Shock, Bewilderment, Surprise, whatever word one may call it, those words weren't enough to the emotions Grey and Yu swirling and bringing chaos to their hearts as they heard the King's words.

  It was as if their souls had left their bodies from the shock they received. They weren't expeg that there would be a party, on top of that, that they would be attending as guests of honor. In other words, they would be the ter of attention of nobles and important figures attending the party.

  While there wasn't nobility from where Grey lived ba Earth, there were still high-ranking officials of the gover aes fre glomerates. He felt like throwing up just thinking about being the ter of attention in such a crowd.

  "Wait, wait, wait! Your Majesty, 't we just attend the after party as normal attendees?!" ［Yuna］

  "That's right! We'll teach the pudding recipe, but please let us not be the guests of honor! Please!" ［Grey］

  "No." ［Ernes］

  The young couple tried to plead desperately to the King but it was useless. The tter easily crushed their hopes in attending the party normally with just a single measly word. He was ruthless.

  That was that. With the King's words, there weren't any more epossibilities frey and Yuna to attend normally. While they could just ditch it, it would cause great trouble for the other party, something they didn't want to do.

  "Sorry, Yuna, Grey, we already arrahe party to be like that. It's impossible to rearrahings now that the party is on the way." ［Talia］

  "Also, if I were to let that happen, my reputation as King and everyone else's at high position will be at risk. We will lose our face towards the public." ［Ernes］

  "Please uand, Lrey, Lady Yuna. There really is nothing more we do about it. It's just the way formal celebrations work." ［Anderson］

  Befrey and Yuna could eve to the King's harsh reply, one by ohe trio hit them with sound arguments they couldn't retaliate against. It was a plete defeat for the two of them.

  The very moment they show up at the party, nobles will undoubtedly surround them like moths to a mp. Of course, they wouldn't just be for building good retions, but some would try to use them.

  Grey had already read tless fi works ba Earth about how greedy nobles were, and even though all nobles he had mingled with were nice, he still couldn't let his guard down, especially when Yuna was with him.

  To top it all off, after a few months' time, their names would be spread throughout the nd as heroes who saved the kingdom and they will iably be known. In summary, no matter what they do, it won't end well for them. It was a checkmate.

  "Now, don't get too down about it. There's still a number of things that you do as the guests of honor. Cheer up!" ［Ernes］

  "Y... Yeah..." ［Grey］  "U... Un..." ［Yuna］

  In unison, Yuna and Grey respoo the King's statement with crestfallen voices. The dissatisfa ione was evident. As for the king, one would be able to see traces of sympathy in his eyes.

  It took the two some time to recover from hearing that depressing annou, but when they did, they immediately talked about their order of business, or rather than business, it would be better to call it an errand to teach the royal castle's head chef about how to make pudding.

  The reason why it was only the head chef who would be taught the recipe, it was because he was the ohe royal family trusted the most. If it was him, the recipe will stay safe and no other person will know about it.

  Although Grey and Yuna appreciated that the royal family sidered their rights over the pudding, they are still a little depressed. For them, it still would have beeer if they only attehe after party normally.

  "Then... Yuna, Grey, when would you like to teach our head chef about your pudding recipe?" ［Talia］

  Asked Talia with a slightly ed face as she took into sideration Grey and Yuna's schedules. She khat Grey and Yuna were busy being instructors of the Royal Academy so she didn't want to trouble them too much.

  trary to the mischievous and imposing King, the Queen was a siderate and kind person. She couldn't help but feel guilty and ed that the kingdom always received help from Grey and Yuna, who doesn't ask too much for pensation. The Prime Minister also shared her se.

  "Hmm... If it's possible, we could do it now." ［Grey］

  "Now?" ［Ernes］

  "Yeah, we still have a lot of things to do before the awarding ceremony. Also, Your Majesty, you were the one who tasked us about the matter in the academy." ［Grey］

  "Ah, right... The academy. Well, we better get going to the kit then." ［Ernes］

  The King said as he abruptly stood from his throne and walked towards the door, as if he was heading to the kit with Grey and Yuna. His sudden dispy left the two at a loss for words.

