Chapter 71

Light streamed in through the window, and I naturally woke up. I inhaled the cool air, and the fog in my mind gradually cleared.

“...Hmm”

I stretched and got out of bed with a sigh.

“Oh, good morning.”

“Good morning.”

As I sat up, I heard greetings from the front. Shenli and Liz were there. They seemed to have been lounging around in their cute pajamas. They were sitting on a sofa near the door, facing each other.

“Good morning.”

I returned their greetings and got out of bed completely. They looked at me with wide eyes.

“Oh, Aoi-sensei... your hair...”

“...It’s exploded.”

When they said that, I lightly ran my hands through my hair.

“It’s always like this. I take a shower in the morning.”

While saying this, I moved to the mirror on the wall. There I saw myself in a black nightgown, with my hair looking like a ball of yarn. After confirming my familiar appearance, I sat in the chair in front of the mirror and tried to comb my hair with a hand comb. It seemed I could manage to tame it a bit, but a morning shower was still necessary.

While thinking about this, I looked around and saw that Ail and Bell were still sound asleep. In the far corner, Eliza was lying on her back. Because she is small, Eliza, who was lying spread-eagled, looked the youngest. Well, depending on her attire, she could look like a child anyway.

We were staying in the royal castle, and despite there being six queen-sized beds, we were still given a spacious guest room, separated by gender.

On the men's side, there were only Strass and Coat, so it might feel too spacious and lonely for them.

While I was lost in thought, I saw Ail and Bell wake up at the same time behind me.

They were still half-asleep but noticed us and greeted us.

“Oh... good morning.”

“...Good morning.”

Ail still seemed to be in a daze.

Liz pouted at the sleepy two.

“Tsk. Ail-sama and Bell are so slow. You missed a very rare sight, you know?”

When Liz said this, Ail rubbed his eye and tilted his head.

“...A rare sight?”

With a question mark over his head, Ail turned to Shenli, who looked a bit sulky.

“Hey, Shenli-san?”

“Yes, it was a very rare sight.”

Shenli agreed. I wondered what rare sight they had seen. My head was still a bit foggy from oversleeping.

After that, Eliza, who had been drooling in her sleep, also woke up safely. We got dressed and headed to the second floor of the castle together. On the second floor, there was a dining room for guests, which could accommodate about twenty people.

When we entered the dining room, Strass and Coat were already eating.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning... you’re late.”

“It took us a while to get ready.”

We exchanged greetings and pleasantries. As we took our seats, the maids, who had been waiting somewhere, appeared silently.

They smoothly and efficiently set out the food for the latecomers. The plates were all white, and they were filled with bread, soup, thinly sliced meat, vegetables, and fruits. The dishes were simple and not overly elaborate.

“Oh, it’s delicious.”

Ail, who was the first to taste the food, gave an honest review. Despite the simple appearance, the food seemed to satisfy Ail, who was of the upper nobility.

Encouraged by this, Bell and Liz also started eating. They both said it was delicious with shining eyes, and Shenli and Eliza also began their meals. Finally, I picked up my spoon.

I brought the translucent soup to my mouth. It was still warm, and a gentle sweetness spread in my mouth. The flavors of the simmered vegetables and meat, along with a hint of salt and a slightly spicy seasoning, were all present.

It tasted somewhat like a pot-au-feu. I tried the bread as well; it was a bit hard on the outside but soft and slightly sweet on the inside. In contrast, the meat was salty and had a spicy flavor that balanced the meal well.

“It’s delicious, isn’t it? I was surprised too. Simple yet deeply flavorful.”

Coat smiled and commented on the food. I nodded in agreement and finished with a piece of fruit. It looked like a melon, but when I bit into the slightly firm flesh, I tasted a sweet and tangy flavor. It was sweeter and more acidic than a melon, somewhat like a very sweet grape.

“...Delicious.”

Strass, who had also taken a bite of the fruit, muttered. He stared into space with wide eyes while chewing, and the others couldn’t help but laugh.

“...By the way, Crown said he would be busy and couldn’t show us around today.”

Strass, perhaps embarrassed by the laughter, changed the subject. Eliza nodded with a wry smile and looked at me.

“Yes, since the laboratory is mainly run by court mages, it might be better to visit when Crown is around.”

When Eliza said this, Ail suddenly raised his hand.

“Oh, I want to visit the Mapleleaf Magic Academy!”

“Good idea.”

“Indeed, I’d like to see what it’s like.”

Ail’s suggestion was met with agreement from Liz and Bell. These three really get along well. Shenli also seemed interested in the conversation.

“Alright. Let’s visit the magic academy today. I’ll go confirm with the castle staff.”

With that, I stood up and left the dining room.