Re:START/If {Book 1.0}
Chapter 65: Aswad 12 of 15 “Glaub mir” (Part 04)
The Luke family residence. As the sun began to rise and the overcast was slowly knocked out, the servants working in the place had long since started their work. Preparing breakfast, washing clothes, mopping, cleaning glass, as well as other household activities.
In addition to the waiters, gardeners who are mostly Lizard Man also look busy tidying up flower gardens and herb gardens. They arrange the leaves of herbal tea that the body on some corner of the fence, then did not escape also gazebo in the middle of the garden cleaned.
Today is a little different and they look busier than usual. Because the group from the Capital is scheduled to arrive later in the afternoon, the Luke Family must prepare a welcome according to the protocol of nobility. After completing their main work, the servants began to prepare the welcome.
The rarely used hall had been cleaned and prepared for the party, the groceries they ordered a few days ago began to be dismantled and brought into the kitchen. The flag of the Kingdom of Felixia is mounted on several points of fence and Mansion, then the road to the main entrance is decorated with a beautiful spring flower framework.
No one is unemployed, everyone works as fast as possible because it can be said their preparation is relatively late. In addition to the preparation of the front line of welcome, in the kitchen is also no less busy. Some cooks process foodstuffs that have just come, preparing a furnace, pan, and oven to cook them.
Food served must also be in accordance with the protocol of the Royal Family welcoming party, must not provide a menu of food that is outside the existing regulations. Serving in the kitchen to make sure there were no problems later, Fiola seemed busy giving directions to the cooks.
“Don't take too much of his spruce, measure it accordingly! Put the cheese at the end so that it is not too soft! That's the bread is ready to ripen, check fast! Do not forget to prepare almond milk, there are some nobles who can not eat animal foods or liquor. Oye! You are! No need to add vegetables to fruit salad! Just leave it like that! Turkey please check again, don't get too ripe! Sausages do not miss either! No need to prepare tea first, then even cold when served! Prepare Ale and Wine!”
The Huli Jing was actually kept busy with all of these things, ruling the people in turn and was not given the time to relax her shoulders at all. As the kitchen manager, he had to prepare about 50 servings of food and drinks along with dozens of snack plates with dozens of different types.
It was only limited to the welcoming party and not for the main event which will be done tomorrow until the day after tomorrow. At the main event in the form of an engagement party, the menu presented was different and Fiola had to coordinate as well.
Fioal was not as usual dressed in the same maid uniform as the others, plunging straight into the field and helping cooks who did not know the basic standards of food that should be provided in the royal family welcome event. Luke's own residence is not for the first time to get a visit from the King, but in previous visits King Gaiel always asked not to hold a welcoming event because he always comes privately. This was the first time they had to have a formal welcoming party.
“Nona Fiola, there seems to be a problem with the order. Ki-We don't have enough Ale for the whole visit!” report one of the waiters who helped her in the kitchen.
Soon Fiola turned to the waiter, then with a stern look he asked, “What's the wrong order? The amount yesterday was checked enough, ‘kan?”
“I-Yes, Miss ...” While carrying a bottle of Rum with both hands, the waiter explained, “It looks like there is some Rum mixed in the box. Fill this bottle less than the Ale we have ordered.”
“How much is mixed in the box?”
With doubt the waiter replied, “About 5 bottles ....”
Fiola did not look at all confused, immediately he picked up the bottle of Rum the maid had brought. Unlike Ale, Rum is an alcoholic drink made from the fermentation of sugarcane water and has an alcohol content of about 37.5 % ⸻ In other words higher than Ale which is only about 6 %.
Considering this, Huli Jing decided to take the risk and ordered, “Mix this Rum with a little sugar water, the ratio is 5/1 only.”
“What's the matter, Miss?”
“Not a problem, better than less. We must provide the best service during these two days.” While handing back a bottle of Rum, the hitaman brown-haired woman explained, “Rum alcohol levels are higher than Ale or Wine, the nobles also do not like to get drunk at the party later.”
“Alright, we'll do it soon!”
The waiter immediately came out to pass the information to his colleagues who were confused because the order came wrong. At first glance, Fiola was wondering why anyone would dare to sell non-orderly items to Luke's family. Taking out the shopping report paper on the kitchen table and examining it, the instant the look in Huli Jing's eyes turned flat.
