Chapter 3

"What do you mean by 'improving my diet'?"

My brother Bart looked utterly confused.

"Big brother... I can't eat this food."

I turned my gaze to the meal in front of me. There were all sorts of rich dishes... Ugh, I'm starting to feel sick!

My brother, seeing me cover my mouth, smiled gently.

"Don't be picky. Look, I'll eat mine too."

With that, he tried to pass me his steak. No, I don't want it. My body is rejecting it; I can't even bear to look at it!

"I'm not being picky!"

I dodged the steak he was trying to hand me and desperately asserted myself.

I really don't want it, I really don't!

"Do you know I have a weak constitution? When you have a weak body, it's hard to eat rich foods... especially oily ones!"

This steak he's trying to make me eat right now!

My brother and parents seemed to be learning this for the first time, their shock evident. However, even as they were surprised, my brother put the steak back on his plate. Yes!

"Is that so? But you've been eating steak all this time, haven't you?"

I answered my father's question. I had to make sure to explain this clearly, or I might be served rich food again in the future. I absolutely need my family to understand this now!

"Really?"

"Huh?"

"Have I really been eating steak heartily?"

I could see my father trying hard to recall his memories.

However, no matter how hard he tried, he wouldn't find a memory of me happily eating meat.

Instead, he would only remember the image of a very picky eater.

"I couldn't accept this kind of meal, so I would just take a few bites and mostly eat the fruits for dessert."

Wow, past me. You really managed to survive like that.

"R-really... But now that you mention it, it does seem true..."

"I can't imagine this girl eating meat..."

My father and mother, still in shock, began to understand.

"R-really..."

My brother, visibly shaken, dropped his fork.

"So the light meal steak sets I occasionally brought you, Fiona, you couldn't eat them either!?"

That's right... and by the way, steak sets are not light meals! Did you really think they were?

"I thought you were eating them because you were so slim, and I thought you needed more than your regular meals..."

"Big brother, I appreciated your concern."

I tried to reassure my dejected brother. Although his methods were wrong, I was grateful for his concern. That's why I never told anyone I couldn't eat those meals.

By the way, my maid Anne ate the heavy steak sets I couldn't eat.

"Then... what can you eat?"

"I thought eating meat would make you feel better... what could be better than meat?"

Because of the belief that eating meat would solve everything, my parents and brother couldn't seem to think of anything else.

What, are they meat worshippers? Meat is certainly nutritious, but it's not a cure-all.

"There are various nutrients in the world, and you should change what you eat based on your condition."

For example, when you have a cold, no one would choose a greasy, heavy pork cutlet.

However, my healthy family members just tilted their heads in confusion.

It's okay if they don't understand everything right now. It's enough that they understand I can't eat rich foods.

And to avoid eating rich foods in the future—

"Improving my diet, Father, Mother, Big brother."

I said confidently.

"I will personally guide you!"

◇◇◇

"O-Oh, Miss!?"

As I stomped into the kitchen, the cooks inside were startled. That's understandable; nobles don't usually come into the kitchen.

"Is something wrong!?"

The head chef asked, looking frightened.

He must have thought I came in because there was a problem with the food.

"Nothing's wrong. Thank you for always making delicious meals."

I smiled to reassure them.

They had done nothing wrong. They had prepared and served the meals according to my preferences. It just didn't suit my body, but the taste was undoubtedly delicious, and their cooking skills were top-notch.

I had no intention of scolding them; in fact, I wanted to praise them.

But—

"Ah! I'll improve, please forgive me!"

The head chef, with a pale face, prostrated himself.

"Hey, get up!"

"Please, don't fire me! I'll do anything!"

The head chef pleaded desperately. Why! I just thanked them with a smile!

Ah, is it because I'm the villainous lady? Is my face scary!?

Or did I bully the head chef... no, I haven't! I haven't! I usually don't smile and thank them because I'm always not feeling well, but I haven't bullied them!

Ah, maybe they're scared because I did something I usually don't do!?

That makes sense! It's scary when an employer who usually doesn't come around suddenly shows up!

"It's not like that!"

I forcibly pulled the head chef, who refused to get up, to his feet.

"Then what is it...?"

"I just want to... change the menu a bit..."

"Is it because my cooking doesn't suit you!?"

The head chef tried to prostrate himself again.

Hey! This is getting ridiculous!

"That's not it! I want my meals to be lighter from now on!"

At my request, the head chef and the other cooks exchanged glances.

"Lighter... what do you mean?"

The head chef asked hesitantly.

"Preferably, avoid beef for a while..."

"Avoid beef!?"

The head chef's eyes widened in shock.

"Miss... then what should we use...?"

The head chef asked fearfully.

"Vegetable-based..."

"Vegetable-based!?"

The kitchen buzzed with murmurs again.

"Miss... nobles have a culture of eating meat... a vegetable-based menu without meat is what commoners eat..."

The head chef's explanation hit me like a bucket of cold water.

Wait, what the head chef is saying is...

"Vegetable-based is what commoners eat... in other words, a simple diet...!?"

I recalled the meal I had just seen.

Meat, meat, meat, as if to say, "I don't know what heartburn is," just meat!

Meat!!!

So, that's why my family was confused... it's not just because I don't eat the local specialty beef.

I see... I never thought there would be such a difference in food between nobles and commoners...

I held my aching head.

"What should we do? Serving what commoners eat..."

"It would be impolite not to serve meat."

"But it's Miss Fiona's request..."

The cooks were in a flurry, clearly at a loss.

This won't get anywhere if it continues like this.

I removed my hand from my head and clapped loudly.

"I understand! I'll show you an example!"

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