“Whoa…”
Crishet’s eyes sparkled as she looked around.
On the shelves were pots, frying pans, knives, and ladles.
These were things she used regularly, but she could tell at a glance the high quality and wide variety.
The kitchen itself was a single room, and it contained everything needed for cooking.
To an excited Crishet asking, “What’s this? What’s that?” Berry answered each one.
All the equipment, systematized by magical power, manipulated heat without using fire.
Using blue crystals called magic crystals, they could, for example, heat things or cool things.
Equipment called a pump drew water from a well and sent it here through pipes.
It seemed that ingredients were kept from spoiling by equipment called a refrigerator.
A kitchen built with magical power.
For Crishet, who had always placed her cutting board on the floor, it was enough to shatter her concept of cooking.
Crishet was shocked by the luxury of using an entire room just for cooking.
“Crishet-sama, you truly do love cooking, don’t you? To think you’d be interested in the kitchen first of all.”
“Eh, ah… Yes, I… I like cooking.”
Crishet, realizing how excited she’d been, fidgeted shyly as she spoke.
Her beautiful silver hair swayed with her movements, and her snow-white skin flushed red.
The sight of her large eyes, framed by long lashes, darting left and right was indescribably adorable, and Berry finally couldn’t hold back.
“Wah!”
Berry hugged Crishet tightly and patted her head.
“Ufufu, how adorable you are…! If there’s anything you want to ask, please ask me anything. Shall we cook together too?”
“Eh, um…? Yes…”
Berry hugged Crishet, who didn’t seem entirely averse, and after enjoying it for a while, she put a hand to her chin in thought.
“Let’s see. I was just thinking of preparing a meal after the room tour was finished… Crishet-sama, would you like to join me?”
“Is that alright…?”
“Yes. I do wonder if it’s appropriate to have a guest help with cooking… but if Crishet-sama wishes it, I can’t refuse.”
“…Th-then, Crishet wants to cook too.”
“Yes, yes! Then… we also have the Go-toushu-sama’s permission today, so let’s make an especially lavish dinner!”
“Yes!”
Crishet nodded with a beaming smile.
The work involved Berry teaching her how to use each item, but for Crishet, who had unknowingly been manipulating magical power in her daily life, learning to operate the magic crystals for simple heat source control was quick.
Berry, impressed, efficiently did the prep work and such with Crishet.
Berry’s cooking skills, learned from books and blessed by her environment, were enough to move Crishet.
Although self-taught, Crishet had intended to make the most of limited ingredients, but that was ultimately based on her own ignorant empirical rules.
The things Berry taught her, like “It’s like this,” or “It’s better to do it this way,” were all logical and demonstrated far deeper knowledge than Crishet’s.
The placement of the shelves and tables was all thoroughly thought out, and Berry’s figure, skillfully using them all, was inspiring. Her movements, backed by abundant knowledge and thoroughly researched, had no wasted motion.
Her teaching method was clear and easy to understand, and even her handling of ingredients and knife skills were works of art—so much so that Crishet felt ashamed of how satisfied she had been with her own crude level until now.
Berry, for her part, was instantly captivated by the sight of Crishet gripping a knife with sparkling eyes, and by the time the food was ready, she adored Crishet from the bottom of her heart.
“Is it delicious?”
“Yes, it’s delicious…!”
Crishet smiled while tasting the meat in the soup.
Berry also nodded and smiled, saying, “This is the power of preparation.”
“If you quickly sear the outside of the meat before putting it in the soup, the delicious meat juices will be sealed right in. It changes a bit depending on whether you’re using it for soup stock, though.”
“I see…”
“Even hard vegetables like these will absorb the soup well and become tender if you just make a few small cuts. It’s completely different, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it’s amazing…”
A stew with chunks of mutton simmered until tender.
Roast beef drizzled with a sauce featuring the tartness of fruit, and a pizza baked in the oven topped with cheese, tomatoes, and bacon.
Thanks to the scattered herbs, a faint aroma tickled her nostrils, building anticipation.
—Dishes more captivating than any she had ever encountered.
Guu, Crishet’s stomach rumbled, and Berry smiled at the blushing Crishet.
“Usually, we’d be a little later, but perhaps thanks to Crishet-sama’s help, we’ve finished early. Shall we eat before it gets cold?”
“Yes…!”
Berry carried the bread basket and the pot, while Crishet carried the pizza and roast beef.
The kitchen was at the far end on the left, and the dining room was two rooms over from there.
In that room, furnished with fine articles, there was one long table and eight chairs.
