The cooking by Claire and the others was finally complete.
There were orthodox stir-fries of meat and vegetables, and soup.
A vibrantly colorful salad.
A sweet that resembled madeleines.
And then there was the pilaf-like rice dish, my favorite.
Perhaps Claire knew that and made it for me?
Although it seemed to be made with readily available ingredients, it looked quite luxurious when laid out.
“How is it? It’s our pride and joy,” Claire said with a beaming smile.
“It looks delicious~”
“Mmm, it smells good,” Racine and Lil nodded happily at each other.
“…Dita, I’m hungry,” Dita said, adorably holding her stomach.
“Then shall we all eat? Thank you for the meal,” I said. The four girls nodded with bright smiles.
“Hey, Abel… can I sit next to you?” Claire asked, her face blushing, with a shy smile.
“Ah, that’s unfair! I want to too… can I sit next to you?” Racine immediately approached from the other side.
“Ugh, you two are so forward…” Lil fidgeted but still subtly leaned closer.
This is…
A battle for the seats next to me?!
A situation where the girls fight over and snatch the seats next to me—what a wonderful scenario!
“…It’s empty, so I’ll sit,” Dita said, as I thought that. She used her small frame to slide into the seat to my right.
The competition ended abruptly.
Claire and the others seemed caught off guard and stood there in a daze.
“…” (stare) Dita, sitting next to me, stared intently at me.
Um, what is she trying to say?
“Are you asking if it’s okay to sit next to me?” I asked.
“…” (nod)
“Ah, you’re very welcome.”
Alright, I’ve communicated with Dita.
Even something as small as this makes me happy.
“Ah, hey!”
“You’re good, Lady Dita…”
“Dita-chan is forward too… how unexpected.”
Claire and the others finally snapped out of their daze and cried out in unison, as if they’d been defeated.
Then,
“…” (smoothly) Dita offered a madeleine.
“For me?”
“…Very, delicious.”
Dita, you have breadcrumbs on your mouth.
When did you even eat it…
“…Ah-an.”
I was fed the madeleine Dita offered.
Hmm, being fed like this, “ah-an,” is a first for me.
“Mumu… to sneak ahead so casually. Dita, you’re not to be underestimated…” Claire looked at me with inexplicable frustration.
“This is the rumored ‘ah-an’! Natasha said it’s a fundamental yet advanced technique to capture a man’s heart~!” Racine exclaimed, her eyes shining brightly.
“Th-then, I’ll go next… ah, but I’m still too embarrassed…!” Lil fidgeted next to her.
“I won’t lose either! Abel, you’ll accept my ‘ah-an’ next, okay?!” Claire sat on my left and offered me a piece of simmered potato.
“Oh, you make home-style cooking like this, huh?”
“It’s a bit… plain, ehehe,” Claire replied.
“It’s good. You’ll make a good bride, Claire,” I said casually. Claire’s face turned bright red, as if a sound had been made.
Hmm, what’s wrong?
“W-w-w-w-w-wife?!” she shouted, leaning her face close to mine.
“Uh, yeah…?”
“You said bride just now…!”
“I said you’d make a good bride… but…?” I was completely bewildered by her intensity.
“Bride… Hehehe, I see… this is, it’s a… public proposal… hehehehehe,” Claire muttered, apparently lost in her own fantasy. What’s going on?
“Lady Claire seems to have gone on a journey, so please accept my ‘ah-an’ instead, Lord Abel,” Racine said from the side, offering a spoon.
On it was a carrot, fragrant with butter.
It looked like it was candied, and it smelled delicious.
“I took the liberty of making it. Here, ah-an.”
“Ah, ah-an.” I took a bite of the candied carrot Racine offered.
Mmm, it’s delicious.
Not too strong, not too cloying—yet the flavor of the ingredients was fully brought out.
It has Racine’s characteristic gentle taste.
“If, if you like… please eat mine too, Abel-kun~” Lil also offered a spoon.
This looks like roasted nuts.
A nutty aroma, reminiscent of the forest, was quite appetizing.
“Ah, ah, ah, ah-an…!” He’s incredibly embarrassed.
The tips of his pointed ears are bright red.
But, he’s kind of cute.
“Ah-an.” I quickly ate the nuts Lil offered.
Mmm, the crunchy texture is nice too.
It has a natural flavor that brings out the ingredients.
“Ah, hey, while I was lost in my fantasies…! Ugh, I’m late,” Claire said, her face red, pushing herself toward me.
“You have to accept my ‘ah-an’ too, Abel!”
—And so, amidst the commotion, the night of the party with the girls wore on.
To an outsider, it might have seemed like trivial, perhaps insignificant, hours.
But I now clearly realized that it was precisely such ordinary and peaceful times that were the most precious and important.
And that to protect them—I had to fight those who sought to destroy them.
The next morning.
“Ah, the dinner party yesterday was so much fun,” I muttered with a grinning face.
Being showered with homemade meals by the girls was the best experience.
Of course, the food was delicious too.
Savoring the happy feeling, I arrived at Knight Order Headquarters.
As I approached, four figures came into view.
Girls with red ponytails, fluffy blonde hair, the same blonde short hair, and light blue hair in a medium length.
“Morning, Abel.”
“Good morning~”
“Abel-kun, good morning.”
“…” (bow)
It seemed Claire, Racine, Lil, and Dita were all coming to work together today.
“This is an unusual quartet,” I commented.
“Dita let us stay at her place yesterday,” Claire said.
“So we’re all coming to work together.”
“It was a girls’ sleepover! It was fun~” Racine chirped excitedly. Lil nodded next to her.
“Ehehe, this is my first time at a gathering like this. I didn’t have any girls my age in the village,” Lil said.
“…Very, fun,” Dita nodded. All four of them were smiling happily. It was heartwarming.
“…But the competition for love is another matter,” Claire muttered under her breath.
Her smile faded slightly, and her lips tightened.
“Indeed~” Racine and Lil also tightened their lips.
“……I don’t quite understand.” Dita looked confused.
It wasn’t tense, but there was a subtle, prickling tension in the air.
Lately, this kind of atmosphere had become more common when I was with Claire and the others.
