Volume 6 Chapter 2 Sir Ciel's Creamy Omelette Rice And Gem Salad
This year is the Year of the Snow White Rabbit.
That means it's the year of Eir-Eir.
Eir-Eir isn't exactly a rabbit. It has small ears that look a bit like a rabbit's, but its body is more like an owl, so it's a little different. But still, it's a rabbit!
So, Sir Ciel's omelette rice is shaped like Eir-Eir...!
Instead of mixing the rice with tomato-flavored chicken rice, we keep it white and stir-fry it with butter.
We shape it into an egg shape, cut small sausages for ears, use seaweed for the eyes, and then cover it with fluffy eggs like a cozy blanket.
That way, we get Eir-Eir snuggled up in an egg blanket!
We chop up tomatoes, bell peppers, lettuce, and cuc*mbers into small pieces, add some raspberries on top, and toss in some small boiled shrimp for a colorful gem salad, along with refreshing lemon tea.
We place the finished dishes on a tray and take them to the customers.
"Here you go! Sir Ciel's gentle creamy omelette rice and gem salad!"
"Wow! A bunny...!"
Olive, who came to eat with his father, Dr. Michael, smiled happily.
"Sir Ciel's omelette rice is a bunny! Just like the bunny on your head, big sister!"
"I was planning to make regular omelette rice, but since it's the Year of the Snow White Rabbit, I thought it would be cute to shape it like Eir-Eir..."
"It's super cute, big sister! Dad is cute too!"
"Really, Olivia? Cute, huh..."
"Yeah! Dad is cute!"
In front of Dr. Michael, there's also a cute omelette rice shaped like Eir-Eir.
It seems cute in front of the serious Dr. Michael.
Anyway, I'm glad Olive is happy.
"Pumpkin pudding!"
"So cute, little pumpkin pudding!"
"Pumpkin!"
Eir-Eir is flapping her arms happily on my head.
"If you'd like, we also have salmon cream soup. Would you like some? It's on the house."
"Thank you, sister. I wonder if I can eat that much..."
"You have to eat a lot, Olivia. Ms. Lydia, let's have the soup too. Of course, I'll pay for it. Recently, the number of patients with White Moon disease has decreased a lot, so my clinic can function like a regular clinic now. Before, we were barely managing with government support, but finally, we're not in the red anymore."
"Is that so...?"
Dr. Michael said calmly.
I brought the salmon soup and placed it gently in front of the two of them.
In front of the restaurant's magic stone stove, Dad and Ms. Famine are cozy on the long-haired carpet laid out in front of it.
Eir-Eir is on my head, my shoulder, and even in my apron pocket.
"Are there many sick or injured people?"
"There are quite a few because the Holy City has a lot of people. And until now, people relied on going to the Great Temple to get help from the saint to heal their illnesses or injuries, right? After the recent incident at the Great Temple, people realized there's no saint, and they got worried. As a result, they started relying on the clinic."
"...I sometimes think I should go back to the Great Temple. My cooking has the power to heal illnesses and injuries."
Hearing Dr. Michael's words made me feel a bit guilty, and he quietly shook his head.
"I don't think that's right. It feels strange to say this since you helped Olivia, but if everyone knew about your power, they would start relying on you. Even for small injuries or minor illnesses, some people might come to you for help."
"...Is that so?"
"People can be anxious and greedy. Of course, there are patient ones too, but some will make a big fuss over even a small cut, acting like it's a matter of life and death."
Olive shrugged at Dr. Michael's words and sighed, "It's just a lack of courage. A lot of guys are like that."
"...When there are times when treatment centers or healing magic can't help, there are people who will rely on your strength. I think that's just how it is, but if you were worshipped as a saint at the Great Temple, people who aren't even in need would reach out to you for help."
"...But healing injuries and illnesses is a good thing."
"You have to remember that there are limits to what you can save with your own hands. If you don't, those of us who try to heal others will just end up exhausted. You should keep in mind that your small body can only handle so much."
"Listen, big sister. My dad can use medicine to heal illnesses and stitch up big injuries, and he's good at healing magic too. But even my dad has limits to his strength and magic. If too many patients come, he would get completely worn out, right? It's the same for you."
