The Story of a Middle-Aged Knight Who Tried to Live a Relaxed Slow Life in the Countryside, Only for a Duke's Daughter Whose Engagement Was Broken Off to Move in With Him

The Taste of Life

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*****

When I woke up the next morning, a strange stench filled the manor.

「Ngh?!」

I scrambled out of bed in a panic.

The smell of something burning was wafting in from somewhere.

Back in my days with the knights order, commoner-born knights were dragged out to put out fires as well.

Though calling it 'putting out fires' was generous—there was barely anything we could actually do.

To prevent the flames from spreading, we could only resort to crude methods, like tearing down the building next to the one on fire.

There were times when I had to restrain tearful homeowners begging us not to demolish their homes, while we tore them down without argument.

In those cases, the kingdom provided some compensation, but it was nowhere near enough to rebuild a home.

I had even witnessed instances where the homeowner who started the fire and the neighbor got into bitter disputes that spiraled into physical fights, ultimately resulting in one killing the other.

That distinct smell, tied to such unpleasant memories, now filled this rickety manor that was my new castle.

I dashed out of my second-floor bedroom, bounded down the stairs, and headed for the kitchen.

「Damn it! What's happening?!」

I yelled as I burst into the kitchen.

And there, what met my eyes was—

「G-Good... morning, Master Leonardo.」

A beautiful blonde girl said, her eyes wandering nervously through the air.

The gorgeous girl, who exuded the air of a noble lady, was at an age where it was half more fitting to call her a 'striking woman.'

Looking at her neat, earnest face, I finally remembered yesterday's events.

「Cis... tilia...」

「Y-Yes, Master Leonardo.」

「...I was hoping this was all a dream, but I guess I wasn't that lucky.」

「Um, Maryse told me that waking up to the sound and smell of your wife cooking in the morning is every man's dream.」

「I make my own food, thank you very much. Wait, the smell of cooking?」

I had noticed for a while now that Cistilia was desperately trying to hide something behind her back.

「I-It'll be ready soon! Breakfast will be ready any moment now! Please wait in the dining hall, Master Leonardo!」

Cistilia babbled flusteredly.

For some reason, she was wearing an apron over her linen clothes.

And my favorite apron now had several scorch marks on it.

「What are you hiding?」

「Ah!」

I side-stepped past Cistilia, who was desperately trying to block my way.

On top of the stove sat a tragically charred pot.

「I-I'm so sorryyyyy!」

Cistilia covered her face with her hands and crouched down.

「Were you trying to cook rice?」

「Y-Yes... I've eaten something called risotto before, so...」

「So you've never actually made it before?」

「Ugh... B-But rice isn't widely available in the royal capital!」

After all, wheat was the primary crop cultivated in this kingdom.

Paddy rice couldn't be grown unless you had an abundant supply of clean water.

「Even so, this is horrific. If you just boil it in water, it's not something you can fail at *that* easily.」

Adjusting the amount of water takes some practice, but even if you're slightly off the right amount, there's no way it could end up in such a disastrous state.

At worst, it would just end up soggy or hard.

「W-When I poured in this water, flames suddenly erupted! I tried to put it out by adding more water, but it only burned hotter...」

Standing back up, Cistilia pointed to a ceramic pitcher as she spoke.

「You fool, that's *doburoku*.」

「D-Doburoku...?」

「It's liquor. Specifically, this batch was specially brewed to have a high alcohol content.」

At my words, Cistilia's face turned pale.

「T-Then, the reason it caught fire was...」

「Same principle as flambé in court cuisine.」

「I-I am so sorry!」

As Cistilia bowed her head deeply, I was at a loss for how to respond.

(I can't exactly say 'it's fine, it's fine'... but blowing my top at her doesn't feel right either...)

Because she had done it out of good intentions, it was all the harder to handle.

「You're a guest here. You don't need to do things like this.」

Watching Cistilia turn deathly pale upon hearing those words, I realized my slip of the tongue a moment too late.

「N-No, that's not it! I am Master Leonardo's wife! I can't just be doted on and taken care of by you!」

「Who's my wife? I haven't acknowledged any of that. Besides, can you even cook?」

「Don't call me 'you'! Calling me Sizu is perfectly fine!」

「Like hell I can do that.」

If I started calling her by a pet name like that, she'd turn it into a *fait accompli*.

