Chapter 147
A week had passed since my first visit to the Daligard household, and today I was back there. During that week, the Japanis Trading Company had been registered, and it seemed they had already started looking for a shop as well.
After I told Ronnie about my progress at the Royal Academy, he was left speechless by how quickly things were moving. I understood how he felt completely. Things were progressing so quickly that even I could barely keep up.
In any case, I needed to decide what had to be done first and tackle things in order. Researching sweets was essential.
Starting today, Yoan-san and I would be developing sweets, so I had to give it my all! Full of enthusiasm, I headed to the Daligard household.
When I arrived at the Daligard household, Carolyn-sama came out to greet me.
"Welcome, Leon-kun."
"Carolyn-sama, thank you for having me for the next little while."
"We're looking forward to developing the sweets too. Do your best."
"Yes!"
While we chatted, Carolyn-sama led me to the kitchen. It was quite impressive for a residence of this size and appeared to be well equipped.
Stacey-sama, two cooks, and Yoan-san were in the kitchen.
"Leon, you're here! I was just discussing dishes we could serve at the shop with the cooks."
"Good morning, Stacey-sama. Have you already started thinking about what dishes to serve at the shop?"
"I'll be eating them too, and we'll be able to make something better if we start early, right?"
"Indeed. Your daily meals will improve as well, Stacey-sama."
"Exactly!"
Stacey-sama seemed extremely excited, perhaps because she enjoyed making dishes with only vegetables so much. At this rate, I was afraid I'd end up helping her develop dishes instead of working on sweets...
When I began to worry about that, Carolyn-sama came to my rescue.
"Stacey, Leon-kun is here for work, so you mustn't distract him. Ask for his advice during his breaks or when he has some free time."
"That's right... I'm sorry, Leon."
"No, it's all right. Advising you is one of the conditions for letting me use the kitchen. ...However, I'd appreciate it if we could set aside specific times for it."
"Then I'll ask you during your breaks or after you've finished working."
"Thank you."
"The two of you should work well together. Oh, right—Leon-kun, what will you do for lunch?"
Carolyn-sama asked with a relieved smile, pleased that everything had been settled.
"I plan to make and eat lunch myself. ...Would it be all right if I borrowed the servants' break room or somewhere similar?"
"That would be fine, but since we're at it, let's eat lunch together. Pierre is off on Recovery Days and spends most of the day at home. Food tastes better when everyone eats together."
"Grandmother, that's a wonderful idea!"
"Indeed. Then let's do that."
W-wait, things were moving along awfully quickly, but were we really going to eat together?! Yoan-san and Roger would be there too, wouldn't they...?
"Carolyn-sama, I'm very grateful, but Yoan-san is here as well..."
"Oh, Yoan will of course be joining us too. Could you prepare lunch for the three of them—Leon-kun, Yoan, and Leon-kun's attendant?"
Carolyn-sama had already decided that we would all eat together. She was asking the cooks whether they could prepare meals for us as well.
"Yes. We have enough extra ingredients, so we can prepare them."
"Then please make three additional servings."
"Understood."
"In that case, I'd better leave, or my presence will keep you from working. I'll look forward to lunch."
While we stood there dumbfounded, Carolyn-sama finalized the arrangements and left the kitchen.
Um... We were going to eat lunch together, right? And it sounded like Yoan-san and Roger would be joining us too, didn't it?
Not knowing what to do, I looked toward Roger. He also wore a slightly troubled expression, so I spoke to him in a quiet voice.
"Roger, do you think it's all right for us to accept the invitation to lunch?"
"I believe you should accept the invitation, Leon-sama. However, I am an attendant, so..."
"They'll probably prepare your portion too—not a servants' meal, but the same menu as ours, right? Is that normal in this household?"
"I cannot say for certain, but perhaps you should ask Yoan-san?"
"That's true."
As we were talking, Stacey-sama came over with the two cooks.
"Leon, I'm sorry I didn't properly greet you earlier. These are the cooks who prepare the food for our household."
"Leon-sama, it is a pleasure to meet you."
"My name is Leon. It's a pleasure to meet you as well."
"These two are usually in the kitchen, so please ask them if you need anything."
"Understood."
"Then we'll get back to researching dishes."
Stacey-sama and the cooks said that and returned to their research. That left just Roger, Yoan-san, and me.
"It's been a while, Yoan-san."
"Yes. I look forward to working with you starting today."
"Likewise. There is something I'd like to ask you right away. When Carolyn-sama said we'd be eating lunch together, did she mean that you and my attendant, Roger, would be eating at the same table as us?"
"Yes, that's right."
Yoan-san looked puzzled by my question. Could it be standard in this household for the servants to eat together with everyone else?
"Is that common in this household?"
"...Isn't that normal?"
"In an ordinary noble household, servants eat in a servants-only break room or somewhere similar. They almost never share a table with their master."
"I see... I didn't know. In this household, it isn't unusual for the servants to eat with the family."
I see... It was quite surprising for a noble household, but within this house, we ought to follow this house's rules.
"I see. Then I'll gladly join you. Roger, you'll eat with us too."
"But eating together with one's master..."
"But that's the rule in this household, so we have to follow it, don't we?"
"I suppose you're right, but..."
"This has already been decided, so you don't get a say, Roger! Come on, let's eat together."
Roger was a serious person, so he seemed reluctant to eat together with me, but I had rather forcefully made the decision for him.
Roger usually served me my meals, but we'd never actually eaten together before. I was kind of happy about it!
"...Understood."
"Then lunch is settled. Now let's begin researching sweets!"
As soon as I said that, Yoan-san's eyes lit up and he nodded.
"Yes! Ah, but may I ask one thing first? Since I'm employed by you, Leon-sama, you don't need to use polite speech or an honorific when addressing me. Of course, you may call me whatever you like..."
I see. Yoan-san was older than me, so I had naturally been using polite speech and an honorific. I still wasn't used to things like this.
But I'd gradually get used to it.
"All right. Then, Yoan, I look forward to working with you."
"Yes. Likewise!"
"Then I suppose we should start by organizing the supplies."
I said that when I saw the many belongings laid out on the worktable in the kitchen. I had brought various things that seemed necessary for developing sweets. The servants of the household had carried them in a little earlier.
"There are a lot of them..."
"They're all things I thought we'd need for making sweets."
"It's a mountain of treasure!"
Although Yoan was large and intimidating-looking, whenever sweets came up, his eyes sparkled and his expression became almost childlike. He would definitely devote himself to the research. He was truly a rare talent.
I had to work hard too, so I wouldn't be outdone!