“I knew a day like this would come! To prepare for this very day, I, Fabri, procured a hefty one, fermented it, and kept it safely stored. I can bring it out right this instant!”
“......You are quite a diligent one.”
“Thank you, Your Excellency!”
“That wasn’t a compliment. Go and prepare it for now.”
I swallowed a sigh that threatened to burst from my chest and waved him off. Having said that much, I had no choice but to let him prepare the food.
“When you bring it out... no, never mind. Go on.”
I started to warn Fabri but stopped myself.
‘She was going to experience it eventually, anyway.’
Rose’s first experience with monster cuisine had been when she accompanied him on a mine inspection and witnessed the guards roasting and eating a monster. Seeing the guards enjoying it so much, she had tried some out of curiosity, and from then on, she had fallen head over heels for the various monster dishes of Schmaichel.
In other words, Rose was someone who could accept monster cuisine without prejudice.
But the situation was different now. Besides, the lake fish sashimi that Rose had pointed out was a bit... unique, even among monster dishes.
“I will bring it out right away!”
I took my eyes off Fabri as he disappeared with a proud swish of his eyebrows.
“Madam.”
And I stared at Rose’s face, which was slightly flushed with excitement.
“Can you handle it?”
“Pardon?”
“You may not realize it, Madam, but Schmaichel’s food culture is quite special... no, it is far from ordinary.”
“To that extent?”
Rose tilted her head and replied.
“None of the food I’ve had so far has failed to suit my palate. It has all been truly delicious.”
“The dishes served so far were deliberately kept ordinary out of consideration for you, Madam. The lake fish sashimi is quite different from those.”
“Ah, is that so. Then, Your Excellency, have you been unable to eat the food you originally enjoyed this whole time because of me?”
Rose’s question hit the nail on the head.
“You needn’t worry about that. I’m not the type to particularly enjoy food in the first place.”
“But......”
Rose blinked her eyes slowly. Her long eyelashes fluttered softly like butterfly wings.
“I am a Schmaichel now, too. So I believe I should naturally be able to eat it.”
It was a voice brimming with pride and dignity.
‘From such pretty lips, she only spouts out quite admirable words.’
Without even realizing the grave thoughts running through my mind, I found myself staring blankly at Rose’s face.
The premonition I had long ago—that I would be unable to stop Rose once she set her mind to something—had become reality.
Standing before Rose as she spoke with her small fists clenched tightly, I simply found myself unable to stamp out her resolve or bluntly refuse her.
‘So it comes to this after all.’
I could already see the future: as long as it didn’t put Rose in danger, I would end up granting almost any request she made.
“Or perhaps, you are saying this because you think I am still lacking......”
Seeing my lack of response, Rose murmured in a discouraged voice.
“-No.”
Without even a moment to gather my thoughts, my mouth moved immediately.
“That is not what I meant.”
I couldn’t bring myself to crush the courage of a squirrel who had finally worked up the nerve. Ultimately, there was only one answer I could give.
“Is Fabri not done yet?”
“It’s coming out right now!”
Fabri rushed out of the kitchen pushing a cart—quite needlessly, in truth. A large platter sat on the cart, concealed beneath a cover.
‘Just how massive of a catch did he bring?’
It seemed he had brought out a top-grade lake fish, thinking this was the perfect occasion. I had to admit it was impressive that he managed to procure one, considering how rarely they were caught.
Kkiik.
Fabri’s cart came to a halt beside Rose. Rose, Fabri, and the servants all fixed their eyes solely on my lips.
“-I’m not sure if this can truly be called a reward, but.”
I gave Rose a nod. It was a sign of permission.
“It wouldn’t hurt to experience it at least once. The same will apply going forward.”
“Thank you, Your Excellency.”
“I’m not so sure. You might end up resenting me soon.”
I muttered the last part under my breath so no one could hear, then signaled Fabri with my eyes.
“Attend to the Madam.”
“Yes, Your Excellency!”
After Fabri replied with a resounding voice,
Dalkak.
He swiftly flipped the cover open.
The giant triangular body of the lake fish had been carved, leaving only the upper carcass intact, while the pink flesh of the torso beneath it was sliced neatly into pieces. The tail was then curled up into a rather decorative(?) flourish.
I immediately focused my attention on Rose’s reaction.
Seureuk.
Rose’s mouth dropped wide open, and...
“……Wow.”
She let out an exclamation that sounded somewhere between awe and dismay. Her large green eyes began to quiver wildly.
‘This much is a mild reaction.’
Since she hadn’t fainted or vomited like the previous wives, it was enough.
However, she was so startled that she couldn’t close her mouth. Shock and curiosity danced within her quivering eyes, which looked as though an earthquake had struck them.
“T- This, isn’t it a monster?”
Rose’s slightly trembling finger pointed at the lake fish sashimi on the platter.
“You have seen correctly.”
Fabri began to chatter excitedly.
“This dish is a monumental masterpiece that broadened my narrow perspective on culinary ingredients. Who could have known? That monsters could be used for cooking!”
“Normally, no one would think of that......”
“Exactly. Everyone was so focused on simply slaying the monsters that the thought of eating them never crossed their minds.”
Fabri’s eyes grew distant as he reminisced about the past.
“It was a time when everyone was barely holding the line on the front. Our supply lines had run dry, but I couldn’t possibly let Your Excellency starve. I had to try something, anything.”
