Chapter 721

Extra Cream, Extra Sweetness!
After joining Alicia-sama and the others at their table, we decided to each order different menu items and share them around.

“That would be best. I doubt I could finish everything myself.”

“Yep! So once Allie eats a little, I’ll take care of the rest!”

Ahh, right. Apparently, for ladies, the norm at tea parties and soirées was to peck at food like little birds.

Though honestly, I had a feeling Alice-sama actually loved sweets and could probably polish them off just fine.

“Thank you for waiting.”

A server dressed in garçon attire came over pushing a rattling cart.

“Eh…?”

“Here are your pancakes: extra-extra cream, cream and jam, cream and honey, and double honey.”

Thud, thud, thud!

A mountain-like tower of whipped cream. Another with a more modest helping of cream and a small plate of jam. One with cream and honey served in a tiny pitcher. And finally, one topped with just a little whipped cream but drenched in honey, plus an extra mini pitcher on the side. The dishes were lined up between the two of them.

Wait, were these two actually planning to eat all this?

No, Alicia-sama probably wouldn’t eat much, so most of it would go to Adry-sama…?

“It’s an absurd amount, isn’t it? I told him not to order everything because there was no way we could finish it…”

Alicia-sama spoke with a weary expression.

“No way, Allie. Don’t underestimate the stomach of a Knight Department guy, okay? This is easy. Ahh, if Sei had come too, we could’ve ordered even more varieties.”

No, no, no.

Even with two people, this looked rough.

My household was full of big eaters, so we’d be fine, but was it really okay to drag Alicia-sama into this food battle?

Well, Alicia-sama probably wasn’t actually participating.

“You don’t have to conquer the entire menu, you know. Honestly, this is embarrassing…”

Alicia-sama shyly hid part of her face behind her fan and glanced around the café. The female customers were all sneaking glances our way.

Sure, some people were staring at the gigantic stack of pancakes in shock, but in a café packed almost entirely with women, there were also several handsome men and beautiful boys with completely different vibes gathered together, so I had a feeling that was what really drew attention.

In fact, some of the older girls were blushing while sending heated looks toward Kurogane, while other young ladies whispered things like, “How adorable,” and “He looks promising in the future,” while staring at Mashiro and Adry-sama.

“Don’t worry about it. Come on, eat whichever one you want. Otherwise I’ll never get my turn.”

“But Cristea-sama and the others still haven’t gotten theirs…”

“Ah, please don’t mind us. It’s best while it’s fresh, so go ahead and eat first. We can wait patiently.”

When we encouraged them with “Please, please,” Alicia-sama hesitantly replied, “If you insist… then excuse us for starting first,” and picked up her knife and fork.

The first thing Alicia-sama tried was the double-honey pancakes.

She cut into the pancakes, the butter melted perfectly and glistening together with the honey, then gracefully lifted a bite to her mouth with her fork.

Mmm, so elegant.

Whenever I ate something delicious, I tended to stuff my cheeks, so I really ought to learn from Alicia-sama.

As she chewed her first bite, Alicia-sama’s expression suddenly blossomed.

“Hehe, looks gooood! Hurry up and hand some over already!”

“Hurry, I wanna eat too!” Adry-sama lightly pleaded with Alicia-sama, and both Mariel-chan and I ended up giggling.

“Honestly, now Cristea-sama and the others are laughing at you. Your manners are terrible.”

Looking just a tiny bit reluctant, Alicia-sama slid the finished plate toward Adry-sama. With a “Been waiting for this!” sort of energy, he pulled it over and, surprisingly enough, began tackling the pancakes with rather refined table manners.

Something about the exchange felt very natural between them. Since I’d heard they’d known each other since childhood, I figured maybe they’d always shared food like this.

“Delicious! Man, maybe I should bring the guys from the Knight Department here sometime.”

“Absolutely not. If a bunch of rough men barged into a café frequented mostly by women, it would be a nuisance to business. The gentlemen of the Knight Department ought to invite their respective fiancées instead.”

As Alicia-sama cut into the next pancake, she admonished Adry-sama.

“Ehhh? Then I can’t come anymore since I don’t have a fiancée.”

“Couldn’t you simply come with Sei-sama? He has a gentle demeanor, so there should be no issue.”

“Sei says he doesn’t wanna go to places full of girls like this. So when I wanna come, you come with me instead, Allie.”

“W-with…!? C-cough. I suppose it can’t be helped. If it’s only occasionally, I wouldn’t mind escorting you.”

“What am I, a kid with a guardian!? Ah well, works for me. Promise!”

Oh myyy. This is so sweet and innocent!

Alicia-sama turning away with her ears bright red, while Adry-sama grinned broadly and happily devoured pancakes beside her… precious. Truly precious!

“… W-what is it, Cristea-sama and M-Mariel-sama? Why are you both staring at us with such huge smiles!?”

“Oh, it’s nothing at all.”

“Yes, yes. We’re simply looking forward to the pancakes.”

Alicia-sama started acting prickly after noticing our gazes, but honestly, even that was a treat for us.

After that, when our own pancakes finally arrived, they somehow tasted sweeter than the ones I usually made myself.

What do you think about this chapter?