LIGHTNOVELWORLD Episode 36
Chapter 36
“…Hey, what happened to my meals and hydration while I was asleep?”
After my embarrassment subsided and I regained some composure, I suddenly became curious and decided to ask.
“Oh, don’t worry about that. There was no issue with your meals or hydration.”
“Yeah, Orto’s right. I think you don’t need to worry about it. There’s nothing interesting to talk about. Right, Vivian?”
“Yes, I believe it’s not something you need to be concerned about, Lord Rios.”
Both Orto and Alshade answered in a concerned manner, while Vivian’s response remained calm and composed.
However, none of their answers are actually addressing the question. All three of them are trying to downplay the issue.
Moreover, all three of them seemed to be putting pressure on me not to worry about it.
“Well, when you say that, it actually makes me more curious.”
The reassurances from Orto and Alshade, and likely from Vivian as well, are making me even more intrigued. I start feeling a “fear of missing out” kind of curiosity.
After experiencing that embarrassment earlier, I feel like I can handle almost any truth.
“Huh? No, really, there’s nothing interesting about it.”
“Still, I’m curious.”
“Well, wait a moment… Both of you, come over here.”
Alshade, who seems reluctant, motions for the other two to join her, and they move to a corner of the room, engaging in a hushed conversation.
“…………ka”
“…………te……….o……..”
“…………hi…………u”
I tried enhancing my hearing with magic, but their conversation was fragmented and difficult to decipher.
After a while, they returned to my bedside.
“I’ll give you a hint. If you can’t figure it out with that, you might as well give up. No trying to research or anything like that.”
“Alright, that sounds fair.”
“Regarding your meals and hydration while you were asleep, we used a special potion.”
Alshade gave me the hint, but I couldn’t imagine much with just the information that they used a special potion.
“(A potion, meaning it’s a liquid, right? Did they make me drink it while I was asleep?)”
I think about it for a moment. Drinking a liquid while asleep would likely result in choking on the liquid as it goes down the airway, and unless they inserted a tube down my throat, there shouldn’t have been any need for hesitation.
Moreover, I didn’t wake up with any sort of intravenous drip like in my previous life.
Nutrients and fluids are absorbed into the body by the small and large intestines. In other words, as long as the potion reaches the intestines, the method…
“(…This could get embarrassing. There’s a method that I’m pretty sure involves administering it directly to the intestines.)”
“…”
“…”
“…”
One by one, I look at Alshade, Orto, and Vivian. Alshade avoids my gaze, while the other two close their eyes in unison, maintaining silence.
Judging from their reactions, it seems my suspicion is tragically accurate.
The method they used to provide me with nutrients and fluids while I was asleep was… an enema.
Considering that Vivian seems to have been responsible for my care, it’s almost certain that she was the one who did it.
If Alshade had been the one to do it, I might have been mortified to the point of losing my sanity.
Honestly, this revelation is even more embarrassing than the previous one. I can understand why Alshade and the others were reluctant to reveal it.
However, I can’t afford to let myself be defeated here and spiral into embarrassment again.
I need to keep my composure.
“Isn’t it wise to heed others’ advice?” Orto said.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Well, it’s an experience, in a way. They say curiosity killed the cat, so just be more careful from now on.”
“Yeah, I will…”
It’s entirely my own fault for being inquisitive, so there’s no point in complaining. I’m at a complete loss for words.
Alshade looks at me with a mix of exasperation, Orto chuckles slightly, and Vivian remains her usual expressionless self, although I sense a hint of disbelief from her gaze.
Amidst this slightly awkward atmosphere, a knock on the door breaks the tension.
“Vivian.”
“Come in.”
Alshade gives a nod to Vivian, who then grants permission for the person to enter.
“Excuse me.”
“Excuse me.”
A female servant enters and stands by the side of the door to ensure it doesn’t close.
Following her, male servants bring in tables and chairs, starting to set them up.
“Excuse me.”
“Excuse me.”
Once the setup is complete, they all bow to Alshade and quickly exit the room.
Observing that, the female servant who was holding the door enters the room again, pushing a cart with food on it.
“I’ll take it from here. Thank you for your work.”
“Excuse me.”
She nods at Vivian’s words, bows to Alshade, and leaves the room.
The actions of the servants are refined and polished, even to the eyes of an amateur like me. I wonder if all the servants here are of that caliber.
It’s truly fitting for a noble household.
The table and chairs are set up directly in front of me. Vivian pulls out a chair, Alshade takes a seat, and Vivian starts placing the dishes on the table.
“May we give thanks to the blessings of the gods and the bounty of the world.”
Alshade clasps her hands together, and this phrase is the equivalent of saying grace in this world.
Meats and fish are obtained through the blessings of the gods, while crops and vegetables grown in farmland are considered the bounty of the world.
The gesture is a way to express gratitude to these two sources.
“I had heard that in noble households, the dishes are brought out one by one, but that’s not the case, huh?”
“In our family, breakfast comes out all at once. Lunch might be the same if there’s not much time. Dinner is the only one that matches your expectation. There might be some differences from one household to another.”
“I see. Is there a particular reason for that?”
“It’s simply to save time. Dinner is a practice for gatherings or when we have guests.”
I don’t know who in the Baltzfeld family came up with their dining customs, whether it was for efficiency or out of laziness, but it piques my curiosity a little.
However, even though Alshade might know who started it, she probably doesn’t know their personality, so I refrain from asking.
“Here’s your breakfast, Lord Rios.”
Vivian pushes a cart near the bed, and on it, there’s a small bottle filled with yellow liquid and a bowl of soup.
“I understand the soup, but… could this be…?”
“Yes, it’s the potion in question. When it comes to being gentle on the stomach and providing sufficient nutrients, this potion is indispensable.”
“I see.”
Although my feelings are somewhat mixed, there’s nothing inherently bad about this potion, so I decide to drink it obediently.
“It’s not that bad.”
The taste is somewhat akin to the nutritional drinks I had in my previous life, neither good nor bad, just a nondescript flavor.
Well, as they say, bitter medicine is good for you.
So, I also drink the soup with a spoon, using it as a palate cleanser.
“It’s… delicious.”
“If it suits your taste, I’m glad.”
“Taste-wise, among the things I’ve eaten so far, I think it’s the most delicious.”
I can’t directly compare it to the food from my previous life since my memories of it are vague, but in this world, this is undoubtedly the best.
“I don’t mean to be rude, but I’d be surprised if you’ve had anything surpass our cooks’ dishes. But there seems to be more to what you’re saying.”
“My mother’s cooking is in a league of its own.”
When I mention that, Alshade looks at me with a slightly intrigued expression.
For Alshade, who has always been accustomed to the meals prepared by cooks, this reaction is natural.
“I see. So, for commoners, it’s something like that. I would have liked to taste your mother’s cooking at least once.”
“Well, I think it might not quite suit your taste, Al.”
While my mother’s cooking was indeed delicious, I can’t help but shake my head when thinking about whether it could satisfy the refined palates of nobles.
“Just curiosity. Besides, it’s not like it wasn’t delicious, right?”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
I nod in agreement with Alshade’s words.
Remembering the taste of a dish I’ll never have again, at least to me, it was as delicious as the soup I’m currently drinking.
It seems that Alshade, despite being a noble accustomed to fine cuisine, understands the sentiment behind it.
—
If you like this novel, Please leave ratings and review in NovelUpdates.>>HERE
If you’d like to make a one-time donation to support our translations or subscribe to read up to 5 chapters or more (depending on the novel) ahead, you can do so via Ko-fi: