With āitadakimasuā as the signal, the waiters started serving the dishes.
ā¦jellied fish? grilled eggplant with sweet miso paste? Japanese rolled⦠omelet?
Dishes similar to Japanese cuisine Emma had never seen before in this world were placed on the table.
(T/N:Jellied fish, grilled eggplant with sweet miso paste, Japanese rolled omelet)
āPeople use this to eat in Imperial Japan. Please try it if youād like.ā
What the waiter put on the table after a brief introduction was⦠chopsticks.
Robert, who was holding one chopstick on each hand, talked to the Imperial Prince.
Unlike his rude manner when facing Emma, he had a proper behavior appropriate for a formal occasion.
He was born in a Duke family, so he was accustomed to this.
āImperial Prince Tasuku, how should I use this?ā
āThis is called āchopsticks.ā You hold both in one hand and use it to clip food.ā
The Imperial Prince began to explain with a smile while demonstrating it to Robert and the people at the same table who had never used chopsticks.
āUh-oh⦠This is hard, isnāt it.ā
āAh, please take a look at my fingers. Use it like this instead of squeezing them hard.ā
āIs it like this, Imperial Prince?ā
āAlmost. Itās not good to cross your chopsticks like this. Hold it like a penā¦ā
This was a cultural exchange, I see.
The Imperial Prince kindly taught Robert, Beatrix, and Prince Edward, who had never used chopsticks.
āAh! Lady Emma is very good at using chopsticks.ā
When the Imperial Prince turned to look at Emma, who didnāt ask anything, in concern, she was just about to bite into the rolled omelet between her chopsticks. The way she held chopsticks was strictly taught by Yoriko.
āLady Emma! Thatās amazing. Have you used chopsticks before?ā
āEmma is so skillful.ā
Arthur and the Prince were surprised at Emmaās use of chopsticks and praised her. On the other hand, Emma had just put a piece of the rolled omelet in her mouth heartily and couldnāt reply immediately. The timing was too bad.
She chewed and swallowed the rolled egg hurriedly, then answered with a smile as if nothing happened.
āYes. I have used it a little before.ā
It might have been better if she had pretended to learn how to use chopsticks like everyone else, but she couldnāt hold herself back at the sight of Japanese food she hadnāt had for a long time and ended up bringing the food to her mouth.
The rolled omelet that tasted like kombu dashi soup⦠Even though I want to eat while savoring it more.
Besides, it seems like Grandmother will scold me about how butting in othersā conversation is unseemly if I join in there. Nobles are troublesome.
(T/N: Kombu dashi: Japanese soup stock made from kelp (kombu seaweed))
āImperial Prince Tasuku, the sauce that glazes this eggplant has an incredible taste. Itās a flavor I have never tasted before.ā
Finding it unpleasant if Emma stood out alone, Beatrix expressed her thoughts on the dish.
It seemed she had temporarily given up on the chopsticks and used a fork and a knife to eat.
āAh, that is āmiso.ā Um⦠āfermented soyaā¦?ā ā¦ākoji moldā¦?ā Iām sorry, I couldnāt describe it well because I donāt know the words, but itās a commonly used seasoning in our country.ā
The Imperial Prince was confused on how to explain miso.
Given that Imperial Japan had just begun diplomatic relations with the Kingdom as His Majesty said, the Prince might not have enough time to study the language after his study abroad was decided. The Imperial Prince apologized that he still didnāt know many complicated words.
āMiso? It sounds unusual, doesnāt it. It has a rich and delicious taste.ā
āItās a flavor I have never had before, but it certainly is delicious. It seems to be an ingredient our kingdom doesnāt have.ā
Arthur and the Prince seemed interested in the grilled eggplant with sweet miso paste after eating it.
The Imperial Prince smiled frustratedly.
Ah, I recognize that smileā¦
Emma suddenly recalled a memory of her past life. Emma, or rather Minato, had also experienced it before.
The well-off unmarried Minato often traveled alone. Her favorite destination was Kyoto. For some reason, whenever she went there, there was a high chance that foreigners would ask her for directions.
Being called with an āexcuse me~ā when going to a sightseeing spot even though she never heard any English in her daily life. Is this the fate of all people with a 100% Japanese face?
Her English grades werenāt bad when she was a student, but it became much more difficult when it came to speaking.
She just wanted to say, āGo straight, thereāll be a shrine on your right, then the station can be seen right away after crossing,ā but because she panicked, the English she had learned for so many years was just stuck on her brain. She knew what she wanted to say yet couldnāt communicate it. Emma knew that frustrating feeling very well.
The smile I made at that time, is it the same as Princeās smile right now?