Several hours later, the preparations were complete. The sun had long since dipped below the horizon, and darkness enshrouded the forest around the mansion. In contrast, the living room where everyone was gathered was aglow with bright light.
“Good, everything looks ready now,” Allen remarked.
“Perfect, bro,” Eluka said with a thumbs-up.
“Well, we did everything as you asked, but...” Natalia furrowed her brows and tilted her head in puzzlement. She looked around the transformed living room, which was much more lively than usual. The walls were covered with decorations they’d made from paper, and vibrant dishes crowded the table. At the place of honor in the middle, of course, was a whole family-sized cake. They were ready for a cozy house party. It wasn’t anything extravagant—just the casual dinner party of an ordinary family.
“Are you really sure you can sway the saint with something like this?” Natalia asked doubtfully. “I did help out...but these are all average, homely dishes—nothing special.”
“That’s why it’s perfect. Anyway, you know the plan. I’m counting on you all,” Allen said.
“Well, if you say so, Dark Overlord... I’ll stick to it.”
“And so shall we,” Gosetsu followed.
“Me too,” Roo joined in, nodding eagerly.
As she stroked each of the beasts on their heads, Charlotte scratched her cheek with a sheepish smile. “I went a little overboard with the cooking... I hope she’ll enjoy it, though.”
“Everything is perfect. I guarantee it,” Allen replied.
“Hee hee, I’ll trust you, Allen.”
The party was a small one: just the usual group of Allen, Charlotte, Natalia, and Eluka, along with the two beast companions. In other words, it was an intimate family gathering. And now, they were about to invite someone else to join them.
“All right, Charlotte. Would you mind? It’s meant to be your birthday party, so it’s a bit ridiculous that the main guest has to be pushed aside...”
“I don’t mind at all. I’ve had plenty of celebrating since yesterday.” Charlotte smiled softly and gave a little bow. “Please take good care of Lydilia.”
“I will.” Allen placed a hand on Charlotte’s shoulder and cast a simple spell. Then she began to nod off. He snapped his finger next to her ear. “Wake up, Lydilia.”
With a gasp, Charlotte’s eyes opened. She slowly looked around, then her face twisted into a disgusted grimace as Lydilia’s personality took over. She glared at Allen and growled in a low voice, “What, you awakened me? Why don’t you leave me alone?”
“Don’t say that. I’ve got a bit of business with you,” Allen said.
“Hmph, I am never going to apologize for what I did earlier, if that’s what you’re after.” Lydilia crossed her arms and looked away. She didn’t forget to throw a glance at Natalia with a scoff. “I don’t care what you say. That girl is to blame. I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“Grr...! It’s even more frustrating when she’s speaking from my dear sister’s mouth!” Natalia complained.
“N-Natalia, please stay calm...” Charlotte tried to soothe her from inside the mirror.
Gosetsu and Roo exchanged glances in silence. Although everyone was tense, Allen was suppressing a grin.
Hm. It’s going well. He could see it clearly: Lydilia was changing. She still talked like an old sage, but every gesture she made was now rather childish. Though she was putting on a bold front, there was a hint of uncertainty in her furtive glances at Natalia. It was proof that she was feeling cornered. To Allen, it presented the perfect conditions for putting pressure on the opponent. Trying to hide his scheming as much as possible, he said nonchalantly, “That’s something we have to sort out too, but more importantly, I called you out to give you another naughty lesson.”
“Then you still haven’t given up...?” Lydilia heaved a dramatic sigh and said despondently, “I’m sick of everything now. Just erase me from this world—I do not wish to remain another second. After everything that happened today, it’s clear to me. As I expected, there’s nothing...not a single thing in this world that would bring comfort to my heart.”
“Hmph. You won’t keep playing the part of a pessimist for long,” Allen said with a bold grin. “This is the last shot. On the off chance that I can’t move you with this, I’ll back down and make you disappear.”
Lydilia squinted at him. “Do you swear...?”
“Yes. I tend to keep my promises.” Allen nodded firmly.
“Fine...then.” Lydilia caught her breath a little, then gave a small nod. A complicated tangle of emotions—both bracing herself for death and feeling relieved at the same time—swirled in her downcast eyes. “Understood. I shall see it through to the end. Hurry up, then.”
“Good, that’s settled. Well...” Allen placed a hand on Lydilia’s shoulder and gestured at the table with his chin. “First, you’ll have dinner. With all of us.”
“Huh...?” Lydilia blinked in confusion. But when she saw the many dishes on the table and the decorations on the wall, she scowled. “This must be...Charlotte’s birthday party?”
“That’s right,” Allen replied, “and you’re invited.”
“Then I shall leave. This body belongs to Charlotte. What’s the point of a birthday party without the birthday girl?”
“That’s a different story. Go on, sit down already.”
“I don’t want to. This has nothing to do with me.”
No matter how much he tried to persuade her, Lydilia didn’t budge. Allen flashed a fearless grin. “Hmph, in that case, I’ll use my last resort.”
