Charlotte looked straight at Lydilia. “It’s true, there are many cruel, painful things in this world. But more than that...there are so many things that are fun, joyous, and wonderful! This world is not ‘worthless’ at all!”
“Hmph, you amuse me.” Lydilia let out a little chuckle. With a bold smile playing on her lips, she declared in a lilting voice, “You say that this world is wonderful. But I have been worshipped as a saint. I have drunk my fill of all the luxuries and indulgences this life has to offer.” In her lifetime, people often gave her offerings of extravagant full-course meals made from a rich array of rare ingredients, robes woven of the finest silk, treasures forged of gold and silver, and much more. “None of those offerings moved my heart in the slightest. Thus I abandoned any expectations I had of the world.”
“Living in luxury isn’t the only way to enjoy life! There’s so much more than that!”
“Well then, give me examples. Teach me those joys.”
“Um, I-I can’t just list them on the spot...umm...!” Charlotte faltered, her eyes wandering. But she soon realized something and gestured at Allen. “That’s right! Allen can teach you!”
“That’s quite a curveball you’re throwing at me,” Allen mumbled. He knew it was coming, but he couldn’t help himself.
“Oh, I-I’m sorry...” Charlotte shrank apologetically.
Lydilia shrugged, unconvinced. “So this Allen here is going to teach me, is he? What do you call it again—‘naughty pleasures’?”
“Uh, you know about that?” Allen asked.
“Naturally. I had my eye on what was happening to some extent,” Lydilia said coolly.
That means she knows everything that’s happened between Charlotte and me...right...? Like what almost happened last night. Allen felt somewhat tired out just thinking about it, but what Lydilia said next made him forget everything else.
“Such childish games—they’re not going to work on me.”
“What did you say...?” A vein in Allen’s temple throbbed a little.
Whether she noticed his anger or not, Lydilia sneered mockingly at him. “Of course, you will never move my heart. You may have some skill in magic, but to be persuaded by a fool such as yourself? One must be utterly naive or overwhelmingly charitable—or perhaps just as much of a fool—to be influenced by the likes of you.”
“I won’t approve of you insulting my dear sister...but, well, your assessment of the Dark Overlord is pretty accurate,” Natalia said in agreement.
“But I mean, isn’t it obvious to anyone that Allen’s an idiot?” Roo added.
“Quiet, you two! Which side are you on?!” Allen shouted. He glared at Lydilia head-on. “Fine, you cheeky saint! I swear I’ll teach you some naughty pleasures!”
“Hah, prove your mettle if you can!”
“N-No quarreling, though! You have to be friends!” Charlotte cut in.
Lydilia and Allen glared at each other, furious sparks flying between them. And so, they opened fire in their ruthless battle. Allen was determined to show the saint what naughty pleasures were all about and to stir her glacial heart.
Of course, he thought he had a good chance of winning. He hadn’t spent all his time in the last six months thinking up naughty lessons for Charlotte for nothing. This time, his target was a saint who’d died at the age that Charlotte was currently. He figured he could likely entice her using similar methods. He could take her out to a meal of dishes from her homeland, indulge her with sweets, let her play with animals...he had plenty of ideas.
But things didn’t pan out as he’d expected.
After polishing off the meal at the restaurant in the city—the same one that Allen had brought Charlotte to on their first date, well known for their cuisine from Neils Kingdom—Lydilia elegantly wiped her lips with a napkin and said coolly, “Hm. I admit it was a good meal.”
“That’s all you have to say?!” Allen had hoped the nostalgic flavors would tug at her heartstrings.
She called the chef who was standing nearby, waiting for their comments. “Although they were all familiar dishes...” she said, “compared to my time, the flavors and cooking methods seem to have changed much.”
The chef shrank. “I-I do apologize... Recipes from three hundred years ago are difficult to recreate...”
“No need to fret.” Lydilia smiled generously. “It was a valuable experience to taste the change over the eras. I commend your work, chef.”
“Th-Thank you so much! Who would’ve thought I’d have a chance to serve my dishes to the legendary Saint Lydilia... It’s such an honor!”
“Glad to hear it,” she said.
The chef, who was from Neils Kingdom, of course knew the legends of Lydilia the Saint. When Allen had told him a brief summary of their situation, the chef put everything he had into entertaining them. Every dish he’d brought out was a first-rate creation in Allen’s view—but apparently, even a feast like that wasn’t enough to melt Lydilia’s icy heart.
“Oh, if I may, could I please have your autograph?” the chef asked, holding out a square autograph board. “I’d like to put it up in the restaurant!”
“Well...it’s supposed to be a secret that I have come back to life.” After a moment’s hesitation, Lydilia shook her head. “I must not leave my name here,” she said, smiling softly. “Will you keep it as a memory in your own heart alone?”
“I understand...! Please forgive me for making a crass request!”
Even the way she declined was refined. But it was clear that the cuisine from her homeland hadn’t affected her much. Allen watched the scene from another table at a distance and clicked his tongue in frustration.
“Tch...so the first move failed.” He opened his notebook and crossed out a line. His opponent was rather formidable. But he couldn’t back down now. This is a battle for my pride...! I’ll show her what I’ve got, no matter what!!! Whenever someone picked a fight with him, Allen fought back with a grin. That was his motto. He was possessed by a childish desire to startle Lydilia with his ingenuity and move her to tears, to watch her weep with a triumphant smirk on his face. While such trivial thoughts were running through his head, the others at the table whispered amongst each other.
“Hunh. So it’s really just like bro said,” Eluka remarked.
“She’s a clear case of reincarnation,” Dorothea said.
“It’s so odd to see her like that,” Miach said thoughtfully. “A haughty Charlotte... Now you don’t see that every day!”
Gosetsu hugged the mirror with Charlotte inside, and gnashed her teeth with tears streaming down her face. “Oh...please forgive me, Lady Charlotte... How could I let something like this happen to you in my absence...?! I am ashamed as your servant!”
“D-Don’t worry, Gosetsu. I’m all right.” Charlotte tried to comfort her.
“Easy, Granny. It’s okay,” Roo joined in, soothing Gosetsu.
Eluka, Dorothea, and Gosetsu had been having an all-night drinking party when Miach joined them after work. Their festivities had been wild and fun all the way until now. None of them had slept a wink, but they were so tough that they didn’t give off a hint of fatigue.
Natalia looked around at them quizzically. “You don’t seem so surprised at the news?”
“Well, it was a surprise, but still,” Eluka replied casually.
“Stuff like this happens all the time, y’see. In fact, this explains everythin’. Generally speakin’, people with past lives tend to have a tumultuous time of it, and they often inherit abilities that can sort of cheat the system,” Dorothea said.