"Now, this is a banquet prepared by the royal chefs. Please enjoy it without holding back."
"Thank you very much!"
After touring the royal castle, the banquet was held in a dining hall with an exceptionally high ceiling. The long table, which could comfortably seat twenty, was filled with dishes without any gaps. By the way, each guest had a servant attending to them, and my servant was none other than Till, who stood with her chest puffed out... no, with her shoulders tensed, looking quite determined. She seemed incredibly nervous, occasionally glancing sideways at the other maids while standing behind me with heavy breaths.
Meanwhile, I was ecstatic, spotting dishes I had never seen before and unable to contain my excitement.
"Oh, this looks delicious too. Till, could you serve me a bite of this as well? Ah, there’s no need to be so elaborate with the plating..."
"Please wait a moment... Alright, let me add this sprig of torque leaf last..."
For some reason, Till seemed to be adding some form of rivalry to this. Every time she served a dish, she carefully arranged it as though it belonged in a display case. It was beautiful, but I was eager to try the next dish.
"Mmm, it’s delicious. Thank you, Till."
"Not at all! Now, which dish would you like next?"
Even so, I couldn’t forget to express my gratitude to Till. After thanking her, Till, with a radiant smile, held a plate in one hand and posed with enthusiasm.
Watching this exchange, His Majesty and Panamera couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
"Hahaha! This is a different atmosphere than usual, but this kind of banquet isn’t so bad!"
"Your Majesty, in Van Viscount’s domain, this is the usual banquet."
"Ah, I envy Panamera-sama, who gets to enjoy this whenever. By the way, how is the new territory? It’s your first time in your own domain, right?"
"It is an honor to have been entrusted with such a wonderful land. In the future, my territory will not only develop further but also become an important base for keeping an eye on the Yellenetta Kingdom. I will do my utmost to fulfill this important responsibility."
Panamera gave an unusually polite response to His Majesty’s question. It was oddly amusing. The way Panamera acted like a cat being all polite, priceless. Once she sheds the skin of that cat, she’s a ruthless empress. Quite the story, really. If this were a cat café, it’d be nothing short of fraud.
Thinking about this silly thought, I took a bite of the new dish Till served.
It was a salad with a crisp, slightly salty texture. The vegetables were crunchy, and when bitten into, they had a sweet flavor—delicious. Wait, is this something you'd find in an izakaya? Does the "Izakaya Berlineto" not have yakitori? Oh, but this herb-roasted dish is really delicious. The skin is roasted to a crisp, and when you bite into it, the tender meat bursts with juices. The seasoning has a slight spiciness that enhances the rich flavor. This izakaya is a hit.
"Oh, Van Viscount seems to be enjoying himself."
As I happily ate, His Majesty nodded in satisfaction and said this. Then, Apelta, who had been eating with a serious face, turned just his head to look at me.
"Your Majesty, should we talk about the Fiesta Kingdom soon?"
"Hmm, yes... Though we’re in the middle of a meal, is it alright?"
"Ah, yes."
"Boy, hurry up and swallow what’s in your mouth."
"...Alright, I’ve swallowed it."
After Panamera’s prompt, I quickly finished my bite, and His Majesty nodded with a wry smile.
"It’s lacking in tension, but this level is just right."
With that, he raised his face.
"...So, as you two have felt, what are your thoughts on the Fiesta Kingdom? I’d like to hear your opinions on what lies ahead as well."
His Majesty lowered his tone and asked this. Panamera immediately straightened up and answered.
"Ah! As a maritime nation, I feel that the Fiesta Kingdom is the most powerful nation on the sea right now. On land, we would never lose, but it would be wise to avoid sea battles... Furthermore, I believe we should form an alliance as soon as possible. I only spoke with a knight who could be considered a commander, but he had a straightforward and honest personality, fitting of a man of the sea. From my experience, a nation led by such a person as a leader of a military unit is incredibly tenacious and a real hassle to deal with."
Panamera focused on the aspect of battle, and His Majesty nodded deeply in agreement. Then, he turned his gaze to me.
"So, Van Viscount, what do you think?"
When His Majesty said this, everyone’s gaze turned toward me. Feeling their eyes on me, I began thinking about the Fiesta Kingdom from a different perspective.
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