Dream Life

February 12th.

A welcome feast for the Lockhart family, hosted by the Duke of Ezarrington, an elder, began.

We are on the same table as the Duke's house, even though we are knights. The discomfort is soothing, as the Duke of Something himself called it an easy-going feast, and the feast proceeds along with the light BGM played by the musicians.

They say the dish starts with appetizers in course format and comes out with soups, fish dishes and meat dishes.

"He told the chef to think of something that would surprise Master Zacharias. I don't know what kind of food will come out, but I'm looking forward to it."

Primrose speaks aggressively with the crack. I seem to be feeling high about letting you try the chocolate gelato this afternoon.

"The maid said the chef would have his head today because Viscount Radford, Sir Zacharias and a gastronomer competing for twelve in the Empire would be present. I hope we can get something delicious, but I have a little sympathy for the head chef."

Laurencia has also joyfully joined the conversation.

"That's exciting," said Liddy, uncommonly joining the conversation because she also relieved herself of the soothing atmosphere.

In the meantime, it was quiet that only my second son, Lucien, couldn't keep up with the conversation.

I felt sorry for only one person who couldn't get into the conversation, and I shook up the conversation.

"What are you learning in elementary academies?

Surprised by the sudden inquiry, he opens his eyes, but gives a slightly reassuring look as to whether he thinks he will be inspired to enter the conversation.

"I'm learning a lot. Literature, arithmetic, history, magic, military science. I'm a soldier."

Magic is not about learning magic, but about what attributes it has and what theories it has about magic activation.

Military science is not so much military theory as to teach the importance of forming and directing armies while tying the battles of the past, a good discipline when it comes to a field of history.

"It's amazing what military science is. What have you learned these days?

"Three hundred years ago, I'm learning about the defense of Lark Hill that was there in 2701. It's a battle that broke Luke's ambition..."

It sparkles my eyes and explains the battle of Lark Hill.

The Battle of Lark Hill is the last battle of the Battle of Independence of Luke's Holy Kingdom.

Lukes, who took possession of the Sole Peninsula in the southwestern part of the continent of Tria, attempted to gain momentum into the central part of the continent.

By that time, the Empire only possessed about half its present strength by the elders ending in factional strife with the incompetent emperor, and the generals and senior officers were clothed with salaries paid to soldiers, with morale at its worst.

As it was, there were many who feared that the Luke army would penetrate the empire and deprive them of a large part of their territory.

The then Crown Prince is one of them who manages to outrun the imperial-style defensive fortified city of Lark Hill and stop the Luke army's onslaught.

However, as the Crown Prince remains poor, he asked the Horse-riding Nation and the Beastman's Human Horse (Centaur) tribe living in the centre for rescue.

Horse-riding nations ambush Luke's army, which was besieging Lark Hill. Furthermore, the Crown Prince also sent out his forces in the castle, destroying Luke's army by means of an interdiction.

This victory stopped the fall of the Empire.

However, corruption in the upper echelons of the Empire remains unchanged, and this state of dress continues to this day.

"... assault by cavalry is very powerful. It can be a nightmare, especially for enemies who are not in defensive positions..."

Lucien tells the teacher what he learns and is good at it. Lord Ezarrington joined the story when I heard him thinking he was smiling.

"So I guess that means the cavalry alone can win the fight"

In a question from his father, he said, "Yes. Because cavalry is the strongest soldier," he replies confidently.

Certainly the most powerful soldier in the empire. There is not as much fighting power as a cavalry in the ground battle of what has the Flying Dragon Knights, an aerial power.

Also, the demon tribe east of Aquila has a race called the Great Ghost tribe comparable to the Auga, which is conditioned in the Empire because they have more fighting power than cavalry.

In some situations, the cavalry's combat power is greatly impaired.

Naturally, Famous General Alexis Ezarrington understands that, and asks further questions: "Is that really the case?"

Lucien's confidence disappeared in that question.

