When the Duke and his wife returned to the manor, the sun had already completely set.

Erseria murmured in surprise upon seeing the game they had brought back.

“Goodness, I knew you’d bring back seafood ingredients, but…”

The large blue lobster Dante had caught.

Raymond had brought back a massive red seabream. Inside the net were abundant silk clams, a famed delicacy from the sea cave.

All of these were precious ingredients in Growen, but this time, both their size and quantity were exceptional.

Erseria lowered her body slightly to praise Dante.

“You truly have excellent hunting skills, young master.”

[Of course! Am I not more impressive than my uncle?]

Dante’s eyes sparkled, urging her to agree immediately. The blue lobster was indeed a rare delicacy.

But that red seabream was equally precious, and furthermore, it was larger than any they had ever seen before.

Its glossy, iridescent scales and substantial weight were perfect. Steamed, it would surely become the finest delicacy.

Erseria glanced slightly upward at Raymond. He nodded, indicating she should let the child have his way.

“Though the red seabream is indeed a rare ingredient, the blue lobster still takes the lead.”

[I won!]

Dante clenched his fist and raised his hand high, jumping up and down excitedly.

He seemed extremely pleased to have beaten Raymond. Raymond chuckled softly and lifted Dante high into the air.

“Yes, you won.”

[Yay! Let’s eat something delicious!]

Seeing the joyful father and son, Erseria called the servants together.

“Then I shall instruct you to begin preparing the meal. These are precious ingredients, so handle them carefully.”

“Yes, understood.”

The servants carefully carried the heavy ingredients. The lobster Dante had caught was still alive and required even more careful handling.

Meanwhile, Yerpi’s contribution was the silk clams. At first, she had tried her best to catch moving creatures, but it wasn’t easy at all. Apparently, she wasn’t gifted for hunting.

[Yerpi’s clams are pretty too. They sparkle with rainbow colors. Let’s eat them, and I’ll keep the shells.]

“Thank you for saying that.”

She liked this kind side of Dante.

For this rare banquet, Seri, who had guided them to the cave today, also joined.

Seeming excited to eat seafood again after a long time, Seri shared various knowledge she knew.

“The silk clams—small ones are best steamed, larger ones grilled. They have a sweet, savory flavor that’s exquisite.”

[But aren’t sea creatures salty?]

“Beyond saltiness, there’s a sweet, umami taste. You’ll understand once you try it.”

[Hmmm.]

Dante’s expression turned quite serious. There were still many diverse flavors in the world that the child had yet to experience.

Watching him, Yerpi leaned her body against Raymond’s shoulder. She felt proud and grateful toward him for kindly letting the boy win.

“Exciting, isn’t it?”

“Yes. The silk clams you caught will taste the best.”

In that soft-spoken remark, she wondered if perhaps Dante’s kindness was inherited from Raymond.

Lately, she had noticed how much Dante and Raymond resembled each other.

It was natural they would be similar, since he carried his uncle’s blood—but for some reason, this resemblance unsettled her slightly.

Yerpi rose onto her tiptoes and whispered sweetly into his ear.

“Actually, I prefer fish over lobster. It’s a secret from Dante.”

With that sweet whisper, meal preparations continued.

Shortly after, trays carried in by maids filled the banquet hall with delicious aromas.

A large silver platter with a lid was placed onto the table.

When the maid carefully lifted the lid, steam rose, revealing today’s main dishes.

[Wowww!]

Dante let out a cry of amazement. At the very center was his blue lobster.

Presented with thin lemon slices on top, the lobster had been grilled with butter, cooked thoroughly through, and pre-cut into easy-to-eat portions—body and claws already prepared.

The princes who had remained in the castle today struggled to adjust to this sudden seafood feast.

“You mean the young master caught this all by himself? I’m truly impressed.”

“What? Lobsters live in caves?”

Their faces showed a mix of disbelief and admiration.

Yet, they couldn’t help swallowing their saliva at the delicious smell—clearly excited. It wasn’t just the lobster.

