Chapter 72 – With This Small Low Table, I Can See You Much More Closely
Even if you become an aristocrat or the owner of a magnificent castle…
You are still human.
“Hey guys, the food is ready.”
“”Wow~~””
The main house of the Margrave of Lohengrin is truly a castle.
A very grand castle, at that.
I’m not kidding, it might even be bigger that Touko-san’s castle.
Built on a sheer cliff for defense, the Lohengrin Castle has the majestic atmosphere of a fairy tale on a misty morning.
Of course, the cafeteria is also very luxurious.
Chairs with intricate carvings are lined up on a long, polished single-piece table.
The walls are lined with portraits of the past Margraves of Lohengrin, and there is even a magnificent fresco on the ceiling. The ceiling is filled with a mythical scene of many angels and demons battling.
I took everyone’s food and went into such an over-aristocratic dining room.
I passed by the opulent table lined with luxurious chairs and headed for the small low table placed in the corner of the dining room.
There, Suzuha and Yuzuriha-san were sitting and waiting with chopsticks in their hands.
Behind them stood Kanade, who could not hide her drooling, while maintaining the appearance of a cool maid.
“Dinner tonight is mackerel stewed in miso.”
“”Itadakimasu!””
Suzuha and Yuzuriha-san started eating as soon as possible.
Miso-marinated mackerel really go well with this low table.
“Nii-san’s cooking is great today too!”
“I totally agree. And it’s nice to eat at this table. It makes me feel closer to you and makes the food taste better.”
“I guess we should really eat at the dining table properly, but… I’m kind of not used to it.”
I, too, have had the experience of eating at a dining table designed for aristocrats. I mean, it was always like that when I had meals at Yuzuriha-san’s house.
But when actually moving from the familiar small low table to the ultra-luxurious dining table as a daily meal in your own home…
The food becomes tasteless.
Well, perhaps my commoner’s nature refused to allow me to dine at a table stained with the colors of the aristocracy. That could be it.
“I’m sorry, Yuzuriha-san. Even though there’s a proper table, I made you sit on a low table in the corner of the dining room.”
“What are you talking about? I love your heartfelt, home-cooked meals. B-Besides…”
“Besides?”
“With this small low table, I can see you much more closely… Ah no, forget it!”
Yuzuriha-san suddenly turned red and shook her head.
I thought a bone was stuck in her throat, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
And in this situation, besides Yuzuriha-san, there is one other person who’s concerning.
“Hey, Kanade. Would you like to have dinner with us?”
“…That is not allowed. Kanade is a maid, and maids do not eat dinner with their masters.”
“As your master, I’m the one asking you to eat together…”
It’s always been like this.
Kanade is a professional maid, and it is common knowledge that maids do not eat with their masters’ families.
At first, I tried to respect that.
Kanade may prefer to eat alone, and I wondered if she would be uncomfortable eating with me, her master.
But…
Kanade looks at me with envy for just a moment as Suzuha and Yuzuriha eat their meals while talking to me with big smiles on their faces….
After we finished eating, Kanade’s face looked somewhat lonely as she ate her meal alone.
When I saw that, I thought it would be better if we all had dinner together.
Suzuha and Yuzuriha-san, who had read my intention, also provided support.
“Nii-san is right. It’s really disrespectful of you to refuse to eat Nii-san’s freshly cooked food. If you don’t want it, I’ll eat it all instead.”
“Besides, a maid’s job is to serve, but there is nothing to serve at the table. Then, it is also the maid’s job to fulfill her master’s wishes.”
“…I understand. Then can I really join the table…?”
“Of course.”
With my words, Suzuha and Yuzuriha-san picked up their teacups and plates.
They wanted to make room for Kanade. However…
“No need to move.”
“Eh…? Whaa~”
“”Huh!!””
Just when I thought Kanade was approaching me, she slid onto my lap with a flowing motion.
“W-What are you doing, Kanade-san? Get away from Nii-san!”
“That’s impossible. The best solution is to do what Master commands and not disturb the two of you.”
“Is that really true, Yuzuriha-san!?”
“Ugh… It is indeed unthinkable for a maid to inconvenience their master’s family just for their own meal… However…!”
“That doesn’t mean you can sit on Nii-san’s lap! And Yuzuriha-san, as far as I can remember, you’re a guest, not a family member.”
Ignoring the two of them who were having a conversation with such excitement, Kanade sat on my lap and asked me with an upturned look.
“Is Kanade sitting here…no good?”
When she asked me with lonely eyes, there was no way I could say no.
“Fine, sit all you like.”
That day, the number of people sitting at the table in my house increased by one.
Kanade, who is relaxing on my lap, is like a kitten and is very soothing.
In fact, without that level of comfort, I don’t think I can keep going.
That’s how harsh the current situation in the Lohengrin territory is.