"Is it not..."

"Think about it. If the cavalry alone can win, the Imperial Army is all cavalry. 'Cause we need other soldiers."

"Yes......" he said in a vanishing voice and looked down.

I don't think so, but I can't pinch my mouth on the Duke's education.

"So shall I ask Zacharias? Do you think the strongest soldier is a cavalry?"

"I think the same thing about Lucien."

"I mean, the strongest?

"Yes, but subject to conditions. It's a flat ground for cavalry operations, and it's a minimum requirement for us to be able to set up a battlefield."

"I don't know the first one. But I don't know what the second one means."

Because my eyes are laughing, you know what I'm trying to say.

But I heard it for Lucien's education. I'll get on with the idea and explain it so Lucien can understand it.

"If you set the battlefield to be your enemy, you could be set up with a trap that would stop your horseback riding leg, and you could be put down an ambush. Depending on the season, it may be wet with rain, so you will need the condition that you do not fight in such a place."

"Exactly. Fighting is not the same thing as one. It's important to be always ready to deal with any situation."

Lucien glanced at the words and said, "Yes!" He nodded. I know perfectly well that I have sincere respect for my father.

"It's rude that your father and Lucien should talk about the battle in these seats."

That's what Primrose says and protests.

"I'm sorry about that. But you're not gonna tell Zacharias anything? I was part of the story."

"Master Zacharias just answered your father's question."

You also thought the Duke had bad minutes, "Right. We'll be careful later," he says and disperses.

(If you saw this, you'd think she was obsessed with me. Usually it feels relaxed, but that's a duke's warrant. You still seem to be keeping me in the play......)

In fact, the surrounding reaction was full of surprises.

Exactly the look on the face of the Duke's house remains the same, but so much so that those below the Viscount of the Gate of Lord Ezarrington round their eyes and talk to Hisohisso.

Lucien is scolded and shunned by her sister, but she has no more stories to tell.

I have no choice but to devote myself to enjoying cooking with Liddy.

Did the appetizer go with the white wine from the Duke of Ezarrington, or was it a raw oyster?

Lemon, herbs and olive oil are flavored with salt and pepper, a refreshing dish.

Today's white wines are as intense as Chardonnay's, enough to remind me of Chablis at any rate, and go perfectly with oysters.

"This fits well. If it weren't for this thick wine, you'd lose the raw smell of oysters."

"Right. It's really delicious. It's worth it to be here just because it was eaten."

Liddy seems to have liked it too and is smiling and tilting a glass of wine.

"Do you often eat oysters?" I asked Laurencia.

"Yeah, it happens a lot this time of year in Ezarrington and the Empire."

Laurencia doesn't seem to know much about it either, but they also farm oysters around here.

Sure, I've heard stories of farming in ancient Rome, so I guess there's an easy way.

The soup of the second dish was julienned with seafood stock. Contains a small shrimp boiled as a utensil.

This also matched Ezarrington's white wine and was exquisite. However, this time the wine is not as intense as chablis, but as refreshing white as Sauvignon Blanc.

"This is delicious too. The juice from the meat is delicious, but I prefer this one."

"I have a polite job to do. Maybe he's taking dashi with a little fish for the cassava or something. Looks like the bottom is handled properly so the eggs don't come out."

You heard my words, the Duke is laughing bitterly.

"Do you still understand? I was going to ask you some questions later, but you're still no match for Zacharias."

Lucien looks at such a conversation with a surprising look on his face. I don't seem used to my father having fun talking to a youngster like me.

"I felt it in Ezarrington, but that's the cook at the Duke of Ezarrington house. I've never eaten more food."

"The chef would be happy to hear you say that. Radford, I wonder what Sir has to say."

I asked Viscount Radford, sitting at a table a little further away, for his opinion.

"I share Lord Zacharias's opinion. Wine and cooking methods are exquisite, while ingredients are further elaborated. Nothing short of brilliant."

