Luella, who had been smiling with Xenon, suddenly remembered something she had heard in the afternoon and asked,

“Xenon, is it true that people here are rationed food?”

“Rationed?”

“What do you mean by rationed?”

Rafael, Michel, and Hazen looked at Luella with surprised faces. Xenon, who had been swinging his healed arm around, spoke as he glanced at the surprised surroundings.

“A few years ago, a big famine led to increased consumption of stored grain, and recently, some regions in the granary areas became monster territories, causing harvests to drastically decrease. As a result, the food shortage has become extremely severe, and we have switched all food materials, except for bread and vegetables, to rationing.”

“Is the rationing carried out properly?”

At Luella’s question, Xenon shook his head.

“The distribution follows rank, so those at the bottom, the lower-class citizens, have not been properly rationed for a long time.”

As expected. Luella had figured that if the nobles were also being rationed, the commoners would be worse off, and the answer was as expected.

Luella cautiously asked with a regretful expression,

“Is your household okay, Xenon?”

Xenon hesitated for a moment before answering.

“It’s fine since we can buy bread.”

Luella stared at Xenon intently.

“I heard that the amount one can buy is limited. Even when I first arrived in the realm a few days ago, I was told that I could only buy bread if I showed my traveler’s pass. I thought it was due to hostile announcements against Luella Rominin, but now I think there might have been another reason.”

Xenon looked at the empty potion bottles disappearing from the desk with surprised eyes before nodding.

“Yes. As you said, the Curan royal family has started to control everything. It wasn’t like this until a few months ago, but recently the controls have become more strict, using the food situation within the kingdom as a reason. Now, everything is managed by the Balder Guild.”

“I worry you might face repercussions for today’s events,” Luella expressed her concern.

Xenon smiled brightly.

“It’s fine. It’s only for a day or two.”

Hazen seemed to catch something in Xenon’s reply.

“Not just a day or two? Are you being bullied by someone?”

“Don’t worry.”

“Be honest.”

After looking at the worried faces surrounding him, Xenon cautiously spoke,

“There has been talk about guarding the Peroz mansion for some time. Before, it was just mockery and ridicule, but now…”

Everyone could guess what the unsaid words meant. Luella gave a bitter smile.

“Did it get worse since the news spread that I joined the Peroz Guild?”

“Yes. But it’s fine. It will stop.”

Luella hadn’t imagined that Xenon would face ostracism just for guarding the place. Now aware, Hazen sighed deeply.

“Who’s doing the bullying?”

“The guard guild and the neighbors.”

Luella couldn’t help but look surprised.

“What are they saying to bully you?”

“They tell me to quit immediately. They say they will expel me from the guild.”

“And yet you continue this guard duty?”

In response to Luella’s question, Xenon shook his head determinedly.

“How could I quit when Your Grace has been so kind? If we don’t guard, you won’t be able to find anyone else.”

While grateful for Xenon’s loyalty, Luella was also furious at the pettiness of the Balder Guild Master. She looked at Hazen, Rafael, and Michel.

“Can we have Xenon join our guild?”

Rafael stroked his chin before answering,

“It’s fine, but won’t that make him even more subject to bullying?”

“That might be true. But we can’t just let it go. Ah, how’s our food situation?”
Every day there was plenty to eat, so it didn’t seem like there would be a shortage. However, Luella wanted to be certain as she hoped to bring Xenon’s family to the mansion.

Mitchel responded to Luella’s question as if to alleviate her worries.

“We’re fine, we bring supplies from Elrab. Kite will be bringing another large batch of food and essentials when he comes.”

Luella frowned.

“So, if the port gets blocked, we could starve sitting here?”

“But why would that happen? We’re in an open state of exchange.”

“But what happens if an actual fight breaks out?”

At Luella’s point, Hazen nodded. They hadn’t neglected to consider that something could happen, as they had come to execute the Kurran Duke.

“We need to prepare for that beforehand.”

“Would we need Kite’s permission to join the guild?”

“Not permission, but we’ll need to consult him.”

“Alright. Ah, Xenon, you haven’t eaten yet? Wait here for a moment; I’ll get some food. Is everyone else okay with a brief meeting?”

Luella first ushered her accompanying colleagues into the reception room before running to the kitchen to request a snack from Emma.

“I really need to find a maid. You won’t find another young lady of nobility frequently popping into the kitchen like this.”

“Even if we do find a maid, I’ll still frequent here. There’s no place as safe and comfortable. Thanks for hiding me earlier.”

When Balder intruded, Luella and Tien had been hiding between Emma’s wide skirt and the kitchen table.

“Thanking me for what’s a given?”

“Weren’t you scared of Balder? Everyone here seems to tremble at just his name.”

“I’m from Leor. Besides, Duke Esper getting angry is much scarier.”

“Kite gets angry too?”

Luella pondered Kite’s actions.

He had protected her in the monster habitat and had tried to console her when she was upset today.

Even changing the bedroom furniture was Kite’s doing.

By all accounts, Kite was not a scary person. He was kind, understanding, and supportive.

She couldn’t understand Emma’s judgment that found such a considerate person scary.

Emma looked at Luella, displeased.

“Are you really asking?”

“Yes, I’m curious.”

“I’m not scared of anyone in this world, except Duke Esper. I wouldn’t let anyone else leave my food untouched, but if His Grace does, I don’t make a peep. I’d try to understand why.”

“Isn’t that just the attitude of a chef loyal to their master? You take great pride in your kitchen work.”

Smiling, Emma placed the baked meat pie on a plate.

“My, my, our young lady sure knows how to put things nicely. That’s why I like you.”

“Eh, you’re just seeing me through rose-colored glasses.”

“My, my, young lady…”

Emma became momentarily shy, then resumed speaking.

“Anyway, Duke Esper getting angry is truly terrifying. His childhood friends even avoid him. So, my lady, don’t challenge His Grace.”

“Oh my, Emma! When have I ever done that?”

Emma poured hot water into the teapot.
“You think I don’t know you’re here? If you leave the kitchen door open when you’re bored, you can pretty much find out everything. Weren’t people worried yesterday that Miss was angry?”

“Run away? I just had some important business to attend to. Oh right, I leveled up and got a weapon too. Let me treat your back again.”

To change the subject, Luella quickly summoned her staff and shot Emma’s back with the highest-level healing skill she had recently acquired. Emma’s eyes widened in surprise; it seemed that the pain disappeared instantly.

“Oh my, oh my. What’s going on here? It’s completely better.”

Emma twisted her back this way and that, letting out exclamations of amazement.

“Really? You’re really okay now?”

With an excited expression, Emma responded while placing the dishes that had been set with food onto a tray.

“Yes. I’m much better than before. It’s only been a day, but Miss is truly remarkable.”

“I promised, didn’t I? I’ll get you completely better with more training. Are you done? Can I take it?”

“Yes, I’m done. I made some snacks for when you get hungry, so have some if you need to. I’m going to rest now.”

“Okay, Emma, thank you. Go get some rest.”

Luella thanked Emma, who was slowly starting to clean up the kitchen, and then took the tray into the medicine room.