Published: September 4, 2025
Satou here. Since becoming a working adult, it feels like I spend most Christmases at the office. If March weren’t the end of the fiscal year, I think the year-end would be a lot more peaceful.
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“Master, Arisa’s acting strange.”
Arisa is always a bit odd, but if Lulu says so, it must be even more unusual.
When Lulu told me this, I went to check on her. In a dark room, she was quietly humming a slightly off-key Christmas song with altered lyrics, staring at fireworks bursting in the distance, singing, “Sa-i-ren-nai, ro-n-ri-nai.”
Has some past trauma been triggered again?
“She seems to have recalled something unpleasant, so let’s just leave her be.”
“Y-yes…”
To reassure Lulu, who cares deeply for her sister, I decided to hold a fun Christmas party and overwrite those unpleasant memories.
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“What’s the matter all of a sudden? For us, there’s no Christmas or Valentine’s Day.”
Arisa seemed back to her usual self, but she quietly muttered “リア充ざまぁ” (“serves the happy couples right”), so the feeling still lingers.
“Is that so? I thought past heroes might have spread those traditions.”
“Christmas is just an urban legend. Just like the tsuchinoko doesn’t exist here, Christmas doesn’t exist either! Q.E.D. complete!”
Well, that’s quite a stretch. Besides, she hasn’t proven anything.
Oh well.
“I was thinking of making a feast to have a Christmas party, but maybe I should stop.”
“A feast~?”
“Meat festival?”
“Fruit festival!”
The younger kids reacted immediately to the word “feast.”
“Like roast turkey, champagne? How about bone-in fried chicken?”
“I’ve never seen turkey, but there are chicken-like birds around. If that’s okay, I can make it.”
“Yay! Then we have to make Christmas costumes too! Expect mini-skirt Santas!”
Though it might be forced cheerfulness, it seemed she was feeling a bit better.
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“Master, about the Lulu fruits for making the cake—”
According to Lulu, since the Tislard wedding, the market has been sold out. Elina and Talna, who went to purchase ingredients on Lulu’s request, were slumped in chairs, exhausted and gray-faced.
Maybe I should talk directly to Viscount Emrin and ask for some. Though it might be awkward since I refused a marriage proposal with his daughter, I don’t think the viscount was serious, so it should be fine.
“I’ll handle that. Lulu wants to ask for the cake sponge ingredients—can you manage that?”
“Yes! I’ve done special training, so I’m confident!”
Lulu’s hardworking. I’ll leave cake and cooking prep to her, and for the extra hands, I’ll borrow the maid team from Baron Muno. They should be able to handle simple tasks like peeling potatoes.
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“Lord Noble!”
“Oh, Lady Lina, it’s been a while.”
At Viscount Emrin’s mansion, we were greeted by his second daughter, Lina.
Thanks to the value of Lulu fruit orchards rising dramatically, the viscount must be showing his thanks. Recently, he proposed a match with Lina. But it would be too cruel to marry her off to a lower-ranked noble suddenly, so I politely declined.
While waiting for the viscount to appear in the reception room, I complimented Lina’s new dress. She said her previous dress was a remake of her mother’s. Judging by her delighted expressions every time I praised her, she must be thrilled with the new gown.
“Oh? A Christmas party, is it?”
“Yes. While researching cooking from the era of the royal ancestors, I found an ancient text mentioning it. When I asked the honorable hero recently, I learned it’s a festival from his homeland. So I thought we’d try recreating the food at least once.”
I used Hayato as an excuse. Since he’s not from the Duke’s Capital and should be busy, they probably won’t suspect I’m making things up.
After consulting, they agreed to share Lulu fruits. They’re even sending someone to the orchard to pick the best ones. As always, a kind person.
When leaving the viscount’s mansion, I invited Lina as a courtesy to the party. Since Miss Karina and others will be there, the more the merrier.