「Besides, I *can* cook!」

「...Eh?」

I involuntarily glanced at the tragically scorched pot.

The rice that had failed to become risotto clung mournfully to the inside of the pot.

「T-This was only because it was an unfamiliar ingredient! I'm actually very good at making sweets and pastries!」

「Sweets, huh? But can you make them with what we have here?」

At my question, Cistilia took another look around the kitchen.

It was a plain, frugal kitchen with nothing more than a hearth and a prep counter.

Cistilia opened several of the kitchen cupboards to check their contents.

「Um... do you have baking powder?」

「Nope.」

「T-Then, what about vanilla extract?」

「Don't have that either.」

「...You have sugar at least, right?」

「That's the thing—we don't.」

「N-No way...!」

Cistilia placed both hands on the floor and hung her head in utter defeat.

「We manage to get salt delivered, at least. But sugar only comes in when we're extremely lucky, apparently.」

If you're just eating normal meals, lacking sugar isn't an issue. Unless, of course, you want to eat sweets.

「Well, anyway... I'll make breakfast, so go on to the dining hall.」

「Ugh... Y-Yes.」

Unable to offer any further retort, Cistilia left the kitchen with tearful eyes.

I whipped up a completely slapdash breakfast and polished it off together with Cistilia.

When I asked Cistilia about her condition over the meal, she replied, 「I'm fine now.」

Her complexion had recovered as well, so it didn't seem like she was just acting tough.

(Must be nice to be young.)

When you reach forty, catching a cold and recovering overnight becomes a distant memory.

It drags on endlessly, and only after about a week do you finally start thinking, (Did the cold finally leave?)

After the meal, with no topic of conversation, Cistilia and I were quietly probing each other's next move.

「S-Shall I brew some tea?」

「Do you think we have tea leaves?」

「Ugh...」

「Well, actually, it's not like we have none at all.」

I returned to the kitchen with Cistilia and pulled a tea canister from the back of the cupboard.

「What is... this?」

「Dokudami tea. It's bitter, so I don't know if it'll be to your liking, Cistilia...」

「I'll adjust!」

「I-Is that so? Well, let's give it a try. Before that, let me fetch some water.」

Taking Cistilia with me, I stepped out through the kitchen back door.

I drew water from the well located behind the manor.

「The water is here.」

「Um, what about laundry?」

「Laundry is done at the stream over there. It's the village washing spot, so don't forget to greet people when you use it.」

「Y-Yes.」

「It's not like I can wash your clothes for you, so I guess I'll ask Granny again.」

「N-No! I'll do it myself! In fact, I'll wash Master Leonardo's clothes too!」

「Just do your own. Stop trying to act like my wife at every opportunity.」

Drawing water into a jug, Cistilia and I returned to the kitchen.

I poured water into the kettle and set it on the stove.

After all, Cistilia had lit the fire in the stove first thing in the morning.

(Impressed she even knew how to kindle a fire.)

I had thought she was a complete sheltered lady, but in certain areas, she actually knew a thing or two about housework.

If a duke's daughter were to marry normally, this would be knowledge she wouldn't need. Her status was high enough that marrying into royalty wouldn't be out of the question. Given how good-looking she was, she could easily aim for a grand marriage.

I put the dokudami leaves and hot water into the teapot and waited a short while.

「Here, try a sip.」

I poured the tea into a teacup and handed it to Cistilia.

「Y-Yes...」

Cistilia timidly brought the teacup to her lips.

「Ugh...」

「Is it bitter?」

「It's... bitter, but... it's not... undrinkable...」

「You don't have to force yourself.」

「No, I'll get used to it!」

「Well, apparently it's good for your health. If an old woman who's lived as long as she has says so, it must be true.」

I, too, sipped the dokudami tea I had brewed for myself.

「Phew, relaxing.」

「If it's something Master Leonardo likes, then I will make myself like it too!」

Knitting her brows, Cistilia took another sip of the dokudami tea.

「B-Bitter... this is the taste of life.」

「Pfft. 'Taste of life,' huh?」

Even at my age, I don't think I'll ever get used to a taste like that.

*****

Female MC who is not Ms. Perfect, goddamn.

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