Chapter 49

"Hey? Don't ignore me like that, okay?"

Prince Egedilus interjected, exasperated. It was unthinkable to ignore a prince's question.

"Hehe... What are you talking about?"

She tried to bluff her way through it.

"What's jam?"

Well, she didn't really think she could bluff it.

"To put it simply, it's fruit cooked with lots of sugar."

"Is it... delicious?"

Monica asked, swallowing hard. The way she swallowed made one wonder if there was any point in asking.

"Who knows? You don't eat jam by itself. It depends on your taste, doesn't it?"

In the end, food is a matter of personal preference. Even if someone recommends something they find delicious, it might not suit another person's taste. Even among those who like sweet things, there are various preferences.

Some prefer Japanese sweets, others Western sweets. Some like red bean paste but not zunda mochi. Some like whipped cream but not buttercream. Just because someone likes sweet things doesn't mean they like all sweet things.

"Sure! I want to try it!"

Monica, who had discarded her hesitation, raised her hand.

"Didn't you hear?"

"…? What?"

"Jam uses a ridiculous amount of sugar to make."

"………"

Lina's words finally seemed to sink in, and she fell silent.

That's right, jam uses a lot of sugar, which is precious in this world. Even if she made it, there was no guarantee it would end up in her mouth.

"Really that much?"

Rana asked. If she had never seen it, it would be hard to imagine how much sugar was used.

"It depends on the fruit, but when you cook it with sugar, a kilogram can be used up quickly?"

Unless you don't mind it being unsweet, but then it wouldn't be jam.

"…That much…"

Prince Egedilus muttered while eating a kuku berry. He seemed to have a rough idea of the amount from the units mentioned.

"But, should we make it? Prince Schuel will definitely like it, and we could give a jar or two to people we want to…"

"I want it!!"

Rana and Monica raised their hands. It seemed they had already formed the idea that anything Lina made was delicious.

"Wanting it is one thing… but isn't it difficult? There are people in the kitchen."

It wasn't a place where no one would notice. If they made it at night, the guards would be suspicious. Lina thought about making it at the detached palace where she stayed, but if Anna or someone found out, it would cause a commotion.

"Can't we find a way?"

Monica, who really wanted it, was twisting her neck in frustration.

Monica... your greed for food is showing.

Are you really that kind of person?

"Well, putting aside whether or not to give it to Monica and the others, we should just make it, right? Give a few to Brother Schuel, and let Lina decide what to do with the rest."

Prince Egedilus said while drinking his tea.

Ed? Isn't that what they call "passing the buck"?

Leaving the rest to me is like throwing it to a pack of hyenas.

Damn prince.

"Lina-sama? Would you like me to massage your shoulders?"

Monica said with a smile.

Her hands, which hadn't done anything yet, looked to Lina like she was trying to butter her up.