451 Sweet gathering, again ③ ~ Taste comparison ~

"Really, all the sweets were great today. Once again, I appreciate you giving me a wonderful moment"

First of all, Eurifia declared, as such.

Most of them nod with a happy face, too, ladies. It seems awful, but it's Alishna, Lifreia and Odifia who can't read inside.

"Just another push, but don't worry too much about the results of the taste comparison. Not a single person is unhappy with any confectionery. Just like your gladiators, winning is an honor, but losing is not a disgrace. Siri-Low, Tour-Din and Limi-Luu are all proud cooks of Genos. There must be a few cooks lined up beside you when it comes to making sweets."

Somehow, it felt like the foreground was longer than the previous tea party.

Does Eurifia have any predictions about the results of the taste comparison? It was a mouthful that made me think that way.

"Then Shayla, make an announcement. I wonder who won compared to today's wonderful flavors?

"I did.... I had seven ladies, but each has three stars, which will give you as many stars as you like for your favorite treat. The biggest number of cooks ever won that star will be the winners of the comparison."

I guess you went out of your way to say hi for those of us unfamiliar with the taste comparison thing.

There were seven ladies gathered here. The number of stars is 21 for three each. They take it away from each other with three cooks.

"We will now make an announcement. The number one place to compare today's flavors will be Tul-din, who won 13 stars."

Someone sighed more.

Tour-din is messing around so he can feel like hiding behind me.

And Siri-Low, who stood opposite Tour-Din, hit me on the shoulder.

When I look back in surprise, Siri-Low snaps "Excuse me......" and corrects his posture. The face was faceless, yet bloody.

"Princess Odifia has three stars, Lady Eurifia, Lady Refraia, Lady Merrim, Lady Arishna has two stars, Lady Rittia and Lady Dial have one star."

It was an overwhelming victory, more than expected.

13 within 21, so that more than half of the stars have gathered in Thur-din. Plus, all seven of them even put stars in.

"I knew that was Tour-Din's work. Though I thought it might be because Odifia was changing the color of her eyes...... how do you say that could be misleading? Even Odifia wasn't informed that it was a treat made by Tour-Din."

Odifia, who, like Lifreia, looked like a French doll at the time, still just stares at Tour-Din with unreadable gray eyes of emotion.

Rittia and Merrim, the first participants, were staring at Tour-Din with a praiseworthy eye.

"I also understand how Princess Odifia feels about being heartbroken. It was truly wonderful."

"Yeah. If Jan hears, she'll regret not being invited on this day."

"Thank you," Thur-din bowed his head as he turned bright red.

After seeing that figure, Shayla turns her gaze back on the parchment-like surface.

"The second place will be Master Siri-Low and Master Limi-Lew, who have each won four stars."

"Oh, you did. What the hell was that all about?

"Yes, to Master Siri-Low, there are two Littians, one Eurifia and one Merrim. For Rimi-Lou, there are two Deals, one for Lifreia and one for Alishna."

Not only the total number of wins, but even the allocation of each seemed to be the same.

Rimi-Lou said, "Thank you!," he said cheerfully, and Siri-Low droops his head silently.

"Then we have to split the reward bronze coins equally. Let's say that the number one Tour-Din has 50 white copper coins as promised, and 35 white copper coins for Siri-Low and Limi-Lew."

This time, too, a broken bounty had been prepared for calling the busy forestside people. Tour-Din will have won fifty white copper coins for two consecutive times.

Tour-Din was hitting the joy with his eyelids closed.

The bounty is ordered by Graf-Zaza to divide that half among his family and let the other half be in the hands of the Din family. Whatever it was, it didn't make any difference that Tour-Din benefited all of his family and family.

"All the sweets, they were delicious. Every day, I want to talk."

and Arishna spoke that way in an emotionally unreadable voice.

To the words, Odifia shivers her shoulders with tingling.

"Odifia also wants to hit Maichi Tour-Din's freak out.... Oh, my God, can you really play Tool-Din?

"You can't do that, Odifia. People by the woods can't live in a castle town."

"I want you to be just fine, and I want you to be just fine. Odifia wants to make a fool out of Tul-din."

Similar to his father, he is an odifia who hardly moves his expression.

But in those grey eyes, the power of will was felt stronger than ever.

"You can't be a cook at Castle Genos without living in Castle Town. I've told you that many times and made you listen, Odifia?

"But I want to make a fool out of Tool-din."

