After finishing their morning meal at the mansion, the two returned to their rooms.
Soon, it was lunchtime.
The two enjoyed the lunch prepared by the Mistress, engaging in pleasant conversation. Once done, they returned to their rooms.
Then, after lunch, it was time for afternoon tea.
“…Huh?”
“What’s wrong, Karina?”
“Ah, nothing. It’s just… didn’t we just have lunch? Why is it suddenly tea time…?”
Karina tilted her head in confusion, trying to figure out the oddity.
But the Mistress interrupted her thoughts.
“Ah, don’t worry about it.”
“But how can I not…?”
“Don’t think about it.”
Her tone was almost like a command.
Hearing this, Karina seemed to lose all energy, muttering in a lifeless voice.
“…Ah, I see. It’s not important enough to trouble the Mistress.”
“No, let’s just enjoy this afternoon tea.”
“…Right. That sounds good.”
The Mistress dismissed Karina’s doubts and urged her to enjoy the tea time. Karina then joined with a calm and peaceful expression.
The two drank black tea with the Mistress in the mansion’s parlor, as if tea time were the most natural thing.
It was strange.
For adventurers used to rough lives, tea time was neither familiar nor routine.
Rather, it was a very foreign culture.
In fact, they had been thrilled when invited to the Queen’s tea party in Arciel, a culture unfamiliar to northerners and dwarves.
But now, they enjoyed tea time as if it were an everyday, natural activity, completely at ease.
The Mistress, too, seemed oddly comfortable, hosting tea in the parlor instead of the sunny courtyard.
It felt as if they weren’t allowed to leave the mansion.
“The aroma of this black tea is wonderful. Surely, it’s made with fine leaves.”
“It’s not just the leaves, but the Mistress’s tea-making skills that truly shine.”
They praised the tea as if they were seasoned tea drinkers.
“Hehe. Thank you for the kind words.”
“With such skills, the Mistress must be very talented.”
“It’s nothing special. Ah, since you praise my skills, I’ll prepare a splendid feast for dinner.”
“Really? Hahaha. I’m already looking forward to dinner.”
“What to do? I’m already excited for dinner.”
“Hehehe.”
“Hahaha.”
“Hahaha.”
The three enjoyed tea with an air of elegance.
Karina and Serena began to feel more at home in the mansion, as if they had always lived there.
As if it were their own home.
…
…
…
Time passed, and before they knew it, it was evening again.
It felt like they had just been having tea with the Mistress, but suddenly, it was dinner.
‘No memory after tea time…’
‘Well, it’s probably nothing.’
But they dismissed their doubts and focused on the meal with the Mistress.
“Hehe. It’s not much, but please enjoy.”
“Not much? You’ve prepared so much…!”
“It’s truly a feast!”
Indeed, the Mistress had prepared an extravagant meal, more than enough for three.
Each dish was exquisite: perfectly grilled steak, a salad with fresh vegetables and cheese, aromatic pasta, and a hearty stew with large chunks of meat and vegetables.
It was a spread fit for nobility.
Karina and Serena couldn’t hide their amazement, and the Mistress, though modest, seemed proud.
Karina eagerly took a spoonful of stew.
“This stew looks delicious. Let’s try…”
Serena, not to be outdone, cut into her favorite steak.
“Then I’ll try the steak.”
As they ate, the Mistress smiled, confident in her victory.
“Indeed… the broth has infused the ingredients, and the flavors harmonize beautifully.”
“This steak is perfectly cooked, neither overdone nor undercooked. The thickness is just right, with a uniform taste throughout…”
“Hehe. I’m glad you enjoy it. It’s worth the effort.”
The Mistress’s smile widened at their praise, though it felt almost scripted, like a rehearsed dialogue.
“Ah, truly. This is the best meal I’ve ever had… the best…”
“…Karina?”
“Well, the food is just so delicious. It’s the first time I’ve tasted something this good in our rough adventurer life…”
“…Serena?”
But after one bite, both froze, as if turned to stone or like malfunctioning robots.
“Are you both alright…?”
The Mistress, sensing something amiss, was about to act.
“No, it’s nothing. It’s just that the Mistress’s cooking is among the best I’ve ever had. I’m just overwhelmed.”
“Exactly. It’s rare to taste such food in our adventurer life.”
“Ah, I see. I was startled for a moment. I almost…”
“Almost what?”
“Nothing, nothing. Let’s continue eating. The meal has just begun.”
“Alright. It would be a waste not to eat heartily after such a spread.”
“Right. A hungry stomach won’t get anything done.”
The meal resumed in a cheerful atmosphere, though it felt like a repetition of the day’s events.
At least, that’s how it seemed on the surface.