「I-Is that really Martina’s dish…?」
「What’s going on here!?」
Simone and Ailia’s confusion was understandable.
Sherice-san presented a dish that was dazzlingly ornate, far beyond what anyone would expect from just vegetables.
Mrs. Marklight’s creation radiated the warmth of a comforting home-cooked meal, evoking the essence of a mother’s love.
Both dishes looked delicious enough to make anyone’s stomach growl just from the sight.
And then there was Martina’s dish: a single bowl of soup.
「Is she really betting everything on just vegetable soup?」
「That seems way too reckless.」
「Even if the flavor is good, it just doesn’t compare visually to the others.」
The crowd murmured anxiously.
For those of us who’d enjoyed Martina’s cooking at the treehouse every day, we knew her skills weren’t lacking in the slightest. She’d even helped design new menus for the Knights’ cafeteria — a testament to her talent.
But this… this was unprecedented.
Sure, she’d seemed indecisive about her dish earlier, but to choose something as simple as soup?
「If it’s Martina, she must have some kind of plan.」
Among the murmurs, Kiara spoke with quiet conviction.
「You all know how skilled she is, don’t you? She was so fired up for this competition. If this is the conclusion she came to after all her deliberation, then there’s nothing more to say. We just need to trust her and wait for the results.」
「Kiara…」
Kiara’s unwavering gaze was fixed on Martina, a sign of her deep trust.
— And honestly, I felt the same way.
Having known Martina for so long, I knew she thrived under pressure. Sure, her earlier behavior was concerning, but if this was the dish she’d chosen as her answer, I had no reason to doubt her.
With all the dishes prepared, it was time for the tasting.
The one who held the key to victory was Princess Raina. Naturally, every pair of eyes in the venue turned to her.
「Huh?」
I looked at her too, but something seemed off.
Was she just nervous, or was it the prospect of eating vegetables, her most hated food? Either way, she didn’t seem well. Her face was pale, and her expression uneasy as she stood before the table of dishes.
「Well then, I’ll start with this one.」
The first dish she tried was Sherice-san’s.
She tasted a caramelized onion first, chewing slowly.
「…It’s delicious.」
The crowd erupted in amazement.
A princess known for her hatred of vegetables had just declared a vegetable dish “delicious.”
But something felt wrong.
Sherice-san, too, seemed uneasy, her expression tinged with frustration. It was as if she suspected Princess Raina’s words of being mere politeness.
Despite the praise, the princess’s face remained tense and strained, her reaction unconvincing.
The same pattern followed with Mrs. Marklight’s dish. Compliments for the flavor, but no joy or satisfaction in her demeanor.
What was troubling her?
Finally, Princess Raina stood before Martina’s dish.
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