“Ah, apparently Ale was purchased from the Garados region. Meaning they want to look for face by sending a higher quality?” Fiola momentarily took a light breath, put the shopping report back on the table and muttered, “I guess they want to get everyone drunk during the pasta.” event
Not thinking too deeply, the Chief Servant again gave directions to the cooks in the kitchen. Occasionally getting problems such as less material or wrong orders, he can overcome it by looking for alternatives quickly as if he had been accustomed to arranging kitchen things like that.
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At the Main Hall of the Mansion, the servants of the Luke family are also seen busy preparing the decorations of the Kingdom of Felixia on the ceiling and walls. The hall is a little wider than the ground floor of the Luke Scientia library, has many windows with stained glass ornaments in the form of sword decorations, scales, flowers, and more, and a woman who has a unique color spectrum.
The spacious room has four entrances, two of which are the main doors. At the center of the room has four large pillars made of marble, as well as a bright beige ceramic floor. The main lighting source of the room is a large chandelier in the middle, then crystal lights in several corners of the room.
Some sculptures of the goddess of the Felixia people's faith are displayed on tables with dark blue tablecloths. Carpets with royal colors are also held on the floor, then the layout of the table that leads to a point in the center of the hall also does not escape the arrangement. Inside the hall there is also the flag of the Kingdom of Felixia as a sign of the event that will take place is a state event.
On some of the main tables, placed a Menorah ⸻ A candle holder with seven branches and a base that is wide enough. The menorah is made of pure gold and weighs up to 14 kilograms, and has unique patterns on its surface. The table with religious symbols is devoted to important religious figures who will participate in the engagement, only amounting to four tables.
In that place, Minda and Imania served as supervisors of the preparation of the place. They work first rather than the kitchen or the front line of the welcome, which is why the preparation of the Main Hall looks almost complete and only takes a few touches to complete.
Taking a deep breath, Mind wiped his sweat and momentarily felt relieved because the work that began early in the morning was almost finished. “Live to bring snacks from the kitchen later after cooking and initial preparation is complete,” said the black hair woman.
Imania patted Minda on the shoulder, then grabbed the woman's right hand and wrote a message to her palm. “Not done, our task is still a lot until the event is finished later,” wrote the gray-haired mute waiter.
“Please do not remind dong, I know our part is the heaviest really. After the last day also we are still not finished ..”
Hearing her partner say that, Imania gave a sweet laugh at a glance. Mind only replied with a light smile hearing this. Although the two Shieal had to work harder than usual, Mind and Imania did not mind and instead enjoyed it enough to feel the different challenges of the work charged to them.
Surrounding her uniform sleeves, Mind eagerly said, “Let's finish this!” He immediately turned towards the servants who were still tidying up the Main Hall, then excitedly said, “For those who have finished come with me! We'll take a snack from the kitchen! But don't let anyone shoplift, yeah!”
Hearing the commands interspersed with jokes, some of the servants laughed a little. After that, those who had finished their part in the Main Hall went to follow the Mind to bring appetizers to the place.
Chairs are only placed outdoors, reserved for those who are sick or tired of standing. Although there were several seats in the room, it was only reserved for important people or special requests from the King alone.
This is not an attitude of intolerance to those who are sick or elderly, but rather a procedure applied by the government to uphold the equality of treatment to engagement participants, except for the King who must be treated special.
Mind and a few servants walked towards the kitchen, then passed through the front corridor of the Mansion. Looking at the park, the black-haired woman had seen Julia who was coordinating food for the main event and the arrangement of the park to the front of the magic library. Not wanting to bother him, Minda did not say hello and continued to step foot with the other servants.
Julia caught a glimpse of the black-haired woman walking quickly in the corridor. Feeling the same, he also did not say hello and continued his task of coordinating. The people who worked under his authority were mostly Lizard Man, then the other small portion were merchants who sent goods to Luke's residence.
Unlike the other Shieals, Fiola only got the task to take care of the incoming goods inspection and supervision. The layout of the park has been designed directly by Mavis himself, along with orders of food ingredients as well.
Shortly after the boxes of liquor arrived, Linkaron, Xua Lin, and Kinkarta came with horse carts filled with cloth and groceries for the guests to stay later. The three Shieal who had previously accompanied Dart away to the capital had returned about two days ago, ordered home first by Family Head Luke to help with the preparations for the engagement.
Among the three of them, looks also Gariadin who went to buy additional food ingredients for the main event.
While carrying a shopping report parchment, Julia approached them and asked, “What are all the orders?”
