Chapter 22

As the two fell silent, tea and light refreshments were brought in.

"This is the ham you said was precious. I’ve deliberately served it as it is."

On the table were various types of ham, including the raw ham shaped like roses she had seen at the ball, smoked ham, and ham with a thin pink color and snow-white fat, among others, all prepared in abundance.

Eleonora showed a smile that bloomed like a bud.

(It’s a ham festival for Hammy! In my previous life, I couldn’t eat ham. At that time, the son of the village chief served everyone at the wedding, cutting and sharing a log-like ham. I was told I had to stay in the village on a special day, but I had nowhere to go, so I hid.)

Eleonora’s admiration for ham was originally strong. Moreover, since she named Alexei, her only family, after ham, ham became even more special to her.

"Eat what you like."

When Alexei said this, she showed a truly happy expression. Seeing her like this, Alexei felt a desire to see more of her happiness, which confused him.

"…Thank you. I made a pie, and if you would like, I can offer it to you."

Eleonora looked at the basket entrusted to the knight Oraik. The servants and maids quickly prepared a cart and placed the contents of the basket on plates on the cart.

There were five types of round pies on the cart.

"…I thought perhaps His Majesty might like pies. If you don’t like them, could you please give them to someone who would enjoy them?"

Alexei looked at the pies made for him.

"Did you make them all by yourself?"

Eleonora nodded slowly.

"…Apple pie, custard pie, nut pie, rabbit meat pie, and eel pie."

Eleonora had made them all this morning, as he knew from the investigation report. Her environment had already been investigated: she had been mistreated by her family and lived alone in a separate house from a young age, tended to a flower bed and enjoyed the flowers, and spoke to a pet-like creature that resembled a mouse. The report noted that the language she used was possibly a foreign one.

"You did a good job. I like pies."

Alexei smiled. He found it strange himself, but his cheeks naturally relaxed.

Hearing those words, Eleonora narrowed her eyes in genuine happiness.

(As I thought, he likes pies. I’m glad I made them. But since His Majesty is eating them, I need to taste-test them for poison. Can I do it?)

"Please cut all the pies. You will eat them too, right?"

"…Yes. May I taste-test them?"

Alexei looked surprised.

"No, that’s not necessary. Most poisons don’t affect me."

When Eleonora tilted her head in confusion, Alexei chuckled.

"I have a blessing. In the past, it was a more ominous one, but it’s a remnant of that. So, I can’t be killed by something as simple as poison."

(That’s right, Hammy could touch poisonous monsters without any problem! Maybe His Majesty is a close relative of Hammy. Yes, that’s it, definitely!)

"…Is that so?"

"Surprising. You’re not surprised?"

"…I’ve known a child like that before."

(I want to ask His Majesty if he knows about Hammy, but if I mention my memories from my previous life, he might think I’m crazy. What should I do?)

"Let’s have some pie."

"…Please enjoy."

Alexei cut a piece of the pie on the plate with a knife, speared it with a fork, and put it in his mouth. Seeing this, Eleonora also ate some ham.

(Finally, I can eat Hammy’s ham! It’s so delicious, my cheeks might fall off! This ham is different from what I got from that house. It’s a refined taste, not greasy and very tender! Oh, I want to eat more, but my formal attire is too tight. Even if it wasn’t tight, a lady shouldn’t eat too much.)

Eleonora’s heart was screaming even though she had only eaten one piece of ham. She ate slowly and happily, and Alexei watched her with a warm smile.

"You really like ham, don’t you?"

(Did I look like a glutton? Embarrassing!)

Eleonora blushed and tried to cover her face with her hands.

"There’s no need to be embarrassed. You like ham, right?"

She put down her fork and nodded.

"There’s no need to worry. Eat as much as you like."

Alexei said this and finished one slice of each of the five types of pies.

"Delicious. You’re a good cook."

"…I am honored by your praise. I practiced making pies especially."

"Why is that?"

Just as Eleonora was about to mention Hammy, a large bell rang loudly.

(If it’s bothersome, today and tomorrow, I will promote the manners of Reiko…!)

Tomorrow, on August 26, the second volume of "Reiko’s Manners ~I’m Called a Villainess, but I’m Just a Poor Girl~" and the first volume of the manga (by Otakumi) will be released.

The cover is drawn by Mitou-sensei, featuring a seductive Reiko! The pose is a recognizable mark for those who know!

Moreover, Otakumi-sensei’s manga is truly excellent. It conveys the Showa culture that is difficult to express in words.

A black telephone with a cover!

A wooden statue of a bear with a salmon in its mouth!

It’s fantastic.

I hope you will get to know Reiko’s manners through the manga first.

☆Manga Information

https://web-ace.jp/youngaceup/contents/1000138/comics/

Thank you very much!

◇◇◇

The protagonist of "Reiko’s Manners," Reiko, has created a website that always hits a milestone number.

https://d28vflh0pqfxc9.cloudfront.net/