The First Night (2)

"S-Sebas...?!"

"Butler...?!"

"Ah! S-Sir Sebas?!"

Anastasia and her two aides gasped in surprise, nearly spilling the hot stew bowls in their hands. They found the smiling Sebas standing at the edge of the campfire's light, casually waving at them.

"Since when...?" Anastasia muttered, her voice laced with disbelief. She hadn't expected the eccentric butler to return so quickly, assuming he would have taken at least a full day to finish his business back in Florentia...

"Only just recently, my lady," he replied smoothly, bowing his head courteously. "I've traded all of the monsters to the Adventurer's Guild as per your wish."

He then gestured toward outside of the campsite, where the giant wooden cart from earlier stood—the very same one he'd used to carry the multitude of slain monsters from the Garden of Hell.

It was still a wonder to all three ladies how this single man had managed to pull that impossibly heavy-looking cart—loaded with a massive pile of monsters—all by himself...

"And, of course, as per your request, I've not only brought back the gold from the trade but also used a portion of it to procure the basic necessities needed to begin developing your land~."

Just as he said, on the giant cart rested a chaotic assortment of crates, sacks, and barrels, each one tightly packed and secured with sturdy ropes.

A bundle of fabric peeked out from between the stacks, alongside tools, provisions, and other essentials for establishing a proper settlement.

Some crates even bore the faint scent of dried herbs, their aroma wafting gently toward the campsite.

The cart was like a merchant's treasure trove, overflowing with wares and goods that one might need to start anew in uncharted lands.

"Well done, Sebas..." Anastasia remarked, quite impressed by the butler's efforts.

"Your praise humbles me, my lady," Sebas replied smoothly, bowing his head ever so slightly. "It's all in a day's work."

Anastasia was intrigued by what was on the cart, and she was about to rise from her seat, but...

"Whoa there, my lady," Sebas interjected, stepping forward and raising a hand to stop her.

Anastasia was startled by his sudden action, but the butler only showed a reassuring smile.

"You don't have to rush now, Lady Ana. These treasures of yours wouldn't grow legs and run away from you."

"W-what...? What are you talking about...?"

The noblewoman was once again confused by his strange manner of speaking, and the butler himself couldn't help but chuckle at her puzzled expression.

"It means that we can check the wares tomorrow morning," he clarified, getting closer to the campfire, in particular, to the pot that was still boiling their stew. "You need some good rest after the long journey that you've been through, my lady."

As he got closer, he took a good view of the steaming hot stew, nodding in approval. He picked up the ladle hanging near the pot, scooping a small portion of the stew, and took a sip of it...

"Whoa...! This is pretty damn good!" he exclaimed in genuine delight.

He then turned toward the maid Bella, who couldn't help but startle at the butler's sudden attention on her.

"I've only just taught you the basics of how to cook monster meat... but you already went beyond my level of cooking," he praised, laughing lightly. "You're really a great cook, Miss Maid~!"

"H-huh?"

Bella was taken aback, not expecting the sudden compliment, but her surprised expression slowly turned into a small blush and a bright smile.

"T-thank you, Sir Sebas!" she replied, feeling proud of the praise.

Sebas's gaze then shifted back toward Anastasia... in particular, toward the bowl of stew in her hands.

She was... staring at her portion of stew, hesitation written all over her face.

"Still not comfortable with monster meat, my lady?" he asked, his tone teasing but also laced with genuine concern.

"N-no, it's not that..." she murmured, flustered for a moment, before her expression turned downcast. "... though I cannot lie, I still have some... reluctance towards it."

"My lady..." Martha spoke softly, her voice tinged with worry

"L-lady Anastasia..." Bella added hesitantly, her expression mirroring Martha's concern.

Both of them then glanced toward a plate of monster meat steak near Lady Anastasia's seat—the same one the butler had cooked for her earlier that noon before his departure.

The two aides had managed to eat their portions of the steak, finding them relatively okay, though the distinct gaminess might have been off-putting to some people.

And her portion remained exactly as it had been served—untouched, uneaten.

"I see... well, I can't force you to eat something you don't like, my lady, but you still need some nourishment to get through the night," Sebas remarked, his voice gentle yet firm with practicality. He then turned toward Martha. "Miss Knight, did you gals bring any food that Lady Ana could eat?"

"I-I think we do, but they're mostly hard jerky and rations..."

"Can you fetch it, please? Maybe a normal-ish food would—"

"No, please do not trouble yourself, you two!" Anastasia suddenly interjected, her voice firm yet trembling slightly. "I... I can definitely eat this stew...!"

"My Lady... you shouldn't force yourself," Sebas said softly, his voice carrying both concern and authority. He then bowed deeply, surprising Anastasia. "I'm sorry if I teased you about eating monster meat and all. I should've been more sensitive to your feelings. Had I been, I would have ensured I brought more suitable ingredients for you to enjoy from Florentia."

"... No, please, you really don't have to trouble yourself..." Anastasia murmured, her voice low and hesitant as she continued to avoid the worried gazes of her three servants.

The fallen noblewoman fell into silence... her own thoughts was a tangled mess—her emotions swirling in confusion.

Seeing her in such a state... Sebas took a step closer to her.

"S-sir Sebas...?" Anastasia asked, looking up at the silent but serious expression on the butler's face. She couldn't quite understand why he was approaching her so quietly, so intent...

But just as she thought she might, he suddenly took the bowl of stew from her hands.

"S-sir Sebas?!"

He didn't respond to her protest. Instead, he carefully scooped up a portion of the stew with the spoon, lifting it slightly... and holding it out toward her face...!

"W-what...?! What are you—"

"My Lady... say 'aahhh.'"