After that came the serving stage handled by the twin maids. Pushing a cart, they moved past each person's seat in turn and neatly arranged the dishes before them. The cuisine was standard Western fare—several small plates per person, accompanied by soup and tea. Since it was breakfast, the portions were not large, just a moderate amount.
Fwoo~
With a slight wave of Roswaal's hand, the candles on the dining table ignited, adding a warm glow to the otherwise minimalist surroundings.
The seating arrangement placed Roswaal, the master of the house, at the head. The Shogun sat at his right hand, with Emilia beside her. Across from them were Beatrice and Natsuki Subaru.
Looking at the dishes before her, the Shogun picked up her spoon and slowly stirred the soup, a hint of scrutiny in her violet eyes.
Sluurp~
She took a cautious sip, only to find it surprisingly delicious. This craftsmanship... was it Rem's?
"Alright~ let's welcome our new member—Natsuki Subaru. Subaru, say a few words?"
Roswaal gestured toward him.
"Uh! Th-that is... g-good morning, everyone!! I'm Natsuki Subaru! I'm new here, so please take care of me!!!"
He immediately shot to his feet and loudly delivered an embarrassingly rustic self-introduction.
"How stupid..."
Beatrice mocked him mercilessly from the side.
"What did you say?! You turbo-loli!"
He snapped back in dissatisfaction.
"What kind of strange vocabulary is that? Just hearing it is irritating."
Beatrice turned her head away disdainfully.
"Mm-hm~! Well then, everyone get along nicely... Subaru, you more or less know everyone here already, right?"
Roswaal asked.
"Ah... I-I guess so."
He answered awkwardly. Aside from the turbo-loli's ridicule during his introduction, there had been no response at all. No one even acknowledged him, which stung a little.
"Then let's all enjoy breakfast~!"
Although he said that, the amusing part was that the Shogun hadn't waited for his cue at all. She had already begun eating the moment the food was served.
Tap tap ×2
After finishing the serving, Ram and Rem stepped to the Shogun and Emilia's sides of their own accord, standing slightly behind them like personal maids. Ram stood behind the Shogun, and Rem stood behind Emilia.
This formation drew Natsuki Subaru's gaze. He was momentarily entranced. What was this noble aura?
"Ahem~ Ram, Rem. I believe I've said ma~ny~ times that on such formal occa~sions~ you two should be standing beside me, the mas~ter~ of this house~"
Roswaal coughed awkwardly, helplessly reminding the sisters who were completely disregarding his dignity.
"My apologies. Although I understand Lord Roswaal's feelings, Ram has always been Lady Shogun's personal maid. I do not wish to break such a principle."
The pink-haired maid beside the Shogun bowed toward the clown-like man across the table and spoke in a composed tone.
"Rem as well. Rem is Lady Emilia's personal maid. Principles cannot be broken."
Rem bowed in perfect sync.
"W-wait... Rem."
Emilia looked a little embarrassed.
"..."
The Shogun glanced at the maid beside her, her eyes slightly complicated.
"(It's alright, Lady Shogun.)"
Seeing the concern in her expression, Ram offered a gentle smile and shook her head faintly. The usual sharp sarcasm she used toward others was nowhere to be seen. Only loyalty and tenderness remained.
"Haa... very well."
The Shogun nodded in concession.
Such deep gratitude toward a benefactor left her slightly dazed. Fine. She would simply grow used to it.
"Ah—! Such an answer truly wounds my~ heart~, Ram~!"
Roswaal pretended to sob theatrically.
"Please refrain from crying in such a disgusting manner, Lord Roswaal. Furthermore, I am currently the only one maintaining and cleaning the entire mansion. I believe that is more than sufficient repayment for your kindness in taking us in."
Ram replied mercilessly.
"Mm~ ah~!"
Not only did he not stop, he exaggerated his crying even more, making the scene utterly ridiculous.
"Sister, please stop striking at Lord Roswaal's heart. Otherwise, he will cry even harder."
Rem interjected at the right moment.
"Haa... you have a point."