The Duke breaks up with the word.

"Two gastronomers fighting one or two in the Empire gave me the rating of Satisfaction! Today is a day to remember for my Duke's house! Hahaha!"

When the Duke laughs in an upbeat mood, he also raises a pleasant voice from around him: "Right."

Sometimes it fits the head of a single gate, but I suppose he thinks it's sincerely fun because there's no one with a particularly offensive look on his face.

The third item was fried white fish when I thought the baked goods would come. Looks like Fried Hata ate at the Ezarrington branch of the Blacksmith Guild.

"This is a fried Hata looking to make it a specialty of Ezarrington! I ate the other day, and besides my thoughts, I got into it!

The Duke explains so that he can hear himself around.

Tartar sauce on a fried white fish, and if I was on top of a chopped cabbage, I would be on a fried white fish fixing meal, but this time I'm on top of a pairing cresson, and I don't have a fixed texture.

The crisp fried clothes and moist hawthorn go well with the slightly sour tartare sauce.

The wine was slightly heavier white than the first glass, with a relatively strong barrel aroma.

Not bad, but from my personal taste, something as refreshing as Alsace Riesling would be better.

I didn't mean to put it on my face, but I watched the Duke and Laurencia peek into my face.

"I don't know, this is"

Yes, the Duke has asked, so I'll just tell him the unwarranted comment.

"It's more sophisticated than it was before. The bottom flavor is just salt and white pepper, which is simpler, but the pickles I use for the sauce for that matter have a good aroma. Speaking of my personal preferences, I'd prefer this one."

He didn't seem convinced.

I didn't mean to put it on my face, but it seemed to have been noticed.

"Because wine was different from my taste. Even so, this wine is delicious enough."

"Really? What kind of wine would Sir go with?

"I think maybe something a little more glamorous and light would be nice"

Then the Duke said to one of his servants, "Do you have any wine like Zacharias offered? Bring it to me as soon as you can," he ordered. The supply goes towards the kitchen on a fast foot.

I was confused by this situation.

Though the Duke of Ezarrington gathered at a gate, the Duke's lord heard of the knight's second son.

I regret that I should have answered that I was satisfied without speaking honestly.

"Why don't you ask Master Ignacious for his opinion?," Liddy whispered to me for advice. And a small nod to thank you,

"Why don't you also ask His Highness the Viscount of Radford for his opinion?

"Um," the Duke nodded, telling the Viscount, "What about Sir's opinion?" I hear.

"I share Lord Zacharias's opinion. This combination of fry and sauce is more perfect than ever. I believe that the fragrance, even if it is as complete as this wine, is too strong to interfere."

"Right. Same with Sir..."

When you squeal like that, you turn your expression into something bright.

"This combination was my idea. The chef pushed a second glass of wine, but it didn't suit my taste. But I didn't think they'd let me out of here."

At the end of the conversation, the supply came back with a bottle.

"This is what best suits your needs"

That said, pour the wine into the glass and place it in front of the Duke.

Put a white fish fry in your mouth as everyone pays attention by saying, "Uhm. Okay, let's give it a try." And after a full taste, the wine was included in my mouth.

"I see......" and have another sip of wine.

"I think I found out what Zacharias and Radford were going to say. I don't have that expression, but I want everyone to feel it."

Soon the servants will have a new glass, and it seems that the same wine will be served as what the Duke drank.

A refreshing sweet aroma of white grapes, with a slightly carbonated sobriety and acidity.

The gelatinous qualities of the hawthorn and the oil content of the fried clothes disappear, leaving only the flavours characteristic of white fish.

I heard Liddy say, "This one tastes better," and the same sentiment was whispered at the table around me.

"This one tastes much better. Regrettably, I don't seem to have the gift of being a gastronomer."

He has a slightly remorseful look, but his eyes are laughing, and he probably has an act in there that soothes the place.

There is also the Duke's act, and the feast becomes even more lively.

And the main one appeared.