Published: August 1, 2025
Isaac’s singing continued, but Lord Cyrus held his head in his hands, saying nothing. I gently tapped his back and whispered into his ear.
“Is everyone on Luhab Island like this?”
“Yeah. Think about it—it’s Thomas’s hometown. You have to be prepared.”
…When he said that, it all made sense.
Luhab, with its impromptu singing at every turn and its lack of social hierarchy… how should I put it? It’s free.
Lord Cyrus gave a wry smile.
“Well, that’s the charm of Luhab. To them, we’re the ones being uptight. The saying goes: ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do,’ so let’s get used to it.”
“Y-Yes, I understand. I’ll do my best to fit in!”
I clenched both fists and steeled myself. Lord Cyrus chuckled softly.
“That’s exactly the spirit.”
I wasn’t sure why he laughed, but as he said, I had to try my best. As Lord Cyrus said, common sense and manners differ from country to country. When in Rome, do as the Romans do—that’s the golden rule for cultural exchange.
I had only studied Luhab from textbooks. They just said it was a former colony of Sphain and an exclave of Dilz, with cultural details coming secondhand from Thomas. To get close, first you have to learn and experience.
Standing up, I stepped toward Isaac.
“Um—could I help with dinner preparations?”
“Huh?”
Both Lord Cyrus and Isaac raised their eyebrows. Isaac’s amber eyes widened.
“Help… Lady Marie? In our kitchen?”
“I-I know it’s an unreasonable request, sorry…”
Truly, my request was out of line. Nobles don’t do housework—not because they’re arrogant or lazy, but because it’s simply not their role.
The kitchen is the attendants’ domain; if their master meddles, it takes away their livelihood. Granado Castle is an exception, and it’s only thanks to Head Chef Toppo’s generosity that I’m even allowed in.
I didn’t particularly enjoy cooking as a hobby, but using ingredients unavailable in the Shadelan Family’s domain and trying new recipes was a delightful change.
Still, even with Toppo’s skill, Sphain cuisine rarely appeared on the castle table. Its hallmark ingredient—fresh seafood—was hard to come by in Dilz.
“I’ve hardly ever eaten Sphain food, so I thought this would be a great chance to learn how to cook it locally…”
I grew more embarrassed as I spoke. My request was quite bold—I almost regretted it—but Lord Cyrus seemed to understand and stepped in to back me up.
“Marie likes cultural exchange. Why not let her do this as an optional activity during our Luhab sightseeing?”
“I see! That sounds great!”
Isaac agreed immediately with a bright smile. When I visited the kitchen, the landlady holding a kitchen knife looked surprised.
“What’s up, guest? Don’t worry, the shrimp won’t run away.”
“No, I just wondered if I could help out without being a bother.”
“Oh, alright then! Start peeling those shrimp shells.”
As expected, she welcomed me without hesitation.
“Should I help with something too? I don’t know about seasoning, but I can handle simple knife work from camping.”
Even Lord Cyrus rolled up his sleeves, but I shook my head.
“Please wait, Lord Cyrus. There aren’t many chances for you to eat a home-cooked meal from me, even at the castle.”
“Is that so? Well, if you say so.”
He nodded, kissed the back of my hand, and left the kitchen.
Watching his retreating back, I eagerly rolled up my sleeves.
Alright, let’s do this! It’s been a long time since I cooked properly. Back home, I made meals every day for my family plus the attendants’ meals. I can’t make anything as fancy as Toppo, but I’m confident I can manage.
That said, this is a foreign island with a foreign culture. The menu was already planned by the landlady.
“What should I do first?”
She pointed to a shelf with her sturdy fingers.
“Grab the brown plate up there. The ceramic one at the very top. That’s what we use to cook paella.”
“You cook it in the dish itself, not just serve it on the plate afterward?”