As such, for the sake of food, Aria made a mental note to increase the duration of today’s training regimen.
◇ ◇ ◇
Almost an hour later, Liselotte and Aria were led to the mansion’s dining room.
On top of the table was a splendid line up of Japanese style dishes; hamburgers that were enveloped with leaves; crunchy tempura; radish stew that had fully absorbed the tasty flavor from the broth; aromatic burdock root sliced thin and fried till the outer part was crisp; tofu that was garnished with plenty of chopped green onions and ginger, and colored with soy-sauce-like liquid; boiled vegetables in soy sauce; and stock.
Furthermore, there were also several kinds of pickled vegetables. Though some of the dishes were pre-made or already stored and kept fresh inside of his item box, all of them were home-made dishes by Rio
「By the way, I went with something that can be cooked quickly. That’s why I don’t know whether this suits your palate.」
As he said that, Rio served the freshly-cooked rice and japanese tofu with vegetable chowder that was infused with refined fragrant miso.
「…………」
Liselotte was staring at the dishes with eyes that basically turned into saucers. However, that was only natural since Liselotte had always searched for these dishes for so many years, but she had never managed to find it. But now, they were all lined up on top of the dining table as if it was the most natural thing in the world. So, it was no wonder she looked bug-eyed.
「There really are so many unusual dishes. They seem to be extremely delicious too.」
It was not only her; Aria’s eyes were also wide-opened in surprise. Then again, not only do these dishes look appetizing, it was also unknown to her.
「… You had way more ingredients than I expected. What sinful man you are, Haruto-sama.」
Liselotte desperately endured the urge to make Rio give her his ingredients right away and somehow managed to say something that was more polite.
「Because back then you told me you’re interested in the ingredients from Yagumo region.」
Rio responded with an impish smile on his face.
「… Come to think of it, I did say that… My deepest gratitude senpai, for remembering my passing remarks!」
「Well, please enjoy the dishes while it’s still warm. I’ve prepared your seat too, Aria-san. Though these dishes would easier to eat with a tool called chopsticks, if you’re not used to it, you may also use spoon, fork and knife.」
Aria accepted his invitation since this lunch was an informal one.
「Yes. My gratitude. Please take your seat too, Aria.」
Liselotte then sat on the chair that was prepared for her, closely followed by Aria. And although Rio had prepared the usual cutlery used in this world for Liselotte as well, she chose to use the chopsticks Rio prepared.
「Itadakimasu…」
Her lips curved lightly. Her first target was the radish stew. The radish was boiled till it was soft and tender. She skillfully used her chopsticks to cut the radish into two. From Aria’s perspective, the way Liselotte used the chopsticks to carry the portion of the radish into her mouth was strangely skillful. At that moment――、 「Uhn….」
Liselotte let out an extremely delighted, charming, and sweet voice as she enjoyed the meal. She then focused on the foods, silent as she tasted the nostalgic flavors of her past life. After observing Liselotte, Aria imitated her master as she cut the stewed radish with her knife and fork and then carried it into her mouth.
「……!!!」
Aria’s eyes blinked repeatedly.
「Very delicious…. What’s your opinion, Aria? 」
Liselotte inquired about Aria’s opinion after a while of savoring the nostalgic taste.
「This is the first time I’ve tasted this kind of flavor. It’s good. It’s a gentle flavor. Yet, it has its own peculiarity.」
It seemed like Aria had taken a liking to the food’s taste.
「Thank you very much for the compliment. Since this kind of food doesn’t require a specific order to eat, please feel free to eat from whichever you fancy first.」
After expressing his gratitude to Aria, Rio urged them to continue eating.
「There is no need to thank me for telling the truth.」
Maybe because she was impatient to taste the other dishes, Liselotte couldn’t help but look at them restlessly. The next dish she tried was the tofu garnished with chopped green onions and ginger. As she carried a piece of the tofu to her mouth, the soy sauce coating it dripped down, looking incredibly appetizing.
