Elicia (part 2)

The chefs were… very eager to get me to try this one dessert.

I mean it looks new, and from what they said, this dessert could never be found anywhere in the continent.

Because they made it, themselves.

"Hmm, not bad."

I said as I put a slice into my mouth. It was a combination of multiple fruits, covered in a cold cream with a slight hint of strawberry syrup. I took a yellow slice that I guessed to be a mango, and what do you know… they're not that bad.

Not toooo amazing, but not bad.

"Well!? Of course they are! They are made by the royal chefs!"

The lead chef, Mister Jarhad, said to me rather pridefully.

The seven chefs at the side of the table continuously talk about the special dessert as I ate it, and while it is true that I am listening and replying to them, it's more like I let it inside my left ear and let them leave from my right ear.

Too much information for me to handle. I just want to enjoy my breakfast.

After finishing the special dessert, I went to the other ones. The chefs left after I thanked them, leaving only the maids and butlers on the table.

And they also… made their own special desserts.

"This is called a 'Porratiate', a special dessert from my hometown."

One of the maids, Lelia, gave me a plate filled with yellow leaves that seemed to be cooked. I'm not sure if it's edible, but the look on her face shows that it is indeed a good dessert.

I picked the leaves by the handle, and I took a bite.

"W-Woah, it's sweet!"

I ate the entire thing in less than two seconds. It was a rather big leaf too. It tasted like a really fragile and tasty candy. That was awesome.

"The Porraty is a type of tree that grows near my hometown. It is known for having every inch of its body to be edible and tasty. What you ate is the leaf, the tastiest part. Aside from that, even the wood is edible."

"Is the wood tasty as well??"

"N-No, the wood is the worst part. If I were to describe it, it tasted like socks."

I nearly gagged from imagining the taste, and Lelia the maid laughed rather loud while covering her mouth.

The next meal brought to my face is a plate filled with a bunch of beans.

"Beans?"

I picked one up, and the young butler, Polard, nodded with a wide smile.

"Try having a taste, my lady. It is something my friend has created, and he was about to sell it as his future business project."

"Oh? You want me to become a tester, right?"

"I guess one can say it is more of a 'presentation'. This thing has been tasted, so don't worry."

I am looking rather sceptical, but I trust him. Polard won't put poison in it or anything. I'm just being sceptical about the taste.

I put one bean in my mouth, and it's…

W-Wait. Did it just burst in my mouth?

It's like it exploded when it arrived on my saliva, and all the insides came out. All the… sweet insides.

"Is this… strawberries??"

"Indeed. Do you like it?"

"… I want more."

I ended up taking one more, and the bean exploded once more in my mouth. I can feel a curl forming on my cheeks as the sweetness takes over my mind.

"Don't eat too much, my lady. It can be unhealthy if you take too much."

"I see… I do want to eat this everyday, though. Thank you, that was incredible."

Polard the young butler nodded, and he walked away as another maid arrived in front of me to present her meal.

One by one, everyone showed me what they have been preparing. Most of them prepared desserts or tasty candies, but some gave me gift boxes because they are incapable of cooking tasty desserts.

Not quite sure what is inside the gift boxes, but all the tasty desserts are indeed tasty. I did not dislike a single one of them, in fact I even wanted more of some.

And based on what the dessert is like, I can tell that they are not made easily.

These people… they worked hard to bring me the best that they can do…

"Thank you all… so much."

I said to them after I was done with the last dessert. Everyone is still here, watching as I tried every single dessert they prepared.

"I disliked none of them, and I am very happy that you guys wanted to give your best to the tastes."

"Don't mind it, princess! We are more than happy to make you some more on your next birthday!"

The lead chef, Mister Jarhad said while representing everyone's feelings. I nodded at him and turned my grin towards everyone.

"I think I'm going to open these boxes privately."

I said as I turned to the gift boxes, and everyone nodded.

Before long, everyone left the dining room. The only ones in here are the maids, butlers, and the chefs. My mother and my brothers already left long ago, to give everyone a private time with me.

After the little surprise at the dining room, I went to mom's bedroom with all the gift boxes in my hands. Surprisingly, I can lift all of them at once, so not really much problem there.

Sike, I dropped five boxes on the way.

In the end, one of the maids saw me dropping the boxes and helped me bring them to my parent's room. When we arrived, the maid placed the boxes on her hands to the floor in front of the room and left after I thanked her.

I turned my gaze to the fancy double door and knocked loudly.

"It's Elice."

"Come in!!"

My mom shouted from the inside, and I opened the left door. The door creaks as it opens, showing me the scene inside.

Both of my brothers are here, alongside my mom. Dad is nowhere to be seen, probably dealing with his work in his office.

"How did it go?"

Mom asked from the side of the bed as I brought my boxes inside the room. My brothers turned their attention away from their toys towards the boxes in my arms.

"I liked all of them. Everyone was great."

"Ooo, any suggestions for me to taste?"

"Not sure… I kinda forgot which one is which, already."

Mom wore this disappointed face as I placed the boxes on the floor, in the middle of the room. My brothers moved in to study the boxes closer with interest.

"What's in the boxes?"

The thirteen year old, Ars, asked the question after he arrived next to me. 

He is a tad taller than me when I am crouched, which shows exactly how short he is. He has the white hair that came from the old man, whereas my hair is black and came from mom.

"I have not started opening it, you buffoon. Stay away, these are mine."

"Is there food inside?"

This time, the question came from the innocent but cheeky eight year old, Elvin. He also has a white hair, and since he is still a child, he is also rather short.

When you take a quick glance at the two, it's very easy to see that they are siblings. A different story when you compare me to any of them. Their eyes, their hairs, their heights…

Not that I want to have a white hair, anyway.

"I don't think there's food inside, Elvin."

"Well? Open them, then!"

How come Ars is more excited to see them than me??

I let out a sigh and began opening the boxes one by one.

The contents were mostly normal, like any type of gift that anyone would ever give to anybody else. A lot of girl stuff, like a mirror, a beautiful hair pin, even bracelets. But there is something odd that I noticed from all these items.

These are… expensive…

I feel a little awkward, because those people are the very people who worked for my family. The very people who get their money and wealth from me.

It's… a bit weird to see them spending so much of that very money… just for me.

… Why?

"You must be wondering why the items are so expensive."

Behind me, mom is already lurking pretty close. She is standing and leaning her body forward to see the gifts everyone got me, and she also noticed how every single one of them are not cheap.

I turned my gaze to her, and she also noticed my expression.

"Did you… do something?"

"No? Why would I do anything?

The reason why they bought you expensive items, simply because they wanted to please you. They went as far as spending their own money, the money that they got from working for us, all just so they can please you.

Still don't get it? It's pretty simple. No matter how much money in the world, nothing means more to them than you."

Oh… I am… so touched.

"I-Is that so…"

Oh… I am so blushing, right now…

"Big sis is turning red."

"Shut up, Elvin!"

"Haha!!"

As I'm being laughed at by Ars and Elvin, mom returned to her bed and began writing in her diary. Meanwhile, I'm cleaning the mess that I made from opening the gift boxes, while my dumb brothers are playing with them.

I purposely didn't open the box from mom and kept them aside for me to open myself later. I didn't want her to see me opening it, since it feels uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, my brothers are turning chaotic. Ars stupidly tried the hairpin in his super short hair, while Elvin put on the black dress that was also gifted for me. They are boys, and yet here they are doing all these things.

"Why are you guys the way you are…?"

I asked monotonously, and mom choked from laughing.