Despite what he’d said, I sort of got the impression that Kamyua Yoshu was observing the banquet from an outsider’s perspective, even now. I figured that was just because he didn’t show his excitement openly the way other people did, though.
“Hey, is it still not time to dance yet? Everyone’s gonna be dancing today, right?” Tara called out, still holding Rimee Ruu’s hand. The expression on her face was overflowing with joy, and she looked even more adorable with Rimee Ruu there beside her smiling brightly.
“Well, we’re going to serve dessert after everyone’s done with the main dishes, and it’ll be time to dance after that. Look forward to it, okay?”
“Ah, really? They’re already serving the desserts! They’re getting delivered to the little kids now!” Rimee Ruu informed us.
The ones in charge of the sweets were Toor Deen and the Liddo woman from our team, and Rimee Ruu was in charge for the Ruu. And apparently, while Ai Fa and I had been taking our time, the banquet had hit its midpoint.
“I guess we should try the desserts too, then, so we’ll see you all later,” I said.
I wanted to talk with Toor Deen, so Ai Fa and I passed right by a number of stoves in our search for the dessert table. But along the way, we once again stopped when we ran into a familiar man and woman.
“Hey there, Shin Ruu. And Lala Ruu too. Are you going to get some dessert?”
Lala Ruu turned around with a smile on her face and nodded before replying, “Yeah.” She was letting her red hair hang down rather than doing it up in its usual ponytail, which made her look more mature than usual. Her banquet attire really looked good on her too. “We heard from Rimee that the desserts were out. They’re probably over where that crowd there is.”
“Yeah, that sounds right. If we won’t be getting in the way too much, how about we go together?”
“Wh-Why would you be getting in the way?!” Lala Ruu nervously squawked, her face turning red. Meanwhile, Shin Ruu had the same relaxed look on his face as always, but it seemed possible that if it were a little brighter we would have been able to see his face changing color too.
“Oh yeah, weren’t you with Yumi’s group? I think I remember you being with them earlier,” I said.
“Yumi and that other guy are over there. Um, with the Ran and Sudra men, I think?” Lala Ruu replied.
With as many guests as were here, it’d probably be tough to remember all their names after only meeting them once. Still, Yumi, Ben, Jou Ran, and Cheem Sudra certainly sounded like an interesting combination.
I suggested to Jou Ran that it’d be good for him to form bonds with townsfolk. And, well, I imagine it should be pretty easy for him to speak casually with Yumi and Ben.
When we arrived at the large crowd we had been pointed toward, we found that sure enough, that was where the sweets were being served. Toor Deen, the Liddo woman, Tari Ruu, and an older woman were in charge of the table there. However, what caught my eyes first was the people standing behind Toor Deen: the Zaza siblings and Lem Dom.
“My, Ai Fa, what splendid banquet attire,” Lem Dom remarked with crossed arms, smiling alluringly at my clan head.
Ai Fa’s eyes narrowed suspiciously as she shot back, “And what have you been up to?”
“I was heading around the plaza with Sufira Zaza and Toor Deen, but then Toor Deen had to go back to work, so we’re waiting for her to finish. And then Geol Zaza showed up too.”
“The goal for today is to deepen our friendship with the townsfolk, is it not?”
“Oh, so is that what you’ve been doing, Ai Fa?”
The unexpected counterattack forced my clan head to hold her tongue.
“Hey, it’s fine, isn’t it? This is a valuable opportunity for Lem Dom to deepen her connection with Toor Deen too, right?” I chimed in, trying to smooth things over.
“That’s right,” Lem Dom added, puffing up her ample chest. The Zaza siblings had gotten to spend time with Toor Deen three days ago, but they probably wanted the same thing.
Well, as long as Toor Deen starts showing them around again after wrapping up her work, I guess it won’t be a problem.
At any rate, we went ahead and helped ourselves to some dessert too. Toor Deen and the Liddo woman were serving chocolate cake and roll cake, while Tari Ruu and the older woman had chatchi mochi and steamed pudding.
“Looks like things are going well, Toor Deen. Is there anything I can help out with?”
“No, two people is plenty to cut and serve what we have here.”
Sure enough, they seemed to be in the final stage of their job for the day. All they had to do was cut up the desserts and have people take what they wanted.
As for Tari Ruu and the older woman, they were putting helpings of the steamed pudding and chatchi mochi on some smaller plates, then drizzling caramel, brown sugar syrup, or roasted flour on top. That took a bit more effort, but their work seemed to be progressing smoothly too.
“Oh, Shin. And Lala Ruu too. Are you here for some dessert? The ones Toor Deen and the Liddo woman are serving are very delicious as well,” Tari Ruu said.
“Yeah, I got to try some earlier! That black one is super sweet!” Lala Ruu added. She got along well with Shin Ruu’s whole family, which naturally included Tari Ruu as well. And if she and Shin Ruu eventually got married, Tari Ruu would become her mother-in-law. “The chatchi mochi looks tasty too! Have the little kids already gotten some?”
“Yes, Rimee Ruu’s group took some over to them a little while ago. I’m sure the young children must be very happy right now.”
That was something Yumi had suggested at the last friendship banquet—that even if the kids under the age of five couldn’t take part in the banquet, they should still get to have some treats delivered to them—and now it was something of a tradition.
Speaking of which, where did Yumi’s group go? Do they know dessert is being served? I thought, casually glancing around only to spy yet another group approaching. This time it was Lefreya, with Sanjura and Jiza Ruu on either side of her.
Instantly, the chatter coming from all around us quieted down quite a bit.
As she looked over the treats on offer, Lefreya calmly said, “My, so there are desserts being served here? If it is all right, could I have some as well?”
“Yes, of course. Please help yourself,” Toor Deen replied without any hesitation. Since the young chef had been invited to a number of tea parties in the castle town, she was one of the few people who had been reasonably well acquainted with Lefreya before today’s event.
“Thank you,” Lefreya replied, and then she approached the table. “Ah, this black cake was served at the last dinner, was it not? It was shockingly delicious.”
“I’m glad you liked it. Chocolate cake is incredibly sweet, though, so it may be best to save it until after you’ve tried the other desserts.”
“Yes, that makes sense. In that case, I suppose I shall start here,” Lefreya said. But then her gaze darted around the table. “I cannot see any plates or spoons, so are these meant to be eaten by hand?”
“Ah, m-my apologies. If you need them, we can borrow some from the Ruu clan.”
“No, that won’t be necessary. I shall abide by the customs of the forest’s edge,” Lefreya said with a nonchalant look before reaching out and grabbing a piece of roll cake with her slender fingers. “I will sometimes eat fuwano confections by hand at home. It is not as if all nobles feel a need to constantly act elegantly,” she added, taking a bite. “Yes, this is delicious. When Lady Odifia invites you to another tea party, I shall ask that I be invited as well.”
“I-I see. It would make me glad to have you try my sweets then too,” Toor Deen replied with a bright smile.