Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, the wild boar, deepfried smelts wrapped in a flaky crust, tender salmon steaks, and rabbit cooked with wine.

An extensive array of meat dishes and various desserts were presented, more than even the empire could match.

I tilted my head as I listened.

“What about the wine?”

“Wine…you say?”

“Yes.”

Wine was indispensable at feasts in this world. Highquality wine could fetch a high price, and sacramental wine consecrated by a cleric had effects equal to holy water.

‘I should check later if my blessings have any effects.’

But the chef seemed to think differently.

“I haven’t heard that wine is necessary, Holy Lady.”

“It will be.”

I insisted. While the people of Donovan may not enjoy drinking, the empire was different.

There had been excuses for not offering wine until now, preparing for the invasion by the beast tribe, but it was unacceptable to have none at the welcoming feast.

“Please bring out the finest wine.”

“Understood, Holy Lady.”

Thankfully, the chef obeyed my instructions obediently.

Now that there was nothing more to concern myself with, I began sampling the dishes that the chef had described.

Especially the desserts.

‘Extravagant dishes for a bunch of cowards.’

As I took a full bite of the melting pastry, a sweet and crispy sound resonated in my ears.

‘I’m grateful, though, for getting to eat such delicious food.’

One of the cooks cautiously asked.

“Holy Lady, do the dishes suit your taste?”

“Absolutely.”

I grinned.

“I knew you were all skilled, but I didn’t know you were this amazing.”

“We are honored.”

Aileen had quickly noticed and set aside the desserts I particularly enjoyed.

“You can take them all. We’ll have to make new ones for the feast tomorrow anyway.”

The chef seemed worried I might stop Aileen and preemptively spoke.

“As long as the Holy Lady enjoys them, we are merely happy.”

As I turned to leave, thanking them, I heard a clattering noise.

‘…?’

My head reflexively turned. It couldn’t be serious, but one never knows.

“I, I’m sorry!”

In my line of sight, a servant with a bluish face was clumsily picking up broken dishes. I frowned.

Although I hadn’t seen this servant’s face before, the voice was definitely familiar.

‘Where have I heard it?’

The chef scolded the servant loudly.

“You should be thankful for just being in the castle, and you make a mistake like this? Get out!”

“Yes…”

Despite being harshly rebuked for a minor mistake, the servant didn’t look aggrieved.

On the contrary, he seemed to be groveling with gratitude toward the chef, which only made me more suspicious.
“Just a moment.”

I was certain. This person, there’s something about him.

Though I had called him over without much thought, the servant shrank back, glancing nervously at me.

“Have we met before?”

“Uh, no.”

I widened my eyes.

“It’s strange. I don’t know you, but you seem to certainly know me.”

“……You, you must be mistaken.”

The servant took a step back, leaning away.

‘Ah.’

Only then did I realize who he was.

I had heard his voice only once, but it had stuck so firmly in my mind that it felt familiar.

This man was one of the two chefs who had conspired with the insolent maid, Sola, to bring me a meager meal.

‘I heard both chefs were fired. So he didn’t leave the castle.’

Seeing his face turn pale, it seemed he too had realized I recognized him.

“Um… Your Holiness.”

The head chef cautiously opened his mouth.

“I will dismiss him starting today. I gave him a chance because he has young children… but a man who can’t do his job has no place in a kitchen where only the best should be.”

I sighed. Looking around, everyone was staring at me with fearful eyes.

It seemed that their hospitality was not so much out of genuine welcome as it was out of fear of sharing his fate.

‘If I dismiss him, they’ll fear me even more.’

Just when I thought I had gained some favor, I didn’t want to instill more fear.

I slowly turned to the head chef.

“I know there was another person with him, what happened to them?”

“The maid and he have returned to their hometown.”

Then the three of them collaborating was not possible.

“How old are his children?”

“……Pardon?”

The servant, who once had difficulty even offering me bread, blinked dumbly.

“How old are they?”

“They are seven and four years old. They are still immature, but they are my treasures…”

The servant’s voice trailed off.

“Does your wife also work in the castle?”

“My, my children’s mother died from postpartum fever after giving birth to the second child. Since then, it’s just been me and them.”

I glanced sideways at the head chef. Seeing his sympathetic gaze upon the servant, it seemed the story wasn’t fabricated on the spot.

Then the answer was clear.