「Uuhn…..」
The result was instantaneous; she lost control over her facial expression, which fairly loosened up as she savored the flavor that she missed so much. And then, her chopsticks moved towards the boiled greens, then to the Japanese style hamburger. She finished the first round with a mouthful of rice.
「Ufufu」
Liselotte let out a satisfied smile.
“This is it.”
“This is how rice should be.”
“This color, fluffiness, and gloss.”
It was completely different from the dried rice that she found after looking through the entire Strahl region. She knew with just one bite that this is what she was yearning for.
After that, she aimed her chopsticks at the signature dish: the tofu and vegetable chowder. As she enjoyed the dish, she tasted the rich broth made from various vegetables and the miso. She was practically lost in a trance. Her chopsticks moved silently following the manner that was deeply etched into her being as she continued to savor the flavor of one dish after another. She never realized how much she missed it.
That was why, although she understood asking for a second helping was improper, she still ended up giving in to the temptation and asked Rio for a second helping of rice, tofu and vegetable chowder. Using that chance, Aria also asked for a second helping. Thus, the pair of Master and Retainer enjoyed the meal in silence.
Rio didn’t initiate much conversation either. Sometimes, Aria would stop herself from asking questions after looking curiously at Rio’s cuisine and the way he was eating.
A while later, after they finished their meal――、
「…. Thank you for the meal. It really was a moment of pure bliss for me. Too blissful, to the point that I forgot about time and conversation.」
Liselotte nodded lightly with a slightly embarrassed face.
「I enjoyed the meal, it was a moment of supreme bliss for me too. Thank you very much, Haruto-sama. I mean, Lord Amakawa.」
Aria bowed to Rio in silence.
「Likewise, thank you very much for enjoying my cooking. I might leave the Royal Capital after few days but, I’ll be more than happy to cook for you again if you wished for it in the meantime.」
「Yes, absolutely! 」
Liselotte was so grateful that she replied to Rio’s offer instantly.
「Understood.」
Rio also readily agreed to her with a smile on his face.
「But, it doesn’t mean that I would only come for your cooking… I’d also like to repay this little kindness of yours, will you allow me the chance to do that?」
Liselotte stared at Rio, expressing her unshakable resolution to repay her gratitude.
「Don’t mind it, all I did was cooking for you after all.」
Rio calmly refused. But――,
「Please. Allow me to express my gratitude for treating me to this sumptuous meal.」
Liselotte didn’t have any intention to back down either.
「But……」
Rio hesitated. He had never expected that Liselotte would go as far as pressing him so she could express her gratitude toward him.
「Please do tell me, as long as it is something that I can do.」
Liselotte used a proactive approach to pressure Rio. If the other party was Sakata Hiroaki, he would surely ask for a date with Liselotte. And if Rio was to ask the same things right now, Liselotte might have replied with 「Yes, with pleasure」 without any hesitation. But Rio being Rio, naturally he wouldn’t ask her that.
「Then, may I ask for your help to regularly maintain this mansion while I am away? Because, although His Majesty had offered employees and retainers to me, I do not feel good enough to accept it with grace. After all, I don’t know for how long I am going to live in this mansion. That’s why, I think I can only leave this mansion to someone whom I can trust.」
He worried that his ties to Galwark Kingdom would only get stronger if he had accepted the retainers given by Francois Galwark. Thus, he refused the offer, albeit in a slightly awkward way. Moreover, the talk might have progressed in an unbelievable direction if he had accepted the King’s offer. Refusing him from the start would be better than feeling regretful about the result. Liselotte was more trustworthy than Francois in this case.
「Certainly. If that’s the case, please allow me to choose someone trustworthy from the employee of Duke Kretia.」
Liselotte received Rio’s request with a delighted smile on her face…
「Thank you very much. Since they only need to make a round tour, once a week is enough.」
「Please leave it to me」
Liselotte agreed. However, instead of once a week, she would dispatch some people to guard the mansion and keep it clean everyday. And Rio would only realize this fact after quite some time had passed.
