Chapter 111: The Banquet
The preparations for the banquet, making full use of the chefs and the domain’s people, were complete, and everyone was eagerly waiting for the feast to begin.
It was getting dark, but a large campfire had been set up in the center of the village, and it was almost hot.
With the campfire at my back, I looked around at all the domain’s people.
“Everyone must be waiting, so I won’t talk for long.”
Laughter could be heard from here and there in response to my words.
Long speeches are a pain for those listening, and a bother for the one speaking too.
“To celebrate Baumgarten’s new beginning, cheers!”
“Cheers!!!”
As I led the toast, the banquet began. Everyone was eating, drinking, and making a ruckus. Especially since they rarely get to drink alcohol. The men were competing to drink like children.
Ignoring the commotion, I walked towards a space that had been arranged as if it were a nobles’ tea party.
There, I saw Eleonore and Princess Claudia, each attended by a maid-san. And Cassandra was there too, entertaining the two of them.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“That was cool, Dee.”
“Let us also toast to the development of Baumgarten.”
Princess Claudia was grinning like a cat, clearly amused, while Eleonore held her glass with a serious expression.
Eleonore, Princess Claudia, and Cassandra’s gazes all focused on me.
Are they expecting me to lead the toast again?
I picked up the glass of alcohol that had been prepared for me, thought for a moment, and then spoke.
“To this wonderful day where we could welcome both Your Highnesses and my wife to the Baumgarten Territory, cheers.”
“Cheers.”
I tilted my glass and gulped down the alcohol, tasting the sweetness of fruit and a faint hint of spirits. It’s not very strong, is it? Easy to drink and delicious.
As I was about to pour myself more, Cassandra gently stopped me.
“Please, allow me, Danna-sama.”
“Ah, thank you.”
She must have changed specifically for this. Cassandra, in her dress, was beautiful. My gaze unintentionally drifting to the valley of her chest must be due to my lack of training.
Perhaps because I’d been trying not to be conscious of it before, but ever since that night with Cassandra, I’ve become acutely aware of women. Before I know it, my eyes are drawn to their chests or swaying skirts.
Can’t something be done about this? I’m scared I’ll get called out for staring someday.
Even if I try to look away consciously, I still end up sneaking glances. What is wrong with me?
Could this also be one of the effects of being bathed in dragon’s blood?
What a nasty curse it left me with.
“You two make a lovely couple. It makes me a little envious.”
“Yes, well…”
“I’m embarrassed…”
Princess Claudia was amused, and Cassandra was blushing.
“In the Baumgarten Territory, the distance between you and your people is very close, isn’t it? I never imagined you would hold such a large welcoming party together with them.”
“I was surprised as well.”
“Me too.”
“It’s no wonder you are all surprised. The Baumgarten house was originally a barony, and with few people in the domain, we’ve always had to face any hardship united. It might be less like nobles and commoners, and more like comrades-in-arms who fought together. If you say it’s a casual relationship, that’s true, but if you say our manners are lacking, that’s also true. Please, don’t strike us down for our impoliteness…”
“I understand. Tonight, let’s dispense with formalities. May I also join that circle?”
“That circle?”
Looking over, the domain’s people had formed a circle around the campfire and were dancing. It seemed Princess Claudia wanted to dance with them.
When I glanced at the maid-san standing behind Princess Claudia, the maid-san shook her head so vigorously it looked like it might fly off. The maid-san was clearly against it.
“I apologize, Princess Claudia. There are security concerns, so…”
“Is that so…”
“Sister, you shouldn’t push him too much…”
Princess Claudia was visibly dejected.
“Everyone, how about some food? Our head chef put his skills into it. I doubt it can compare to the taste of the royal palace, but I hope you’ll enjoy it.”
Saying that, I started on the food. This looks like a braised pork belly dish. Since there’s no soy sauce, the seasoning is simply salt and herbs. Even so, the pork is tender, the flavor is solid, and it’s delicious.
Next, I tried the main dish, Chicken Nanban. This one also lacks soy sauce, so it’s seasoned with salt and lemon, then topped with Tartar Sauce. It makes me miss soy sauce, but this is pretty good too.
“Is this Mayonnaise? But it has various things in it. Is it some kind of dressed dish?”
“This is a new sauce called Tartar Sauce, which uses Mayonnaise.”
“Oh my!”
Come to think of it, Benno hadn’t started selling Tartar Sauce yet. The egg supply probably hasn’t caught up.
In that case, this must be Eleonore and Princess Claudia’s first time trying Tartar Sauce too.
“It’s delicious, you know?”
“Then I shall have some.”
“I shall have some as well.”
Perhaps because their impression of Mayonnaise was good, both of them willingly asked for the Chicken Nanban.