Tensei saki de suterareta no de, mofumofu tachi to oryouri shimasu ~okazari ouhi wa my pace ni saikyou desu~

After eating plenty of strawberry confectionery and observing her sleeping full.

When I was relaxing in my room, the door was understated.

"Who is it?"

"It's Lena. May I come in?

Once I give her permission, Lena comes in.

It's been a long time since I've been busy with this kidnapping.

Lena's face turned blue and her head fell down.

"I'm really, really sorry."

Lena apologizes as she grabs the apron with a trembling hand.

"I jumped out of the courtyard on my own and was kidnapped.... I'm sorry for the inconvenience....!

"... one apology is enough."

I was a little angry that I escaped without consulting you.

I know how Lena felt when she had to, and there was nothing wrong with Lena about the kidnapping that followed.

"Kidnapping wasn't bad, Lena wasn't bad."

"... I'm scratching...!

It seems that Lena is not convinced by my words.

Looking so stubborn, I decided to step in a bit.

"... you said that Lena left the palace because Melan-chan misunderstood that she had run away, right?

Lena nodded.

The truth is, I told you to invite a gardener cat from King's Landing...

At that point, there was something that Lena couldn't help but think that it was Melanie's fault.

"If you take Melanie and leave the palace, Icchan will come back.... that's what you're thinking, right?

"... yes. That's what I was gonna do...."

Lena's nodding words are certainly not a lie.

... I'm not lying, but maybe I'm not telling you everything.

"Hey, Lena. I'm not angry, so I need you to tell me something."

When I asked, Lena slowed her down.

It seemed to have occurred to me.

"... what is it?

"Isn't it one of the reasons that Lena left the palace that day?

"Nh...!

I think it was a picture star.

Lena looks at her golden eyes and looks so pale.

"No, that's not true... Both Leticia and the outpatients have been very kind to me."

"... even if you were kind, the loneliness wouldn't have disappeared. I mean, this isn't Lena's house, it's not her family's Krona."

Take me to a strange place and start a new life.

Homesick shouldn't be easy to get used to every day.

"I...."

"I'm not blaming you. As a maid apprentice, Lena tried to familiarize herself with this separation. If you praise Lena for her hard work, no one gets angry."

Lena tried so hard... she tried so hard.

I couldn't spill a weak voice, and it seemed like I was embracing loneliness.

"... I think it was just a little bad timing. I was so full of blaming myself that it might be the cause of Iichan's run away... I thought you wanted to escape to the house where you lived with Krona.

Even if it's an empty house without Kurona now.

It was also natural for me to wish to go home to my family when I was born and raised.

... calmly, even though it is difficult for young Lena to get out of the castle and head home.

Looks like he was being hunted down.

"... I can understand just a little bit how Lena feels."

"Does Leticia know how I feel...?

Unbelievable, Lena was murmuring.

"I'm also coming to this country from my familiar hometown. Fortunately, His Majesty gave me this separation, and I live happily every day... Still, sometimes I miss home."

Father and oniisama. There was a night when I missed my home town of Eltoria, where I had a few friends.

"I chose and prepared myself to come to this country, but I'm still lonely."

"Lady Leticia is lonely too....."

"That's right. So, I think it's only natural that Lena, who's a little younger than me, should feel lonely."

Gently like labor.

I stroked Lena's head.

The cat-eared head is still much lower than mine.

"I won't be able to heal Lena's loneliness... Instead, I'm going to serve some delicious food."

"... good food?

"River fish stewed in tomatoes."

Lena's face peeled off.

On the day she came to the palace, she ate stewed tomatoes of the river fish, and Lena was weeping.

"Don't worry. Today I'm going to make something different than the stewed tomatoes."

"Eh...?

"I wrote to Kurona and asked her about the recipe."

Only one letter a month was allowed to be exchanged with Krona in prison.

Though censorship came in, I was able to listen to a detailed recipe.

"Oneechan's recipe stewed in tomato...."

"Yeah, that's what I'm gonna do.... is that the tomato stew that Lena wanted to eat?

Lena nodded tightly.

The stewed tomato used a recipe made by me and Mr. Gilbert.

Although it was a confident flavor that enhances the flavor of the river fish...

For Lena, stewed tomatoes are a recipe made by her sister, Kurona.

I'm sure Lena was crying that day.

Because I was surprised and lonely by the difference in taste from the stewed tomatoes I've been eating.

The conditions for a delicious dish were by no means just taste.

There are also dishes that I want to eat because I have memories of cooking and feelings of being tamed.

"For safety reasons, I can't take Lena home right now... You should be able to wait for Krona to finish her sentence while eating memorable dishes here."

"... is it okay for me to remain in this out-of-court?

To Lena, who asked for a favor,

"Of course. I'd like to welcome Lena as a maid apprentice, if you don't mind."

To reassure me, I laughed.