“What...?”
It had been a while since he used that spell. He intoned a short spell and snapped his fingers. An ominous symbol appeared over his clothes around his heart. He pressed a hand to the spot and declared, “I’ve just cast a death curse on myself!”
“Huh?”
“If you don’t agree to join in the dinner party, I won’t undo the curse. So what’s your answer, Lydilia? Surely even you would be pained if an ordinary, innocent citizen died because of you. Hurry up and say—”
“Why would I care? Feel free to die, I won’t stop you,” Lydilia snapped at him with a frosty look.
“Hm...?” Allen went still for a moment. She was indifferent, and she didn’t cry out to try to stop him. Her reaction was the complete opposite of what he’d expected. But he pulled himself together and pressed her further. “Don’t you see my life is on the line?! If a good citizen loses his life because of you, even a snide saint like you would feel guilty, wouldn’t you?!”
“A ‘good citizen’? Who do you mean? What concern is it to me that a fool like you puts his own life in danger?”
“Ack... This threat worked so much better with Charlotte...!”
Natalia glowered at him threateningly, almost ready to shoot him. “Are you saying you’ve used this trick on my dear sister before, Dark Overlord?”
“Uh, well, I just—!” He couldn’t exactly say he hadn’t, so he stopped short. Charlotte jumped in to help him.
“Th-There there, Natalia. At first I was surprised...but Allen hasn’t done it as often recently, so it’s all right.”
“‘As often’...? ‘Recently’...? Dark Overlord, I’ll need a word with you later. And you will spill all the details of just how much of a headache you’ve been for my dear sister.”
“W-Wait a second... I feel like I’m going to pass out... Ah...” Allen crumpled to his knees.
“A-Allen?! Are you okay?!” Charlotte cried out, the only person in the room who was actually worried about him. The others watched calmly, eyeing him coldly as if to say, “He’s being as stupid as ever.”
Natalia shrugged with a sigh. “Anyway. I’ll grill him about his misbehavior later, but for now... Come, please sit down, Lydilia. Before dinner gets cold.”
“Yeah, go on,” Eluka chimed in. “We all worked hard on it, you know.”
“Wh-What, now you’re all pushing me too?” Nudged forward by the two of them, Lydilia found herself seated at the table. But she was still restless, and she turned to Charlotte in the mirror. “This is your party, isn’t it...? I am sure it’s not my place to eat anything here...”
“I can eat later, so please don’t worry about me,” Charlotte assured her with a big smile. “I’d like to thank you for rescuing me too. It would make me happy if you had some.”
“W-Well, if you insist...I’ll try a little.”
“Yes please! There’s dessert too. And you too, Allen...um, are you well enough to eat?”
Allen was forced to undo the curse himself, and he staggered back to his feet. “I... I’m all right...” he rasped in between hacking coughs.
He’d ended up making himself look ridiculous, but at least he’d succeeded in making Lydilia join them at the table. Now the whole family was sitting down together. Roo and Gosetsu were ready for the feast too, their food bowls placed right near the table.
“Well then, let’s dig in!” Eluka said brightly.
“Bon appétit,” Natalia chimed in.
“Th-Thank you...” Lydilia put her palms together, looking somewhat nervous.
And so, a small but lively dinner party began. It was a family style meal, where each of them was meant to take helpings of whatever dish they wanted from big plates in the middle.
“I hope you like it...” Charlotte anxiously said to Lydilia from the mirror, which was propped up on the table. “I’m sure you’re used to more refined cooking...”
“W-Well, it’s not a problem. I’m not a picky eater. Anything will do—”
“Oh, how about this, then? It’s really yum, try it,” Eluka said, scooping one of the side dishes onto Lydilia’s plate.
“I’d recommend these deep-fried shrimp. My sister made them for us.” Natalia heaped some shrimp on Lydilia’s plate too. Soon, her plate was loaded to the brim.
Lydilia hesitantly picked up a fork. Since the whole group was looking at her expectantly, she resigned herself to the fact that there was no way out. “Mrr... You’re all rather pushy... I suppose I have no choice. I’ll try some of these.”
She reached for a fried shrimp. With the tail a little singed, it wasn’t a perfect specimen by any means. She nervously put the shrimp in her mouth. The next moment, her scowl softened. “It’s...nice,” she murmured.
“Really?” Charlotte brightened up. “If there’s any other dish you like, please let me know. I’ll make it for you anytime!”
“B-But, I...” Lydilia mumbled, averting her eyes. She wanted to say, “There won’t be a next time,” but Charlotte looked so happy that she couldn’t let her down.
Allen chuckled at her fluster—he could read her like a book now. “So, you prefer simple, straightforward cooking like this over a luxurious full-course meal, huh?”
“Th-That’s not what I meant! It’s only because I’m not as familiar with the meals of commoners—”
“Hey, Natalia, want some of this salad?” Eluka piped up.