Repeating the same words, Odifia turned her gaze again toward Tour-Din.

"How could Tul-din not be a fool? Are you having a hard time with Odifia?

"Yes, no, it's never like that..."

"Odifia is made by Tour-Din, who makes a delicious freak. It's called Tour-Din. I want to be funny."

Remaining as faceless as a French doll, Odifia moved her little leg floating out of the chair flat. The unassuming move revealed above all the truth about the young girl.

"Never mind, Tour-Din. It is the word of Lord Marquis Genos that you should not give unreasonable orders to the people of the woods, so I will never compel you to do unscrupulous favors."

Smiling like trouble, Eurifia put her hand on her daughter's head.

Odifia is moving her legs in the same condition.

Tour-Din has, of course, turned his attention to me.

I'll give you a nod back, and then I'll turn back to Eurifia.

"Eurifia, I have one suggestion for you."

"Oh, can I help you?

"This will already be a matter of forgiveness from the Forestside Chiefs.... Tour-din, shouldn't I tell you from your mouth?

"Ah, yes...... you know, I can't help but move to Castle Town or be a Castle cook...... how about someone deliver my made confectionery instead......?

Odifia's legs stop perfectly.

Eurifia rounded her eyes, "Well."

"So you're going to make sweets for Odifia, by the woods?

"Yes. Asta delivers dishes every day for someone named Arishna... just like that, I was wondering if I should deliver sweets... but of course, I have to get some copper coins to do that..."

"Of course I will pay the right copper coin... but are you sure?

"Yes. It's difficult every day, so if you can do it every three days, I'm sure you'll be fine."

Odifia began to move her legs once again.

Now it looks like a puppy waving its tail bare. And even that decent fingertip was pulling the mother's dress as hard as it could get.

"That's a really appreciated offer.... so it's less difficult to make them deliver sweets like that than to be invited to Castle Town?

"Oh, yes, no, I am the..."

And Tour-din stares at me like a jerk.

I nodded and decided to take over later explanations for you.

"It's an honor to be invited to Castle Town, but once a month's frequency adds some difficulty. Besides, the more free the period, the more frustrated Princess Odifia will be. That depends on the thought that if we can deliver sweets even once every three days, we will most likely have less difficulty and dissatisfaction."

"Yes. Then maybe once every few months or so wouldn't be too annoying? There are other people in Odifia who would like to eat Tul-din confectionery... and I think they would also like to eat prepared confectionery."

Eurifia has stated so with a grin.

Well, that's about as much reaction as I expected.

"Yes, once every few months, I also don't think it would be a burden for Tour-Din. I'm sure the Chiefs will have no objection."

"That's a really nice story. Thank you very much, Tour-Din."

Tour-din jerked off with his forehead, uncle.

After seeing the figure, Eurifia calls on her straw daughter to "Odifia".

"Tour-din and the folks by the woods have put their hearts to you. Don't take this for granted. If you forget to thank me, I'm sure your father and grandfather will soon refuse this offer."

Can a young princess, only six years old, understand such a difficult story?

Thinking, for example, Odifia jumped off the chair without holding anyone's hand and crept closer to Tul-din.

It only reaches around the stomach of the little Tour-din, a little princess. Looking up at his face from close range with those gray eyes, Odifia roughly held Tour-Din's hand.

"Thur-din, thank you"

"Yes. If you're happy, I'm happy too."

Tour-Din smiled.

"So, um... I've made extra sweets like that earlier, so take them home if you like, and eat them even after supper"

Odifia glanced at her little body with no expression.

And, as if he had used that recoil, he also presses his face all the way to Tool-Din's stomach. The little hand was releasing Tour-Din's hand and clutching the fabric of the skirt all the time.

"Oh, you know, the front hanging may be a little dirty..."

"Tour-din, daisuki"

He silenced Thur-din's words and Odifia pressed his face around the front of it.

After some time thus, when he releases himself from the presence of Tour-Din, the face is, after all, faceless. It was as thorough as whether it was even imitating the people of the east.

"Let me try my best not to cause trouble to the people by the woods in this matter."

And I raise my voice as if Eurifia was nothing.

"Let's spread the word that this has only been rooted in a deafening toddler. Otherwise, another nobleman might try to bring food to the people by the woods."

"That's a thankful story, but won't Princess Odifia have a bad reputation or something?

When I got worried and asked, Eurifia laughed by the way.

"But it's a true story, so there's no other way. Unless you're such a toddler, you have to let them know that you can't let me through."