As such, for the sake of food, Aria made a mental note to increase the duration of today’s training regimen.
◇ ◇ ◇
Almost an hour later, Liselotte and Aria were led to the mansion’s dining room.
On top of the table was a splendid line up of Japanese style dishes; hamburgers that were enveloped with leaves; crunchy tempura; radish stew that had fully absorbed the tasty flavor from the broth; aromatic burdock root sliced thin and fried till the outer part was crisp; tofu that was garnished with plenty of chopped green onions and ginger, and colored with soy-sauce-like liquid; boiled vegetables in soy sauce; and stock.
Furthermore, there were also several kinds of pickled vegetables. Though some of the dishes were pre-made or already stored and kept fresh inside of his item box, all of them were home-made dishes by Rio
「By the way, I went with something that can be cooked quickly. That’s why I don’t know whether this suits your palate.」
As he said that, Rio served the freshly-cooked rice and japanese tofu with vegetable chowder that was infused with refined fragrant miso.
「…………」
Liselotte was staring at the dishes with eyes that basically turned into saucers. However, that was only natural since Liselotte had always searched for these dishes for so many years, but she had never managed to find it. But now, they were all lined up on top of the dining table as if it was the most natural thing in the world. So, it was no wonder she looked bug-eyed.
「There really are so many unusual dishes. They seem to be extremely delicious too.」
It was not only her; Aria’s eyes were also wide-opened in surprise. Then again, not only do these dishes look appetizing, it was also unknown to her.
「… You had way more ingredients than I expected. What sinful man you are, Haruto-sama.」
Liselotte desperately endured the urge to make Rio give her his ingredients right away and somehow managed to say something that was more polite.
「Because back then you told me you’re interested in the ingredients from Yagumo region.」
Rio responded with an impish smile on his face.
「… Come to think of it, I did say that… My deepest gratitude senpai, for remembering my passing remarks!」
「Well, please enjoy the dishes while it’s still warm. I’ve prepared your seat too, Aria-san. Though these dishes would easier to eat with a tool called chopsticks, if you’re not used to it, you may also use spoon, fork and knife.」
Aria accepted his invitation since this lunch was an informal one.
「Yes. My gratitude. Please take your seat too, Aria.」
Liselotte then sat on the chair that was prepared for her, closely followed by Aria. And although Rio had prepared the usual cutlery used in this world for Liselotte as well, she chose to use the chopsticks Rio prepared.
「Itadakimasu…」
Her lips curved lightly. Her first target was the radish stew. The radish was boiled till it was soft and tender. She skillfully used her chopsticks to cut the radish into two. From Aria’s perspective, the way Liselotte used the chopsticks to carry the portion of the radish into her mouth was strangely skillful. At that moment――、 「Uhn….」
Liselotte let out an extremely delighted, charming, and sweet voice as she enjoyed the meal. She then focused on the foods, silent as she tasted the nostalgic flavors of her past life. After observing Liselotte, Aria imitated her master as she cut the stewed radish with her knife and fork and then carried it into her mouth.
「……!!!」
Aria’s eyes blinked repeatedly.
「Very delicious…. What’s your opinion, Aria? 」
Liselotte inquired about Aria’s opinion after a while of savoring the nostalgic taste.
「This is the first time I’ve tasted this kind of flavor. It’s good. It’s a gentle flavor. Yet, it has its own peculiarity.」
It seemed like Aria had taken a liking to the food’s taste.
「Thank you very much for the compliment. Since this kind of food doesn’t require a specific order to eat, please feel free to eat from whichever you fancy first.」
After expressing his gratitude to Aria, Rio urged them to continue eating.
「There is no need to thank me for telling the truth.」
Maybe because she was impatient to taste the other dishes, Liselotte couldn’t help but look at them restlessly. The next dish she tried was the tofu garnished with chopped green onions and ginger. As she carried a piece of the tofu to her mouth, the soy sauce coating it dripped down, looking incredibly appetizing.
