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Beautiful Flowers And Delicious Cakes
「Waa……」
We sat in a circle in the middle of the flower field. Although no one agreed to it, we opened the box at the same time. As soon as the box opened, a nice smell wafted out. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
As expected from a super high-class shop aimed at the nobles. Although it is a very simple lunchbox, it is quite filling.
First, there are 2 long and narrow pieces of bread. One was on a firmer side, with roasted top-quality meat sandwiched over colorful vegetables. The other was on the softer side, covered in fresh cream with all sorts of fruits sourced from the neighboring countries. Each of them is divided with thin paper so they do not lose their shape.
And that was not all. There is a thick, cylindrical pot in the corner of the box. This is wrapped in thick paper like cardboard, so they do not come into contact with the bread. It was cold when I tried to touch it. When I tried opening the lid, there was iced tea inside. This is quite the luxury when I think about this world’s civilization. This is not something you can get without asking someone who can use Ice magic or carving ice from the highlands and bringing it here.
But, this is the essence of Dang’s shop.
「This is.....it’s that! Chocolate cake! .....right!」
It seemed like there were also plants equivalent to cacao in this world. Only, it went without saying that it does not grow naturally in Forestia. It is only cultivated in certain areas of the Shurains, further south of Saharia. Naturally, just the ingredients’ price alone is considerable. Unlike in my previous life’s Japan, chocolate is a very valuable commodity.
And Dang’s shop is not a bakery. It is a cake shop. It is a patisserie. This one slice of cake holds the very best of their technique. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
So, what do I think, as someone who has had experience as a chef in my past life? I can’t say anything for sure until I have tried it, but I believe there’s no doubt that it’s a level where it can be considered top-tier even in modern Japan.
「Wha, what do we do.....hey? This, are we eating this?」
「Which one should we eat first? This one?」
「Thinking normally, it should be the one with meat first, right?」
「I wonder? Surprisingly, if you start from the sweetest first, the cake after that may taste even better」
Everyone can not hide their excitement. Well, that’s obvious. Not to mention cacao, these children have never tasted sugar before. So it is impossible for them to calm down.
But, having eaten plenty of sweet things in my previous life.....sadly, that is only after I became an adult.....I don’t think it is something to make such a fuss about. So that is why, when I see the children in high spirits for the first time after a long time, I at least still have the composure to be silent.
However, while I looked around at everyone’s face, my gaze was fixed on someone.
「……Tamaria?」
She had an indescribable look on her face. Her lips are smiling. But her eyebrows were lowered. There is also an unnatural tension around her eyes. She had frozen in place with such an expression on her face.
「Ah」
She hurriedly fixed her expression when I called out to her.
「Ah, what?」
「What’s the matter?」
「Eh, ah, un, I thought it looked delicious 」
But I noticed that her tone is extremely lifeless. No, the other 4 also notice. Before I knew it, the previous lighthearted atmosphere vanished like mist.
「Wh, what’s wrong? Everyone. Come on, let’s eat」
I can hear Tamaria’s dry voice. But the shadow still remains in her expression. So, no one made any move.
Then she tried to take the initiative and reach out for a bread. But, as she tried to lift the bread.....her shaking fingers dropped it.
「Sorry……」
Before long, she hung her head, and a tearful voice escaped her.
「I, ruined the fun atmosphere, didn’t I……」
No one could say anything. That’s natural. Who can understand the sadness of losing an important family member you cherished more than yourself?
I’m sure, Tamaria is thinking about this. ‘I’m so happy to be able to eat something this delicious. But, it would be better if Detel could have eaten these too. Why am I here while Detel is gone?’
But, this is not good. The feelings of guilt will return every time she feels happy from now on. She will probably walk the path of an unhappy life. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「Sorry」
Tamaria looked up with tears in her eyes. And that face is smiling awkwardly.
「I’m going, to take a walk for a bit, don’t worry about me」
And with that, she tried to stand up.
Why did Myluc allow Tamaria to accompany us? And why - of all things - did he let us indulge in such a luxury? Is it to make amends? No. That person would not have the naive thought that something like this would be able to make up for everything.
This was surely his way of asking. If possible, he wanted Tamaria to face forward. Rather than the happiness of someone who has left us, and even though it is going to be difficult from now on, he wants her to find her own happiness.
And surely, I am not the only person who consciously understands that kind of wish. .....in a month, I wouldn’t be able to meet her again, so I could just leave her alone but.....as expected, I’m just too good-natured.
「Tamaria」
When I called out to her, she suddenly flinched and stopped moving.
