Once everyone finished introducing themselves, the food arrived on carts.
「Um… Does anyone have anything they can’t eat?」
「I’m perfectly fine, you know.」
「I’m fine too. I enjoy meals and have no issues.」
「I’m okay as well. Nothing that would kill me by eating it.」
「I’m fine as long as it’s not hard.」
「I’m good～ But same-species cannibalism is a no-go～」
「That’s fine. Chef, please proceed.」
「Yes!」
I nodded to the head chef. He began plating everything beautifully, though he looked nervous.
「Sorry to keep you waiting. Here is your appetizer, the Cambri and Mandragora salad.」
What arrived was a carpaccio-style salad made with beautiful cherry-pink winter yellowtail, paired with mandragora.
「Ohh……」
「This looks… delicious…」
「Cambri… carpaccio…? I’ve never heard of it.」
「Me neither…」
「It’s a fish from my world. I prepared it with various seasonings and turned it into a salad. This time of year, the fish is fatty and especially tasty.」
Well, I just sliced the fish and followed Haruka’s recipe for the sauce. I let the chef taste-test it, and he handled the mandragora part.
「So this is… fish…」
「It looks so good…」
「It’s almost like meat…」
Liliana and the others were surprised too. Honestly, I never expected to eat winter yellowtail in another world either.
The guests looked impressed as well. Good reaction.
「Next is—」
After that came pumpkin potage and shrimp pasta, which continued to amaze them. Some people ate while openly surprised that I had made it.
「Now, here is the main course.」
The main dish arrived: hamburger steak with demi-glace sauce and perfectly glazed vegetables on the side.
「Everything here was prepared personally by the Demon King-sama.」
「My my～」
「Incredible…」
「Hamburger…」
「Looks delicious…」
Everyone picked up their knives and forks and began cutting tentatively.
「Wow!」
「What is this tenderness…」
「Even my teeth can handle it easily…」
「Wawah… transparent juice!?」
「And the sauce smells so delicious…」
「Ham… Nn～!! So good, Yuuki-san!」
Selene took a bite and her face melted in bliss.
「I’m glad. Let me try too… Mm～ Delicious.」
Even without a label, I could tell it was top-quality meat. The combination of the meat and sauce was a perfect match.
(Thanks to Haruka… and I should deliver some to Marian later too.)
While thinking about thanking Haruka and bringing some to Marian, I kept eating—and before I knew it, the plate was empty.
「Now then, everyone, this is the final dish.」
For dessert, I tried remaking the pudding from the other day.
「Th-This is…」
「Pudding!」
「Yay! Yuuki-san’s pudding!」
At that moment, the shadow at my feet began to squirm.
(Croco’s here, huh… Can’t be helped…)
I placed a pudding near my knee. Croco poked her face out just a little. When I nodded, she took the pudding and sank back into the shadows.
「This is… delicious desu wa～」
「Ah… I’ve tasted many honeyed confections, but nothing this good…」
「Ugh, too good!!」
「Is this what sweets are like, de gozaru ka…」
「Delicious… This is my first time having something like this!」
It seemed to suit everyone’s tastes. All of them looked deeply satisfied.
「I’m glad it suited your palates.」
「Ehh～ This is the first time I’ve had food this delicious～」
「Yes, it was extremely delicious. Demon King-sama’s cooking could conquer the world.」
「Ahaha… Thank you.」
——Kon kon.
At that moment, there was a knock at the door.
「Come in.」
「Excuse me.」
Shia entered, pushing a cart loaded with tea sets for everyone.
「Everyone, please enjoy this.」
A cup of milk-brown liquid was placed in front of me. It was royal milk tea made from the Keyman tea leaves, if I remembered correctly.
「Thank you, Shia.」
When I thanked her, she gave a small bow and stepped back.
「Demon King-sama, what is this?」
Count Izanora asked.
「It’s tea from my world. It’s called royal milk tea—ordinary black tea brewed and then mixed with cow’s milk. If it tastes too bitter, feel free to add sugar.」
I lined up pots of sugar cubes. Everyone took a sip.
Then they each adjusted the flavor to their liking with sugar and continued drinking.
「Mmm. It’s delicious, Shia.」
「Ah, thank you very much…」
When I praised her directly, her ears turned bright red. In a formal setting like this, it stood out even more.
「Now then, Demon King-sama, if I may…」
「What is it, Marquis Izanora?」
「As I heard beforehand… are you truly planning to seize the kingdom?」
The relaxed atmosphere tightened instantly. All the nobles fixed their gazes on me.
「Yes. That’s exactly why I asked all of you to bring your main forces.」
「However… as you know, the relationship between our kingdom and that one has never been good.」
「Yes, I’m aware.」
「In that case, why?」
「Because Amilia wished for it.」
「The Saintess-sama?」
「Yes. After all, she is the rightful princess of the Kingdom of Filresia.」
「「「「「Eh? Eeeeeeeeeh!?」」」」」
「And as you all know, she is the genuine 【Sword Saintess】 herself.」
Amilia drew her sword and placed it in the center of the table. The faintly rainbow-glowing blade was identical to the Holy Sword I had crafted in the past.
「「「「「Eeeeeeeeeh!!!!」」」」」
「Th-That alone… is not sufficient proof! We cannot sacrifice our own people for this.」
Count Filian also raised his voice. Yeah, that makes sense.
「In that case… let us verify whether she is truly the Saintess. I have heard that the Saintess possesses miracles capable of tearing the heavens apart.」
Count Baldor stood up as he spoke.
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