Dinner Gathering

I rang the bell beneath the fading light, having set my heart anew.

The door opened without delay, and there stood the aged maid I recognized from years past.

"Madam, are you prepared for the evening?"

She was one of the maids who had always waited in readiness whenever my grandmother visited the capital.

"Yes. I had not yet finished dressing—would you assist me with changing? I would be grateful."

"Of course, my lady. Yet such a request is unnecessary from you."

Her smile was gentle, yet edged with a subtle distance. A quiet sorrow settled within me.

"I see… I understand. Please, adapt your manner to suit the mood of tonight’s gathering," I said, hesitating slightly. She bowed with a courteous smile, withdrew to the dressing chamber, and returned shortly with two gowns, both in shades of blue.

She placed a cloth over my shoulders, then offered the dress she had held in her left hand.

I nodded without hesitation, and the dressing began.

"You are most obedient and perceptive, my lady. You are blessed with a remarkable family. There is no family quite so splendid as yours."

"Thank you. My family is truly wonderful... though it seems the former Countess did not care for me."

I chose my words carefully, avoiding the name "Grandmother."

"The Dowager does not dislike you, my lady. If you are blessed with such awareness, you will understand this."

The maid said no more, efficiently arranging me, then guiding me to the parlor.

The parlor already held Elder Brother, Mother, and Father, who had been expected to arrive later.

I quickened my pace slightly as I approached.

I apologize for keeping you waiting. When did Father arrive?

About half an hour ago. You must be weary from the carriage journey, Spica. Father’s gaze holds both concern and quiet confusion.

Spica! Are you well? Fret Elder slipped past Father and firmly grasped both my shoulders.

I regret troubling you. The journey has only made me slightly fatigued. There is no issue.

Yet my brother’s face remains etched with worry.

If you are not well, we can serve dinner later, Alex Elder says, his voice laced with care.

I am quite well. Besides, the thought of being apart from everyone else would be far more distressing—almost unbearable.

I reply with a lady’s smile.

But more pressing than that—my stomach grows empty. Is supper nearly ready?

"Yes, it is time we moved soon," Mother says, slowly rising from the sofa.

Naturally, Father escorts her, and Cain Elder extends his hand to me.

"Would you grant me the honor of escorting you this evening?" a line he never speaks otherwise.

"Yes, gladly," I reply, placing my hand in my elder brother's.

Fret Elder mutters something slyly behind us, but I ignore him as we begin to walk.

Soon, Father and Mother stop before a large oak door. The silver-haired butler bows respectfully and opens the heavy door for them.

Inside, the room stretches long and narrow, with a long table and chairs arranged at even intervals facing each other. Upon the table, draped with a cloth, are cutlery and several dishes already set out.

Father took his seat without hesitation at the far end of the table, the one designated for the host, where only a single chair was placed. Mother took her seat at the far left of Father, in the position of honor. From there, we brothers took our places in order of age, each sitting on Mother’s side.

We did not wait long before Grandfather and Grandmother arrived, followed by Mistress Pastry and her children, who took their seats across the table.

As soon as they were seated, Grandfather began a brief introduction of our family.

“Since this is a rare occasion, I have invited Mistress Pastry and her family as well. We have had little chance to gather as one family, so let us take this opportunity to make proper introductions. First, I am Elbam, former Count, and your grandfather. And this noble lady, radiant as a blooming rose, is my beloved wife, your grandmother, Francesca.” Grandmother performed the courtesy of a lady’s seat.

I feel a quiet relief upon seeing that she does not seem displeased.

Next, my grandfather gestures toward my father.

“This is the current head of the household, our eldest son Mascy, and his wife, Lady Biore. Then, in order, our eldest son Cain, our second son Alex, our third son Fret, and our eldest daughter Spica.”

I bow in the lady’s seat as my name is spoken, my vision blurring slightly with joy. To be called the eldest daughter, not merely a foster child, brought me greater happiness than words could express.

“And this is my third son Pheastly’s wife, Lady Matilda, and their eldest daughter Josephine, and eldest son Luke.”

My aunt bows in the same lady’s seat, and my cousins Josephine and Luke bow their heads slightly in greeting.

“It is a dinner tonight with only family present. I wish to enjoy a meal with my grandchildren. I have prepared only my finest dishes for my grandchildren, who have not visited in some time—please, enjoy yourselves,” she said, taking her seat.

