We finally passed the checkpoint and arrived in the imperial capital, my heart leaping with excitement!
But… it does not feel that different from the kingdom side!!
Of course, as neighboring countries, dramatic changes would be unlikely. I expected subtle differences, but to my eyes, both feel like foreign lands with no striking contrast.
If I must point out one thing, the many wheat fields in towns along the way to the capital stand out.
According to Sicilia-sama, the empire excels in wheat production and pours effort into wheat-based dishes and, of course, lager.
Those working in agriculture or food production receive tax reductions, easing their lives somewhat. Even in the competitive imperial society, many choose these paths. Food shortages seem unlikely for the foreseeable future.
This policy, it turns out, was decided by Sicilia-sama’s younger brother.
Not every imperial citizen dreams of rising in status. Naturally, some, like me, prefer a relaxed life without grinding away in fierce competition.
Those people farm peacefully, earn enough for daily joys, and savor quiet happiness.
As an aside, cacao is produced far to the south.
「With this much wheat, lager will be even more exciting.」
「Fufufu. Wheat fields vary by region, each with unique traits. Lager varieties outnumber them. You will surely find ones to your taste.」
「Oh… I would love to do a tasting comparison.」
I meant it as a mutter, but she heard. I switch to polite speech when talking with Sicilia-sama.
Not full butler mode, so no excessive humility or calling her ojou-sama.
Just the usual 「-sama」.
「My favorite shop offers several kinds. If you find a lager you love, they have matching snacks too. I will guide you there, so look forward to it.」
Sicilia-sama’s favorite shop…
The snacks must be incredibly delicious.
But I have confidence in lager pairings too.
From fried foods like menchi katsu or mixed shrimp-and-meat cutlets, to beef skewers from street stalls, or the okonomiyaki the orphanage kids sell, they all pair perfectly…
I could make gyoza if I wanted.
Making them together would be fun. We could even try unusual fillings!
Ahh! Ice-cold beer, overflowing meat juices, crispy charred edges with chewy dough still piping hot, crunch, sizzle! Gulp… glug… haaa! I want to do that so badly!
Of course, beef tongue cannot be forgotten.
I promised Yasis too. I will find a lager that pairs perfectly with salted tongue, buy a whole barrel as a souvenir, and have a drinking party back home.
「Fufufu. Your eyes sparkle like a child’s.」
「In my original world, I drank it all the time. Us otherworlders… we cannot resist nostalgic foods and drinks.」
Some days I drank straight from the chilled can. Other days from a frosty glass.
Not every day… but always stocked in the fridge. The first drink at an izakaya was always beer, it blended that deeply into my life.
「Hey, milord. Is lager really that delicious?」
「Hm? Umm…」
「Eh? You hesitate? Is it not good?」
「No, it is delicious. Definitely delicious, but…」
「Yes… It depends on the person. Some love it passionately, others dislike it.」
The kingdom mostly has fruit wines and sweet drinks.
Mizera’s experience is probably limited to fruit wine diluted with fruit water and further adjusted with plain water.
There are fruity beers too, but those lean more toward ales in my memory.
Of course, they might lump ales under lager here, but the taste is less about sweetness and more about bitterness… a flavor hard to describe.
「Is that so…? Hmm…」
「What is wrong? You do not have to force yourself to drink lager. There are plenty of other drinks, and I brought lots of your favorite ginger ale too.」
Ginger ale is ginger, honey, and cinnamon-like spices diluted in water, Mizera’s current favorite.
Recipes vary by household in spice choice and amounts. Ours has become the flavor Mizera loves most.
It tastes delicious hot or iced, warms the body, and offers relaxing effects, perfect for drinking when catching a cold.
I probably cannot serve my homemade version in shops, but something similar should exist.
…Besides, though she seems unaware, Mizera has low stamina and looks a bit tired from the long journey.
「That makes me very happy… But milord likes lager, right?」
「Well… I do not know if lager here matches what I drank before, but I think I will like it.」
「Yeah… Then, since we are here, I want to like lager too. If I come to like what milord likes, we can drink together even after returning to Einzheil, right?」
「Mizera…」
Ah, so earnest…!
How adorably sweet of her to say that.
She could drink with me even without liking lager…
But her desire to share my favorites fills me with joy.
