Chapter 85

......Indeed. Indeed, I did receive the message from Eleil that said, "Let's meet again soon." I also heard that he was seen in the square.

But I was speechless.

Despite being surrounded by dishes that were likely to be as delicious as the ones in the castle, which are different from the ones in Makoto's memories, I couldn't even enjoy the atmosphere. It was very disappointing.

"Oh, is Princess Octavia not feeling well? Perhaps I was an inconvenience?"

A beautiful voice tickled my ear.

Across the large round table filled with dishes, a man with an eye patch on one eye smiled elegantly. Probably to hide a birthmark. Personally, I'm somewhat relieved by this.

After all, this face is exactly like 'that young man' from the most detestable memories. The fact that part of it is hidden allows me to believe it's a different person, which is a fortunate misfortune.

"No, I'm with my brother on an inspection. I'm feeling quite well. Besides, I wouldn't possibly not welcome a friend of Hughie's."

I smiled. I lifted my glass of lemon-flavored carbonated water in a toast and took a sip.

"Lust. To a princess..."

Lust, who was reprimanded by Hughie, shrugged.

Yes, Lust.

We are currently on a food inspection. My brother first invited Hughie and Cissy. In the end, I also invited them. It's natural that they are here—Cissy is in front of me, and Hughie is to her right. My brother is sitting to my right.

The problem is, to my left!

This man's unpredictable nature was depicted to the point of annoyance in the original work.

To experience it in reality...!

Sitting to my left, Lust was seated with a smooth smile.

Why is he here?

I learned a shocking fact at the semi-ball: Hughie and Lust have been friends since childhood. They happened to meet just as we arrived, and Hughie invited us to join them.

You understand now, right?

"Friend of Viscount Winfell? Burn... The viscount's estates are close, aren't they?"

From the report I read earlier, I know the role Lust Burn played at the semi-ball, but he didn't mention it.

Then, he glanced at Eleil.

"If you are the brother who guards your sister and a friend of Viscount Winfell, would you like to join us for a meal?"

"It would be an honor."

My brother invited Lust to join us for a meal...!

Sigh. I can't help but be wary of Lust.

...His face. I think his face is bad!

However, considering the content of the letter I saw through Eleil, he is working with Derek. He's not a mass of suspicion like when we first met at the semi-ball.

Lust's participation as a guest must have some benefit for me.

Even though it wasn't my intention, it might have shaken up the unknown element that hasn't shown its true colors yet.

After all, the unknown element would definitely wonder, "Who is this guy?"

—And then, the waiter brought the dishes we ordered.

"Thank you."

I've been waiting for this!

...After that, the knight who was supposed to guard us was replaced, and my brother changed back into his original clothes. We moved from the eastern part of the city, where Merina's clothing store was, to the western part by carriage.

By the way, I secretly bought a dress for Sir Sil. It needs to be adjusted to fit, so I'll take it home and set up a fitting later!

And the next place we visited was here.

According to my research, this is the top-ranked commoner's restaurant in the capital of Esphera!

It's divided into two floors, with the first floor being a regular restaurant and the second floor being a high-end restaurant.

I hoped for the first floor, but we reserved the second floor—only the five of us were seated, with a row of guards and soldiers standing around us.

However, I can still feel the atmosphere of the first floor. From the wooden stairs leading to the second floor, I can see the bustling first floor, which is full of customers.

I wondered if Derek and Stein might be in the restaurant since Lust is here, but I didn't see them in the visible area.

The waiter placed the last of Lust's order on the table.

In place of "Itadakimasu," I expressed gratitude to the Sky God and began to eat.

I ordered a rice dish! Rice is the staple food in Kangina and is imported into Esphera. It's quite affordable. However, Esphera is a bread-centric country. Bread is served at every meal in the castle.

Nobles prefer bread as their first choice. There is a faint idea that rice is for commoners, which I learned from Cissy. Esphera is a major wheat-producing area, while Kangina is a rice-producing country. This is a practical example of how the history with neighboring countries affects food.

Once, I requested the castle's head chef to make a rice dish. However, it was too luxurious... It was delicious, but it wasn't what I was looking for... My taste buds told me.

I wanted a rice dish that felt like home cooking!

Excitedly, I brought a spoonful of the fried rice to my mouth.

"!"

It's fried rice! Not Japanese cuisine, but Chinese! But it reminds me of the shrimp fried rice my mother used to make!

Fried rice with vegetables, eggs, and seafood!

It was so delicious that I continued to eat silently. To be honest, the inspection was pushed to the back of my mind...!

I remembered the motto in Esphera that meals are enjoyed with conversation only after eating half of the fried rice.

Oh no...!

I had decided to be the one to initiate conversation during the inspection! In fact, the men were having some kind of conversation... But I was so focused on the fried rice that it went in one ear and out the other.

It's not too late...!

I put down my spoon.

First, to Cissy.

"Cissy, you also ordered a rice dish, didn't you?"

Looking at the main dishes on the round table, only Cissy and I ordered rice dishes. I had fried rice, and Cissy had... paella, I think? It's covered with lots of ingredients. My brother and Hughie ordered meat dishes, and Lust ordered a fish dish, which came with bread.

"Ah..."

Cissy answered in a small voice.

"Was it not good...? I can get bread now if you want..."