Next came the steamed seabream, grilled clams, and clam steam.

The unique aroma of seafood—salty yet sweet—spread richly across the table.

Before the meal began, Erseria stood up and personally poured wine into everyone’s glasses.

A transparent liquid with a pale yellow hue shimmered inside the glasses. A subtle, slightly sharp grape fragrance tickled their noses.

“Since it’s seafood, I’ve prepared white wine. For the young master, I’ve prepared non-alcoholic wine.”

Dante, who had been unhappy that his glass remained empty, perked up at Erseria’s words.

[Can I drink too?]

“Of course. It tastes similar, and it’s suitable for you as well.”

Holding a smaller bottle, Erseria filled Dante’s glass. Finally able to taste wine, Dante’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

“Shall we all raise our glasses to tonight’s banquet?”

“To the feast!”

“To the feast!”

Everyone happily raised their glasses to celebrate the banquet.

The fragrant white wine, with its light bergamot scent and pleasant mandarin acidity, was exquisite.

Dante’s drink was merely alcohol-free, otherwise identical in flavor—but after one sip, the child’s expression looked rather strange.

[So this is what it tastes like. The aroma is nice.]

Yet, he quietly pushed the glass away, clearly not to his liking.

No matter how much he tried to act mature, Dante was still a young child accustomed to the sweetness of juice.

When she poured him his favorite grapefruit juice, Dante broke into a bright smile.

The first dish to be attacked was the blue lobster grilled with lemon butter.

Taking a generous bite, the rich lobster meat, bursting with juice, combined with the refreshing acidity of lemon butter and the spicy kick of pepper, creating a rich harmony in the mouth.

[This taste is completely new!]

“It melts in your mouth.”

The firm, springy flesh dissolved with each chew, blending with the savory, salty sauce.

Even Raymond, who usually ate sparingly and was particularly sensitive to flavors, looked surprised. The meeting of top-tier ingredients and a skilled chef yielded dazzling results.

The white wine was likewise excellent—Erseria’s personally selected choice stood well on its own and paired beautifully with the seafood, earning high praise.

[It’s seriously too delicious.]

Tears welled up in Dante’s eyes as he melted in delight. The taste was truly that exceptional.

But there were still many dishes left to enjoy.

After refreshing his palate with a drink, Dante brought his knife to the fish steam placed before him.

The fish meat wasn’t just soft—it was springy and resilient. Poking the white flesh with a fork and placing it in his mouth, the chewy texture unfolded rich umami throughout his mouth.

[The fish steam is also super delicious.]

The clear broth, meant to be eaten alongside, was also exquisite in flavor. Both the lobster and seabream steam were equally outstanding—no clear winner.

Moreover, the silk clams danced in the mouth with their unique sweetness and chewy texture. Both the steamed and grilled clam dishes had their own distinct charm.

[I’ve never eaten clams before. They’re seriously too delicious. Uh, um.]

“What is it?”

Yerpi asked in surprise, seeing Dante suddenly stammer. Then, lowering his head shyly, Dante whispered quietly.

[The silk clams taste better than the lobster I caught.]

Yerpi, who had been staring blankly, burst into laughter at Dante’s words.

Apparently, the clams he had tasted for the first time suited his taste perfectly. Especially the grilled clams topped with spicy sauce and sprinkled with cheese, which captivated Dante’s tongue.

After tormenting his tongue with the spicy sauce, a refreshing clam broth awaited him.

Blowing on it before sipping, the broth was still hot enough to burn his tongue, but the rich, deep flavor enveloped his entire mouth, bringing both pain and happiness together.

“Wow, this is the best seafood dish I’ve ever eaten.”

Ubbus felt the same. For a drinker, the best food was naturally one that called for alcohol.

Unintentionally stimulating the drinkers, the clam steam dish eventually left not a single drop of broth behind.

The table, fully loaded with fresh seafood dishes, and the accompanying drinks lifted everyone’s spirits. It melted away even the coldest winter chill.