--Ten days later. Servant's kitchen.


"And it's done!　This is the end of my training!


　In front of the slowly simmering stew, Futa raised his fist.
　In his hand, he held not a blade, but a spoon for tasting.

　It had taken him ten days to make the stew from a simple recipe to this level.

　Many difficulties struck Futa. Mostly, he ran out of spices and firewood.

　After overcoming these difficulties and using his own wood as firewood, Futa found himself with a perfect stew.

"Oh. Congratulations!

　Corona, who was peeking at the stew from next door, started sprinkling something vigorously.

"Wow, confetti!
Spice!
No, no, no, no, no!　You'll ruin the taste!　It'll change the taste!

　Futa hurriedly tightened the lid.

I'll just use the recording technique on the pot when I get in there, so don't scrimp.
No, you're right, but I feel a sense of accomplishment.
You want to start from the beginning?
No, please.

　Futa was going to faint if he was forced to go back to the beginning of this endeavor.

I've got just the right amount of alcohol. So, let's go!
"Oh. I was hoping that Corona would wait for me.
I'm not sure how a maid should end up not being a maid, so...
"The end?
This is the first time Futa-sama is hosting a maid appreciation party!
You're making me work for someone I should be thanking.
Whoa, I'm surprised you didn't deny it. Is the princess an extra?
Not really, but she was there to thank Corona.
"Hmm.

　It's not a bonus, but I wanted to thank Corona.

I'm not sure what to say.　I'm not sure what to do with it.
"Is that okay?　"Is that okay, maid-wise?
As long as I get permission from the princess, I'll just be in Futa-sama's room anyway.
I'm just a guest in your room. ......

　But, Futa thinks.
　It's the first time he's said something like this.

Do you like to drink?
"Not at all. Not at all. Not at all.
Hey, hey, hey, ......, what's up with that?
Sort of.　Life is short and thick!
Well, it's good to be honest with yourself.

　Following Corona out of the kitchen, Huta put the pots and pans on the wagon and walked away.

　Lilac is already waiting for him in the garden.

It's not something I've ever seen in my country. I didn't see this in my country, but I guess people here put alcohol in their meals.
"Royalty is usually like that. The royalty and aristocracy are usually like that, and no one is that weak in alcohol.
It's a cultural difference.
By the way, my maid is very weak!
Why don't you stop drinking?
"No!

　She sticks out her tongue and leads Futa.
　The garden at the end of the corridor is the place where we worked out last night.

　Chairs and tables were set up in the botanical garden, and the meeting was ready to begin.
　It was lunchtime, and the weather was pleasantly sunny.
　The warmth outside was just right and it was a perfect day.

"Here you are, Miss Lilac.
You came to ......?

　Unusually, Lilac was sitting quietly at an empty table.
　In normal circumstances, she would be tipping a cup of tea, but for what reason is she not doing so?

　The answer to this question came from the maid next to her, though it was not something that Futa suspected.

You've been looking forward to this, princess!　Futa-sama's first home-cooked meal and the maid's big thanksgiving party!　The maids will be thrilled!
I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one who's had it.
The maid is thrilled!
Why do you make that noise when you're seated?
"Flop, flop, flop.
You don't have to stand or sit.



　When he saw Lilac shaking her head with a finger on her forehead and Corona standing up and taking her seat, he couldn't help but relax his mouth.

　--If happiness was something I could allow myself to be happy with...
　If happiness was something he was allowed to be happy about, he thought, it would be this very moment.

"What are you laughing at, Futa?
"Oh, no.

　While pouring the stew into a bowl, Futa tries to sort out his current state of mind.
　It's true that his expression was slack.

Thank you very much.
...... What's with the suddenness. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. I'll let you know how it tastes.
"Oh, no. No, I'm not self-conscious about thanking you for making me happy with your cooking. I just thought about it. I should really thank you for picking me up that day. I should be really grateful.
"......". Why now?
Because it's now.

　A man whose only hobby was working out is cooking for the people he cares about in this crisp, sunny weather.

　If I were to show this scene to myself six months ago, I doubt I would believe it.

"Hime, Hime, you're soaking in your own conviction!
But you don't set anything in motion, do you?
I'm not sure what to say, but I'm going to say it. ...
Who are you?
I'm not sure what to make of it.

　This is a great way to make sure you are getting the most out of your money.
　I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but I'm sure you've.

I see. It seems that Corona is the one who chose the wine.
"Oh, you see?
It's not a drink for a novice to choose.
Yes, what is it?

　It reminds me of a scene in a brewery.

