Extra Edition / Mob Perspective: The Troubled Entourage Life of a Certain Viscount's Daughter 5
Everyone held their breath as the young lady, chewing with her eyes closed, suddenly opened them wide.
"De-delicious...!? Th-this is incredibly delicious!"
"What!?"
"The Big Horn Bull meat is supposed to be a bit tough, but this is tender and jiggly, with both sweetness and spiciness in a complex harmony... And the Lars, eaten together with it, complements it perfectly... As I chew, I can even taste sweetness... I never knew Lars could be this delicious..."
The young lady, who had been describing the taste with rapture, wore a somewhat wistful expression as she mentioned the Lars, then began eating with great enthusiasm. Wait, if it's delicious, why does she look so sad?
"It's delicious? Then, I'll try it too..."
"I will also have some!"
Unable to hold back any longer, the other young ladies also began to eat. From various places, I heard voices exclaiming, "It's... delicious!" and then saw everyone eating in silence, completely absorbed in their food.
Alright, here I go too!
Following the others, I took a bite of the Gyudon.
What... is this? The meat is tender yet chewy, with a delightful texture that's easy to chew, and the flavor, though rich, isn't overwhelming like other dishes, making me want to eat more! And the Lars! It has a different kind of chewiness, and eating it with the meat creates a complex, enveloping harmony... The soup, taken between bites, cleanses the palate, making the Gyudon taste even better, like a never-ending cycle of happiness!
I eagerly devoured the Gyudon. It seemed the others felt the same, as they too looked satisfied when they finished around the same time I did. As for Trixie-sama, she appeared equally enraptured, though when she noticed everyone's gazes, she quickly said, "Well, it wasn't bad!" while looking longingly at her empty bowl.
Just then, as lunchtime approached, other students began to flood in seeking their meals. As the server came to clear our dishes, we decided to leave the café. And then, to our surprise, we ran into Cristea-sama and her group just as we exited the private room!
Cristea-sama and her group also noticed us, and Trixie-sama, meeting their gaze, came to a sudden halt. As we all held our breath, wondering what Trixie-sama would do, she, seemingly trying not to betray her agitation, covered her mouth with a fan and, averting her eyes, began to speak in a low, muttering voice.
"The dishes using Lars were surprisingly edible, weren't they, everyone?"
Trixie-sama said, though her tone failed to conceal her nervousness.
Understanding this as an opportunity to redeem themselves, the young ladies united in their response.
"Y-Yes! It’s exactly as expected from something the Crown Prince would consume."
"There's no way we could consider it disgusting if the Crown Prince enjoys it. We were completely mistaken."
… Honestly, it couldn't have sounded more contrived, but given that they were desperately trying to demonstrate their respect publicly, they could be forgiven. Though I didn't say anything, I nodded vigorously to show my agreement.
"Oh, Cristea-sama, Alicia-sama. Good day to you. We will be taking our leave now~ ho, ho, ho."
With Trixie-sama's parting words, we hurriedly departed.
For a while, we were all on edge, anxious about the possibility of "unfortunate events" occurring, but nothing happened. Relieved, we realized we had avoided displeasing the Duke Ellisfeed's family.
During this time, the young lady who had suggested the idea announced her departure from Francine-sama's faction and Trixie-sama's entourage.
"Our territory is not suitable for growing wheat, so we cultivate Lars. Francine-sama protected us from the ridicule of only being able to grow livestock feed, and I am grateful for that. However, Cristea-sama proved that Lars is delicious and not just livestock feed. I cannot oppose someone who has shown us this truth."
She declared that while she wouldn't join Cristea-sama's faction, she could no longer remain under Francine-sama's banner.
This spurred a few other young ladies, feeling that staying with Trixie-sama was too risky, so they left the tea party under the pretext of remaining loyal to Francine-sama's faction. I was among them, by the way.
Now, I enjoy my after-school hours, delighting in reading at the library. On weekends, I visit the Mayor Company to buy their new shortbread. I wonder if I might run into Mariel-sama and her Sacred Beast there. I'd love to see that adorable Sacred Beast again...
As I was thinking about this and selecting my next book, something suddenly tapped me on the head.
"Eh?!"
Shouting in the library was strictly forbidden, so I hastily grabbed the something on my head. It was a cute paper package.
"Eh, what is this...?"
Opening it, I found shortbread inside. How did this end up on my head? I looked up in confusion and saw Mariel-sama’s Sacred Beast perched on top of the bookshelf.
"......!"
I was too shocked to speak, and then the Sacred Beast spoke, "Since you seem to have a good eye, this is a reward, not a punishment. Give my regards to your adorable younger brother and sister," before winking and disappearing.
"... Wh-What was that about...?!"
I was so stunned that I collapsed on the spot. How did they know about my siblings?!
Did the Duke Ellisfeed's family investigate me? Eek... the Duke's family is terrifying! But... the Sacred Beast did say it was a reward for having a good eye, right...? Not understanding the Sacred Beast's true intentions, I remained slumped there until a librarian found me and escorted me back to the dormitory.
I agonized over the shortbread left in my hands, worrying it might be poisoned as a form of punishment. But trusting the Sacred Beast's words that it was a reward, I decided to take a chance and eat it, and it was incredibly delicious...!
I became an even bigger fan of the Sacred Beast, Mariel-sama, and the Mayor Trading Company. As a devoted fan, I resolved to support them quietly from the shadows from now on.
What do you think about this chapter?
