Published: July 29, 2025
Breakfast consisted of freshly baked bread, fresh yogurt, a vegetable-packed quiche, and corn potage soup.
As always, it smelled wonderful and looked delicious. But the quantity and variety had significantly decreased. How should I put it... it was just an ordinary amount. Exactly one proper serving.
When I looked up, Mio smiled.
“Is this the right amount?”
“...Yes! I can finish all of this!”
I was genuinely happy. Feeling glad about having less food might seem ungrateful, but pure joy won out.
“Ah, it’s so delicious...”
I ate at my own pace and finished neatly, feeling about eighty percent full. My stomach still had room to spare, so I enjoyed my tea after the meal. The food in this castle is delicious, but the tea is unbelievably good too. I was really happy to be able to enjoy this moment.
“Excuse me for sitting next to you.”
Mio said this and sat in the vacant seat beside me.
I looked at her with a question mark over my head, and Mio smiled gently.
“It’s hard to relax when someone else stands nearby during a meal, isn’t it? While I have duties as a lady’s maid during meals, I can accompany you for tea.”
I let out a cheer.
This was something I had wished for ever since I first came to this castle. Even if nobles considered it normal, it was something completely unfamiliar to me.
I was happy. I had always wanted to have tea with Mio.
—This morning, it wasn’t Hanna or Ilza who woke me up, but Mio. When I asked if Lord Cyrus had already gone out, Mio shook her head.
“It’s a change of duty. I assigned those two to master for now... It seemed better for everyone that way.”
I let out a sigh of relief. With that feeling, I realized I had been more intimidated than I had thought.
They, unlike me, probably saw the count as a “real noble” and were honored to serve him. If that made things easier for everyone, as Mio said, then that was for the best.
Just as I took a sip of tea, Chef Toppo appeared.
“Excuse me, madam... Toppo made a delicious prototype and got excited, so I brought it along. If you have room in your stomach, would you like to try it?”
“I’ll have some!”
When I answered immediately, Toppo’s sky-blue eyes sparkled as he brought in a silver tray. I thought it was another apple pie, but instead, there were small plates lined up.
On each plate, a palm-sized white object trembled slightly.
“Blancmange — an almond milk pudding. I soaked the milk with plenty of almond extract and set it firm with jelly and fresh cream to make it wobbly and jiggly.”
“Wow... it really jiggles...”
“Come now, Mio-sama, please try some too.”
Saying this, Toppo placed one each in front of me and Mio, and another on an empty seat, then sat down there himself.
Without saying a word, Mio poured tea for Toppo.
The three of us simultaneously scooped some blancmange with our spoons and took a slurp.
Suddenly, my mouth filled with the scent of almonds. The sweetness of the milk spread, rich yet soft enough to melt away instantly.
Next to me, Mio’s eyes widened as well.
“...Oh...”
“Wow, this is amazing—”
“Delicious! Toppo’s cooking really is the best in the world!”
Toppo shouted while gulping down tea.
“The tea is delicious too!”
“Yes, truly delicious! I’m so happy. I’ve always wanted others to try the tea Mio makes. She’s really skilled.”
“...Is that so? It’s nothing special... I just do as Lady Ryuu-Ryuu taught me.”
No, she’s truly a master, I and Toppo praised her together. Mio didn’t even raise an eyebrow and muttered, “Is that so?”
The small desserts disappeared in no time, and Toppo’s lemon-yellow eyebrows drooped into an inverted V.
“I should have made more. I’ll go make some right away.”
Haha, I always think that would be better.
Just as Toppo was about to leave to make more, I suddenly stopped him.
“Hey Toppo, you’re making some for everyone in the castle too, right?”
“Yes, that’s the plan.”
“Well, it seems Hanna and Ilza don’t like milk. Yesterday, when I added milk to my tea, they said that would ruin everything.”