The room wasn’t particularly large, but it was probably bigger than the house Crishet had lived in.
After placing the food there, Crishet set the tableware with Berry.
“I’ll go tell them that the meal is ready. Yes, please sit here and wait.”
“Yes!”
Berry left, and Crishet sat waiting on the chair, well-behaved and with good posture.
The room was warm, so the food probably wouldn’t get cold quickly.
Crishet, feeling saliva spread in her mouth, sat quietly like a dog told to “wait,” and soon the door opened.
A beautiful girl with golden hair appeared.
She had cat-like eyes, clear and somehow powerful, and sharp eyebrows.
Her nose was slender and straight, and her well-shaped lips were pressed tightly together.
She wore a brilliant, light blue one-piece dress and toyed with her long hair with her fingers, looking displeased.
When she saw Crishet, she openly frowned and averted her gaze.
“Um… Pleased to meet you, my name is Crishet.”
“Ah, is that so.”
With just that one word, the girl took her seat.
It was directly opposite Crishet.
Is this girl the ‘young lady’ Berry mentioned? Crishet wondered.
Apparently, she wasn’t fond of domestic things like cooking, and was a tomboyish young lady who swung a sword and studied military strategy. It was said her goal was to succeed her father in the future.
She was close to Crishet in age, thirteen this year.
She crossed her arms and looked at Crishet, displeased.
Not understanding the reason for her displeasure, Crishet looked at her own attire.
Perhaps this apron thing isn’t something one wears during a meal.
Crishet stood up, took off the apron, folded it neatly, and placed it on her lap.
Seeing that, the girl narrowed her eyes.
“Trying to score points already, are we? Such a well-behaved child.”
“…? Score points?”
“Don’t get carried away just because you helped with the cooking. For someone who just came from the countryside, you’re quite shrewd.”
What is she angry about?
Crishet tilted her head and pondered.
“Berry seems to have taken quite a liking to you, but I’m against someone like you living here. Make sure you understand that well.”
Having said her piece, the girl closed her mouth.
Crishet considered the meaning of her words and reflected on her own position.
It was certain that Crishet was about to enjoy a feast and would henceforth lead a more enjoyable life here than before.
However, the one providing for Crishet was Bohgan.
For this girl, who was supported by him and had until now received all his benefits, it meant the total amount of “pie” she could get would decrease, so indeed, it wouldn’t be a joyous occasion.
It was like having one serving of a three-person pumpkin pie she intended to eat snatched away.
“Just because you helped with the cooking” was blaming the smallness of Crishet’s contribution. Since she praised her for helping with the cooking with “such a well-behaved child,” the act itself wasn’t bad.
She probably purely wanted to say that Crishet’s contribution was insufficient.
She was demanding from Crishet compensation equivalent to the portion of her pie that was taken.
Understanding this, Crishet nodded. “I understand.”
“Then, Crishet will do her best to be acknowledged by Ojou-sama.”
“Huh…?”
In response to the almost direct sarcasm, Crishet offered a smile.
The bewildered girl—Selene—furrowed her brow and made a dubious face.
Despite having uttered such unbecoming sarcasm to a girl younger than herself, the recipient showed no displeasure on her face whatsoever, instead offering a faint smile with slightly relaxed lips.
The reaction was so unexpected that she was at a loss for what to say next.
She searched for something to say but couldn’t think of anything, and in the meantime, the door opened and Bohgan, Garen, and Berry entered the room.
“Oh, Selene, you’re early today. Were you talking with Crishet?”
“Eh, yes, Father. Just a little…”
Bohgan tilted his head as Selene spoke, still looking somewhat sullen.
However, seeing Crishet’s smiling face, Bohgan concluded they must have merely been exchanging light greetings.
Although she wasn’t the type to readily show her emotions, he had heard from Garlen that Crishet was a mild-tempered, kind, and hardworking girl, so Bohgan was pleased, thinking they would get along well.
“I see. Crishet, you’re a strong-willed girl, but please do your best to get along here.”
“Yes, Lord Head.”
“Haha, you don’t need to be so formal.”
Bohgan laughed cheerfully and sat at the seat of honor at the far end of the table. Garlen sat diagonally in front of him—to Crishet’s right.
Then Berry finished pouring wine and water for everyone, served the food, and sat to Crishet’s left.
Selene saw this and became displeased again.
Unaware of this, Bohgan raised his glass and announced.
“Well then, let us dine. …To my esteemed former teacher, and to his granddaughter.”
Crishet noticed everyone firmly raising their glasses, hurriedly followed suit, and took a sip.
