"Hors d'oeuvres will be quiche with anguilla and summer vegetables, and the soup will be warm, considering the cool weather in the highlands. The poisson is braised anguille in wine. We hope you will enjoy this combination of seasonal ingredients and the specialties of our region of Volden!"
"Oh, it helps that the soup is warm. I don't really do well when it's cold......"
Simone said casually. She didn't seem to bear any bit of the same fears that Linus had.
"That's good to hear. I'm honoured that I was able to prepare an entree that suits sister-in-law, even if by accident. Now, for the main course—"
Tullius' fluent introduction of dinner continued.
Whether Linus should be relieved or disappointed, there was nothing miserly about the selection.
"Oops, I mustn't forget. The wine is of course our local Cabernet. We will be having a 112 year old."
Linus gave a small grunt. It was a wine from a bountiful year.
"Oh, come on, Viscount. You can't take something like that out without telling the head of the family, can you?"
It was Elisha who made fun of Tullius. A bottle of this expensive liquor could easily pay for the construction of a house. If it came from the wine cellar of the mansion, it would certainly be an issue.
"Don't worry. It was acquired with my own private funds. I spoke to a prominent person in the area and he gave me one that he had in his warehouse. I could have bought it at a cheaper price in Canales, but it's summer. They say you can't let wine travel."
"Hm? Is that so?"
"Yes. Sunlight will damage it; temperature changes and the frequent shaking are also bad for it. It's that kind of delicate drink."
It was unexpected. Linus had never heard of this carefree kid, who had no regard for the common sense of the aristocracy, having even a passing acquaintance with wine. In fact, the real problem was this former daughter of a Marquis and presently a knight, having no clue on the treatment of wine.
"Well, that's enough of my long-winded explanation. I would now like to move on to the dinner toast—Victor."
"Yes!"
The retainer who had been instructed to do so poured champagne, an aperitif, into the cups of those present. Apparently, he was not thoughtless enough to have a slave pour the wine here. Although it was already a problem that a slave wielded the knife and prepared their dinner instead of a professional cook.
Glasses were passed around to each member, and Tullius held one in his grip.
"So, here's to the land of Volden, which has now welcomed its rightful Lord, and to the prowess and glory of all the Imperial Guards...... Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
"......Cheers."
A few bouncy voices mingled with Linus' somber voice and the clear sound of glasses clinking together.
The dinner began.
"Hmm, this quiche is cooked just right."
"It's really excellent, big sis..."
"Cough, cough......."
"—Oh, I mean, Commander."
The knights were already starting to work on the appetisers.
Since the guests had already started eating, Linus, the head of the family, had to follow suit. There was no reaction from his poison detection equipment. There would probably be no harm brought to him by eating......, at least not to his body.
After moistening his dry lips with aperitif, he fearfully cut the quiche with his knife. The dough was split open to reveal only eel meat and vegetables, just as Tullius had announced. There was no weird meat mixed in, no reddish-black, fishy juice dripping out. It was just ordinary — no, delicious looking — quiche.
He stabbed it with his fork and gently brought it to his mouth. The gesture was at a very slow speed. It was like a child being forced to eat something he didn't like.
For a while, Linus stared at the quiche. Simone gave him a dumbfounded look.
"Oh? Is the quiche not to brother’s liking?"
Tullius called out in a deceptively disappointed manner. More than hating the quiche, he hated the people who had served it more than anything else in the world. And the person who created it, second.
(Ah dammit, whatever!)
Linus shoved the fork into his mouth with determination.
.......
The first thing he felt was crispiness. The next was the soft cake-like texture of the eel. The flavourful fats filled his mouth, while the fresh vegetables, with some bitterness, acted as if to wash it away. Together, they stimulated Linus’ tongue. He wondered if there was some kind of herb in it, since he could taste a refreshing scent in his mouth and nostrils.
"Oh my, it's wonderful......" Simone couldn’t help but comment.
Linus had to fight off the urge to chime in like Simone did.
"What do you think, brother?"
Tullius smiled as if he was showing off a treasure. It was a shame, but it was delicious enough that such an attitude was warranted. Linus grunted in response.
"Hmph...... not bad."
"Only passing marks, is it? Wow, that’s strict."
"Don't be so modest, Sir Tullius." Elisha commented.
The plate in front of her was already empty. Even though it was hors d'oeuvres, wasn't it too early to finish it?
"It has such a captivating taste. Who made this?"
"Uni. It may not be proper for a slave to cook, but she is the most skilled in my house."
"Ohhh—?"
The female knight’s eyes seemed to glimmer. At least from Linus’ point of view.
"—Very magnificent. This must be another example of the Count's excellent education."
A grinding sound on a plate could be heard with a knife somewhere. It was Victor.
It was still fresh in everybody’s mind last year when there was a dispute over the ownership of Uni, who was claimed to be the illegitimate daughter of Count Cartan. In any case, it was a big conflict that escalated into a court case. In the end, the Count in question was ordered to retire. Elisha's statement sounded like she was referring to that Count.
"Miss Elisha, that is—"
"Yes. I heard that she was trained strictly by her seniors when she was in the main house of the Oubeniels."
Before Simone could chide Elisha, Tullius explained.
As if unaware, Elisha puzzledly replied, "I see."
While finishing up the rest of her aperitif.
(This woman......)
Linus gave a stern look to Elisha.
He had not expected her to offer such sarcasm so casually. He thought she was a shrew who knew not what an aristocracy was about, so this was unexpected of her. Perhaps this was why Lavallee had chosen to send her here.
"Well, since we have a guest who has already wiped her plate clean, we can't leave her waiting like this. It's a little early, but shall we bring in the soup?"
"Oh! That's very thoughtful of you. When I eat good food, I tend to get hungrier."
"Shh! Don't talk to His Excellency the Viscount so informally."
The man who claimed to be the vice commander interrupted Elisha.
With that, Tullius snapped his fingers, and the slave in question brought a bowl of steaming hot soup.
"Please enjoy it, esteemed guests."
"Hmmm, speaking of which, I have not heard what’s in the soup."
Elisha muttered to herself while watching Uni place the soup on the table.
Indeed. All they were told was that it was warm soup. What ingredients were used remained unclear.
Linus looked at the soup and noticed an oily film floating on the surface and the reddish liquid beneath. The ingredients seemed to be some kind of meat. The combination of red and meat made Linus imagine something sinister again.
Tullius laughed impishly.
"Oh, my my, I'm sorry. I completely forgot to tell you all about it. How about this? Wouldn’t it be more fun if you all taste it first and then guess what kind of soup it is?"
"Mm, doesn't that sound interesting? I'm in."
Quick to act, Elisha scooped up a big spoon of soup and put it in her mouth. She rolled it around her tongue for a while to get a feel of the ingredients, chewed on them, before swallowing.
(I don't know what the heck this soup is.)
While Linus was worried, Elisha seemed to be thinking for a while.
"Chicken? Not really. It's similar, but a little more wild. It feels like it's leg meat, but a little thicker. It doesn’t seem like a wild bird...... Oh I get it, turtle."
Turtle. Turtles were a rare ingredient, but it was certainly not uncommon to be used as a delicacy. It was a creature of longevity, and in some areas it was said to be a good luck charm. If that's the case, it would suit the taste of Tullius, who was always saying that he wanted to live a long life.
"Correct! You are really good at this, huh?"
"Reptiles are similar in texture to chicken. When I was on a mission to defeat bandits, I once ate a lizard because I was out of food. That's how I first tasted something similar. These legs are thicker and shorter than those."
