Eustia's Banquet (7)
Iriel Eustia wasn't particularly brilliant, but she possessed an extraordinary memory in two specific areas.
The first was taste.
She had such a sensitive palate that she could identify the name, taste, origin, and even the freshness of any bread.
The second was sight.
Her eye for beauty was unmatched, particularly when it came to makeup, clothing, shoes, and accessories.
She had a habit of remembering anything beautiful that adorned the body.
Two days ago, had she told Zeke about that day at the Yohaiden mansion?
Even though ten years had passed, she was certain that this was the shoe she had seen back then.
A tacky shoe with a large Nike swoosh.
It looked worn from time, but it had clearly been treasured.
The size, shape, texture, scratches—everything matched her memory from that day.
On that day, Iriel had been saved from bandits by a man wearing these shoes.
Of course, it was Zeke who had actually dealt with the bandits, so she had completely forgotten about the man until now.
But that didn't mean she wasn't grateful to him.
If it hadn't been for him, Zeke might have been delayed in finding her.
She couldn't bear to imagine what might have happened to her during that time.
"These shoes... only high-ranking nobles, like those from a marquis' family or higher, could afford them..."
Initially, Iriel had assumed someone from the Hillaise Bakery had stolen them.
But to think they were a memento of her father...
"W-wait a minute. Your father... he wasn't a commoner, was he?"
Iriel asked, her voice laced with bewilderment.
"...He was... a commoner, right...?"
"But these..."
Confused, Iriel examined the shoes in her hands.
No matter how she looked at them, they were undoubtedly genuine.
Soi frowned as she watched Iriel.
The thought of someone casually holding the item her mother had carefully stored in a box, even if it was Eustia, struck her as disrespectful.
"They're my father's memento. They're... something precious to my mother. You shouldn't touch them."
Zeke quickly grasped the situation.
'Hmm, so... the person who saved Iriel that day was wearing those shoes...? Not the Second Prince?'
That meant Iriel wasn't the female lead.
The assumption that this was ten years after the romance fantasy had ended was also shaken.
'Then the female lead is definitely Soi Spoon!'
Knowing so little about the possessed romance fantasy, he was overreacting to every little clue.
'Sorry. You're definitely not a dirt spoon.'
Zeke inwardly apologized for initially labeling her as a pushover.
It was his fault for not sticking to his initial "dirt spoon" theory and changing his mind too quickly.
He also learned that Soi Spoon's father wasn't an ordinary commoner but came from a high-ranking noble family.
'Hero Spoon, at least a marquis or higher. Well, it makes sense. It must have been tough for someone so upright and righteous to survive among those sly and powerful nobles.'
Zeke nodded, shamelessly thinking it was like looking back on his own dark fantasy days.
He didn't know the exact details, but perhaps Soi's father had exposed some scandal among the nobles and gone into hiding as a commoner.
He must have lived like that until those who held a grudge against him from his family found and eliminated him.
And that ridiculous name, "Hero," he must have come up with it himself.
'Then, when Soi Spoon marries the male lead later, her social status won't be an issue.'
Zeke marveled at his deduction skills.
As Zeke was organizing his thoughts, Iriel asked,
"How much do you know about your father...?"
"...My father? Not much. He was always out, even before he passed away."
"...Is that so?"
Iriel pondered.
A commoner girl from a bakery.
In truth, just the fact that she could bake bread that perfectly suited her taste was enough to earn her approval.
She could even have her sit next to her during their shared classes if she wished.
Making this worthy girl one of her followers wouldn't be a problem, even if she was a commoner.
Ironically, Iriel's capricious personality was impartial to people of all classes.
Since the only ones above a duke were royalty, everyone was beneath her.
While she could be incredibly petty towards her enemies, she treated everyone under her care equally.
That's why, despite the negative rumors surrounding her, Iriel's followers genuinely adored her.
But to think that this girl's father was the one who saved her when she was young...
Iriel glanced around the room.
'Cramped, dirty, and filthy.'
Judging by the four pillows, it seemed the entire family lived and slept in this tiny room.
Now that Iriel considered Soi Spoon as one of her own, the state of the room bothered her.
'At least it should have some dignity.'
"Elise."
"Huh?"
"Take it."
Iriel handed her the shoe.
"I apologize for taking it without permission. I didn't realize it was a memento."
"Oh, no, it's okay. I thought there might be a story behind it. And I'm sorry for overreacting."