  "Hm? Is His Majesty going as well?" ［Yuna］

  "Of course. If I don't, who else will guide you two to the kit?" ［Ernes］

  The King reasoned out to Yuna's question, making his reasoning sound sound although it was pletely unreasonable and stupid. Even his wife, the Queen, was dumbfounded by his answer.

  "A King also o have a break every on a while, you know." ［Ernes］

  Or so the King said but the Prime Minister's facial expression begged to differ. The tter had already figured out that the King was going to escape his duties just to have some fun.

  It wasn't the first time the King ditched his job for unreasonable reasons, rather, the King did it pretty often. After serving him for decades, the Prime Minister had already given up on him. Still, he was still exhausted by such as.

  If there was someoo be pitied amongst the people present ihrone room, it would be the Prime Minister. After all, even if the current King would retire, the one was just as troublesome.

  "Then I'll also go as well." ［Talia］

  "Great! Then Anderson, please mahe papers for us in the meantime. We'll be back before you know it!" ［Ernes］

  "Yes, Your Majesty..." ［Anderson］

  To the King's words, the Prime Minister could only sigh exasperatedly as he looked at the long day in front of him. The King didn't even bat ao his expressions and just tio head out with the others.

  On the way to the Kit, the King and the Queen always received polite gestures from everyohey passed by. And as the ones walking besides them, Grey and Yuna were under curious gazes for many instances.

  It took the group of fours almost 10 mio arrive at the kit. The castle was much rger than Grey and Yuna anticipated. They also got to see a lot of new sery on the way.

  "Oh! You're here!" ［Vanessa］

  Uedly, the moment they ehe kit, the first oo greet them was Vanessa, who had been waiting for their arrival. As for her younger brother, Kurt, he was o be seen.

  "Your Majesties, you came along as well?" ［Vanessa］

  "Yeah, I thought I'd show Grey and Yuna around the castle. They haven't had a tour around the castle after all." ［Ernes］

  "I also wao see what this pudding you were talking about, Vanessa. I've been curious about it ever since you told me about it." ［Talia］

  trary to Grey and Yuna, her the King nor the Queen was surprised with Vanessa's presen the kit. They didn't even bat an eye wheer was wearing an apron.

  Grey already had an inkling how the King and the others knew about pudding, but after hearing the Queen's words, there was no more questioning about it. Just as he expected, the one responsible was her than Vanessa.

  "It's really delicious!" ［Vanessa］

  "Un, it is!" ［Yuna］

  "Fufufu, then I'm looking forward to it." ［Talia］

  Sihe topiow ged to that reted to pudding, Yuna suddenly became eid joined in with Vanessa and the Queen's chat. Her previous dejected expression was now o be found.

  Seeing the three dies chat merrily despite their age differences made Grey realize that no matter what age, race, or dimension they may be in, girls will always love their sweets. It was a universal thing for them.

  "Your Majesty, were these the people you were talking about" ［???］

  "Oh, Carlton, just about time." ［Ernes］

  Just as the girls became very fortable with one another, a muscur maered the kit. If he wasn't wearing a chef outfit, one would have mistaken him as one of the castle's knights.

  "Ahey were the ones I was talking about. They said they will be teag the recipe to yht now." ［Ernes］

  "That's awfully quick!" ［Carlton］

  "Well, they have a busy schedule so this would be the perfect time, or rather, this is the only time they do it." ［Ernes］

  "I see... I am called Carlton, the castle's head chef. It's my great honor to meet you, Yhnesses, Lrey, Lady Yuna. I've heard a lot of great things about about the two of you," ［Carlton］

  After having a limited versation with the King, Carlton walked trey and Yuna and greeted them politely with a bow. Now that he was bowing, he looked even more of a knight than a chef.