Her brow twitched just slightly at the peculiar bitterness and acidity.
She had been taught that it was wrong to be picky, so she didn’t show it openly on her face, but Crishet didn’t particularly like wine.
With her childlike palate, Crishet’s tongue wasn’t accustomed enough to bitterness to enjoy the complexities of wine.
Seeing this, Berry smiled, poured juice into a separate glass, and offered it to her, saying, “We have juice too, you know.”
Crishet accepted it, looking a little embarrassed, and drank the grape juice.
Berry watched her with a tender, affectionate gaze and began her meal.
Normally, servants would eat separately, but in this household, they didn’t much care for such rules.
First, Crishet reached for the pizza and stuffed a piece into her small mouth.
The crisp texture of the crust and the gooey, melted cheese.
The pizza, generously laden with cheese, was truly extravagant, and Crishet was utterly delighted by the salty flavor of the cheese that filled her mouth.
Next was the soup. After that, roast beef.
Savoring each dish, Crishet felt an unparalleled sense of happiness as her taste buds and stomach were satisfied.
Without a doubt, it was more delicious than any food Crishet had ever tasted.
Berry taught Crishet some simple table manners, her smile deepening as she watched Crishet’s happy expression.
“Is it delicious?”
“…Yes, very.”
“Fufu, it’s thanks to Crishet-sama helping out. The soup, for example, was almost entirely made by Crishet-sama.”
“Oh?” Bohgan inquired with interest.
“Yes, she’s skilled with a knife, and her seasoning and simmering techniques… I mostly just taught her the recipe. She even mastered the magic-infused crystals, which she was using for the first time, in an instant.”
“C-Crishet mostly… Berry-san taught me a lot. Crishet didn’t do much at all…”
Although self-taught, Crishet had a solid understanding of knife handling and cooking basics.
Reassured by this, Berry had merely taught her the recipes and offered very light assistance.
Although Berry genuinely meant what she said, it was hard for Crishet to accept.
For Crishet, who had always cooked by trial and error on her own, most of these dishes were uncharted territory.
How many years would it have taken her to create these dishes on her own?
To Crishet, Berry, who had guided her and enabled her to prepare such dishes, was an incredibly esteemed figure.
Crishet hurriedly denied it, not wanting to take credit for Berry’s work, and seeing this, Berry smiled and said, “That’s not true at all.”
“It’s simply a difference in knowledge. I was fortunate with my environment. If Crishet-sama and I were in opposite situations, it wouldn’t have turned out this way. It’s precisely because of Crishet-sama’s past experiences that these dishes turned out so deliciously.”
“Um, but…”
“Hahaha, if Berry says so, then it must be true. Those are the words of Berry, who never compromises when it comes to cooking. You should accept compliments as compliments.”
“…Yes.”
Although not entirely convinced, she nodded for the time being, and as she continued eating, such matters quickly became unimportant.
It was a meal where every bite brought a sense of euphoria.
The deliciousness that stimulated her very brain was enough to numb Crishet’s thoughts.
“But magic-infused crystals too, eh? Her senses must be exceptional… all of them?”
“Yes. Some tasks with them were ordinarily difficult, but she handled them as if they were very easy.”
“…I see. She might have a talent for that as well.”
Crishet continued eating, letting Bohgan and Berry’s conversation flow in one ear and out the other.
But then—
“Thank you for the meal!”
Suddenly, Selene stood up, as if slamming the table.
Crishet was slightly startled by the suddenness and looked at her.
Selene, too, was glaring at Crishet.
Then, without a word, she roughly opened the door and left.
“…Hah, honestly. I’m sorry, she’s always like that lately.” Bohgan murmured.
“It’s likely partly my fault for being too busy with work to give her attention. I’ve made her feel quite lonely, you see. …I’m hoping that having you here, someone her own age, will be a good stimulus for her. If possible, would you be willing to talk to Selene, without finding it a bother?”
“Yes, if Crishet will do.”
“…Thank you.”
Garlen smiled and nodded at his granddaughter’s words, continuing his meal without speaking.
“Well, let’s continue eating for now. …Berry, I’ll go check on her later.”
“Yes, Lord Head. In that case, I’ll bring some tea.”
“Ah, please do.”
The next day, Garlen returned home on a villager’s carriage.
Crishet was left alone, and her life at the Chrishtand household began.
In Crishet’s eyes, Berry was a truly remarkable person.
