Several days had passed since that first meeting――
Thanks to the devoted nursing of Wendy and the others, Mizera’s condition had safely recovered.
Since she had been bedridden, I worried about muscle loss, but Aina and the others, who were professionals when it came to moving the body, had worked hard to massage Mizera’s body and move her limbs even while she slept.
Though she wasn’t completely recovered yet, with things like the treadmill available, she could gradually regain her strength from here on.
「Well then. From this moment, we begin Mizera’s recovery celebration!」
「「「Yeahhh!」」」「Yes!」「Ah!」
A feast stretched out before us.
Today we had splurged, using higher-grade ingredients like King Pigul and Black Heavy Moom meat.
「Lord, can we eat already?」
「Not yet. Mizera, come sit over here」
Mizera had frozen at the sight before her, standing in a daze, so I urged her toward the seat.
Naturally, since she was the guest of honor today, she sat at the head of the table.
On either side of her were Wendy and me.
「…What is this? These are all foods I’ve never seen before…」
「This time, Master and I put our skills into cooking, so please enjoy」
「Wendy-sama and… milord? Wait, milord can cook…?」
「Yes. That meal you liked so much was also Master’s handiwork, you know?」
「That delicate taste was milord’s…?」
Behold!
I crossed my arms and leaned back with a smug face, but she only looked back at me with a doubtful expression.
Huh? That’s strange…?
Anyway, back on track.
「Come on, the first bite goes to the guest of honor, Mizera」
「Me first…? But I’ve never eaten food like this before… I don’t even know what to do…」
「Don’t worry about manners or rules. Just take whatever catches your eye and eat it however you like」
Meat, fish, vegetables, soup.
It was understandable she would be unsure of where to start, but unless Mizera ate, the meal couldn’t begin.
「Go on, don’t hold back. Pick whatever you want」
「Th-then… this meat」
Oh, Black Heavy Moom.
That’s some fine meat. Black Moom is tasty enough, but the heaviness in this one is on another level.
It hits you hard, but not too much, with both fat and lean rich enough that just tasting it makes you want to shout.
This time it was roasted and eaten with a special sauce, but with good ingredients, simple cooking makes the flavor stand out even more.
Everyone’s eyes were on Mizera, watching her eat, and though she looked uncomfortable, she seemed to realize the meal wouldn’t start unless she did. She lifted it to her mouth, chewed, and spoke a single word.
「…Delicious」
The moment Mizera said that, Wendy and I exchanged a high five right over her head.
That dish was actually a collaboration between Wendy and me.
Normally we split the work dish by dish, but this time the roasting was mine while the sauce was Wendy’s.
「Alright, everyone, dig in!」
「Uuuh! I’m not giving up this meat!」
「Shiro! That’s my meat!!!」
「Well then, while those two are fighting, I’ll help myself over heressu」
「Renge… if you take that much, there won’t be any left for Master and the others!」
The fact that the best cuts of meat were fought over right from the start showed clearly that tonight, appetite had triumphed over maidenly dignity.
While I watched the four with mild exasperation, Wendy took portions from the plate she had set aside for us and served Mizera and me.
「…This is amazing. Today must be special, right?」
「It’s special, sure, but it’s not really much different from usual, is it?」
「Yes… The ingredients are a bit pricier than normal, but in terms of quantity it’s only a little more than we usually make」
「This is normal…? The slaves eat the same meals too?」
「Of course. Food tastes better when everyone shares it. Eating alone would be lonely, wouldn’t it?」
「But… normally that’s impossible…」
「With Master, the word ‘normal’ doesn’t apply very well…」
What’s that supposed to mean? I’m normal. …I should be normal.
Anyone would want to enjoy good food properly.
Even if food expenses get ridiculous every month, it’s worth it if it means we can have meals as fun as this.
「…I feel guilty, being celebrated with such a grand feast, but I haven’t decided to stay here yet, you know?」
「Hm? Doesn’t matter. I told you, this is your recovery celebration」
「And that’s fine?」
「Yeah. Just don’t run away. If you want to leave, say so properly. I won’t force you to stay」
「…Alright」
「Then tonight, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself as much as you want! If you don’t hurry, Shiro and the others will devour everything!」
Hey, Shiro, you’re taking too much! And eat your vegetables too! Don’t just shove the vegetables Wendy served into Sorte’s plate at lightning speed!
-0-
And so, as the banquet reached its height,the food on the table had been completely and beautifully wiped out.
「I can’t eat anymore…」
「Of course not… you obviously ate too much」
「It was too delicious…」
With her stomach round and full, Shiro leaned back against her chair, slowly sliding down in a slump.
「How shameless. To be so stuffed you can’t even move」
「Hmm. Sorte, you can’t fasten your belt right now either」
「D-don’t say that in front of my lord!」
No, of course I noticed when you loosened it too. I didn’t miss that.
Aina ate calmly as usual, but what surprised me was Renge. She started off eating with her usual energy, but toward the end she grew quiet.