Then Dial, who was quietly watching a series of interactions, looked at Arishna as if she were bewildered.

"Princess Odifia and you are the only ones allowed to do that. Does that mean you're as unreachable as a six-year-old princess?

"What do you think? Asta, from myself, delivers the food, because you told me."

And, Arishna tilts her little neck like a graceful black cat.

"Besides, I don't care if you don't hear me or think I do. Asta, cooking, if you can eat every day, that's what you want."

"Yeah," he smiles, and Dial's cheek is pinching and pulling. If not before you ladies, you would have exploded your eclampsia.

Either way, our turn seemed to be coming to an end.

Odifia also returns to her seat, and Eurifia speaks out, "Well."

"It was a really great tea party. Can you wait while I get dressed?

"Yes, thank you"

"Now, while you refrain from cooking..."

And the moment Eurifia tried to announce our exit, there was an overlapping tone.

The teacup in Lefreia's hand fell on the table and was shattered and scattered.

Porcelain fragments disperse, and the tea that was still half there wets the chest of the dress she was wrapping around.

The tea had a dark yellow colour and had defiled the white dress unharmed.

"Oh, my God. Are you all right, Refraia?

"Yeah. I accidentally slipped my hand. The tea was cold, so it's okay."

Refraia looked so relieved that I could breathe.

The other ladies also have a relieved look by erasing their surprise expression.

"You ruined my costume. Be careful not to get hurt by fragments."

"Right. I'll have the samurai clean it up.... Chiffon-Cher, are you there?

I don't think so, I'm upset.

A large number of soldiers lurk, a supple long figure emerges from beyond the book Rudd-Lou had mentioned.

It was nothing more than a taller mahydra lady than me - Chiffon-Cher - with honey-colored curly hair and purple eyes.

"I'm sorry, will you do this? And I'm getting wet, so I'm gonna need something to cover it up."

"Yes......" Chiffon-Cher walks over quietly.

Plus Shayla took a cloth towel from somewhere and rushed it.

"You've broken such a fine dish, and there's no word for wasabi. Hi, sorry, Eurifia."

"It's okay, you don't have to worry about it. Better not get hurt."

In the kettle the other samurai have held, the cup fragments are cleaned up.

Chiffon-Cher was a cloth towel he had received from Shayla, cleaning Refraia's dress.

It's been months since I've seen her face to face.

Ever since she moved the place to live with Refraia, I've lost my chance to show my face.

But she hasn't changed anything from a few months ago.

Calm, gentle, very graceful. You're not daring to look at me, with your side over here, purifying Lefreia's costume all at once.

"Thank you for disturbing me. Will you please come back while you refrain?

Eurifia laughs at me.

I decided never to raise my voice "you know".

"She's Chiffon-Cher, isn't she? Actually, I've known her for a long time."

"Huh? She must have been the maid of the Count Turan family a long time ago, right?

"Yes, so... while I was staying at the Count's mansion, they took care of me the whole time."

That meant, when Leflaia abducted me. Other than that, the people of the woods never stayed in the castle town, so Euriphia also rounds her eyes "well".

"I wasn't informed of that either. Well, that means a lot of crackling reunion."

"Yes, and even then, when that VIP hall was still owned by Count Turan's house, you guided me to the mansion several times,"

Chiffon-Cher finally turned to me.

Its side, so white that it can't beat Deal, smiles like a fairy.

"It's an honor to see me and others, Master Asta... thank you for your time."

"Yes, you look well and most importantly"

My heart is pounding.

In my head, Melfried's words are ringing: "Do not engage the people of the North".

But I really wanted to tell her something without talking about politics.

I told you this, there should be no worse position for the people of the north or the people by the woods. Believe me, I've decided to tell you.

"There was a case last month of guards and the people of the North being attacked by Giva, wasn't there? Actually, that's when I helped nurse wounded people."

"Well, did you?

Eurifia screams her mouth curiously.

I gave it back to you and then I said yes.

"That's when I happened to run into Chiffon-Cher's brother, you. He covered his guard and injured his head and shoulder."

Chiffon-Cher closed his eyelids.

Then he snaps quietly, "Really..."

"Only a few of the people of the North were injured," he said... "including my brother..."

"Yes. But I was looking very well. The captain of the guard was also praised for his work."

That was enough to talk about here.

All you have to do is sneak it through the dial again.

Chiffon-Cher snapped, "Thank you......" in the same tone.

