“So you’ve been here for five years now? That’s around the same time that Ricardo started to make honey, right?”
“Yes. That’s because it was a pipe dream that the village never thought would go well. So I was sent to the company as the most incapable of manual labor among all the orphans.”
After I finished cooking, I walked over to Mia and Alfina and found them talking about the past. It really seems like they’re opening their hearts to each other. I suppose, in a sense, these two have similar circumstances, having lost their parents.
“Is that so? And you’ve been together ever since...”
“Ricardo lacked all manner of common sense at the time, so it was quite the struggle. Though I suppose he hasn’t really changed all that much regarding his common sense. Actually, he may have gotten worse.”
Mia turned to look at me, and Alfina followed her lead.
“...You’re right, I can also tell that Ricardo is special in many ways.”
Their hopeful looks put even more pressure on me as I put the frying pan on top of the table. I took a wooden spatula and scooped up the golden bread with nice-looking burn marks.
“You sometimes make rather odd dishes, but this is the first time I’ve seen this one.”
“The bread appears to be smeared in something? I’m looking forward to this.”
I placed the still-steaming French toast onto a plate. Mia looked at it as though she were evaluating its price, while Alfina’s eyes were sparkling with anticipation.
This is such a simple menu item back in the other world that you wouldn’t ever bring it out for royalty. But here in this world, without anything resembling a refrigerator, it’s quite the luxury to put multiple perishable foods together for a small portion like this.
“Please enjoy it with as much honey as you like. Without making it too sweet, that is.”
“Thank you very much, Ricardo.”
“...Let’s see what you’ve got, sir.”
Each of them took a knife and fork in hand. Alfina cut into the French toast with an elegance that completely betrayed her clothing, and Mia also kept up her etiquette to match. They both cut off a small bite, and had a taste at the same time.
“...Hm?!”
“Oh my...”
I could tell it was a success from the way the two girls put their hands to their cheeks. I tried a piece for myself. Naturally, I just stabbed it with a fork and tore off a piece before tossing it in my mouth.
Upon biting in, it practically squirted with flavor. Perhaps because I misinterpreted the hardness of the bread, it turned out even better than I thought. It really was worth putting the time into making.
It only needs just a bit of honey. It really is a bit too sweet... Hey, that damn Mia is basically going all in with the honey.
“I’ve never had such a delectable confection. I can hardly believe that it’s made with bread.”
“It’s vexingly delicious. But it really is too sweet, sir.”
“I mean... I told you not to make it too sweet...”
Even though I warned her, Mia went to add even more honey. I don’t get her.
“We’ll need to request additional eggs and milk from Lilka, and refactor the puzzle for the household finances...”
“I’d love for my aunt and Shia to have some too.”
Mia was busy trying to raise the Engel’s coefficient of our house, while Alfina was thinking of how to bring some to the archduchess’s residence. Their delighted faces as they did so were satisfactory to me as well.
“By the way, sir...”
Mia looked at the last slice in the frying pan. Alfina was also taking little peeks at it. I’ve had enough sweets for myself, so it’d be fine to just split it in two for them, but...
“I’ll be using this one as teaching material.”
Today’s main topic begins now. Over the last three days, we had Alfina learn of the on-site ambiance at a copper company. I do think she did great for having absolutely no prior experience.
However, the Archduchess of the West, Euphylia, did not send her niece here on a field trip. Considering Alfina’s job at the cathedral, it was about time for us to move on to worldlier topics.
“Starting this afternoon, we’ll have you learn about money.”
So I said to our potential investor... or rather, our potential stockholder, out here on an inspection.