「Sit down」
I said quietly, but with a strong tone, and she silently obeyed. The other 4 had their eyes wide ope,n looking worried.
「Whaat?」
She asked while forcing a smile that had faded from her face. She must have wondered what I could possibly want from her.
How should I talk about it, I wonder?
Nothing will change even if you are sad. You have to be happy.
There are bad things and good things in life. So I’m sure, something good will happen to you.
Because we will all be beside you.
Screw it all.
It is pushy and irresponsible…..especially the last one, it’s really meaningless. We are all slaves, and we are going to be sold to all sorts of places. Do I think about it in my heart? What good does that do?
Tamaria will probably bear with it, nodding, still with a smile on her face. The situation will probably be resolved. But I can assert that no one can be saved with such words. No matter where.
Those kinds of words are nothing more than lines used by cold-hearted people who just want to smooth the atmosphere over and without any real intention to understand how the other person feels.
But it is pretty much like that, right? People usually tell those who are not feeling well to cheer up. Just what on earth are they doing? To me, it sounds like you just told people to endure something out of pride.
If there is one thing that can heal sadness, it is time. But, enough time has already passed, surely.
So, maybe, what is important right now.....is not to push her. Not even to support her. But to let her realize. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「……come to think of it, Tamaria, what’s your favorite color?」
「Eh」
She was perplexed when I asked something unexpected. Even Dee, Dona, and Kovol have their eyes wide.
「Umーm」
「Like this flower, for example?」
I try picking a pink flower blooming nearby.
Since Tamaria did not reach that much, I tried a white flower this time.
Showing her one by one, and this time it is a bluish-purple flower.
「You don’t know? It’s your own favorite color, you know?」
「Eh? Ah.....wait a minute」
She switched her consciousness and stared at the small blooming flowers.
「This.....I guess」
Tamaria picked out a yellow flower.
「Right. That perfectly suits you」
Tamaria made a strained smile again while still having doubts when I said that. There is still some awkwardness. But, perhaps a small realization had begun to bud deep within her consciousness. I can only hope so.
「In the future, Tamaria, right, 10 years from now, when you become rich, what do you want to do?」
「R, rich? Wait, Noor? I’m not going to be rich」
’There’s no way I can become rich’. It is not good to stop thinking like that.
In times like this, let’s ask someone reliable.
「Kovol. What about you? What if you had 1 million gold in 10 years 」
「Eh, oh, me? Hm, hmmー」
The simple Kovol immediately started to think about it seriously. It will be bad if it is Wyst instead. He will probably ask me in return, remembering the awkward atmosphere from before. ‘What’s the point of asking this question’. That will ruin the current atmosphere.
「That’s right. First, I’m going to buy metal armor! I will become covered entirely in steel! Also, a shield and a sword! I also want a horse! Then I will become a knight!」
And as expected, Dee immediately retorted to that.
「……Kovol is an idiot」
「What’d you say!」
「You’re going to pay money to be a knight?」
「Uh……」
Certainly, you could buy a knight’s status with money but.....that will probably be uncool.
Kovol raised his voice when he got hit where it hurts. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「Th, that is! I’m going to distinguish myself! S, so, I will build a castle with the extra money!」
「Still, a million won’t be enough to build a castle.....」
Wyst said in exasperation.
In the first place, with Kovol’s way of thinking, there is no way he could logically think about spending such an amount of money.
「Shut it! Anyway, I will have an impressive castle, become a knight, and distinguish myself!」
The order is messed up. But, it is splendid.
He answered immediately when I asked what he liked. This is a form of wisdom. And for some reason, clever people find it quite difficult to do so.
Then I asked Tamaria again while smiling.
「So, what about Tamaria?」
「Ehh……」
After being troubled for a while, she makes an excuse.
「That’s, impossible, you know. I’ve never even had a large amount of money」
「Then it’s fine if it’s not a lot. If Tamaria’s wish can come true, what would you want?」
Tamaria’s stiff smile quickly disappeared. At the same time, the atmosphere suddenly turned cold. Here it is.
「……Detel, I want him to come back alive」
Then, I intentionally declared right away.
「That’s impossible」
「Why! You said anything goes!」
「Because that’s not Tamaria’s wish, so it’s impossible」
She tried to reply, but the words caught in her throat. She was about to say ‘That’s not my wish’. She probably could not grasp what it means.
Wyst gave me a somewhat reproachful look to my harsh words. I winked at him and managed to make him endure it.
