Our incredibly eventful day had come to an end. Of course, every muscle in my body was aching when I woke up the next morning.
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🍜🍜🍜
TODAY, I was spending my morning preparing for Garr and Fredrica’s wedding party.
Charlotte was wagging her tail as she worked on the butterfly tuna Sir Aiskoletta caught for us. Zara was in charge of the grilled meat with sauce while I took on the task of the snowberry cake.
To start off, I separated some egg whites from the yolks and whipped the whites into a fluffy meringue. Then I added sugar to the yolks and beat them together until they turned a whitish color. Once I mixed in the meringue, I added flour to the batter and stirred it gently. Finally, I mixed in milk and melted butter until it was nice and smooth, poured the batter into a buttered pan, and baked it for about twenty minutes.
The result was a light and airy sponge cake. I made three layers, each one a little smaller than the last, to stack on top of each other. I cut each one into two pieces so that they could cool properly. Then I spread a layer of cream on the cooled cakes and topped them with sliced fruit. I decided to make each layer unique so that the flavors didn’t get boring.
The first layer contained whipped cream and sliced snowberries. I piled the toppings on, refusing to skimp. The second layer was topped with jam, cream, and candied forest apples. Finally, the third layer was topped with chocolate cream and crushed, toasted almonds. I carefully stacked them on top of each other and coated the entire cake with whipped cream. Then I piped the top with more whipped cream, decorated it with snowberries, and with that, my “three-tiered white snowberry cake” was complete.
“I’m finished!”
“Oh my, Melly! It’s fabulous,” Zara said.
“That looks yummy!”
The tough job of transporting the cake would be left to Sir Aiskoletta. He agreed to use a teleportation spell to bring it to Garr and Fredrica’s house. He was even wearing a white bowtie today for the celebratory occasion. I decided to wear my canary yellow dress again too.
Charlotte had given Album a bright red bow to wear, and now he wouldn’t stop asking if he looked cute. When I told him he did, just to satisfy him, he scolded me. “But you didn’t even look!”
Album was a troublesome, yet adorable little guy.
Blanche received an invitation to the party this time because it was taking place in a private home. Zara had tied a white bow on her tail.
Amelia and Rih were wearing matching green bows. They were nestled up close to each other, chirping in some sort of conversation.
Rih, the newest member of our home, had become a much calmer creature compared to before our contract. He was kind to everyone now, not just Amelia. This came as quite a relief to me.
Charlotte was even bringing Umataro to the party. She’d tied a bow around his horn, though I worried that might not be the best place for one.
“It’s nearly time. Let us depart, everyone!”
Komerv raised a flag bearing the words “Bound for Sir Garr and Miss Fredrica’s residence.” Everyone collected their food and gifts before stepping into the magic circle.
It shimmered faintly before the sights around us suddenly changed.
Garr and Fredrica’s house was located in a quiet corner of the residential area toward the middle of the city. It was an adorable little two-story home made with warm, brown bricks and a red roof.
“Thank you for coming, everyone.”
Fredrica greeted us in a white wedding dress. She looked absolutely beautiful. Garr and Sly came up to see us too.
“Garr, Fredrica, congratulations on your marriage!”
“Thank you so much.”
It seemed the other guests had already arrived. Captain Ludtink was there with Marina, who waved when she spotted me.
I stepped inside and had Sir Aiskoletta set my three-tiered white snowberry cake down on the large dining room table. Garr and Fredrica’s eyes went wide at first, but then they smiled. I was glad to see it had pleased them.
It was time for the party to begin.
One by one, delicious foods were brought out for us guests. They served whole-roasted helmeted guinea fowl, freshwater crab steamed with alcohol, rich scallop soup, pies full of three-horned cow meat, and more.
Everyone was eating and drinking with big smiles on their faces. We saved the three-tiered white snowberry cake for the very end of the party.
I wanted the husband and wife to cut the cake themselves, as was tradition in the royal capital, but it was too at risk of falling apart. Instead, I would have Zara cut the slices, since he was so experienced with cakes.
Sir Aiskoletta was recounting the tale of our snowberry quest in great detail. Even Ulgus and Charlotte were on pins and needles despite having been there themselves. Don’t you two already know how the story ends? I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Aaaah! I could just eat it all up!”
Album was clutching a plate and ordering Zara to cut the exact slice he wanted. Just who does he think he is, anyway? Amelia and Rih were eating fruit together in a corner of the room. Blanche was curled up in front of the fireplace, fast asleep, while Umataro sunbathed in the garden. The mythical beasts truly did whatever they pleased.
Fredrica and Marina were enthusiastically discussing things between the two of them—maybe because they were both wives now.
As for Vice Captain Velrey, she was enjoying a cup of dry alcohol. She looked like she was savoring each and every sip, but right next to her was Captain Ludtink, who guzzled down the exact same booze in one gulp. The vice captain gave him a lecture about appreciating his drinks properly. Perhaps she was drunk, as I’d never seen Vice Captain Velrey yell at Captain Ludtink before. Once again, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Here, Melly. Have some cake.”
“Ah, thank you.”
I took a big bite of the snowberry cake Zara sliced for me. The cake itself was smooth and fluffy, pairing nicely with the whipped cream I’d made to be not too sweet. The snowberries, the main attraction of this cake, were at the perfect ripeness. I nearly shuddered at how sweet and juicy they were.
“It’s delicious, Melly.”
“It really is! Maybe it’s wrong to praise my own work, but it turned out great.”
Zara and I smiled at each other.
The lively day was over all too soon.
The next day, Garr and Fredrica left on a weeklong honeymoon.
As for the rest of us, well, we still had work. The Royal Order told us they would try not to assign us expeditions while Garr was away. I decided to use this opportunity to make a large batch of preserved food.
“I’m heading out to the market, Captain Ludtink.”
“Gotcha. Need Zara or Ulgus to carry your bags?”
“I’ll be fine.”
I could have anything too heavy delivered to the barracks, so I didn’t need extra help.
I found Amelia and Rih sunbathing when I stepped outside. It looked like a very pleasant activity.
“Amelia, Rih, I’m heading to the market!”
“Kreh kreh!”
“Kreh!”
Amelia warned me not to go with any strangers. Does she think I’m three years old?
Rih bluntly told me not to let the wind drag me off somewhere. I wasn’t a leaf, so that wasn’t something I needed to worry about. I had come to understand Rih’s chirping now that the two of us had a contract. He still said harsh things, but at his core, he was a kindhearted griffin.
I exited the Royal Order headquarters through the front gates, basket in hand. The weather was lovely. The laundry I hung up that morning would probably be dry by the afternoon.
I wanted to head home early and make mushroom soup for dinner. But what main dish could I serve it with?
As I pondered that question, I heard someone call out to me from behind.
“Mell!”
I knew that voice. Startled, I turned around.
That silver hair. Those pointy ears and beautiful green eyes, like the depths of the forest. He wore a sweater with a stand-up collar and the seal of the forest on it, along with a pair of black trousers. It was the quintessential attire of all young Fore Elves.
This slender young elf man was Lance, my ex-fiancé.
“What?!”
My jaw fell open in absolute shock.
Lance strode right up to me, grabbed my arm, and demanded, “Come on. We’re going back to the Fore Elf woods.”
When I heard that sudden declaration, I was completely and utterly lost for words.
To be continued in volume 7.