Ram sighed and said nothing further.
"So these dishes were made by you two sisters?"
Natsuki Subaru asked during the exchange.
"No. Sister cannot cook, though she excels at housekeeping. These dishes were made by Rem."
Rem answered.
"I see... so you can't handle housework either—"
"Rem is proficient at both housework and cooking. I am capable of everything."
Rem replied again.
"Then doesn't that make your sister's existence meaningless?!"
He complained.
"Watch your mouth."
Hearing that, the Shogun coldly reprimanded the loose-tongued boy.
"Uh! Y-yes..."
He trembled slightly and immediately behaved.
[We truly are a perfect match...]
Ei commented.
'The one who can't cook is you.'
The Shogun retorted inwardly. At the very least, she could manage some simple home-style dishes. Her mother couldn't cook at all.
"Hehe~ Natsuki Subaru, how fascinating. You've come to the Mathers domain mansion within the Kingdom of Lugunica, yet you seem to know abso~lutely~ nothing about the situation."
After taking a bite of food, Roswaal teased Subaru in his theatrical tone. His curved clown-painted eyes carried a mysterious glint.
"The country's situation? Is something wrong?"
Subaru asked in confusion after taking a bite himself.
"After all, Lugunica currently has no king."
Roswaal lowered his voice.
"!!"
Subaru froze, his expression stiffening. Was that really something he was allowed to hear?
"Hehe~ no need to be so shocked. It's already a severe fact known even among the common folk."
Roswaal shrugged.
"I thought you'd silence me for hearing that."
Subaru exhaled in relief.
"Heh... perhaps we might."
Beatrice muttered darkly.
"!"
He shot her a startled glance.
"You would do well to speak less, lest you bring trouble upon yourself."
The Shogun warned him in her cool, elegant voice.
"O-okay..."
He nodded. He listened to the Shogun quite obediently. That presence of hers was overwhelming.
"When the king passed away, a plague spread through the capital, wiping out the king and all his descendants. At present, the nation is governed entirely by the Council of Wise Men. They are currently taking action to select a new king~"
Roswaal's distinctive clownish cadence filled the room and reached everyone's ears.
Throughout it all, the Shogun continued eating, paying little attention. It was undoubtedly the same old story about royal candidates she had already grown tired of hearing.
"As an outsider, your sudden appearance here at this time is highly suspicious."
Ram smoothly took over the conversation and addressed the boy.
"W-wait! I was brought here by Emilia-tan and the others!"
Subaru protested.
"That still does not explain your true intentions... and I've heard you also attempted to take Lady Emilia's insignia. Is that not so~?"
Roswaal asked.
"W-wait—no... huh? Why are you calling Emilia-tan 'Lady'?"
Subaru was about to refute the claim when he caught the odd phrasing and turned to look at Emilia.
"My current status is one of the forty-second generation 'Royal Selection' candidates of the Kingdom of Lugunica. Lord Mathers here is my supporter."
Emilia explained clearly.
"Eh?!"
He was stunned.
"This insignia is the crucial proof of identity for a royal candidate. It serves as the touchstone to determine whether its bearer is qualified for the throne."
Click.
Emilia placed her insignia on the table for him to see. The gemstone emitted a crimson glow.
"So you lost something that important?"
He asked.
"I-it's not fair to say I lost it. At most, it was stolen by someone untrustworthy."
Emilia's voice carried a faint, sheep-like tremor of nervousness that always made her seem adorable.
"That's basically the same thing!"
"There's nothing wrong now. In the end, we retrieved it."
The Shogun interjected calmly.
"That's right! No matter the process, the result is that the Shogun helped me get my insignia back~! If you round it up, that means it was never lost~ hmph~"
Emilia gave a proud little huff after hearing the Shogun speak for her.
"Lady Shogun, it would be best not to indulge Lady Emilia too much."
Ram sighed in reminder.
"Agreed. Otherwise, Lady Emilia will only push her luck."
Rem added in sync.
"W-wait—you two~! I'm not like that at all!"
Emilia protested, her face turning red.