「T, then.....what else, is there.....?」
「That’s what I wanted to hear from you」
「There’s none」
「There is」
「None」
「Definitely there」
She was lost for words again at my unwavering stance.
「I only heard about it for a bit. Myluc said it. He had no plan to buy Detel before. But, your parents were going to sell him at all costs, so Tamaria protected him, and he ended up taking both of you. It was since that time, right? Detel’s happiness became Tamaria’s dream」
She nods with tears welling up in her eyes.
Just a little more, so hang in there.
「Then, before that, what kind of dream did you have ?」
「Before.....that....」
She was staring at a single, empty spot. I am sure the scene of a long time ago was reflected there.
「But, it wasn’t such, a big dream. It was only a normal dream, where a young noble fell in love at first sight at me, and then we got married, nothing more than that」
「That’s fine. Why did you have that kind of dream? What did you really want? Try to think about it」
「Don’t stay stupid things. You know it, right? I, I will soon become a prostitute, you know? Are you telling me to run away from here? But, how would I survive after that? I will just end up dying by the roadside, or if not, I’ll just sell my body」
「I know. But so what? Your dreams can come true」
Again, she makes a puzzled look. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
She must know. Among the famous prostitutes, there are some who caught the attention of a noble and ended up marrying into their family.
Although her dream is probably not about making money out of it. If so, it is even more so. What if it is a dream that can come true without status or wealth, but through sheer will alone?
「Tamaria, this is your turning point」
I said in a firm tone. But I was only filled with worry inside.
The wounds in one’s heart are just similar to the wounds in one’s body. In order to treat it, you have to first clean it with water and expose the wound But, what if that only causes her to feel even more pain instead?
「Detel, is no longer here. And no matter what Tamaria does, you don’t smile. Or even feel sad. But Tamaria is alive. Look around you. There are flower fields and even the sea. There are forests and a lake. There are also delicious cakes here. But, Tamaria only looks at your own feet」
I felt a little relieved seeing her expression. Her eyes are wide open and staring at me. Tamaria is strong. She is trying to accept such a terrible truth. If it were me....I am not confident whether I could accept it or not.
「Everything is gray, no matter what you see, everything has no flavor no matter what you eat, that’s because you make everything the same yourself. Then there’s no point in eating cake like this, too. But, that wouldn’t be considered truly living」
「……un」
「But, if you take a step forward, you will be able to see a completely different scenery. I can’t say something vain like ‘Get well soon’. So, please. I want you to remember happiness」
There was a moment of silence. And after that, she asks with a faint voice.
「……you’re trying to say, I will be happy if I try hard enough?」
That question sugarcoats her deepest internal hesitation.
「It’s not about whether you can do it or not. No one can promise they can do something like that. Just that, what does Tamaria want to do? But, there’s nothing wrong in trying to do what you want, right」
I looked seriously into her eyes and said all that.
「Don’t put out the small fire in your heart. I want you to notice it properly.....the yellow flower in your hand, it is your clue」
Now, I have said everything I need to say. Sorry, everyone. My lecturing might be too long. To begin with, I said something vain that even I myself won’t be able to do.
Tamaria stared at me for a while with her eyes wide open, her expression did not change. She looked at the yellow flower in her hand, and then she gently put it aside. But, she suddenly takes out the wooden knife from the paper box.....and swings it down to the chocolate cake.
……my chocolate cake
「Ah」
Before I could stop it, a wooden fork swooped down on the severed left half of the cake. Then, it was brought to Tamaria’s wide-open mouth.
「Aaahh」
Everyone stares at Tamaria’s face as she chews, mouth hanging open.
After chewing slowly and swallowing it, a single tear fell from her eye. But, after quickly wiping it with her hand, she says in a bright voice.
「This, is so delicious!」
Smiles returned to everyone’s face. It was not an unfeeling thing like, ‘Finally the gloomy atmosphere is gone’. Tamaria - who has always been dragged along by her sadness - has become a little brighter. I guess this will help her get back on her feet. The smile on her face made me feel that way. So, she must be truly happy.
I glanced at the side and saw Tamaria grinning smugly with a look that says ‘Got you!’..
……what the.
This is the first chocolate cake I have had since my previous life.
Do you know what I have eaten in Linga village ever since I arrived in this world? Even though it is also brown, it was a cockroach’s soup, y'know? It was my long-awaited food, even so.
See this. Even if you work hard to help someone else, it is a waste of energy and effort.
In any case, we were able to enjoy our lunch in a pleasant atmosphere.
Incidentally, the remaining cake was superb as expected. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
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