"Yes, your father saved me ten years ago."
Iriel told Soi directly.
"He... saved you? Ten years ago?"
Soi's eyes widened in surprise.
"Yes. So, I was wondering if you have any plans to move the bakery to a bigger place? I could even get you a house. It wouldn't be anything fancy, just something within my allowance."
Soi pressed her lips together.
She'd be lying if she said she wasn't tempted by her offer.
'My dream is for my family to be comfortable and financially secure... and to achieve it so easily...'
If she accepted her kindness and came under Eustia's wing, she would be taken care of better than anywhere else.
An opportunity that a commoner like her might never get again in her lifetime.
Refusing it would be foolish.
It felt like her father, who had left her too soon, was urging her on, saying he had prepared this for her.
Even though Iriel said it wouldn't be anything fancy, it would undoubtedly be a good place.
The restaurant where they had dinner on the last day of the demonstration class was impressive enough to make her jaw drop, and even then, Iriel had critiqued the food, commenting on the undercooked meat and the lack of depth in the cheese's flavor.
She couldn't forget how happy she felt when Iriel praised her bread.
Iriel had raved about how delicious it was and even came to find her the next day.
Remembering that moment, Soi couldn't help but chuckle.
"No, it's okay."
Soi ultimately declined the sweet offer.
"Hillaise Bakery is something my mother and our family built together. Moving to a new bakery and living in a better house would be nice... but I'm afraid the taste of our bread wouldn't be the same. You said you liked our bread, right? Would it really be okay even if the taste changed?"
Soi said playfully.
"...T-That would be a problem."
"That's why it's okay. But it does make me feel good. I don't know anything about my father, you see. So, knowing he saved you makes me proud."
"O-Of course! Saving me is a truly commendable act!"
Iriel said, her nose held high.
'Hmm. Still, it feels wrong not to do anything at all.'
As she was pondering, Zeke intervened.
"Let's start with the mana road work. Your family outside will be worried if we stay here too long."
"Ah, right."
"W-We need to cover your eyes!"
Selena, who had been looking back and forth between Soi and Iriel with a complicated expression, hurriedly looked around.
"W-Would this work?"
Soi pulled out a white cloth.
It was the wrapping cloth she used to tie the handles of Zeke's bread every day.
"Yes, that will do."
Selena took the cloth and covered Zeke's eyes.
'Pfft.'
Zeke's appearance wasn't exactly that of a skilled blind swordsman, and the fact that the cloth covering his eyes read [Hillaise Bakery♥] was hilarious.
"Turn around and take off your shirt."
Although Zeke said those words, his current comical appearance made them sound less strange.
At first, she thought she was caught up in some noble's game, but it turned out to be something else entirely.
And to learn that her father had saved Iriel...
She felt closer to them somehow.
It felt like they could be friends, despite their difference in social standing.
She unbuttoned her training uniform with a comfortable heart.
"T-This is... N-No, why...?"
"This is... betrayal... Such a wicked..."
Iriel and Selena stared at Soi's body in shock.
Soi Spoon had been wearing clothes two sizes too big for her.
She couldn't bear to throw away and buy new training uniforms when she grew out of them while attending the academy.
Iriel's eyes trembled violently.
Although not as absurdly large as Selena's, what she saw was her ideal.
Beautiful, teardrop-shaped breasts.
Plump fullness.
Clear skin.
If there was such a thing as aesthetically perfect, this was it.
Iriel, a lover of all things beautiful, unconsciously reached out and grabbed Soi's breast.
"Eek! S-Stop it!"
Soi twisted her body away, flustered.
"How could this be? To think that eating b-bread three times a day could lead to this..."
"It just... grew like this. What do you expect me to say when you ask how it happened?"
Selena sighed in relief.
"Thank goodness we covered Instructor's eyes..."
Of course, Zeke was also curious as he listened to their conversation, but he chided himself inwardly.
'I'm here to check her mana road, not her body.'
"I'm going to put my hand on your back."
Zeke reached out.
His fingertips touched the curve of her back.
"Ahh! T-That's my waist!"
"Hmm."
Zeke slid his hand upwards along her spine, making Soi squirm.
"This is really fortunate. Thank goodness for the blindfold."
Selena muttered with deadpan eyes as she watched.
Woooong—
Zeke channeled mana into her body.
'What is this? Again? Why are all the girls in this romance fantasy like this?'
Zeke's eyes glowed, piercing through the white cloth.
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