Having single-handedly managed the cleaning and upkeep of the large mansion, as well as meal preparations, she was efficient in every aspect. Apparently, she was originally the daughter of a fallen noble family, and her knowledge was extensive, so she could answer most of Crishet’s questions.
From Selene’s perspective, Berry was her aunt.
She was the much younger half-sister of Bohgan’s deceased wife, Razra, and was hired as a servant when Bohgan married Razra, continuing to the present day.
Although Crishet had thought her to be in her mid-teens, Berry was apparently already in her mid-twenties.
Berry explained that mana-wielders, those who could manipulate their internal magical power, generally aged more slowly.
“Let’s call it a day around here for now.”
“Is that alright?”
“Yes. It’s best to stop cleaning at a moderate point. Doing it every day can actually damage the building, and it’s a lot of work.”
Crishet proactively helped Berry, and Berry was pleased by this.
Crishet, too, was fond of cleanliness and quite tidy.
She rather enjoyed chores like cleaning and laundry, and she also considered helping Berry a natural payment for being taught cooking.
The gap in their cooking knowledge was closing with each passing day.
This was because Berry generously shared and imparted her knowledge to Crishet.
Crishet thought she would catch up to Berry’s skill in the not-too-distant future, but Berry, much like Crishet, had a meticulous, perfectionist streak and tried to challenge new seasonings almost every day.
Crishet particularly valued Berry’s ambition, her refusal to be satisfied with the status quo.
Taste is something that changes depending on one’s physical condition or mood.
While there might be a perfect dish for a particular day, a dish one never tires of eating every day does not exist. It was precisely this aspect of cooking that captivated Crishet, who possessed talents far superior to others in nearly every respect.
And Berry was also strongly fascinated by the same thing.
In Crishet’s mind, Berry was now what one might call a kindred spirit, and also her own forerunner.
Crishet’s estimation of her knew no bounds, and now her days completely revolved around Berry—she spent her life trotting along closely behind Berry.
Naturally, Berry was charmed by Crishet, who had grown so attached to her.
Because their bond was centered around the domain of food, an area where Crishet was particularly prone to bashfulness, Berry had come to perceive Crishet as a shy girl.
From Berry’s perspective, who interacted with Crishet daily and saw what could arguably be called her only endearing side, Crishet was a slightly odd but truly adorable girl.
Although Berry quickly realized that Crishet possessed an intellect far surpassing the average person, and that her sensibilities were somewhat detached from others, her assessment didn’t change because of it.
Part of the reason was that she had heard some of the circumstances in the village; Berry, considering Crishet’s unfortunate circumstances, sought only to pamper her so that she could feel at ease.
Partly because Crishet possessed a nature that didn’t grow conceited from being pampered, Berry’s estimation of Crishet also knew no bounds.
Crishet, being a perfectionist, had always been one to spare no effort in ‘repaying’ any kindness shown to her.
The more she was pampered, the harder she tried to repay Berry.
The way she clung to Berry-san, her attendant, like a newborn chick, constantly calling “Berry-san, Berry-san” and begging to “help,” could only be described by the word “cute.”
“Well now, it’s a little early to start preparing dinner, isn’t it? Shall we have some tea?”
“…Tea.”
“Fufu, actually… I baked some cookies in the oven just a little while ago. I was hoping Crishet-sama would, perhaps, taste them to see how they turned out.”
“Cookies…”
Crishet’s cheeks flushed.
Crishet had a great fondness for sweets.
But to indulge in them was, for Crishet, an undignified and embarrassing thing. This was because her cognitive abilities clearly declined while she was eating them.
However, from Berry’s perspective, Crishet engrossed in sweets was simply an adorable sight.
Wanting to see Crishet like that, Berry tried to get her to eat sweets at every opportunity.
Crishet felt a sense of dread at being constantly plied with sweets, and after much agonizing, she had refused several times, but her opponent was no fool. Berry gradually began to have Crishet taste sweets under the pretext of “sampling.”
Under the pretext of “sampling,” even Crishet, who pursued the art of food, couldn’t bring herself to refuse.
Foreseeing this, Berry would entice Crishet with sweets.
“Come now, Crishet-sama, it’s just a sample, you see? I tried using plenty of honey today.”
“Plenty… Ugh…”
“Come, come, I have them ready in your room.”
In the end, Crishet was always swept away by her desires every single time.
The earnest and diligent Crishet tended to overwork herself.
Berry did think that taking a break was important, but she also had a feeling that, in reality, she just wanted to see Crishet shyly stuffing her cheeks with cookies.
The relationship between Crishet and Berry, which had become so affectionate in less than a week, could be described as extremely good, with no problems whatsoever. However, there was one issue.
