Volume 7 Chapter 1 A Perfect Day For Cherry Blossom Viewing And Preparing Lunch Boxes
Spring has come to Bernard Kingdom.
And when people think of spring, they think of cherry blossom viewing.
On a small hill in the south district of the Holy Capital Ascalith, there's a mysterious cherry blossom tree. This tree was grafted from a cherry blossom sent as a token of friendship from Wakoku country to the Bernard royal family.
The sight of the mysterious cherry blossoms blooming on the wide hill is breathtaking, and during spring, people from all over the Holy Capital gather to enjoy the cherry blossoms.
By the way, I've never been there, and I've never seen it.
Around this time last year, I was just going back and forth between Lobelia and the market, and even when Mx. Margaret said, "Lyd-Lyd, let's go see the cherry blossoms. It'll be fun," I would say, "Sorry... I'm busy..." and turn them down.
It was true that I was busy.
Back then, Mr. Lucian would often come by with the knights to eat, and making one meal for myself was completely different from making a lot for guests.
I was struggling with a job I wasn't used to, and managing money was something I was doing for the first time, not to mention shopping.
And anyway, I wasn't feeling great, so I was in a dark mental space, like a collection of grudges and complaints, and I just didn't feel like going to see the cherry blossoms.
Looking back now, I think, why didn't I go when Mx. Margaret invited me?
Anyway, that was how last year was.
"But this year, it's cherry blossom viewing. Let's all go together."
I want to show Eir-Eir and the others the mysterious cherry blossoms.
According to the legend of the Holy Capital, the love of couples who pledge their love under the mysterious cherry blossoms becomes eternal.
It's so romantic. So nice.
By the way, last year when I heard that story, I said, "There's no such thing as eternal love; men cheat...!" and I was rebelling against Mx. Margaret like a rebellious daughter.
Mx. Margaret chuckled, "Well, it's just a legend. Isn't it romantic? Swearing love under the cherry blossoms, or throwing coins into the Ascalith fountain to get tied together, and then touching the statue of Goddess Alexandria at the Great Temple to find a lover. There are all sorts of stories like that."
At that time, I had already come to the truth that men are unfaithful creatures, so I was only half-listening.
"Eir-Eir, Ms. Famine, Nel-Nel, my dad, and me. If we all eat under the cherry blossoms, we'll surely be together forever."
"Pumpkin pudding."
"Tarte Tatin."
"Fried horse mackerel."
"That sounds nice, Lydia. But even if I swear love with the kids... is there no one else I want to take along?"
"Hmm..."
I was busy shaping rice balls.
The fillings were cod roe, salmon, pickled plum, and tuna.
I packed triangular rice balls wrapped in seaweed into a basket.
Then, fluffy egg sandwiches, ham sandwiches with ham, cheese, and crunchy lettuce.
I spread butter on sliced bread and added the fillings.
Octopus-shaped sausages and crab-shaped sausages. Fried horse mackerel, which Nel-Nel loves, and strawberries for dessert.
"Someone I want to take..."
That means someone I want to swear love to, right?
The first face that came to mind was Sir Ciel's.
Remembering when my magic was drained, I covered my mouth with my hand and blushed.
I shook my head vigorously. I shouldn't remember that; it was just a survival instinct, or so they say.
Lovers are supposed to kiss, but that was different.
"Lydia. Your face is red. Do you have a crush on someone!? Tell your dad!"
"N-no, Dad. And why do I have to tell you?"
"I challenge him to a duel. I can't let a weaker man have you, Lydia."
"Pumpkin pudding!"
"Tarte Tatin!"
"Fried horse mackerel!"
Dad's enthusiasm somehow got Eir-Eir, Ms. Famine, and Nel-Nel all hyped up too.
On the kitchen counter, Eir-Eir was bouncing around, "boing boing," while Ms. Famine showed her claws, and Nel-Nel stood on her back legs, lost her balance, and tumbled over with a "thud."
Right away, Eir-Eir and Ms. Famine tried to help, but ended up getting squished under big Nel-Nel with a "puff."
Dad said, "Are you okay, kids?" as he grabbed Ms. Famine and Eir-Eir with his mouth and pulled them out from under Nel-Nel.
"A puppy is... dueling..."
"Not a dog, it's Dad."
I imagined Mr. Lucian facing off against puppy Dad with a sword.
Mr. Lucian loves dogs, so he could never duel like that.
Besides, thinking about Sir Ciel or Mr. Lucian in a love story is just wrong.
They're friends.
I don't have that many male or female acquaintances, so I can't help but picture familiar guys.
In my imagination, Sir Ciel said, "Ms. Lydia, I love you. I want to be with you forever," while carrying a big lily flower.
Then Mr. Lucian said, "Lydia, I love you. I swear to dedicate my love only to you," while holding a big rose.
I started to think about Sir Roxas, Sir Rail, and Sir Stefan, but stopped.
How many guys am I imagining confessing to me? It's just a fantasy, though.
"...What am I thinking in my imagination...!"
I felt like I could bury my head in my hands. Since I was making rice balls, my hands were sticky with water and rice, so I couldn't do that.
What should I do? Maybe spring came to my head just as it arrived in the Kingdom.
"It's wrong to bring my friends into my fantasies... Mx. Margaret and Dad keep talking about love and crushes and all that..."
"You shouldn't fall in love, Lydia?"
"Th-that's not it..."
"Love and romance aren't bad things. I used to..."
"Oh, Dad, you were married!?"
"Yeah. It's an old story, though."
I almost dropped my rice ball in shock.
Dad, even though you're like a puppy, you had a wife.
I felt kind of defeated.
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