「Haah… I can’t remember the last time I ate until I was this full…」
「Hmm. If you stay here, you can always eat until you’re full」
「I see… that’s very tempting…」
「Hmm. Full of happiness」
「Fufufu. Sorry to interrupt when you’re stuffed, but…」
「Dessert, right!? It’s dessertssu, isn’t it!?」
「…Yeah. There’s still dessert!」
Renge beat me to it…
Could it be she held back at the end because she knew dessert was coming!?
「Dessert at this timing, from master…! That has to mean you’re using the Chocwo we bought the other day! I’ve been looking forward to seeing what you’d make with itssu!」
「Renge! Don’t go spoiling everything! You’re stealing my moment of fun!!」
「Aah! Sorryssu! But I couldn’t wait, the smell’s just too much!」
I get it. Oh, I get it.
Who could resist that sweet aroma, like melted chocolate, drifting from the kitchen?
「Fufufu! Everyone else is too full, right? That means this dessert is all minessu! I’ll eat as much as I wantssu!」
「Kuh… you knew because you went to the auction…!」
「Hahaha! Too sweet, Sorte!」
Renge struck a smug pose just like I had earlier, while Sorte looked frustrated.
Mizera, taken aback by the two of them, was patted on the shoulder by Aina.
「They’re a disgrace to the family. If you can, just pretend you didn’t see…」
「Uh, alright… but… can everyone really still eat?」
「You’re a woman too, Mizera. Don’t they say sweets go to a separate stomach?」
「True, but… I don’t know if I can fit any more…」
「It’s fine to leave some. Just try at least a bite」
「Yeah, that’s right! If you leave any, I’ll finish it for you, so no worriesssu!」
Alright then, time for me to fetch the dessert.
This time it’s chocolate ice cream and chocolate cake.
For the ice cream, I used berries that pair well with chocolate—strongberries and crumbleberries.
For the cake, I kept it simple to highlight the pure taste of the Chocwo itself.
Naturally, I didn’t forget to top it with solid slabs of chocolate.
「C’mon, master! Bring it all out! I’ll finish everything, so pile it onssu!」
No way. Eat too much chocolate and you’ll get a nosebleed, so keep it in moderation.
「Renge… so sweet. Even sweeter than this smell」
「W-what’s this presence!?」
「Shiro has Cloak of Black Shadow. If she uses it, her energy will be consumed, so she can eat as much as she wants」
「No way! You’d use a secret technique just for dessertssu!?」
「If you’re going to use it, save it for sparring against us!」
That’s only natural.
Or rather…
「Shiro, stop wasting your strength on things like that」
「Ai」
「Good girl. Eating a lot doesn’t make you great. I’ll make more again」
「Hmm. Then I’ll look forward to that. I’ll just have two today」
「You’re still having two though…」
Mizera’s impression was spot on.
She could still eat more… truly, the mystery of women.
Well then, I headed straight for the kitchen…
「Hyuu!」
「…Wendy? Were you sneaking a taste?」
「N-no, it’s not that! The sweet smell of this Chocwo was so strong that before I knew it, my hand moved on its own!」
There were traces on her fingers where she had scooped some melted Chocwo from the bowl, and the corner of her mouth was smeared with it as well. There was no talking her way out of this.
「You’ve still got some on your cheek」
I wiped the Chocwo from Wendy’s cheek with my finger and put it straight into my mouth.
It reminded me of a similar situation with cream puffs before. Back then, Wendy had sucked my finger into her mouth, but today I simply licked it off myself.
「M-M-Master… this is a little embarrassing…」
「Didn’t you do the same thing in front of everyone not long ago?」
「That was—」
「Aah! They’re flirting! Forgetting all about the dessert!」
「Ah, sorry, sorry. Let’s carry it out together and eat」
Everyone carried the desserts they wanted to the table, picked up their silver spoons, and sat down.
「Alright, let’s eat!」
Unable to wait any longer myself, I urged everyone as I scooped some ice cream and put it in my mouth.
Ahh…
The cold chocolate ice cream melted on my tongue, while the small chunks of hardened chocolate, mixed in for texture, followed just a little later. The sweet and sour berries brought out the chocolate’s sweetness while leaving a refreshing aftertaste, the two flavors highlighting each other and inviting me to take another bite.
「…I ate it」
Looking over, Mizera had already finished her first ice cream. She must have thought she couldn’t fit any, but it was gone in no time.
「…I can have seconds, right?」
「Of course. There’s plenty more, so eat as much as you can」
「…No, just one more is fine」
It seemed she really liked the chocolate ice cream.
Well, it made sense. The cake was heavier with its sponge and chocolate cream.
「So goodssu!」
「Kuh… I want more, but I can’t eat another bite…」
「I think I’ll have one more」
「Hmm. Shiro will have one more too」
「It’s delicious…」
Everyone seemed more than satisfied.
With this, I had surely replaced my old memories with brighter ones.
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