Bonus Short Stories
A Second Day with Olivia and Claudia
The Mess Hall at Galia Fortress
Claudia chuckled to herself. “The major’s going to be surprised when she sees this,” she muttered, looking at the plates of food laid out before her and giving an approving nod. The grandfather clock had just struck the hour, which meant she would soon arrive. Claudia couldn’t restrain her glee.
“Claudia? What are you doing in the kitchen? And in that outfit?” Olivia arrived just as Claudia had planned, her eyes widening as she saw Claudia. Coming out from the kitchen, Claudia plucked at the hem of her apron to show Olivia.
“What do you think, ser? Does it suit me?”
“Um, sure, you look nice... But seriously, what are you doing?” Olivia asked. Even as she complimented Claudia, the caution in her eyes was plain to see.
“As you always do so much for me, Major, today I thought I would make you dinner.”
“No way! You cooked?” Olivia exclaimed loudly. It seemed she found this quite shocking.
“Major, I am still a woman,” Claudia pointed out.
“Yeah, I know that...” Olivia replied. “But don’t nobles always have cooks on staff?”
“That is correct, Major, and the Jung family does keep a cook. That does not, however, mean that we don’t cook.”
“Huh, you don’t say?” Olivia sounded amazed.
“But anyway, none of that is important right now,” Claudia said briskly. “Please eat up, Major, or all the food I made will get cold.”
She steered Olivia forcefully into a chair, then brought out plate after plate of food. She was sure that Olivia would be pleased, and watched expectantly. Olivia didn’t disappoint, staring so hard at the food she could have bored a hole in it. Claudia was delighted.
“Don’t feel you have to be polite, Major, eat up! Oh, and there’s more, of course. You can eat as much as you like,” she said, then spread her arms theatrically, and turned towards the kitchen. That was when she noticed the cooks watching her. They all averted their eyes.
Eh? What’s with them? Claudia thought, perplexed by their attitudes.
Olivia, sounding a little hesitant, asked, “Um, so, Claudia. What exactly is this?”
“This?” Claudia replied, looking at the dish Olivia had indicated. “Well, this is grilled fish. It’s a river species called dada—it’s in season at the moment.”
“O-Oh. And... And this?”
“That is roasted gray fox with an aromatic sauce of stewed mixed fruit. It’s delicious,” Claudia replied. Olivia went on asking questions, apparently having taken a great interest in Claudia’s cooking. Claudia answered each one in detail.
Finally, Olivia asked, “Um, Claudia? Can I ask one more question?”
“Anything you want to know.”
“Why is it all black? And did you happen to taste any of it?” Olivia asked with a little laugh. Claudia looked again at her cooking and had to admit that it did look a little blackened. But it was unavoidable that things charred when you cooked over fire.
“That’s because it was grilled, for the most part. It’s normal for the outside to char a little.”
“O-Oh, hm. A little...” Olivia said. “So did you taste it?”
“Taste? Of course not. I used only the freshest ingredients, ser. Of course it will be delicious. Now, hurry up and try it!” Claudia said, then sat down in front of Olivia with a wide smile.
“Um, right. Okay...” Olivia said. She then took several deep breaths, then tentatively began to eat. Partway through, tears began to well up in her eyes. Claudia, thinking she must have been moved by the scrumptious flavors, pledged to herself that next time she would make something even better.
At last, Olivia polished off the last scrap on her plate and said, “Mm, mmm... Thank you, Claudia.” She stood up unsteadily.
“What?!” Claudia exclaimed. “Are you done already? There’s enough for seconds, remember?”
“O-Oh, no, I’m really full,” Olivia said, putting a hand to her stomach with a pained expression. Claudia had never thought the day would come that she heard Olivia claiming to be full. From the thin sheen of sweat on Olivia’s face, however, she guessed that this was not the only reason.
“Is your stomach upset, ser?” she asked. Olivia gave a weak nod.
“Y-Yeah. I felt great until just before, I don’t know what happened...” she trailed off with a half-hearted laugh.
“That won’t do at all...” Claudia said. “All right, I know what to do. You can come back and finish the rest once you feel better. Wait here a moment—I’ll ask whether it’ll keep.” Claudia hurried to the kitchen. She explained the situation to the cooks who assured her through a too-bright smile that it would be no trouble.
“They say they can keep it for you, Major,” Claudia said, looking back over her shoulder with a smile, only to find that Olivia was nowhere to be seen.
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