Kinkarta got off the wagon, faced Julia, and handed her a memorandum. Without saying anything, the brown-haired man with Knight status immediately walked past Julia and headed towards the Mansion. Unlike the other Shieal, Kinkarta does tend to have a difficult nature to get along and more arrogant.
The man who is seen often wearing a thin leather armour is a child of failed nobles from the Garados region. He applied to become Shieal when he was young and was accepted without obstacles. Now only 23 years old, has a higher body and stockier when compared with Gariadin or Linkaron.
The body and attitude is not limited to mere arrogance, Kinkarta can also be said to be a genius in the field of spear and axe arts. So far he has mastered almost all the spear and axe techniques of the Luke family. Because of his expertise, Dart himself appreciates it by giving Knight status in order to develop the ability directly in the field.
After getting off the wagon Xua Lin patted Julia on the back who was staring resentfully at the knight. In a light tone, the bear-type Demi-human said, “Don't take heart, Julia. The child was indeed from the first nature so, ‘kan?”
“Stay I can't like his attitude ...” Julia let out a light sigh, immediately turned around and looked towards Xua Lin, Gariadin, and Linkaron who had also just arrived. While putting on a thin smile he asked, “No problem, ‘kan? All orders are there?”
Gariadin jumped down from the wagon along with Linkaron. While walking past Nekomata, the redhead man replied, “You can check it out on the report, Sister Julia.”
“That's right, we have to transport things inside,” Linkaron continued in a joking tone, he walked past Julia.
The two men approached the Lizard Man and asked for help, then they immediately unpacked the items that had just come. Hearing the words of Linkaron and Gariadin, Julia briefly frowned and her tail briefly stood up straight.
Taking a deep breath and calming down, the white-haired Sheal examined the report he received from Kinkarta. In the report almost everything is fulfilled, except one part at the end. Gazing towards Xua Lin who was also about to take apart the items, Julia with a astonished expression asked, “Why even the fish is lacking? Isn't it in the coastal city there are many?”
“Ah, the ..” Xua Lin turned back to face Julia, then after sighing he replied, “Since yesterday it seems like in the city there is a seafood market war, so the price rose to four times. The given budget is not enough to buy others if you still force to buy fish on the list.”
Looking at another parchment sheet and feeling a bit awkward, Julia again asked, “Then why did you guys buy shellfish and shrimp?”
“Strongs and shrimps the price is even down, they seem to be only targeting fish. Most merchants from the empire came after quality fish from the city of Mylta, anyway. No wonder there is such a big price difference.”
Hearing that explanation, Julia felt it made sense and could accept it. “The city is now in a progressive period after the trade route reopened, no wonder if there are many price changes,” Julia's mind while checking the shopping report sheets.
Feeling that there was something else to ask, Julia looked at Xua Lin and again asked, “Omong by the way, did you guys meet Mr Odo?”
Mimic Xua Lin's face looked puzzled, briefly lifting both sides of her shoulders and answering, “No …. We only met the Eldest Son of the Rein Family while going to the port and the daughter of the Baron at the gate. Miss said .., Mr. Odo has not been in town since yesterday. Come to think of it, shouldn't we call Mr Odo right away? He usually ‘kan ...”
“A⸻!” Julia was gaping and just realized what her partner said. Given Odo's blurred personality, the Nekomata immediately put on an anxious and confused expression of what to do.
“Sini, let me just do the recording,” bargain Xua Lin help while taking a board containing parchment shopping report. With a friendly smile Demi-human type bear suggested, “Julia try to ask the Madam, do you need Mr. Odo immediately called home or later.”
“Te-Thank you, Lin!”
Julia immediately ran to the Mansion to inform Mavis. Seeing the Nekomata leave, Xua Lin smiled faintly and turned towards his two comrades who were unloading the cargo. But when he saw the shopping report, immediately his forehead shriveled because of too many counts and it was one of the fields that he did not master.
“Eng, what's up? Why is Brother Lin silent so?” asked Gariadin in surprise.
Hearing what his partner said, Linkaron also turned his head towards the Demi-human. The two men who were standing on the wagon and passing the wooden boxes to the Lizard Man fell silent at once, putting on a faint smile and understanding that Xua Lin was indeed not good at arithmetic or the like.
“Does it matter if I take care of the report?” tawar Linkaron .
With a slightly flushed face, Xua Lin and walked towards the black-haired man. While submitting a shopping report he said, “Thank you ...”
“Not a problem, anyway I do have experience taking care of logistic list while still a Hunter.”
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