「Uuhn…..」
The result was instantaneous; she lost control over her facial expression, which fairly loosened up as she savored the flavor that she missed so much. And then, her chopsticks moved towards the boiled greens, then to the Japanese style hamburger. She finished the first round with a mouthful of rice.
「Ufufu」
Liselotte let out a satisfied smile.
“This is it.”
“This is how rice should be.”
“This color, fluffiness, and gloss.”
It was completely different from the dried rice that she found after looking through the entire Strahl region. She knew with just one bite that this is what she was yearning for.
After that, she aimed her chopsticks at the signature dish: the tofu and vegetable chowder. As she enjoyed the dish, she tasted the rich broth made from various vegetables and the miso. She was practically lost in a trance. Her chopsticks moved silently following the manner that was deeply etched into her being as she continued to savor the flavor of one dish after another. She never realized how much she missed it.
That was why, although she understood asking for a second helping was improper, she still ended up giving in to the temptation and asked Rio for a second helping of rice, tofu and vegetable chowder. Using that chance, Aria also asked for a second helping. Thus, the pair of Master and Retainer enjoyed the meal in silence.
Rio didn’t initiate much conversation either. Sometimes, Aria would stop herself from asking questions after looking curiously at Rio’s cuisine and the way he was eating.
A while later, after they finished their meal――、
「…. Thank you for the meal. It really was a moment of pure bliss for me. Too blissful, to the point that I forgot about time and conversation.」
Liselotte nodded lightly with a slightly embarrassed face.
「I enjoyed the meal, it was a moment of supreme bliss for me too. Thank you very much, Haruto-sama. I mean, Lord Amakawa.」
Aria bowed to Rio in silence.
「Likewise, thank you very much for enjoying my cooking. I might leave the Royal Capital after few days but, I’ll be more than happy to cook for you again if you wished for it in the meantime.」
「Yes, absolutely! 」
Liselotte was so grateful that she replied to Rio’s offer instantly.
「Understood.」
Rio also readily agreed to her with a smile on his face.
「But, it doesn’t mean that I would only come for your cooking… I’d also like to repay this little kindness of yours, will you allow me the chance to do that?」
Liselotte stared at Rio, expressing her unshakable resolution to repay her gratitude.
「Don’t mind it, all I did was cooking for you after all.」
Rio calmly refused. But――,
「Please. Allow me to express my gratitude for treating me to this sumptuous meal.」
Liselotte didn’t have any intention to back down either.
「But……」
Rio hesitated. He had never expected that Liselotte would go as far as pressing him so she could express her gratitude toward him.
「Please do tell me, as long as it is something that I can do.」
Liselotte used a proactive approach to pressure Rio. If the other party was Sakata Hiroaki, he would surely ask for a date with Liselotte. And if Rio was to ask the same things right now, Liselotte might have replied with 「Yes, with pleasure」 without any hesitation. But Rio being Rio, naturally he wouldn’t ask her that.
「Then, may I ask for your help to regularly maintain this mansion while I am away? Because, although His Majesty had offered employees and retainers to me, I do not feel good enough to accept it with grace. After all, I don’t know for how long I am going to live in this mansion. That’s why, I think I can only leave this mansion to someone whom I can trust.」
He worried that his ties to Galwark Kingdom would only get stronger if he had accepted the retainers given by Francois Galwark. Thus, he refused the offer, albeit in a slightly awkward way. Moreover, the talk might have progressed in an unbelievable direction if he had accepted the King’s offer. Refusing him from the start would be better than feeling regretful about the result. Liselotte was more trustworthy than Francois in this case.
「Certainly. If that’s the case, please allow me to choose someone trustworthy from the employee of Duke Kretia.」
Liselotte received Rio’s request with a delighted smile on her face…
「Thank you very much. Since they only need to make a round tour, once a week is enough.」
「Please leave it to me」
Liselotte agreed. However, instead of once a week, she would dispatch some people to guard the mansion and keep it clean everyday. And Rio would only realize this fact after quite some time had passed.
