Mom was busy stoking the fire and readying the pots and pans before dawn had even cracked. If she had any fatigue, she didn't show it, sending her daughters and husband to work like a drill sergeant. She stationed Tuuli in the kitchen with her, and was about to send Myne and Dad to fetch the ingredients from Benno-san when the medieval version of a grocery delivery truck—or in this case, carriage—interrupted. An employee that Myne recognized from Benno-san's store exited, carrying baskets bulging with ingredients. That earned odd looks from the neighbors.

But hey, free delivery!

While Mom set the pace, Myne gave the orders. She talked her family through cooking the meals. At first they gawked at her, but after a few recipes when it became clear her food was not only edible but tasty, the flood of questions dried up. Well, except for her sister's.

"Is this right?" Tuuli frowned as she showed her the pot of quartered kafkas boiling in chicken broth.

"Yep, perfect!"

"Really? It looks like… soup."

"It won't once we drain it. We'll mash the kafkas, and use the broth for the vegetable soup."

"Not the vegetable stock like before…?"

"Nope."

"Weird…"

Myne pretended not to hear that.

By the late afternoon, the menu was served. The meal started light with an appetizer of sourdough rolls and salted butter. Three choices were offered for the entree: pizza with a sourdough crust and toppings; sausage soup with vegetables and chicken broth; and kafka salad dressed with a mayonnaise made from whipped eggs, oil, apfelsige juice, and a sprinkle of salt. Last, Mom's honey pudding starred for dessert.

Myne could've basked in the feast's glory. The first nearly modern meal she'd had in over a year… and she couldn't eat it.

Well, at least not yet.

Their customer had to be first. Fortunately for her, Benno-san was made up of three things: business acumen, wit, and punctuality. The fifth bell had just rung when they heard rapping at the door.

Mom and Dad rushed over.

Benno-san was the first they saw, flanked by Mark-san and Lutz. On Lutz's day off, no less. They weren't dressed to the nines by any means, but their clothes were ironed, spotless, and probably worth more than everything in Myne's house.

Dad cleared his throat. "Welcome. Thank you for coming, Benno-sama."

"The pleasure is mine." Benno-san's expression was polite, but reserved. Professional.

Fine. Two could play that game. "Please, let me show you the menu," Myne said with a bow of her head.

She led him to the dishes, explaining in a cordial voice what ingredients they'd used and the tastes he could expect (keeping the details of the cooking process to herself). Her family had been bustling in the kitchen before, but now they were lined up silently at the wall, watching but not staring. Eerily like servants. Mom had made them rehearse where they'd stand and what to do when their guests arrived, but it was still unnerving to see.

But Benno-san didn't appear to notice. He chewed the sourdough rolls like he was mulling over a thought. "A pleasant texture," he finally said.

"Thank you." She waited for his final verdict. But without another word, he moved onto the next course.

That's...it? Usually he'd have more to say. Some pointed criticisms or measured insights. Something . Myne forced herself to match his placid expression.

Well, that was just the bread. Maybe there wasn't a lot to be said? Although she and Tuuli had worked hard on it...

Oh well. This next dish would blow his cape off. She gestured to the pizza, offering him a pre-sliced cut. "I call it pizza . It's a sourdough crust seasoned with herbs and topped with pome sauce, cheese, and sliced mushrooms from the forest. The toppings can be substituted for seasonal ingredients, so it's the perfect dish to serve year-round without boring the customers."

Benno-san nodded. When he struggled to cut it with a knife and fork, Myne came dangerously close to laughing—but the sound croaked when the sauce spattered on his crisp, clinically clean, white sleeve.

Somehow, Mom was already there, dabbing at the stain with a cloth as she gushed apologies. "No need to fuss, ma'am," Benno-san said. Mark-san smoothly cut in, reassuring that he'll attend to it so "there'd be not a trace left."

Trace or not, Myne's mind was zipping through worst-case scenarios. Staining some noble's clothes would be a ridiculously monumental problem for their restaurant, but right now, even worse, was Benno-san's expression.

His expressionless expression.

She watched him carefully as he tried the soup. He noted how the kafkas were especially well-seasoned: his first real compliment. "They were boiled in something other than water, correct?"

Her eyes brightened. "That's right! We used a special technique."

She waited for him to take the bait, but he only nodded.

Again with the poker face!

Fine . Villains were only as strong as their weakest minion.

She aimed her smile at Lutz. He'd been sampling each dish along with his boss, but keeping mum like her family.

"What about you, Lutz? Are you enjoying the cuisine?" she asked, her tone light and silvery. Not that she didn't already know; he might've polished up as a businessman, but he had an Achilles stomach.

