Jeremy’s eyes darted around, filled with embarrassment at Felix’s stern words.
At that moment, Ethan stepped forward and bowed deeply.
“Your Majesty, Your Highness the Empress. I apologize. My subordinate has made a mistake. Please, I humbly ask for your forgiveness.”
“I’m sorry!”
Following Ethan’s lead, Jeremy also apologized. Sylvia felt uncertain about what to do. She wanted to say it was okay, that they could interact as they used to, but she could no longer decide that on her own.
As Felix had said, she was now the Empress of the Capitis Empire. It was almost as if that had been determined the moment she chose Felix.
This was the path Sylvia had chosen. Felix, who had been quietly observing them, finally spoke.
“We’re currently on a covert reconnaissance, so there’s no need to use formal titles. However, show proper respect to my Empress.”
“Yes, we will be mindful.”
Ethan raised his head, sweating profusely. He had always thought Felix was an extraordinary person since their days in the order, but the dignified presence he now displayed felt truly noble.
“I’m really, truly sorry.”
Jeremy stammered as he apologized. Sylvia, after watching quietly, finally spoke up.
“Still, I’m very glad to see you both here.”
Since they were on this reconnaissance mission because of what Ethan had mentioned before they left, Sylvia found it almost surreal.
“Are you traveling with an adventuring party like you mentioned before?”
“…Please lower your speech.”
Ethan’s request left Sylvia genuinely troubled. She could manage to speak informally with the palace staff since she was meeting them for the first time.
But speaking informally to people she already knew felt incredibly difficult.
Especially with Ethan, who had saved her when she first arrived here, it was even harder.
Perhaps understanding her dilemma, Felix interjected.
“Since we’re on a reconnaissance mission, it’s not a bad idea to maintain formalities.”
He had once asked why Sylvia found it so difficult to speak informally.
He had learned that in the world she came from, people used formal speech based on age and relationship, and that there were no ranks.
Because of that, he could fully understand why Sylvia felt uncomfortable. Although, he still didn’t like her showing such deference to Ethan.
Ethan could sense Felix’s displeasure, but he also noticed how Felix, despite his annoyance, was graciously helping Sylvia navigate the situation, and it made him realize just how deeply Felix cared for her.
“Now that you’ve said that, I feel much more at ease. I really am happy to see you.”
“Hmph.”
Felix turned his head sharply at Ethan’s words. It was clear to anyone that Felix was not pleased, but Ethan couldn’t help but smile.
“…So, can I speak to you like before?”
Jeremy, who had been watching the situation, cautiously asked. Sylvia responded with a cheerful expression.
“How have you been?”
“…Not well at all. Please talk some sense into our captain. He’s determined to walk across every inch of the new lands you’ve created.”
“Where have you been so far?”
Sylvia’s question prompted Ethan to speak. His face lit up with excitement as he began to recount their journey.
“We started with the mysterious sea. It was the first time I’ve ever seen a sea that reflected the sky so perfectly. It was truly astonishing. Then there was a place filled with nothing but sand. We nearly died walking through that vast, endless desert. We also visited a place filled with blooming pink trees and…”
As Ethan’s endless stories continued, Sylvia gently interrupted.
“We have some important things to discuss, and I’d love to hear more. Shall we move to a different spot to continue?”
She wanted to chat more with her old friends, and for that, they would need drinks and snacks.
◆
They moved to a spot under the densely colored maple tree. Sylvia took out a table and chairs, then immediately began steaming sweet potatoes and chestnuts.
Next, she brought out glutinous rice flour, added salt and sugar, and mixed it evenly.
She added hot water to the mixture and kneaded it.
Using the magic of wind, she kneaded the dough just right, then used water and fire magic simultaneously to steam it.
After steaming the dough, she kneaded it vigorously with wind magic and took out bean powder from her subspace bracelet.
Sylvia, who loved sweet injeolmi, added sugar to the bean powder and rolled the rice cakes, cutting them into bite-sized pieces.
The steamed chestnuts and sweet potatoes were peeled, rolled in melted sugar until evenly coated, then mixed with a little cooking oil.
She beautifully arranged the autumn snacks and savory injeolmi on a plate, preparing plum syrup ade and cold coffee to drink together.
Ethan and Jeremy watched in amazement as she quickly prepared everything.
They knew it was a dish made using various elements at once, but they were still struck by how extraordinary it was.
All the food they had eaten, from lunchboxes to dishes, had been created through such incredible magic.