　I remember the scene at the brewery. Corona burst into the cellar and without hesitation pulled out a bottle from around the corner and said, "This is it for today! "What's the clincher? "What's the deciding factor? What was the deciding factor?

　It was more natural to think that they knew what they were looking for from the start, rather than that they had just pulled it out at random.
　To that extent, Futa had come to understand Corona.

　But...

"Corona, I thought you said you didn't drink.
"I just get drunk. Alcohol is the same as poison.
"...... I see. I see. ......
You can open all the high-end liquor in the cellar!
Stop it.

　I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one who has a problem with this.

I'm sure you're not the only one.

　Lilac muttered quietly.

"You won't regret it.
"Oh no. No one has ever made a maid regret anything in her entire life.
Including yourself?
Including you?

　I'm sure you'll be able to understand why. I'll eat it!

"Oh, oh.

　I'm not sure what to make of that.
　Futa tilted his head, but that was not the point.

　He thanked Lilac for agreeing to sit around the table with the three of them, and they all enjoyed their meal.

　At the same time. At the same time, Corona took something out of her pocket as if she had an idea.

"Den!　It's a gift for Futa.
"Oh, ......, what's this?
"Open it.

　It was a cube that fit in both hands. Reasonably light.

　Lilac's hand stilled as she held the cutlery.
　She raised one eyebrow and looked at Corona.

　Corona's eyes glittered, eager to open it, to open it, to open it, to open it.

　He opened it without any hesitation, not even thinking that there might be some kind of prank in it that would surprise the person who opened it.

　Then...

　The music was so bright that it began to spread like a ripple across the room.

"...... This is...
"This is a music box made by a maid!　Technically, it's not a music box because it's just a sound box, but...
It's not a music box, but it's homemade.
If you only had a box to store your recording, you'd have something like this.
And I like this song a lot, too.
Huh?　What do you mean, "too"? What do you mean, "too"?
I also really like the song that's playing in Lilac-sama's room.


"Oh, that's the maid's work!
Seriously, that's amazing.
Give me more praise!　Maids are the type of maids who need to be praised.
Are there any other ...... maids out there?
There are two types of maids: those who beat and stretch, and those who knead and stretch.
Is it bread dough or something?

　Despite all the nonsense, it's the music that my ears focus on.

　It's bright and cheerful, and it makes everyone who hears it happy.
　Futa liked the soothing sound of the snowy landscape in Lilac's room, but he liked it just as much.

"...... Corona.

　Lilac muttered to herself.

I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.
I'm not sure if there's another one, but it's not .......
I'm not sure what to make of that.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're doing.
　It's true that the one I handed Lilac was made in her image, but...

That's you, Corona.
...... It was...
It was fun, Princess.

　I'm sure you'll agree.

"Mr. Futa, Mr. Futa, Mr. Futa!　It's getting cold!
"Oh, no, no, no!　No, Corona said!　I can't get mad at you!
"...... Shall we eat it then?

　Lilac brings the stew to her mouth with a few words.

"......What do you think?
"..................

　She chewed, and with a small exhale.

It's not bad. It's been a long time since I've had something warm in my mouth.
It's been a long time since I've had something hot to eat." "Yes, yes, Futa-sama, listen to me. The princess doesn't like it when the maids offer to heat up her cold food.
"Isn't it because she doesn't know what ...... you'll do to her?
"You're terrible, Princess.

　I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure there's a reason.

But... Yes, it tastes like Futa's effort. What did you think? Did you enjoy cooking?
"Yes. Corona taught me how to cook, but I wanted to see the joy on their faces.
...... I see. I'm glad to hear that.

　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.
　I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing.

"Hmm!　Futa-sama, Futa-sama, Futa-sama!
"Yes, yes, what's wrong?

　The two of them followed Lilac and started eating.

"I'll give you exactly what you said on your first day.
"What?
"What?

　Futa was momentarily stunned.

　When you say first day, Futa immediately realizes.
　It's impossible to forget. Even if the rest of the world forgets, Futa will never forget.


"It's like yesterday and today are the best and second best meals of my life. ......
"First place goes to today's lunch.


　I wondered if he was going to say that much.

　However, despite the fact that Futa was lost in his thoughts of emotion.

I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.
"...... Please don't say unnecessary things. That can't be true.
"Of course not. The princess has a big appetite.

　The next thing you know, Lilac is shoving a spoon into Corona's mouth right in front of you.

　The first thing you should do is to look at your eyes.



　The first thing you should do is to look at your eyes.

　I'm sure I'll never forget this scene.


　This is the first time I've ever seen that.


　The first thing you should do is to look at your eyes.










　--The next day, Corona disappeared from the royal castle.