The person who knocked on the door was a maid from the mansion. However, her purpose wasn’t to summon me for a meeting with Lord Klausner but to invite me to a dinner with the Klausner family.
Since this was different from the original plan, preparations afterward got a bit chaotic. The source of the chaos? What I should wear. My opinion clashed with Marie and the others. According to the noble customs of this country, it’s standard to wear a dress for a formal dinner. So, Marie and the others suggested I wear a dress, but I insisted on sticking to the original plan of wearing a robe. Why did I insist on a robe? Simply put, I was utterly exhausted and didn’t want to wear anything restrictive.
Even as a plain woman, it’s not like I never admired sparkly, frilly things like dresses. The dresses popular in the Slantania Kingdom are so extravagant that they feel almost too grand to wear, but looking at them does make my heart flutter. Back in Japan, I enjoyed looking at cute clothes too. I just never thought they suited me, so I never wore them. It’s not that I didn’t want to try them on, but wearing something that didn’t feel right made me self-conscious.
So, when I came to this world and found myself in a situation where I had to wear a dress, I felt a tiny bit excited. In such circumstances, even a plain woman like me could wear a dress without feeling too guilty, it eased the self-consciousness a bit. However, actually wearing one made me realize that ideals and reality are quite different. Dresses might be nice to look at, but spending an entire day in one is incredibly tough. Especially the corset.
Even in normal condition, tightening a corset is rough, but right now, I’m certain I’d collapse if I tried wearing one. Plus, I couldn’t imagine eating dinner with my waist squeezed like that. That said, I did slightly regret my choice once I was seated at the dinner table. Why? Because I remembered the culinary customs of this country.
Having gotten used to the food at the research institute, I’d completely forgotten, but the cuisine here values the natural flavors of ingredients. In other words, it’s very bland. The fancier the dish, the more pronounced this is. Fruits are fine since they have natural tartness or sweetness, but meat dishes, honestly, leave me wanting more.
I was starving, so I started thinking maybe a dress would’ve been better. A corset tightening my waist might’ve distracted me from the hunger. But, to my pleasant surprise, those worries were unfounded. The food served was something familiar.
“This is…”
I looked at Lord Klausner in surprise, and he gave me a warm smile. The dish was roast chicken, garnished with rosemary. A whole roasted chicken was brought into the room, and the butler carved it for us. When I took a bite, the aroma of not just rosemary but other herbs filled my mouth.
“How is it?”
“It’s delicious. Is this a dish from Klausner Territory?”
“No, I heard that dishes using medicinal herbs have recently become popular at the royal palace, so we tried recreating one.”
That’s probably the dish I made, isn’t it? Though, I think today’s dish uses a wider variety of herbs. Perhaps the chef added their own twist? As a major producer of medicinal herbs, they might be particularly skilled with herb flavors. Following the herbal tea earlier, this was another moment where I felt the impressiveness of Klausner Territory.
The recipes I taught the chefs at the research institute have apparently spread to the palace cooks. Thanks to that, the palace cafeteria has gained a reputation for better food lately. Word must have reached nobles in various regions, and perhaps even the recipes themselves have spread. I might travel to other regions in the future, but if this is the case, maybe I won’t have to worry about meals. I hope the food situation in other regions has improved too.
While eating, Lord Klausner told me various things about the territory. The conversation wasn’t about the current situation in Klausner Territory but more of an introduction to the land.
Since the main industry here is medicinal herb cultivation, the talk naturally centered on herbs. He spoke about the herbs grown in the territory and those gathered around the town, fascinating topics. Some herb names were new to me, and I couldn’t help but ask detailed questions. Lord Klausner didn’t seem to mind and kindly explained everything.
“I hear you make potions, Lady Sei?”
“Yes, I usually make them at the Medicinal Flora Research Institute in the palace.”
“Is that so? Then you’re quite the skilled apothecary.”
“I’m not sure about skilled…”
“We have a dedicated apothecary in this castle as well.”
“Really?”
According to Lord Klausner, the castle’s apothecary is considered the best in town. To be called the best in a place known as the apothecary’s holy land, how amazing must they be? Suddenly, I recalled something Liz told me in the palace library about a secret potion recipe passed down through apothecary families. Someone of that caliber might know a lot about such potions. While getting the recipe might be difficult, I could probably learn more about general potions or herbs.
When I asked Lord Klausner if I could meet the apothecary, he readily agreed. It seemed he’d anticipated my request. The conversation moved quickly, and it was arranged for me to be introduced to the apothecary during my stay.
With that settled, the dinner came to an end. We’d talked so much that it was getting late. Come to think of it, I hadn’t asked about the territory’s situation. I got so caught up in herb talk that I completely forgot. Maybe I’ll ask Lord Klausner again tomorrow?
“What’s wrong?”
On the way back to my room, I was lost in thought when the Commander called out to me, looking concerned. He’d offered to escort me back after dinner, so we were walking together.
“I just realized I forgot to ask about the monster situation.”
“Oh, that? It’s fine. I already discussed it with Lord Klausner.”
“Huh?”
According to the Commander, while I was relaxing in my room, he’d spoken with Lord Klausner and a representative from the mercenary group hired by the territory. They didn’t call me because they were being considerate, knowing I was tired from the long journey. I appreciated the thoughtfulness, but I felt guilty for not participating in work-related matters.
“Will we start subjugating monsters tomorrow?”
“No, we’ll spend a few days surveying the area for reconnaissance. You can stay at the castle, Sei.”
“Understood.”
I checked in case we’d start subjugating monsters tomorrow, thinking I’d need to join to provide support, but that wasn’t the plan. As the Commander said, they’d need to scout the terrain and identify the types of monsters. If I’m allowed to stay behind, maybe I’ll visit the apothecary tomorrow. Oh, and if possible, I should ask if I can make potions at the castle. We brought some from the palace, but it’d be better to replenish them here. The capital was short on herbs, but since this is a major herb-producing area, they might have some in stock. I’ll check with Lord Klausner about herb supplies too. Discussing tomorrow’s plans with the Commander, I returned to my room.