Volume 1 Chapter 50 Invitation To The Autumn Festival Mushroom Picking Contest ~takeirimatsutake Is The Seasonal Flavor~
It's been about 6 months since I escaped to the south district of Arsubania.
The season has passed summer and is about to welcome autumn.
During these 6 months, I've been cooking while crying a lot, and I've only been going back and forth between the market and the restaurant. I haven't had the energy to pay attention to local events.
"Mushroom picking contest, does it sound fun, Mr. Lucian...?"
"Hmm? Ah, ...I've never participated in such events, but maybe because I'm feeling down, it sounds fun."
Mr. Lucian crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly.
"What exactly do you do in a mushroom picking contest...?"
What is mushroom picking anyway?
Do you hunt mushrooms?
Like monsters.
"I went octopus fishing the other day with Mr. Tsukuyomi, but I've never done mushroom picking..."
"Since south district Arsubania hasn't developed much compared to other areas of the Holy Capital, there's still a lot of nature left. There are many forests and mountains. It seems like in one of those, the Fetoru Forest, they have a contest to see who can collect the most or the biggest mushrooms."
Mr. Lucian explained while looking at a flyer.
I nodded, "Uh-huh."
So mushroom picking is about collecting mushrooms.
Mushrooms grow at the base of trees. So, it's a contest to collect them.
Mushrooms. They're nice, right? When you think of autumn, you think of chestnuts, mushrooms, and sweet potatoes.
"Arsubania's autumn festival is also a harvest festival, so many shops set up stalls and a lot of crops are sold. Lydia, you seem to be worried about the new menu, so it might be fun to go."
Mr. Lucian said this as if it didn't really matter to him.
Earlier, he said it sounded fun.
"Mr. Lucian, aren't you going?"
"Me? I don't really go to festivals. I'm usually working, so I don't get to enjoy them."
"Then, um, how about we join the mushroom picking together...! Mr. Lucian, you seem a bit down. I've never gone mushroom picking, but it might be fun."
"Are you inviting me, Lydia...?"
"Y-yes, um, the customers for your 'Realistic Sausages' have increased. They're a good size, easier for women to eat than Sir Ciel's or Sir Roxas's."
"I see... It's a complicated feeling, but maybe I should be happy about this."
"I-I think being realistic is just right, so I eat them sometimes."
"...Lydia."
Mr. Lucian's eyes look a bit brighter. He seems happy.
"...I wonder if it's okay to be happy about this."
While elegantly sipping tea, Sir Roxas interrupted with a look of disbelief.
I shot a quick glare at Sir Roxas.
Mr. Lucian seems a bit happier now, so I wish Sir Roxas would just be quiet.
"Well, um... the first person to come to my restaurant was Mr. Lucian. So, um, if he's not feeling well, I'm worried. I thought maybe going mushroom picking together would help him feel better."
"No, no! No way, Lydia. I won't allow you to go mushroom picking in the forest with Lucian. Being alone in the forest is not allowed! It's dangerous!"
As I was trying hard to cheer up Mr. Lucian, Sir Roxas stood up from his chair with a clatter.
Sir Roxas seems really desperate. Is mushroom picking really that bad?
"Why do I need Sir Roxas's permission...? The Holy City's forest is managed by the knights, and there are no monsters or dangerous animals, so it's safe."
"No, but...!"
"Does Sir Roxas want to go mushroom picking too?"
"That's not the point..."
Sir Roxas seems clumsy, so he probably isn't good at mushroom picking.
"I wasn't planning to join, so I didn't really look at the flyer, but... people can take the mushrooms they pick home, right? There are 3 types of mushrooms in the Fetoru Forest: Hirahira Maitake, Oni Shimeji, and Takeri Matsutake."
Hirahira Maitake is a mushroom with a cap that spreads out like lace on a dress, and it has a deep flavor.
Oni Shimeji has a thicker and sturdier stem than regular shimeji, making it filling and delicious.
And then there's Takeri Matsutake──
"Mr. Lucian, Takeri Matsutake is really tasty. They can be this big and this thick, and the bigger they are, the more expensive they get!"
I expressed the stem and cap with both of my hands.
Mr. Lucian looked at my hands with interest.
"Takeri Matsutake..."
"Yes! It's a rare and expensive item! If we find a lot, let's make mushroom hot pot. Mushroom hot pot and tempura. Mushrooms are delicious. I'm sure they will boost your energy and make you hungry."
"...Lydia, that's true. ...I might want to eat your cooking."
Mr. Lucian smiled, which made me feel a bit relieved.
Being dragged around by Francois and His Highness for protection must be tiring.
I probably won't see those 2 again, but I still feel a sense of responsibility.
"Y-yes...! I might not win, but... the festival should be fun, maybe. ...I don't really know since I've never been to a festival."
"I'm the same, Lydia. It's our first experience together. Please take care of me."
"Yes!"
"...W-wait, Lydia, I also...!"
Sir Roxas interrupted in a hurry.
I wonder if Sir Roxas wanted to go mushroom hunting too.
But since Sir Roxas is the next Duke, he can't join a commoner's festival, so I can't really invite him.
Besides, Mr. Lucian is the one who seems down right now.
"I'm sorry, Sir Roxas. I was the one invited. I have no intention of giving that up."
"Lucian... I thought you and I were not friends of Lydia. I let my guard down."
Sir Roxas frowned and shook his head lightly.
After that, he started to clean up the plates he had used. I saw the cup wobbling on the plate because he was trying to carry everything at once, so I quickly took the dishes from Sir Roxas and carried them to the kitchen.
"Um, Sir Roxas, did you want to go mushroom hunting too? It's free to join, but we need to be in pairs. What should we do? Should you go with Mr. Lucian?"
"Why does it have to be like that?"
"Why does it have to be like that, Lydia?"
I thought I should step back and let them have fun together, but for some reason, Sir Roxas and Mr. Lucian gave me a look that felt like they were blaming me, so I blinked in surprise.
"Um, I was thinking of inviting Sir Ciel to join, so you don't have to worry about me..."
"That's the worst idea."
Sir Roxas said that in the strongest tone of the day.
Mr. Lucian was whispering something in Sir Roxas's ear.
"Because Sir Roxas keeps butting in, it looks like I'll end up going mushroom hunting with you. Sir Roxas, please hold back. You took Lydia around in a maid outfit the other day, right? While I was busy guarding that girl with the poodle-like name..."
"That way of saying it is misleading. I think guarding a poodle is sad, but still..."
"Yeah, Ciel is the worst."
"I think so too."
I didn't understand what they were talking about, but the two of them nodded at each other.
Then Sir Roxas said, "I'm not going mushroom hunting," left some money on the table, and confidently walked out of the shop.
I wonder if Sir Roxas is feeling unstable, saying he wants to pick mushrooms and then saying he doesn't.
"Lydia... On the day of the autumn festival, I will definitely take a day off. I'm looking forward to it."
"Y-yes! Mr. Lucian, let's pick a lot of mushrooms!"
So, I ended up going to the autumn festival with Mr. Lucian.
He squeezed my hands together to get pumped up.
After looking at me with a smile, Mr. Lucian ruffled my hair and left some money before going home.
In the end, Mr. Lucian only drank coffee.
──I'm worried.
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