Editing/Standardisation: Medicine Melancholy
Original Translation: Medicine Melancholy
Iris
“Does it… look weird on me?”
“No, it’s perfect in my opinion. You should be more confident in yourself.”
As I was checking my appearance, my attendant, a maid assigned to me by the Count, smiled and gave her approval.
My current outfit was a red checkered long skirt, currently in fashion for young ladies from high-class families, and a slightly thin blouse to wear during early summer.
Apparently, royalty in this country had laxer dress code than I expected, saving the elaborate dress that looks like it comes out of a storybook for only the most important occasions.
Thanks to that, I was able to wear something comfortable and easy to move in.
…Though, this outfit must be quite expensive.
I was walking towards a room in the annex, a small basket in hand.
Inside was a late lunch for Reiji-san, who didn’t show up anywhere even at lunchtime.
Recently, Reiji-san was either locked up in his study or sweating it out on the training ground, and I was worried that he wasn’t eating properly.
So I got permission from the Count to use the kitchen, and I tried my hand in cooking for the first time after so long.
I was pretty confident in it myself. Nii-sama, Titilia-san, the head chef, and the maids all gave the thumb up. Even the Count, busy as he was, set aside some of his time to give it a taste and almost ate it all.
“I wonder if Reiji-san will like it too…”
My steps were light as I approached the Count’s private study, where Reiji-san holed up inside.
As I reached my destination, my heart started to beat faster.
Still, I took a deep breath, strengthened my resolve, and knocked on the door lightly.
“Please excuse me…”
The door was unlocked, and the knob turned easily when I put my hand on it. I quietly opened the door, and found the person I was looking for right away.
He was sitting with his back to me, looking engrossed in a book… but if I looked closely, his head was slightly bobbing up and down.
I moved to the front to check on him… It seemed that he had fallen asleep halfway through reading a book, which was still open on his lap.
“Reiji-san?”
“Hngh… Huh, did I fall asleep?”
With a loud yawn, he got up and immediately reached for the book, but I gently stopped him.
“You shouldn’t overwork yourself like that. It’s already past noon, you need to eat something.”
“…Yeah, my bad.”
“It’s fine. I’m actually amazed that you’re so devoted to studying lately.”
As I said that, I took out the contents of the basket on the table… a dish like quiche in my old world, made with vegetables and bacon, and served it on a plate.
I made it in the kitchen I borrowed, using the recipe Auntie Miranda had given me.
I felt bad for the chefs there, who watched from behind me with anxiety the entire time, but to be honest, it was fun to cook for someone.
Thinking that the quiche might not be enough for Reiji-san, I also prepared a few round breads, some cheese and pickles, along with a flask of sugared tea to help him study… I lined them up on the table.
However, all of this food was for him only. As for me, I brought some tea of my own, that’s all.
“Iris, aren’t you going to eat too?”
“I don’t know why, but I haven’t had much of an appetite since this morning. I did have a little taste, so please don’t worry about me.”
“Okay then, I’m digging in.”
I watched with bated breath as Reiji-san took a fork and cut off a piece of the quiche, then carried it to his mouth.
“…Damn, that’s so good!”
“Hehe, I’m glad that you like it.”
Though, all things considered, it was a surprisingly easy recipe. I just needed to stir-fry vegetables and bacon, mix them with eggs and cream, pour them into a pie crust, add cheese, and bake in the oven.
The most difficult part was operating the oven, but the kitchen staff helped me with adjusting the temperature and checking the baking time, so I didn’t have to do much… In the future, I would definitely try out more difficult recipes, if the Count permitted me to use the kitchen again.
“I mean, this is some serious gourmet stuff you cooked. Thanks.”
“It’s my pleasure.”
For a while, only the sound of dishes clinking could be heard in the room.
“Is your studying difficult?”
“Well, I take it upon myself to study, so I can’t complain about it. You and Saul are studying etiquette too, right?”
“Yes… it’s completely different from what I’m used to back in the game…”
“Hahaha… Guess we all have to work hard in our own way, huh?”
“That’s right.”
We both let out a wry smile.
“By the way, are you still not allowed to go outside?”
Reiji-san, who seemed to realize something, suddenly asked.
“Not yet… Captain Walter and the mercenaries will catch up with us soon, so I was told that I can go out when Philias-san returns.”
I told him Titilia-san, who was itching to go shopping with me, was very unhappy to hear that, to which Reiji-san replied with a simple “I see”.
“Well, when that time comes, feel free to call upon me. I’m happy to escort you guys, and it’ll be a good change of pace for me as well.”
“Yes, I shall take your offer with grace.”
When I said that with a serious face, as if it were part of my etiquette studies, we both burst out laughing, even though I didn’t know what was so funny.
Thinking about it, it feels like it’s been a while since we had a proper conversation in the past few days. I’m really glad I made lunch.
While thinking about such things, I tilted my cup and look at Reiji-san, who was engrossed in his meal.
The early summer sun shining through the window was still soft, and the breeze blowing in provided just the right amount of coolness.
As such peaceful time slowly flowed by… suddenly, I felt sleepy.
My hands were already shaking as I put the cup back on the saucer. The sleepiness then became irresistible, and my consciousness sank into the darkness…
“…e up! Hey, wake up!”
As the sensation of being lightly shaken and a voice reached my ears, my consciousness floated back to the surface.
“Thank goodness, you’re finally awake. Don’t just fall asleep so suddenly on me, you know?”
“I feel asleep?”
“Are you really alright? When you said you had no appetite, I was worried that something’s wrong with you.”
“No, it’s not like that…”
It was a lie. The truth is… since yesterday, I’d been suddenly overcome by sleepiness and falling into a deep sleep all of a sudden.
On the other hand, my sleep cycle had become unstable, such as not being able to sleep at night.
Once, I almost fell asleep while walking, and I almost collapsed if Nii-sama hadn’t been by my side.
But, even if Reiji-san in front of me looked so worried, I couldn’t tell him about it…
APM - Translation 