“…”
“Oh, Ojou-sama. We are about to have tea with Crishet-sama, would you care to join us?”
It was Selene.
Selene, glaring at Crishet, stated curtly, “I don’t want any.”
“Unlike that child, I’m busy. …And you, don’t come today, please. You’re a nuisance.”
Lately, Crishet had been visiting Selene’s room every day.
Saying things with blunt honesty like, “Crishet was told to be Ojou-sama’s conversation partner,” Crishet visited Selene every night, but naturally, the results were not favorable.
Selene would usually turn Crishet away, exasperated, saying she had nothing to talk about, and so far, Crishet had suffered a complete defeat every time.
“But, to talk…”
“I’m telling you, I have nothing to talk about with you.”
“Now, now…”
Berry said soothingly, diverting the topic.
“Berna-sama has also returned home, so I thought it might be a good time, but…”
“…Hah. I’m about to have Father train me in swordsmanship. I don’t have time to be drinking tea.”
Every day, tutors came to this mansion to educate Selene.
Today it was a history teacher, yesterday mathematics, and the day before that, law.
When her father was present, she found time for sword practice.
Her claim of being busy was not a lie.
Selene was an earnest, hardworking girl, and this tendency had reportedly intensified, especially after her mother passed away.
Especially now, she seemed to be aiming for a path in the military to follow in her father’s footsteps, and she had argued with Berry about it several times, causing some friction between them.
“…Is that so. Please, do be careful not to get injured.”
“Injuries are part and parcel of training.”
Declaring this, Selene turned her back and descended the stairs.
“…Perhaps I interfere too much. It would be one thing if she were a gentleman, but seeing Ojou-sama wield a sword, I still worry…”
Berry let out a small sigh.
“The Chrishtand are a warrior family. I understand that thanks to that, we can live in such a splendid mansion. However, I can’t help but think, ‘Does Ojou-sama really have to as well…'”
As if confessing her innermost thoughts.
Crishet suddenly recalled her mother.
“…Crishet’s Kaa-sama used to say the same thing as Berry-san. That she worried when Crishet went for sword practice.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
They entered Crishet’s room, and Berry began to prepare the tea.
The cookies were still faintly warm, and the sweet aroma of freshly baked goods wafted through the air.
Crishet pressed her lips together tightly, trying not to let her cheeks slacken.
“But, Crishet believes that in the end, those are the things you can rely on. At least, they were very useful to Crishet.”
“…Crishet-sama.”
Recalling what happened in Crishet’s village, Berry lowered her gaze.
“…That opinion of mine probably comes from a position of safety, doesn’t it,” she continued, “Did I offend you?”
Crishet shook her head.
Combat training is important and necessary, but society cannot function on that alone.
Fundamentally, people who favor the sword tend to be more emotional compared to others.
They are assertive, short-tempered, and rough.
They are important, but they possess qualities diametrically opposed to those of the producers who form the foundation of village life. Outside of battle, their negative aspects, which disrupt harmony, are often more significant.
In that respect, Crishet believed that people with Berry’s way of thinking served as a good check and were indispensable.
Fundamentally, Crishet preferred stability.
Thanks to her parents’ upbringing, Crishet, who had been thoroughly taught the importance of laws and rules, disliked anything that disrupted that harmony. Even regarding the sword, her strong belief was that it was a tool for protecting stability.
Therefore, she held no positive feelings towards battle, which undermined productivity, and in fact, Crishet placed more value on people like Berry than on those other types.
“Crishet believes that the sword is necessary to protect one’s place, but that’s precisely because people like Berry-san and Kaa-sama exist. Crishet doesn’t think Ojou-sama or Berry-san are wrong.”
Berry’s eyes widened at those words, and then she smiled gently.
“…Thank you. Crishet-sama, you are so young, yet you have such well-formed thoughts.”
“Crishet is still far from it… Far from perfect.”
She said this while looking at the cookies.
Feeling saliva gather in her mouth, she blushed at her own lack of composure.
Berry chuckled softly and urged Crishet, “Well then, please, go ahead.”
“There are plenty, so I must have you sample many of them.”
“Many…”
She took one and popped it into her small mouth.
Berry had baked small cookies so that Crishet could eat them in one bite.
The crisp texture and the indescribable sweetness of honey spread through her mouth, and Crishet’s cheeks relaxed in a wave of euphoria.
“Fufu, Crishet-sama, I can’t quite tell if you’re very mature or still just a child, can I?”
Berry said this and chuckled softly.