“…It’s awe-inspiring every time I see it.”
At Jeremy’s murmuring, Ethan quietly nodded.
“Please try it. The drinks are plum syrup ade and cold coffee…”
Sylvia hesitated, knowing the two had never tried coffee before.
Since it contained caffeine, it could make their hearts race or cause them to have trouble sleeping if they drank it for the first time.
“Um, this black drink is called coffee. You might be surprised the first time you try it—it could make your heart beat faster, or you might have trouble sleeping…”
“Hey, it’s something Sylvia prepared, so we have to try it! The other members would be so jealous! Haha, that’s what they get for not coming along!”
Ethan found Jeremy’s words exasperating. He knew they had drawn lots when asked to climb the mountain, and Jeremy had just been unlucky to get picked.
“Let’s dig in!”
Jeremy quickly popped the glossy chestnut snack into his mouth.
“Mmm.”
“Let’s eat.”
Ethan carefully placed the injeolmi, dusted with powder, into his mouth, his eyes filled with curiosity.
Felix hurriedly ate the sweet potato snack, a food he had never seen before.
“…Mmm!”
“It’s delicious, darling.”
Sylvia savored the chestnut snack that exuded the autumn atmosphere, tilting her head back to take in the red maple leaves above.
In this world, there were only summer and winter, which sometimes made her feel regretful. There was no way to enjoy the flavors and scenery of spring and autumn.
But with this mountain, she could experience autumn whenever she wished.
“Ah, Ethan.”
“…Yes.”
Ethan still felt a sharp twinge in his temple because of Sylvia’s formal tone. Every time she called him, a sharp gaze would fly towards him.
‘Why doesn’t he glare at Jeremy and only at me…’
Feeling wronged, Ethan hid his thoughts skillfully. After all, the only race more troublesome than the nobility was royalty.
“Did you say earlier that you saw a place filled with pink flowering trees?”
“Yes, that’s correct. It was the first time I had seen such a beautiful sight. Of course, this mountain is amazing, and so is the sandy place, but the area filled with pink flowering trees had such a warm feeling that I honestly didn’t want to leave.”
“…Were the petals small and light pink? And was the tree about this size?”
Sylvia stood up for a moment and gestured to approximate the size.
“Ah, yes. That’s right. The small petals fluttered in the wind, falling gently—it was mesmerizing.”
“Oh, that’s a cherry blossom.”
The mention of a place perfect for enjoying spring brought a bright smile to Sylvia’s face.
Felix, who had been quietly observing, asked curiously.
“What’s that?”
“It’s a tree with flowers that let you enjoy spring. It would be wonderful if there were a night market too.”
Ethan chimed in, agreeing with her nostalgic mumbling.
“It seems like it would be beautiful even at night, but it might be too dark to see.”
“Then we could just put up streetlights. Actually, there’s something I wanted to ask all of you.”
“Wow!”
At that moment, Jeremy suddenly shouted. Ethan, startled, tried to cover his mouth, but Jeremy was too quick.
“What is this black drink!? I feel like my vision suddenly got sharper! Are you sure it’s okay to drink this?”
As he asked, Jeremy took another long sip of the cold coffee.
“Wow! Captain! You have to try this. It’s incredible!”
“…Alright then.”
Encouraged by Jeremy’s enthusiastic recommendation, Ethan quickly drank the coffee. Since he had just eaten the sweet chestnut and injeolmi coated with bean powder, the coffee went down very smoothly.
“Mmm!”
The bitter taste seemed to refresh his mouth, which had felt a bit cloying, and just as Jeremy had said, it made him feel more awake.
Feeling his heart speed up, as Sylvia had warned, Ethan asked with a bewildered expression.
“This drink is called coffee, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s also delicious when mixed with milk. Like tea, you can add sugar and milk to make it smoother.”
“…Is this something only you can make, Sylvia?”
“…Well, probably.”
Because she was the only one who could create coffee beans directly.
Sylvia was now intensely planning future endeavors in her mind.
It didn’t make sense that no one else was coming to such a beautiful place.
Suddenly, something fell onto the table with a clatter.
Chomp, chomp.
Heehee.
The fairies who had been following Sylvia around jumped onto the table, grabbing the chestnut and sweet potato snacks with both hands, and began to eat them.
Sylvia watched the fairies with a face full of fondness.
Jeremy and Ethan put down their coffee and stared at the creatures intently, tilting their heads as they muttered.
“Birds? Butterflies?”
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