Chevalier-sama!"
"Heya, Lina-sama, it's been awhile."
The second daughter, Lina, greeted me in the house of viscount Emlin.
The viscount offered me with Lina's hand in marriage the other day as a thank for making the value of lulu's orchard instantly rises right. No matter how you looked at it, I felt sorry for her to be married with a countryside lower rank noble, so I properly refused it.
I praised her new dress until viscount Emlin came to the parlor. She had told me that her dress from before was her mother's, so maybe it's because she was happy for her new dress that she was turning around happily when I praised it.
"Hou? Christmas party is it?"
"I've found it written on an ancient document when I was researching for the cuisines of the ancient king Yamato's era. When I inquired it to hero-sama the other day, he informed me that it was a festival in hero-sama's birthplace, so I want to try reproducing it."
I'll use Hayato as an excuse for this occasion. He doesn't live in the duchy capital anyway, and he should be busy, so they won't suspect that it's just a random talk.
For now, after we've discussed about it, they're going to let me have some Lulu fruits. It seems that he's instructed the orchard's caretakers to harvest the best fruits. He's kind like always.
When I was idling in the viscount's mansion, I told Lina as a lip service, "Please come to the party if it's fine with you." Lady Karina and the others are going to be there anyway, the more the merrier for a party.
◇
Next, I head toward the ingredient market in front of the harbor.
I'm searching for rare fruits for Mia's fruits festival, and vegetables to color the dishes.
"Masta!"
"Nana, there's masta."
When I turn toward the source of the lisp voices, there is Nana who's carrying sea lionkin children on both hands. For some reason, Sera is also behind her.
"Hello, Sera-san."
"Good day, Satou-san."
As always Sera begins to smile sweetly when our eyes only meet.
However, there shouldn't be food distribution today, I wonder what's happened?
"Yes, I was doing some errands, so I came here, and happened to catch sight of Nana-san."
"Seera, masta listening to."
"Nana, masta's lover?"
"I have cross-examined my relationship with master, I announce that it's a relationship between a master and his attendant."
Sera is gesturing them to stop talking with a reddened face, but it's probably impossible to expect these three to read the mood.
However, I think miko-san isn't allowed go out with the opposite sex, but I guess she's at that age, so she's interested with such talk.
I keep Sera company with the nonsensical chatter as she's trying to change the subject. I invited Sera to the Christmas party while we were at it.
◇
When I was on my way back, I joined with Liza who was carrying fir-like tree on her shoulder.
It looks quite genuine.
Back in the mansion, it's been decorated with many ornaments. Erina carried several samples to the artisan street on the downtown, and mass produced them. Arisa seems to be the one who's requested it, and made me pay the bill. When I was going to hand over gold coins, they told me that several big copper coins were enough. Geez, the wage here is cheap.
I left the decorations to Mia and the maids, and went to help Lulu in the kitchen.
"Welcome back! These sponge cakes should be enough right?"
"Yes, they are."
Or rather, aren't there too many?
Well, if there are leftovers, I'll just give them to my acquaintances.
As I'm preparing for roasting the birds, I think about the party's lineup. It'd be gone in an instant if it's just roasted whole bird, and karaage.
I continue the preparation to make the simple whale karaage in large quantity since it's easy to mass produce. I've abstained to use the whale due to everyone's reaction to it, but since there isn't any particular effect after that, it's probably alright. I might as well share the potatoe chips and the whale karaage to the children of the orphanage.
I caught Talna who was snacking on the karaage, and made her the one in charge to deliver them to the orphanage.
"To be prohibited to eat while surrounded by this smell! Chevalier-sama is an ogre~"
"Ogre is too much. You're free to eat as much as you want in the party, so work hard with the delivery okay."
I wonder if she's delighted with the 'eat as much as you want' phrase, Talna vigorously drive the carriage to the orphanage even while having her usual sleepy face. Please be careful with the traffic okay?
I've made too much karaage, I guess I'll share them with Ga Hou and the others later at night.