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Chapter 199: Lilith

I work on the shelves and drawer cabinet while waiting until it’s time to go to Ash’s house. They invited me for dinner, but actually it’s more like a meeting with Lilith.

It’s been a while since I’ve eaten dishes made by anyone other than Shiva so I’ve been looking forward to it despite that. Ah, but Butler always brews tea and coffee for me.

I already gave the bread to them in the morning so I prepared wine, cheese and honey to be on the safe side.

Ash likes putting honey on soft blue cheese like gorgonzola. By the way, gorgonzola has a milder ‘bite’, flavor and aroma than the usual blue cheese. It’s also sticky and isn’t that salty.

It may be the same blue cheese, but Butler prefers ones with a stronger bite, tangy and salty with deeper, richer and more savory flavor owing to its lack of moisture after ripening. If I’m to judge, it has that peculiar taste so it’s hard for me to eat it.

I bought it, but in the end I didn’t know how to get rid of it. And so, whenever we have a card game I use it generously on the food I prepare. Somehow after all, the gratin made with oysters, spinach and this cheese became Butler’s favorite.

So, I brought these two varieties of blue cheese, honey and red-wine that’s a little bit on the heavier side. I don’t know Lilith’s preferences so I didn’t include anything specifically for hers. But then, she could only point to pubs when I asked her about any restaurant she could recommend that first time we met so I guess it’ll be fine as long as there’s alcohol.

「Welcome, please go to the second floor. 」
「Yeah. 」
Butler appeared while carrying a candlestick and I followed him to the second floor.

I’m the one who renovated this place but it’s been a while since I’ve been here. Those two mostly go to mine after all.

The house seems a lot more dignified and stately compared to mine, probably because of the evenly spaced candles on the wall, or maybe the flickering flames, or possibly because of the furniture and carpet.

The chains of the pocket watch hanging from Butler’s vest shone because of the soft candlelight reflecting on it, with a sudden bright sparkle every now and then.

That pocket watch costs a pretty penny, doesn’t it? It’s cool so I also bought one.

It’s the Sumerians living 2000 BC* ago who came up with the base 60 unit of time. The Ancient Egyptians take credit for dividing the day into two sets with 12 hours each. From sundials, water clocks, hourglasses, it’s actually amazing that the pocket watch was invented during the royal era of the 16th century. Ah, but personally, it’s more shocking to learn that small pocket watches were invented first before the pendulum clocks.

I’m not sure how much the clock has evolved in this world, but I don’t think the folks here have to be that constrained with time given just how leisurely they’re living, unless they have a history that affects crops. Still, it’s convenient having one, right?

「Jean-sama has arrived. 」
Butler’s being extra polite today. Stop guiding me so differently from usual, you’re making me nervous!

「Thanks for coming, Jean. This is… 」
「Hey, I was thinking what kind of guy is coming here — we met at Thame’s shop, right? I was still a Debrand back then, but now I’m soon to be Lilith Adelheide. 」

Scarlet locks and military outfit paired with high boots. She’s a bit tense, a gorgeous beauty with a great fashion sense. Her clothes are embroidered with gold and have cuffs so it looks like a military uniform, but it’s quite flamboyant and suits her well. Plus, she has a huge chest so the tight-fitting top is the bomb on her.

「Jean, I’m saying this once again, nice to meet you. 」
Lilith and I shake hands before sitting down.

Ash’s real name is Adelheid Lu Leora. That Lu in the middle is proof that she’s a direct descendant, so Lilith doesn’t have that because she’s marrying in. Yeah, I did a good job remembering that.

Papa Ash got poisoned so the wedding ceremony will be held half-a-year later. It’s Lilith’s first marriage but since she’s the second wife of the ducal house, it won’t be that fancy.

Papa Ash already woke up and he can move around, but when nightfalls come he collapses like a marionette that has its strings cut off, so Lilith came here in his stead to check how Ash is living. ‘Hmm, Butler won’t be sitting with us, huh’, I think while I smack my lips with relish.

The food prepared by Butler seems like it’s a course menu; he serves a new dish as soon as everyone finishes one round.

We started off with a slightly sour cheese, ham, then soup while chatting about trivial and safe topics.

「I’ve been in love with Captain for a long time now, so I pushed him down as soon as I got the chance. That dimwit had been taken care of, so I knew he’d definitely accept me if I did a fait accompli. 」

She’s totally lying, there’s way too many obstacles to do that. She just pushed Papa Ash down when he was weakened by the poison. I can’t help but glance at Ash several times while we’re talking.

She’s cutting her meat like normal, though.

「Sorry, I don’t know how to react. 」
「Rejoice, once I give birth to a child then Leora will be free. I’ll definitely give birth to the next heir of the House of Adelheid. 」
Lilith lifted the corners of her painted lips.

「I’m glad that Ash — Leora’s options will increase, but she won’t get banished for good, right? 」
「Ash is fine. 」
Ash told me off when I changed how I called her.

「Of course she can come home whenever she wants to. I’m her step mom as well as best friend, after all. If so, she can also bring a grandkid with her. 」
「Mm. 」

Gohuff, hack! Yup, that’s me having a coughing fit. Ash!! It’s not ‘mm’, it’s not ‘mm’, right!?

「Are you alright? 」
Ash is worried about me huffing and wheezing. No, I’m not alright.