"But... no further care is required, Master Asta..."

"Yes, the people of the North are pushed to stay out of it."

This was a word addressed to Eurifia.

Eurifia, who not only is graceful but also cuts her head off, is smiling.

"Even my hard-headed companion will not blame the brothers and sisters of the people of the North for their compassion.... You're sweet, Asta."

"Yes, no, I'm afraid so"

"It's not going to be that far. I don't know what to say, but the only person to watch out for is a mission from Wang Du."

That's how Eurifia smiled with pleasure.

"Well, let's leave the confusing stories to the lords in your position. So long, Tour-Din, Limi-Lew, Siri-Low, and thank you very much. I look forward to seeing you again."

Now it was a sign of exit.

We each pay our respects to your ladies.

Chiffon-Cher, too, was bowing his head toward this one.

"... I've had a lot of hiccups about what you're gonna say, Asta."

And, when you go out into the corridor, Ai-Fa whispers to you.

"I'm sorry. But that wouldn't bother anyone, would it?

"If you find that annoying, you must have a problem with the side you feel"

Ai-fa told me that, so I could stroke my chest down, too.

Rud-Lew also walks swallowed with his hands behind his head.

"Surely those women look familiar. Vina, I remember you because you look like my sister."

"Yeah, all the hunters who were guarding me would be looking at each other a few times"

"I wonder if the women who were coming to the woods would have been colored that way if they hadn't let me do such a hard job. I don't know, it's a story."

The samurai and guards who were directing us all looked strange. I suppose no one wants to get involved in the story of the people of the North.

Even for me, I shouldn't have had a chance to face the people of the North like that in the future.

Forestside construction should be completed in about half a month, and there will be no opportunity to change words unless this is the case with Chiffon-Cher. There have been several occasions in the past few months when I have had the opportunity to face Refraia, but even then I have not had the opportunity to face Chiffon-Cher.

(Maybe...... Refraia deliberately spilled tea and called for Chiffon-Cher)

I don't know its sincerity, and I won't have a chance to ask again in the future.

But I was satisfied only with Polearth's words that Refraia seemed to have strong thoughts on Chiffon-Cher.

While I'm thinking about it, I arrive during refrain.

We and Siri-Low are in a separate room next door. At the end of the day, I decided to say hello.

"Well, good luck with Siri-Low, too. Say hello to Varcus and the other disciples."

…………

"What is it?

"... you will never lose"

I kind of felt like I hadn't heard Siri-Low for a long time.

Siri-Low, who stopped in front of the door, is staring at us with his bottom light eyes.

Those brown eyes blurred on the lid.

The tears began to spill out of our eyes.

She wet those tears with her cooking sleeves, shaking her puffy, thin shoulders.

"Because you will never, ever lose!

That's how the last time I twitched out loud, Siri-Low disappeared across the door.

Tul-din is panicking on my behalf.

"Duh, what do we do? Have you pissed off Siri-Low......?

"No, not that I pissed you off... yeah, I don't know what I just regretted"

"Even Siri-Low's treats were so delicious."

Rimi-Lou smiles with his usual innocence.

"But if it was my sister Raina or something, I guess I'd still be crying. Sister Raina and Siri-Low look a little like each other!

"Huh? Hmm, I wonder... well, Raina-Lou is surprisingly more emotional ups and downs..."

"If I lose to a Castle Town cook over Gibba's cooking, I guess Sister Raina will regret it and cry too. Limi wins and loses, I don't know!

That seemed to me to be both undeniable emotions.

The Siri-Laws are as serious about cooking as that, and Rimi-Law probably thinks that's enough if the person they ate is happy with it. It was both an equally prepared feeling in me.

(Even I hate to lose. If you get scored for cooking and you lose, that's a regrettable decision)

So maybe the aftertaste comparison is not for me. A confectionery battle that I recognize as a gatekeeper would not hurt my self-esteem, but I didn't want to be compared to my skill in other dishes.

(The happiest thing for me is for EY-FA to think it's delicious.)

Looking back thinking like that, I pulled myself back like an eye-fa standing right beside me.

Then he looks scared and leans his mouth against his ear.

"It's Asta. I said I don't need to hide my feelings, but it doesn't expose my defenseless face that way until I'm outside the house"

"Huh? What did you look like?

Ai-Fa is silent and has poked me in the head.

It was a lot of hissing that I-Fa touched me.

That's how the second tea party in Castle Town ended.

Until the end of the rainy season, there will be half a month left.