Chapter 25

“Hahaha, hahaha, hahaha, hahaha, hahaha, hahaha, hahaha, hahaha, hahaha, hahaha, hahaha, hahaha, hahaha, hahaha, hahaha, hahaha, hahaha, hahaha”

“Lady Amelia, you’re scary.”

In the evening, after successfully completing the debutante event in the back garden.

While I was looking at the trophies lined up on the table in my room, Sylphie said to me with a hint of unease.

“What, scary? That much?”

“You look like a devotee gazing blissfully at the offerings to a cult.”

“What, that’s scary.”

Amelia cleared her throat.

(No, no, I got carried away with the plant gathering after so long.)

As I moved my cheeks with my hand to return to my usual expression, Sylphie covered her mouth and whispered in a small voice.

“...What’s that cute gesture?”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“Nothing at all.”

This time, Sylphie cleared her throat and continued.

“So, what are you going to do with those flowers and herbs?”

“Eat them, of course?”

“Don’t just casually drop a shocking statement like that as if it’s the most normal thing in the world.”

“I won’t eat all of them. I’ll use half to make medicine.”

“You’re going to eat half of them...”

Sylphie’s face twitched.

For Sylphie, who came from a decent family of commoners and worked as a maid in a duke’s household, eating wild herbs was completely outside her value system.

“Of course I’m going to eat them! Yomoki can be used in salads, and Hakope can be blanched! Oh, I couldn’t do this at my parents’ house, but I can put Tanpo leaves in cream soup, or mix Nobi with pasta... Oh... Just thinking about it makes my stomach growl...”

“S-Sou nan desu ne.”

Sylphie could no longer criticize Amelia, who was rubbing her cheeks happily with sparkling eyes.

“So... I have a favor to ask...”

“Yes, what is it?”

Suddenly, Amelia, who had been hunched over, asked timidly.

“Can I use the kitchen...?”

Sylphie’s eyes widened.

“Oh, that’s fine, but... do you have any cooking experience?”

Sylphie looked at Amelia with a suspicious, narrow-eyed gaze, and Amelia pouted.

“How rude. I’ve been cooking for myself for over ten years, you know?”

Or rather, it might be more accurate to say she had survival experience.

“I apologize. In that case, it should be fine.”

“Yay, thank you, Sylphie!”

Clasping her fists in front of her chest, Amelia jumped up, and Sylphie, covering her mouth, trembled.

“Sylphie? What’s wrong?”

“No, nothing... I’ll go inform the chef right away. I’ll come back to call you.”

“Okay! Thank you!”

Still covering her mouth, Sylphie bowed and hurriedly left the room.