The second thing I requested from Freed. I felt relieved from the bottom of my heart to hear that it went well.

"Aah… I'm glad."

"Lidi, I must thank you about this matter too."

As Freed earnestly said so, I shook my head to deny it.

"Eh? I don't need that. I just want everybody to be happy. Besides, this happened because all pieces happened to fit well together, but there was a decent chance somebody would be left in tears."

Moreover, it's not certain things will go well. It's too early to be thanked.

But Freed didn't back down.

"You're right. Certainly, we haven't seen the results yet. But Lidi, you presented the possibility of helping everyone. There's a possibility that everybody can seize happiness. Lidi, I am truly grateful for this matter, since I didn't think it could turn out well. That's why, thank you."

"Freed…"

Freed smiled happily.

I felt him put strength into his arms holding me.

While wryly smiling, Freed said.

"Really Lidi, I always think I couldn't fall in love with you any more, and yet you always push me down even deeper. I wonder if that's what a bottomless swamp is like. There's no end to it."

"What's with that?"

When I tilted my head not understanding what he meant, while saying that I don't need to understand Freed looked into my eyes.

"Simply put Lidi, I hopelessly love you. After all, I won't let you go for the whole life."

"You had no intention to let me go from the start, so what are you saying this late?"

"Yup, I'm saying it this late. But, Lidi, I fell in love with you all over again enough to make me want to say it."

"Strange."

While saying that, before realizing I smiled too.

I must've been happy about Freed's words. As always, I'm too simple.

While frolicking like this, we reached the room.

We entered inside. Seeing what was prepared in the middle of the main room, Freed said Huh? In a surprised voice. Ah, that's right. I completely forgot.

Freed asked me.

"Lidi? Perhaps this is for you?"

"Yup. Let me down, Freed."

"Ah, yeah."

Inside the room various cooking utensils were prepared.

When I got put down, I checked what I'd requested from Clara and Head Chef Bart.

A pot and bowl. Chopsticks and a cutting board, a kitchen knife. A measuring spoon and cup, etc.

After confirming that everything is present, I looked back at Freed.

I asked him, who still looked surprised.

"Hey Freed, do you remember? When we were on a date, I said I'd make you something delicious, right? Today you have a free afternoon, so if you like, I hope you'll eat my new work."

"Ah…"

Freed must've recalled it with my words and made a convinced face.

It's about the talk we had on a date two months ago.

In exchange for Freed treating me to a cake, I promised to make him something. Busy days continued, so there were hardly any opportunities, but today in case the matter of the King and Mother-in-law dragged out, we both made our afternoons free. Since it's a rare occasion where we have some time, I thought of fulfilling my promise.

"Lidi."

"Two months have pa.s.sed since I promised. I'm sorry."

"No. I'm happy."

Freed tightly hugged me from behind. His embrace was full of power. I put my hands on his arm hugging me.

"Since it's a new work, I don't know if it will suit your tastes, Freed. However, it isn't sweet, so I think it should probably be alright."

"Lidi's new work… What in the world are you making?"

"Fufu. Look forward to when it's finished. I'll deep fry now… Ah, Freed, I want to use oil, is it alright? I'm planning to open windows, but can you use magical art for ventilation?"

"Ventilation? Aah, to get the smoke outside? Yup, I think I can."

"Then, please do."

I opened the windows in the main room and approached the prepared pot then confirmed it was full of oil. The device that creates fire using magical power was also properly set up. Well, it's like a simple cooking stove.

In addition, ingredients like shrimp, squid, tubers, eggplants, onions, white fish are lined up.

Since they'd already been preprocessed, I only coated the prepared ingredients.

I asked Freed to ignite the fire and skillfully deep fried them.

Since the magical flame has a high temperature, cooking was easy. I lined up the crisply fried pieces on the prepared plates and poured the dipping sauce that was prepared in advance on different plates. And it's complete.

I called for a court lady to clean up cooking utensils then closed the windows.

Yup, there's no lingering smell, magical arts sure are convenient.

"I've kept you waiting. This is my new work, tempura."

"Tempura?"

"Yup."

Freed, who curiously watched my hands the whole time, blinked his eyes.

Right, the new work I was preparing for this day is tempura.

It was difficult to give up on Chinese food or gyoza, but somehow I wanted Freed to eat j.a.panese food.

After all, j.a.pan is the country I came from.

I sat on the sofa together with Freed and explained.

"I talked about my previous life, right? Tempura was often eaten in the country I lived. It feels nostalgic. I thought that I'd also have you eat it, Freed."

"I see, thank you. Let's eat."

Freed listened to my talk and ate a shrimp tempura that had fried straight.

I'm saved that a shrimp tempura fried straight. Thinking that it wouldn't look good if it curled, I worked quite hard.

By the way, on my plate is a slightly curved shrimp… It just couldn't be helped. Because, it's been a long time.

I heard a light crunchy sound. Freed carefully chewed then broke into a smile.

"Yup, delicious."

"Truly? I'm glad."

He seems to be pleased. While relieved, I took a bite. Yup, even if I say so myself, it turned out well. For something I made after a long time, it's a success.

While I was nodding, Freed asked me.

"You said it's a new work, perhaps I'm the first one to eat it?"

"That's right. Even Head Chef Bart hasn't eaten it. Freed, you're the first."

This world's first tempura. I wanted Freed to eat it before anybody else.

Although Bart and cooks helped with preparations, I didn't explain the details.

Saying that I'd teach them later, I had them gather utensils and ingredients.

That said, saying "Is it a present for His Highness? Please do your best" they agreed to cooperate with very good smiles.

Sitting side by side we ate crispy tempura until satisfied.

It's good with tentsuyu, but it's also good with salt.

After we finished the meal, Freed happily said.

"You said that was tempura, right? It was very delicious."

"I'm glad you were pleased by it. Freed, since you liked it, I'll make it again."

"Thank you."

He pulled me towards himself and our lips touched. The lips with just a little oil remaining felt more slippery than usual.

While I giggled, Freed smiled suggestively.

"Fufu… I want to eat Lidi for dessert."

"Jeez…. Jeeez."

Those were his usual words, but I'm still not used them, so my face grew hot.

Freed whispered into my ear.

"Hey? Surely everything will go as you wish, Lidi. That's why we too - to become even closer, let's embrace naked?"

"… Idiot."

I tightly hugged Freed. That alone should tell him my answer.

And I added one more sentence.

"I love you, Freed."

Although there were various details bothering me, for the time being I decided we take a step ahead and become even closer.

Editor: Valeria