She looked quite serious. No, Cissy!

"I wanted to ask about the rice dishes. You've traveled to many countries, haven't you? In a letter, you once told me about rice dishes."

When I replied, the main topic wasn't about food, so I didn't mention it. At that time, the translated novel Cissy provided—about two men who became rivals due to their different social statuses, was it love and hate?—was more important...

"For example, are there rice dishes with strong spices?"

In other words, I want to know about curry. Does curry exist in this world!

Cissy looked puzzled.

"Strong spices...?"

"Are spices used in your cooking? What kind are they?"

"The dish I ordered should have saffron, a spice. It used to be very expensive, but with successful breeding, it can now be produced in large quantities and is exported at a low price."

"...One of the sources of Kangina's prosperity. Miss Leulay is very knowledgeable."

"Cissy is very excellent, brother."

I was proud. I wanted to put my hands on my hips and puff out my chest. Boasting about my friend! I wanted to praise Cissy more!

"However, I doubt you know about the strongly spiced rice dish that Princess Octavia is looking for?"

A challenger appeared in the form of Lust!

So, I decided to provide more information.

"...It's a spicy dish. It's eaten with rice or thin bread as the main dish."

"Hmm, that's quite specific?"

"I read about it in a book once. I forgot which one, though..."

Of course, the source of information was not a book but my memories from my previous life.

"Book... in a book..."

Cissy thought for a moment.

"—I read in a book that there is a dish called curry in the region of Baljan. It uses many spices. Is it the same book that Lady Via read?"

...That's it!

"Definitely that one."

And Baljan! Baljan probably has curry! It's the country that produces matcha mochi ice cream! A commercial nation located southwest of Esphera, separated by Kangina. It's a small country but has significant power. It built its strength through trade because it lacks resources, as I learned in my princess education.

Historically, during the war between Esphera and Kangina, Esphera imported goods from Baljan. At the same time, Baljan was selling a lot of goods to Kangina.

"Thank you."

As expected of my Cissy!

Baljan is planning to send a guest after the lords' meeting! I'll ask about curry then.

"By the way—Is the House of Burn a distant relative of the Duke of Knightfellow?"

I was about to put another spoonful of fried rice in my mouth, so I swallowed it forcefully before making a fool of myself. Then, I calmly and slowly drank the carbonated water. Phew.

My brother was looking at Lust while swirling his glass.

"As far as I know, there has never been a mixing of blood between our viscount's house and the Duke of Knightfellow's house."

"...I remember it the same way."

My brother looked at Lust with a sense of something being off.

"However, your face..."

Does Lust's face ring a bell?

"If you're referring to my eye patch, I believe removing it would make everyone uncomfortable."

"No, there's no need to remove it. —Are you really not related to the Duke of Knightfellow?"

"Yes, unfortunately. If I were, it would have been a great fortune for our viscount's house."

"..."

My brother frowned and thought. He pressed his temples and shook his head slightly.

Ah... Is this when his memory starts to get strange? But it's related to Lust? Is Lust a suspect in the cause of my brother's memory issues? Hmm... The reaction to Lust doesn't seem like it's to a culprit...

"If you still have doubts, why not ask the next Duke of Knightfellow? I've heard that Prince Serius is close to the next duke."

"Derek..."

My brother exhaled and continued.

"You're right. I'll talk to Derek."

—After that, the meal continued peacefully.

I mainly talked to Cissy, asking about the stores she recommended.

During the inspection, there is free time at the end, where I can go to my favorite places. ...In theory!

In reality, there are many restrictions, but I might visit the store Cissy told me about! It's a general store, apparently a hidden gem. Hughie and I found it while exploring the capital. It also has some good books.

Even while being a decoy, I enjoyed the meal immensely. After the fried rice, I ordered a few side dishes and dessert, and I was full. The dessert was a pastry made from flour and hardened candy called Iba, which looks like cheese. There are various variations, but there's no set standard. It's the first time I've eaten this texture as Octavia, but it's a staple dessert in Esphera!

Cissy and I ordered different variations and compared them. The meal ended! Thank you for the meal.

"...You two really do write to each other frequently."

My brother, who had been shown the closeness between Cissy and me, expressed a somewhat exasperated opinion. I felt a surge of pride—.

...?

I write to Cissy, but through a secret route. I haven't even told Alek. So, how does he know about the frequency of our letter exchanges?

Well, if he really wanted to, my brother could probably know most of what happens in the castle...

"Thank you for inviting us today."

Hughie's words brought me back to reality.

"Thank you, but..."

Hughie clapped his hands, and several waiters came with trays of cups.

"I have prepared drinks for everyone here. It's also a gesture of gratitude from the store to the nobles and those who protect the country. I will represent them."

Hughie stood up and bowed in the noble manner.

Cups were distributed to our seats.

However, they were empty. But the smell of coffee wafted from the pitchers the waiters were holding.

After-dinner coffee! With milk and sugar to taste!

Actually, the menu said it was a popular specialty, but it was limited and out of stock today. I didn't order it because such things happen. Yay!

"—Excuse me."

However, one person showed reluctance.

"We haven't confirmed the safety of the drinks. It would be better to accept the gesture only. Or, please have the appropriate person drink it first."

Hughie, who was standing with his hands behind his back, said.