“Oh, my.”
“It was a fellow we had caught a while ago, and believe it or not, it yielded a rather extraordinary flavor! I immediately devised a recipe and began refining it!”
“Oh......”
The look in Rose’s eyes as she gazed at the lake fish sashimi changed. Since it seemed to be having a positive effect, I decided to just observe Fabri for the time being.
“So it was a dish with such a story behind it. I shouldn’t have judged it solely by its appearance.”
“Ah, that is my credo. Whenever I cook a monster, I make sure to preserve the shape of the raw ingredient as much as possible.”
“Why on earth would you do such a use... no, what is the reason for that?”
It seemed like he was about to say ‘useless’ just now. Whether he knew this or not, Fabri straightened his back and puffed out his chest.
“It’s so you know exactly what you defeated and can eat it with pride! Let’s just say it’s a concept of a trophy.”
“Ah, I suppose that makes sense.”
“At first, you will be a bit startled by the unique smell of this fish. Some might even recoil and ask if the food has gone rotten.”
“So the smell is... a bit. Yes, quite unique.”
Rose was somehow managing to keep herself from pinching her nose. She was maintaining her manners in front of the food and the chef.
The flesh of the lake fish grew more distinct in odor as time passed. Due to the nature of cartilaginous fish, it fermented rather than rotted like ordinary fish.
And that smell was... remarkably close to urine.
“This very smell, and the tangy taste, are the core of this dish. It would be no exaggeration to say that we eat this food purely for that taste.”
“Tangy? Don’t tell me the monster is still alive?”
“Absolutely not. It is most certainly dead, so rest assured.”
After concluding his overly detailed explanation, which made him sound like a fish market merchant,
Dalkak.
Fabri lifted the platter and placed it right in front of Rose.
“…….”
Rose swallowed dryly as she stared at the lake fish sashimi. Now that the dish was right in front of her, she seemed hesitant to reach out. With the smell being what it was, it was only natural.
It would have been proper to tell her she didn’t have to force herself to eat it if she didn’t want to at this point, but...
‘Oh, dear.’
It’s food... Once it goes in my mouth, it’s all the same... I can’t back down after saying all that myself... His Excellency eats it, so I have to eat it too......
- Seeing Rose clench her lips as if making such a firm resolution, my mischievous spirit flared up once again.
“Madam, surely.”
I struggled to wipe the smile from the corner of my mouth and tilted my head.
“You aren’t going to say you can’t eat it after coming this far, are you?”
“Pardon?”
“I warned you sufficiently. You were the one who insisted.”
Rose looked at me as if the sky had just collapsed. My rationality told me that I should only tease her to a certain extent, but...
“By any chance, have you changed your mind and want a different reward?”
“Ugh.”
Seeing those large eyes shake so violently, my mouth simply wouldn’t stop.
“If you refuse now, Fabri will be deeply disappointed. Surely you aren’t planning to do something so cruel.”
I never knew I had such a mischievous side to me. Sadism, perhaps? Somehow, the thought of Rose shedding tears because of me didn’t seem entirely disagreeable.
“Well then, are you going to give up here?”
When I asked, provoking her one last time,
“……No!”
Rose answered with force. Then, as if to prove a point, she boldly raised her fork.
“I’m going to eat it.”
The sheer defiance of willingly eating it all sparkled in Rose’s eyes.
“You aren’t allowed to complain if I end up eating too much.”
“Of course. Even if you tried, I doubt you could out-eat me.”
I motioned with my chin, signaling her to go ahead. Only then did Fabri finish his explanation to Rose.
“First, lightly dip it in this sauce. It has a mild spiciness that will rein in its overly strong natural flavor.”
“Mmm, understood.”
Kkolkkak.
Rose swallowed hard once before picking up a slice of lake fish sashimi. Then, following Fabri’s advice, she dipped it into the sauce.
“…….”
The dining room fell silent. Everyone’s undivided attention was fixed on Rose.
‘Please eat quickly! Now you can enjoy it together with His Excellency!’
‘Only by overcoming this hurdle can you become a true Schmaichel! It is a trial we have all been through!’
‘Did you just call it a trial?’
Filled with a myriad of thoughts, the crowd’s gaze followed Rose’s slowly moving hand.
“Phew.”
Rose drew in a breath, and...
Nyam.
Squeezing her eyes shut, she placed the sauce-covered slice of lake fish sashimi into her mouth.
Omul-omul.
With her lips pressed tightly together, Rose’s cheeks moved up and down as she chewed earnestly.
“Hmm......?”
Then, she let out a questioning murmur.
Everyone tracked Rose’s movements with their eyes, their ears straining to catch the slightest sound.
After a moment.
“Oh, my.”
Rose’s eyes went wide. Then, she let out a sudden, “Pfft,” and burst into a laugh.
“So this is what it tasted like?”
“Hmm?”
“Goodness.”
While everyone in the dining room stood frozen in shock...
“…….”
Fabri began to examine the lake fish sashimi closely. He wore an expression of doubt, as if wondering whether he had accidentally used a different fish instead of the lake fish.
‘...She’s smiling?’
I, too, was completely flustered by Rose’s unexpected reaction.
This was far too positive. I even began to wonder if the lake fish sashimi had been improperly fermented, numbing her tongue.
“Madam.”
“Yes?”
“Are you truly alright? You can be honest with me.”