「There seem to be many kinds, so let us taste them and find ones you like. Then we can drink together back home!」
I hope there is a flavor Mizera will enjoy…
With so many varieties, mixing with ginger for a shandy-style drink might make it easier for her.
「Yes, yes! My lord! I have drunk lager before!」
「Me toossu! It has that adult taste, right!」
「Exactly! That bitterness feels so mature…」
Hoo, so the two have tried it.
From their tone, they quite liked it.
「…Yet both Sorte and Renge made sour faces the first time… I understand wanting to match my liege’s tastes after Mizera’s sweet determination, but lying is not good.」
「I-It is not a lie! Back then we were not adults yet, but now we are more grown up. We surely like it now!」
「Y-Yeah! And Aina even… ah… Aina gulped it down…」
「Ah. I like it. But only chilled… The refreshment after drinking ice-cold lager is wonderful, beyond mere taste.」
「Heh… There are chilled ones too. I usually drank cold ones, so that might suit me best.」
I heard in places like Germany, room-temperature beer is common… so I braced myself for lukewarm lager…
「Kuu… Operation failed, Renge.」
「Yeah. We tried riding Mizera’s innocent wave, but honestly, I prefer sweet drinksssu!」
「Me too. Bitter alcohol is not for me… But I completely understand Mizera wanting to like what Master likes!」
「No… um… that…」
…No, really, you do not have to force yourselves…
And for some reason, being called innocent made Mizera blush deeply, cheeks turning pink in embarrassment.
「Hmm. Wendy not drinking?」
「Well… I think I could enjoy alcohol. But I cannot drink much, so I am hesitating… Showing a heavily drunk side to Master would be…」
「Hmm… You usually hold back?」
「Yes. I know my limit. On celebrations I drink a bit more, but always enough to care for Master if he passes out.」
…You always save me so much.
Someday, I want to be the one caring for you. Let you drink freely and see a fully drunk Wendy.
My guess: she would cling and spoil me endlessly.
「Hmm… Shiro probably not allowed…」
Yeah… well.
Not out of meanness, it is for Shiro’s sake, and she understands, but no permission this time either.
「Well… Shiro still no. When you grow up, we will drink together.」
「Hmm. Shiro thinks anything tasty.」
「But it is bitter, you know?」
「Hmmn… When grown up, bitter okay… probably.」
「Ufufu. Shall we practice with bitter vegetables starting now?」
「…Still no.」
Except for charred meat, bitter meat is rare, so practice means vegetables. Shiro does not like vegetables much…
Lately she eats them properly for growth, but knowingly bitter ones remain tough for her.
Yet many people learn to eat green peppers as adults, so perhaps grown-up Shiro will love lager too.
-0-
「No need to be overly formal, but tidy your appearance just in case. It is troublesome, but I want to report our return and show the faces of those I will now look after.」
The carriage stops. While Seren-san opens the door and waits for us to exit, Sicilia-sama reminds us. We check buttons, sleeves, and ensure no inner layers peek out.
After all, we are about to meet the current emperor of the Schwarzveldt Empire.
Sicilia-sama is one too, but meeting true rulers, those with real power, always makes a former salaryman like me nervous.
「Ready? Ah, no need to tense up. Do not worry about blunders either… Rather, if my little brother commits one, feel free to give him a solid whack.」
「Eh?」「Mu?」
Sicilia-sama looks at Wendy and Aina with an expression suggesting a bad feeling might come true, then chuckles self-deprecatingly.
「Well… Let me say this in advance. Sorry. No malice intended… but he might resemble you a bit.」
「Resemble… me?」
The emperor, her younger brother?
Me, an ordinary commoner?
「Umu. Yes. But, if possible, do not kill him. He is still my brother… But a solid hit is fine with my permission. Even a thorough beating, as long as he can handle state affairs afterward.」
「Hmm. If he harms lord, solid whack. Thorough beating.」
「Umu. With Shiro, it should be fine. Just keep it to injuries curable with a healing potion (greater).」
「Hmm.」
Eh? Eh?
Solid whack? Thorough beating? The emperor?
The reason becomes clear soon… but do I really resemble him…?
I had not drunk beer in a while, so I tried some again to describe it accurately for writing.
…I still do not know how to express the taste.
What should I do…?
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