Chapter 61

"Everyone! Lunch is ready!"

At the call of the maid beside me, the men holding carpentry tools turned around.

"Oh, it's already that time?"

"I wonder what we're having today?"

"I'm looking forward to it."

"The herb-roasted chicken was delicious."

"I definitely prefer the steamed river fish."

The carpenters gathered one after another, cracking jokes. Since their work involved physical labor, many of them were beastmen with dog ears or cat ears. Their clothes, which were covered in sawdust and sand, indicated that they had been working on leveling the dog run and building the fence.

To avoid the trouble of cleaning up before entering the house, the tables were moved outside for lunch.

Given their physically demanding work, the carpenters had a tremendous appetite. My detached palace has a generous number of servants, but the cooks have been extremely busy during lunchtime these past few days.

Gilbert was also busy in the kitchen, looking happy as he prepared the food. Perhaps hunger is the best spice; the carpenters, who had been working hard, ate the food with great relish. The cooks seemed delighted by the carpenters' enthusiastic eating.

"Well, well, today's lunch treat is... hmm..."

Carter, the foreman, looked at the table and tilted his head.

"Is this bread...?"

"Yes, it's a dish called a sandwich."

"Wow. Is it okay to eat with our hands?"

"Go ahead and take a big bite."

"Thanks! It's great that it's easy to eat."

Carter immediately picked up a sandwich. The sandwich, named after an earl in England, was appreciated by the busy earl for its convenience and cleanliness.

The carpenters' lunch break was limited. The sandwiches, which could be eaten easily without worrying about etiquette, were generally well-received.

"Alright, I'll start with this one..."

Carter's sandwich was a rectangular piece of bread with the crust removed and thinly spread with butter. The other carpenters, who initially looked curious, reached for their sandwiches after being explained how to eat them and what was inside. It was interesting to see their preferences and eating styles as they chose which of the four types of fillings to try first.

"Delicious! Bacon, leafy greens, and tomato! It's great that you can eat it in one bite!"

A man opened his mouth wide and took a hearty bite. The combination of crispy bacon, fresh leafy greens, and ripe tomatoes was a classic. The red and green colors visible in the cross-section seemed to stimulate their appetite, and they quickly finished their sandwiches.

"I think I like this one with the herb-roasted meat and cheese the most."

"The sausage one is also delicious!"

The carpenters munched on their sandwiches, sharing their thoughts. I had asked them to give me their feedback on the lunch every day. Initially, they were hesitant, but when I explained that I would use their feedback to plan the next day's menu, they started to share their thoughts more freely.

The lunch served to the carpenters was based on the recipes I suggested, which were then prepared by Gilbert and the other staff. New dishes were often served in this world, and many of the carpenters were looking forward to them. They seemed to enjoy the break from their physical labor, eagerly anticipating what they would have for lunch each day.

Today, I served four types of sandwiches:

- One with bacon, leafy greens, and tomato.

- One with thinly sliced herb-roasted egg and cheese.

- One with thinly sliced sausage and sauerkraut, inspired by the recipes from Kate's detached palace.

- One with strawberry jam and cream as a dessert substitute.

The bacon and sausage sandwiches were particularly popular among the carpenters. With the early summer temperatures rising and the carpenters working up a sweat, the meat and salty fillings were likely more appealing. I was considering adding more meat to the fillings the next time I served sandwiches when one of the serving maids was approached by a young carpenter.

"Anna, would you like to talk after I finish my work today?"

"Sorry, I have work to do in the palace tonight as well..."

"Aww, what a shame. I thought today would be my chance..."

Hans, a young but skilled carpenter with a decent appearance, was confident and seemed to have a weakness for women. He often invited the maids to talk during lunch. While I didn't scold him harshly when they declined, I did remind him to be more considerate.

"Hans, you've worked hard today. But please don't flirt with our maids too much, okay?"

"Princess Letitia! You look as beautiful as ever. How are you today?"

Hans, who was not at all discouraged by my light reprimand, seemed to be a natural flirt. He didn't try to charm me, the queen, but he didn't fear me either, and he always showered me with compliments whenever we spoke.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

Hans's face had stiffened. I followed his gaze and saw that it was directed behind me.

"A wolf?!"

"Guu-sama?!"

Guu-sama, with her beautiful silver fur, approached me, looking somewhat displeased and glaring at Hans.

"Princess Letitia, is that a wolf?"

"It's a wolf kept by the Wolf Guard, so there's no need to worry."

"The Wolf Guard...! I've never seen one in person before!"

Hans stared at Guu-sama with a look of pure curiosity, which was somewhat amusing. For many who grew up in this country, the wolves raised by the Wolf Guard were objects of admiration. Even the flirtatious Hans seemed more interested in Guu-sama than in me or the maid Anna at that moment.

"To be adored by a Wolf Guard's wolf, that's impressive, Princess Leti---whoa?!"

Guu-sama ignored Hans's words and sniffed around his hand. It seemed she was interested in the sandwiches.