become less talkative. A famous example being “Everyone becomes quiet when eating crab.” (+) [1]
It seems that’s common knowledge in this world too, as everyone is focused intently on the cookies, not saying a word. Aside from Nagartinya, the rest of the attendees are esteemed royalty and nobility, so their manners are exquisite. And yet, the cookies are disappearing at an astounding pace.
“Oh my, we’re out already?”
“These are the most delicious cookies I’ve had.”
“It’s my first time eating them too.”
“Could I have some more?”
I faltered for a moment as over a dozen gazes turned my way, but put on the smile of a heartless noble and uttered ruthlessly.
“I’m afraid not. And just to reiterate, the amount I served to everyone was prepared with the assumption that there would be leftovers, so there really should have been plenty, no?”
It’s customary when nobles host events like meals to prepare more than enough food to avoid anyone still feeling hungry. Following that, I prepared around 30 cookies per person, but looking at everyone’s plates, not a single cookie remained besides those on Nagartinya’s plate. And at this very moment, the cookies on Nagartinya’s plate also went extinct.
I understand women have an astounding fixation on sweets, but to exceed my expectations to this extent – it’s moderately terrifying.
“Then please enjoy these next.”
Following that, I served the sweets I had prepared – sweet potatoes, hotcakes, crepes, pudding – but those too disappeared into the women’s stomachs.
Especially Nagartinya and, surprisingly, Queen Sariya, ate with bottomless vigor, already finishing four whole servings.
(Hmph, that old lady means business.)
(That girl’s got some appetite.)
While exchanging cautionary glances, they steadily worked through the sweets on their plates. I watched the two with a mix of amazement and exasperation, wondering just what they were competing over.
“Princess Sara is so lucky to get to eat food like this every day.”
“No, not at all.”
“I want to live in this manor too.”
“Don’t you have the royal castle?”
Tiara pouts in response to my retort. Seeing her like that, Sara smiles in amusement.
“By the way, do you plan on getting engaged to our Tiara?”
After that, it seemed like the tea party would proceed normally, but this one remark from Sariya was about to drastically change the mood.
1. TLN: It just conveys the idea that sometimes the best way to enjoy a meal is in quiet appreciation.