Bonus Short Stories
Liscia and Cookies
Mix, mix, mix...
Liscia was mixing a bowlful of batter with a spatula.
This was the kitchen of the forr king and queens ho. Liscia was pregnant with Soumas child, so shed chosen her father Alberts old domain as a place to rest. While she was resting there, in order to beco a better mother to the children that were on the way, Liscia was learning to cook from her mother Elisha.
At the mont, she was applying what she had learned to make cookies on her own.
Liscia?! Carla cried out in surprise when she ca in and saw her. Wh-What do you think youre doing?! Cooking alone!
Practicing, thats what. I need to be able to cook alone, dont I?
Dont give that! Carla strode over to Liscia and pointed at her belly. Look at that belly! What if sothing happened?!
Liscia was six months pregnant, and her belly had grown to the point that it was readily apparent she was with child. Having Liscia, who was bother her master and friend, standing alone in the kitchen with a belly like that, Carla was clearly beside herself with worry.
If you had a fall when no one was around to see... Carla began.
Geez... No need to be so dramatic, Carla. Liscia put a hand on her hip with a wry smile. Doctor Hilde was saying that if I kept moving around up until the birth it would make it easier on . This much exercise shouldnt be any problem.
The problem is that youre doing it where no one can see you! Keep soone with you at all tis, in case the unthinkable should happen! I an, you can just call !
...Sorry, Carla. Seeing the tears in Carlas eyes as she pleaded with her, Liscia gave her a heartfelt apology. Carla was getting angry for her sake. Given how often she had scolded Souma out of concern for his well-being, Liscia could relate. Ill reflect on what you said, but... theres a reason I didnt want to call you.
Why?!
Co on, Carla, we both know youre improving faster than I am. Liscia puffed up her cheeks and started mixing the batter again. We started learning from Mother at the sa ti, but youre better than . Youve always been just as much of a tomboy as , so it feels kind of unfair.
I-Im not sure what to tell you... Carla faltered.
Carlas duties here were to look after and protect Liscia. That said, her duties as a maid were already being done by the servants here, and Souma had the Black Cats keeping a thorough watch on the area around the mansion, so there was no need to be on constant guard. Basically, all that was left for Carla to do was to give Liscia soone to talk to.
When she heard Elisha would be teaching Liscia to cook, Carla had decided to learn, too, for lack of anything better to do. It was a skill it wouldnt hurt to have, she figured. But once she tried it, it turned out Carla had a surprising knack for this sort of housework, and she improved rapidly. To the point Liscia that was jealous.
Hey, they say cooking is all about love, right? Carla said, trying to mollify her friend in a hurry. Im sure that since you have a husband you love, and kids on the way, youll get better than soone with no partner like .
...By that logic, shouldnt I be getting better faster than you?
Ah! Er...
While Carla was trying to figure out how to respond, Liscia let out a sigh.
Whatever. We know I have no sense for housework. But Ill work hard so that, soday, I can bake delicious treats for Souma and the kids!
Watching her friend work herself up, Carla scratched her cheek. Thats a fine thing to aspire to, but why limit yourself to sweets?
Well, Soumas good at all kinds of cooking. I want to be able to beat him at one thing, at least.
Youve set a kind of low bar for yourself... Hold on, Liscia.
What?
Havent you mixed the batter too much? Elisha was saying if you mix it too much, itll be hard when cooked...
Ah! Liscia looked down at her bowl of batter. Shed been mixing it the whole ti theyd been talking.
She tried cooking the batter anyway to see how it was, but...
Theyre so hard... she mourned.
And overly sweet, too, Carla said.
It seed she had put in too much sugar, so the cookies had co out both hard and excessively sweet. Liscia rested her elbows on the table with her face on top of her hands. How am I so bad at this...?
W-Well, if you dunk them in tea until theyre soggy, theyre edible, at least.
Thats not how you eat cookies.
Still, it would be a waste not to eat what she had made, so they slowly ate them little by little using the suggested thod. It was an odd tea ti.
By the way, Carla, didnt you co because you had so business with ? Liscia asked.
Oh! Thats right. We received word from the castle that the master will be coming tomorrow.
Souma will? Liscia perked up. She hadnt been able to see Souma in an awfully long ti.
Liscia had co here soon after Souma left for the republic, and since his return, she heard he had been spending his ti buried in work. That was why she was pleased to be able to see him. Still, the timing of it made her feel uneasy.
Im happy to see him, but...
Huh? Why do you look so unhappy? Carla asked.
I know how busy Souma is. If hes coming so suddenly, he must have sothing important to tell . Liscia bit into one of the hard cookies, then looked at it. Does he need to go abroad again? Is he pushing himself too hard again? Honestly, I wish he wouldnt worry so much.
Liscia...
If he worries again, Im going to make him eat these failed cookies.
Liscia giggled to herself, imagining the look on Soumas face was he tasted her botched batch of cookies.
Hakuya gave no response, as he was deep in thought. After a lengthy silence, he finally raised his face.
I think I have sothing workable.
It looks like youve co up with sothing, Jeanne said.
Hakuya realized hed been leaving her out. He hurriedly bowed his head in apology. Im sorry. I got lost in thought there.
She smiled. Oh, no, dont mind . More importantly, what was the idea you ca up with?
Hakuya cleared his throat before explaining. If exterminating them on the far side is going to be difficult, we only need to have them cross to the near side. I believe we can borrow the power of a certain esteed woman in our nation to accomplish that.
After Hakuya laid out the outline of the operation, Jeanne voiced her admiration. I see! I think thats a fine plan.
The problem is... can we keep Duchess Walter under control?
Hm? Duchess Walter is famous in our country, too. Is there so issue with her?
No, Im sure shell lend us her strength if we ask her to, Hakuya sighed. The issue is what will happen afterwards. She can be a person of quite unusual tastes, and its questionable whether shell co back quietly when the situation is resolved. If she decides accompanying His Majesty would be amusing, she may throw a tantrum, saying she doesnt want to co back.
Sh-She sounds like quite a pain in the neck...
She is very reliable, though...
With Jeanne giving him a concerned look, Hakuya let out a sigh.
I believe I will consult her relative Juna, just to be safe, Hakuya thought to himself. She might be able to co up with so counterasures.
After that, Hakuya and Jeanne exchanged a great deal of information. Normally, after a eting they would enjoy tea or liquor together while grumbling about their respective masters, but this ti they each had matters they needed to act on imdiately.
Id love to keep talking, but... Jeanne said, her disappointnt apparent, and Hakuya nodded.
As would I. But... right now, let us each do what we must. To bring back peace even a day sooner. Then, when that ti cos...
Yes. Lets talk all about it. I have plenty more complaints about my sister Id like you to hear, Sir Hakuya.
I am not entirely sure whether I should be looking forward to that or not...
Then the two of them looked at each other and nodded, each with a wish for the others success.
They hoped for the day when they could talk again to co soon.
The Reason Taru Makes Leporina Stronger
The day before Friedonian reinforcents set out for the Union of Eastern Nations.
Incidentally, later on, Juna was sent by Hakuya to retrieve a stubborn Excel who joined us with additional reinforcents and then refused to go ho.
When Juna later told Juno about it, she got a resentful, You traitor! in return.
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