“Father, at least return my toast,” my father said, with a hint of jest, lifting the champagne glass already set upon the table.

We follow suit, raising our glasses.

“To our family’s reunion and the prosperity of Emmental.”

“Cheers.”

With that, the appetizers are brought before us.

Upon the plate rests a gelée shaped like a trapezoid—vegetables and fish, perhaps, in white and red, orange and yellow, their vivid green contrast strikingly beautiful.

“A gelée of seafood and summer vegetables, Your Grace.”

The one who served me is the elderly lady from earlier.

Though I thought it a shame to disturb such a sparkling display, I brought it to my lips. The jelly of seafood carries the fresh crispness of summer vegetables—truly a delicate dish. Startled by its deliciousness, I looked up, and across the table, Josephine and Luke were eating with earnest concentration. Though still clumsy with their cutlery, and struggling with the subtle technique required by this dish, they managed to eat with such delight that it was profoundly endearing.

“Mother—Josephine can’t eat it properly!” Their frustration, born of desire unfulfilled, had brought tears to their eyes. I called over the serving maid and asked if she could do something about it. She nodded in affirmation. I turned then to Josephine and spoke.

"Josephine, if you would be so kind, might I ask you to enchant the meal?" Her eyes sparkled at the mention of magic. "Do it! Do it!" she urged, her voice bright with anticipation.

"I’ll have the chef perform the enchantment, not myself," I said, and the elderly maid nodded, removing Josephine and Luke’s plates with a quiet grace. Josephine and Luke watched, their expressions alight with quiet excitement.

Within five minutes, a glass of set jelly and a spoon had been placed before them.

"Same dish as before, but this way, it should be easier to eat, don’t you think?" I offered gently.

Though I felt a pang of regret for the chef’s careful craftsmanship, I watched with quiet gratitude as she understood my intent and rearranged the dish with renewed precision, each movement deliberate and reverent. I let her work be, and simply observed.

The glass emptied as quickly as if it had been easier to drink than using knife and fork.

“Spica elder sister, I ate it all neatly! It was delicious!”

A most endearing smile.

“Tell the chef how delicious it was, later,” I say with a smile, and she nods eagerly.

Following this, there comes a chilled soup of tomato and clam, a poached sweetfish, a beef pie, a grapefruit and arugula salad, and finally, the main course: lobster with lemon butter sauce. Fret elder brother appears slightly dissatisfied with the amount of meat, but I am thoroughly content, enjoying the unfamiliar seasonings and ingredients in each dish.

At last, dessert is brought forth.

The dessert arrived on a ship-shaped platter, bearing foreign fruits. Fruits resembling cactus berries or encased in dragon scales were brought forth intact. Wondering how one might eat such strange offerings, Grandfather slowly rose and approached the wagon bearing the fruit.

“Earlier, you could not see the magic directly, could you? So Grandfather shall show you a special display.”

With that, he took up the basket of fruit and spoke, “Frostbind.” A pale blue holy light enveloped his hand, and in an instant, the fruit froze solid. Then, uttering “Frostshatter,” the frozen fruit shattered into snow-like fragments.

Josephine and Luke watched, breathless with excitement.

Thus was created Grandfather’s fruit granita—filled with fruits never before tasted, strange and wondrous, yet utterly delicious.

It is said that holy power has color. Broadly speaking, one’s lineage determines the color to a certain extent, and this also influences the type of magic one can wield.

The color of the Emmental family is blue—specializing in ice and water magic, it is said.

The dinner party has ended, and Josephine and Luke seem to be growing drowsy. Even I, though it is earlier than usual, find myself suddenly very tired.

“I wanted to play more with Elder Brother and Elder Sister…” “Luke wants to play more too!”

The two cling to me and my elder brothers, refusing to let go even as we walk them to the hall.

I kneel, lowering my gaze to meet theirs.

It has been a pleasure meeting the two of you today. Though it is now time to part, I plan to visit the home of the two of you in Tabah tomorrow. Will you kindly guide me there? “Oh, I get to play with my elder sister tomorrow?” they say, their voices bright with delight. I am certain they will be the smallest of guides tomorrow.

The two of them rub their eyes, then follow their aunt into the carriage, hands held. Slowly, the carriage vanishes into the darkness.

With tomorrow’s joy now deepened, I return to the chamber prepared for me, led by my Elder Brothers.