"Myne, you cook so—!"

Benno-san cleared his throat. His expression might've been unruffled, but he was glaring at Lutz. They both knew that behind those cool eyes was a hawk ready to rip their guts out.

"It...has...pleasant flavors," Lutz settled on, shifting his feet. "Thank you, Effa-san."

Mom glanced between her and Lutz with a raised brow, but instead of questioning it, she dipped into a curtsy. "I'm honored it suits your tastes."

Excuse her? When did Mom learn to talk like that?

But she couldn't worry about it now. Myne spent the rest of the so-called party scrutinizing Benno-san. Unfortunately, he was like a hawk circling so close to the sun that she had to squint to make out any detail. Regardless, Myne took note of every flicker he showed.

That paid off once he tried the honey pudding. Even he couldn't hide the split second of surprise when it touched his tongue. He composed himself quickly, of course, but Myne wouldn't forget that look. And if she could help it, neither would he.

When he'd finished the courses, Benno-san strode to her parents. "You honored me with the meal."

"Thank you, sir. It's the least we could do." Dad shook his hand.

Mark-san opened the door, but Benno-san glanced back, meeting Myne's eyes.

"We will meet tomorrow."

Myne swallowed.

Almost immediately, Myne turned to wearing a track on the floorboards.

Where were their negotiations, so charged they would've blown anime rivals to smithereens?

Sure, they'd played close to the chest before, but that was usually reserved for striking a deal—not the testing phases!

Had she miscalculated?

She knew from experience that these foods were universally loved—she made pizza!

But... she also knew that her knowledge wasn't a direct translation to this world. ...Universe. Whatever.

Her family might've thought the recipes were strange, but they liked her food—they wouldn't let her waste ingredients if they didn't. But… they were also used to her strangeness. But so was Benno-san!

Although, he wasn't here for his own stomach. He would be serving her food to the public—people who didn't know Myne.

Or maybe she took for granted the accessibility of an ingredient, like she did with the honey?

And if any of that were true, then why hadn't Benno-san berated her? He'd never held back before.

"BERATE ME ALREADY!" she wanted to scream.

"Myne."

Her mother's sharp voice cut through her thoughts; it took a second to process that beneath her firmness lurked an exhaustion. Myne glanced back. Her parents had sunk into the nearest chairs, while Tuuli hadn't gotten that far, instead drooping on the floor.

Mom had her hand to her temple. "Just. Sit ."

Myne sat.

The room exhaled. They had leftovers to give to neighbors, dishes to clean, and furniture to rearrange. But no one moved a muscle.

Her mom was the first to break the silence. "If you ever do this again," she said, "I'm going to let Lutz's mother—"

"Adopt me," Myne finished, gulping. "Yes, I know. Sorry…"

Mom sighed, letting her fingers fall from her temples as she dropped her head back. A wry smile crept up her lips. "But goodness gracious, were those men finely dressed!"

Dad simply "hmphed," too exhausted to even be jealous.

Tuuli burst into giggles. "Honestly, I can't believe you had me working on my day off." She nudged Myne's leg with her foot. "You owe me."

"I already paid you!"

"Not enough."

Myne stuck out her tongue.

Dad groaned, throwing an arm over his face. "I'd no idea what was going on, but I was sweating more than I had on my first day at the gate. We didn't mess things up for you, did we?"

"No, Dad, you all did great." But that reminded her of something. Myne turned to her mom, tugging her sleeve. "Hey, how'd you learn to talk so politely?"

Mom waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, that? That was nothing."

"Your mother's the daughter of the senior gate commander," Dad boasted. "She talked to the nobles that passed by all the time."

Mom rolled her eyes. "It was hardly all the time. And besides, you work at the gate, too."

"Sure, but I was never high enough up to talk to them. It was just 'yes, sir,' and 'no, sir.' Even an oaf like me can handle that. "

Myne hid a chuckle. Was this how they talked when they were alone? She imagined more lovey-doviness.

Eventually, Mom took a deep breath and got to her feet, setting her hands on her hips. "Okay, time to clean up."

"But can't we—" said Tuuli.

"Just five more—" said Myne.

" Now ."

"Yes, ma'am," grumbled the sisters.

A/N: I'd like to imagine that after the tasting event, Myne sneaks Lutz the leftovers~

Also, you have two AMAZING artists and my editor to thank for this chapter, especially the ending! ...Literally. I was tempted on multiple occasions to burn it. (^^" )

BUT! They salvaged it, so I'll put away my matches! :D

…For now.