While munching on salmon stew, Olive said this.
I remembered Sir Ciel, who had left a meat pie in front of my house on a snowy day.
"Yeah... that might be true. A little while ago, Sir Ciel told me not to use my magic because he was out of power..."
"Ms. Lydia. You shouldn't underestimate magic depletion. If you keep using magic while your power is empty, it can even be dangerous for your life."
"...I'll be careful."
I nodded.
Dr. Michael might be right. Thinking I could heal everyone with my power is probably arrogant.
I shouldn't get the wrong idea.
Besides, I chose to cook at Lobelia Diner House.
All I can do is serve meals to the people who come here to eat.
"Big sister, is Sir Ciel doing well? When I was sick, he often came to the clinic, but now I'm all better... He brought me a present during the Christmas festival. It was from everyone at Saintwise. A butter cake for everyone. It was delicious."
"I met Sir Ciel on New Year's Day... After that, he seems busy with work, so he hasn't come here."
"Isn't he your boyfriend?"
"He's not my boyfriend...!"
"I thought you named a dish after your boyfriend. A cute big sister like you must have 5 boyfriends."
"They're just friends, Olive..."
──That night.
Sir Ciel looked like he was in pain.
I can't understand everything about Sir Ciel, but I hope my words and my cooking can make him feel a little better.
"Friends... Am I your friend too?"
"Yes! Of course, Olive."
"I'm happy. You can be my mom if you want!"
"Mom?"
For some reason, Eir-Eir lightly hit my head as if a bit annoyed.
"Pumpkin pudding!"
"Tarte Tatin...!"
I could also hear Ms. Famine protesting from a little distance away.
"...Olivia. Stop bothering Ms. Lydia. ...But I thought it would be busier here, but it seems not. I was worried that Ms. Lydia's reputation was spreading around town."
"Oh, that's because Uncle Ferdur is hiding Lydia's existence... and the magicians are keeping an eye on this place, I guess."
A handsome guy in foreign clothes suddenly appeared at the counter──Elder Brother Chrisrain said this with a knowing look.
He was wearing fluffy fur over his shoulders today, giving off a very luxurious vibe.
"Elder Brother."
"Elder Brother...! He does look a bit like you, big sister, but he gives off a flashy and rich vibe."
Kids are so honest. Just like Olive said, Elder Brother Chrisrain perfectly fits the impression of being flashy and rich.
"Magicians are watching?"
"Yeah. I think they said Saintwise? They seem to be guarding you. I know because I was stopped as a suspicious person when I tried to come in here once."
"Was it when you delivered the crabs?"
"Yeah, that's right. Once I revealed who I was, they let me in. They're just making sure that someone like me doesn't get too close to Lydia. It's the Saintwise group... or something like that. I think it's called the Fairy Lydia Worshippers."
"...Mr. Leavis."
I covered my face with my hands because I felt embarrassed.
If Mr. Leavis and the Saintwise group are keeping an eye on me, then Sir Ciel probably knows about it too.
I'm grateful, but I also feel bad and embarrassed.
"...Am I bothering you by being here...?"
"That was supposed to be a secret. Sorry, I let it slip. But it's okay, right? Everyone enjoys doing it. By the way, I live my life the way I want too. At the start of the year, I went back to my country, and my younger brothers told me not to wander around forever... They're so cute. Everyone loves me so much that they just want to scold me."
Elder Brother Chrisrain is really positive.
I want to be like that.
"...So, Lydia. I came to hear your answer. If you feel guilty about being here, maybe it's better to go to Elgard together."
I knew that's what he wanted to ask.
Elder Brother Chrisrain invited me to go to the Elgard Kingdom with him a little while ago.
I...
"I'm sorry I can't answer right away. I really want to stay here. ...I might be a bother to everyone, but I really like Lobelia Diner House."
"...Yeah, I thought you'd say that."
Elder Brother Chrisrain nodded easily at my answer, then said, "Can I have an omelet rice too? The same cute one as that lady."
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