HO SPI TA LI TY?
"Allow me to apologize sincerely for involving a young lady like you in such danger this time. It was wrong to act as we did, regardless of whether things went as planned or not."
Prince Kaldor bowed deeply as he spoke.
"... Your Highness, I told you we shouldn't do it!"
"Quiet, Tika. I know you were right in hindsight, but at the time, I was desperate to return with some kind of result!"
Tika-san's exasperated scolding made Prince Kaldor look awkward as he defended himself.
"Miss Cristea, I truly apologize."
"Ah, um, I don't really mind..."
I mean, there wasn't any harm done to me. It's fine, really.
.. .Though, considering the inevitable lecture I'll face later, maybe there *was* some harm done! Grr!
"Prince Kaldor, please don't worry too much about my daughter. She often gets herself involved in troublesome—ahem, pardon me—complicated situations such as this."
Otousama... While I appreciate your consideration for His Highness, could you stop casually throwing shade at me?!
"...Really? She does this often? Truly?"
Prince Kaldor looked at me with a mix of disbelief and curiosity, as if to say, "A noble lady, doing such things?" It was awkward.
"Indeed. But, Your Highness, may I ask where you've been staying since your arrival?"
"Ah, yes... I've been lodging at the same inn as the leader of the caravan I accompanied. It's a slightly better place than what they usually choose, but still modest by noble standards."
Apparently, the merchants had chosen a somewhat upscale inn, but it was still far below the standards of noble accommodations.
This prompted Otousama to express reservations about allowing His Highness to return there.
"It's already late. Rather than making your report to the royal palace tonight, why not stay at our home? We can address everything tomorrow."
"... Thank you for your generosity. I will accept your kind offer."
As this was decided, Kurogane returned.
With merchants and Tika-san assisting in transporting their belongings, arrangements were made to fetch His Highness's luggage from the inn.
Apologies for the rough handling, but Kurogane's efficiency means everything will proceed smoothly.
I’ll pamper him later with a long grooming session as thanks.
"Cristea."
"Yes?"
"Given the circumstances, I'm leaving tonight's dinner to you."
"... Excuse me?"
"You understand that serving the same dishes as the banquet tomorrow would be inappropriate, correct?"
"Oh!"
Now that he mentions it, that’s true.
The banquet tomorrow represents our kingdom's pride. It wouldn’t do for someone to think, "Wait, didn’t we already eat this at the Duke's residence?"
"Um, Otousama, would it be acceptable to serve one of our family's special recipes?"
"... That dish, you mean? Considering the short notice, I suppose it can't be helped."
Alright, I got the green light—time to bring out *that* recipe!
I rushed to the kitchen while His Highness was being shown to his guest room, coordinating with the head chef to finalize the menu.
Dinner took place in a slightly upgraded dining area, as Prince Kaldor insisted on modest hospitality.
Of course, Leon-sama joined us as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
He’s eating here too, huh? Typical.
Tika-san initially tried to excuse himself, citing his position as a retainer.
However, since Leon-sama (in his civilian disguise) was also present and insisted, he reluctantly agreed to join us—though she was humorously designated as the "poison tester."
Poor thing!
"... What is this?"
Prince Kaldor eyed the dish before him suspiciously.
"It's a family specialty we call curry. Please scoop it like this and eat it together with the rice."
Otousama demonstrated, combining the curry sauce and rice with a spoon.
"The aroma is enticing, but..."
"Yeah, it smells good, but..."
Neither Prince Kaldor nor Tika-san seemed eager to dig in.
Ah, it's the appearance, isn't it?!
Sure, the visuals aren’t winning any beauty contests, but the flavor more than makes up for it!
I mean, even Crown Prince Raymond was put off by its look the first time he saw it.
Now, he can handle ultra-spicy versions like a pro!
Meanwhile, Tika-san, the designated tester, hesitated, poking the curry with her spoon without taking a bite.
In contrast, my family and I wasted no time diving in.
The rich aroma is practically an invitation to indulge—how could we wait?
As we ate with obvious enjoyment, Prince Kaldor and Tika-san exchanged wary glances before finally giving in to curiosity.
"This is... delicious! The flavor isn’t just spicy—it’s complex!"
Leon-sama, unsurprisingly, took to it immediately, eating with enthusiasm.
Tonight’s curry featured large chunks of vegetables—potatoes and carrots for hearty bites, alongside tender stewed beef for a delightful texture.
The onions had melted into the sauce, adding depth and sweetness. Absolute bliss.
For a topping, I added soft-boiled eggs, quartered lengthwise.
I debated using a poached egg but decided against it since this world isn’t too familiar with raw or semi-raw food.
Hopefully, the soft-boiled egg's richness would win them over.
"... Tika?"
"I-I’ll eat it, alright?"
Finally, Tika-san plunged his spoon into the curry and took a bite.
"......"
"... Tika?"
Prince Kaldor watched her reaction with concern as she fell silent.
"...It’s... delicious!"
Ah, he’s fallen for it. Welcome to the curry club!
What do you think about this chapter?