  "It's a pleasure as well. I am called Grey." ［Grey］

  "My name is Yuna, we'll be in your care." ［Yuna］

  "Haha, same for me.... Actually, after hearing about pudding from Lady Vanessa, I haven't been able to sleep well because of excitement. I hope I won't be too much of a burden for you." ［Carlton］

  "Don't worry, Mister Carlton, it's just a simple recipe. How about we get started with it?" ［Grey］

  "Ah, of course!" ［Carlton］

  Excitement painted all over his face, Carlton quickly ed up the kit and prepared the table for making pudding. He then unlocked the pantry, showg a myriad of ingredients cooks would die for.

  But while such a thing was happening, one peculiar thing was happening at the er of Grey and Yuna's eyes. Vanessa started preparing the oven and took some ingredients from the pantry.

  "Umm... Big Sis Vanessa, what are you doing?" ［Yuna］

  Asked Yuna as she curiously eyed the beautiful dy in front of her who was taking sacks of flour and sugar towards another kit table. There, a few kit tools and wares had already been prepared.

  "Hm, me...? I'm baking cookies." ［Vanessa］

  "Eh?" ［Yuna］

  "She may not look it, but Vanessa is one of the best bakers in the kingdom. Her cookies are especially delectable." ［Ernes］

  ""Ehh?!"" ［Grey and Yuna］

  Yuna and Grey were plenty shocked hearing Vanessa is going to bake cookies, not to mentiohe King said an ued fact. The Queen and Carlton were also in agreement with him.

  No matter how they looked at Vanessa, she didn't look like a baker a si. She didn't even look like a military officer which was her occupation, not to mention being a master baker for a hobby. It was pletely ued.

  "Well, Vanessa only started baking cookies to capture Ranzel's heart. Now look at her, she's one of the best bakers in the kingdom. Fufufu, love really is powerful, isn't it?" ［Talia］

  "Your Majesty, stop that! It's embarrassing! That's already a story of the past! I was only a teenager back then!" ［Vanessa］

  "Oh? But aren't you still striving to improve your baking for your husband? I don't see any ges between then and now." ［Talia］

  "Uuu... That's right, but still..." ［Vanessa］

  Vanessa tried to think up of an excuse to escape the situation but she couldn't find a terargument against the Queen. All she did was bee redder as she recalled the past where she gave sweets to Ranzel on a daily basis.

  That was the first. The first time Grey and Yuna saw Vanessa be defeated by someoher than her husband. Even the usually mischievous and eiessa was not ag shy and timid. It was a plete 180.

  pletely defeated, Vanessa didn't talk back to the Queen anymore and only prepared the ingredients with rose tinted cheeks. As for the Queen, she was giggling to herself as she watched over the former.

  "Is there something wrong, Lrey, Lady Yuna?" ［Carlton］

  "A-Ah, nothing... Umm.. Mister Carlton, why don't we start with the first step?" ［Grey］

  "Of course!" ［Carlton］

  Carlton, full of enthusiasm, they then grabbed a couple of ingredients from the pantry and pced them on top of the kit table. The only thing Grey took out from his "Iory" was varact.

  Although varact is not yet known to Merusia, it easily be made by processing vanil beans with the help of magic. The one Grey made was just as fragrant as the ones ba Earth.

  "Hm? What is this liquid?" ［Carlton］

  "That's varact. It's made by processing vanil beans. It be used to fvor and make forant. It also be used in etics." ［Grey］

  "Aract that be used on etid food...? I haven't heard of such a thing before..." ［Carlton］

  Carlton opehe lid of the tainer in order to ihe straract before him, and when he did, a fragrant smell wafted his nose. He wasn't familiar with it but it was something which immediately captured his liking.

  "Oh～ What a fragrant smell..." ［Carlton］

  "Is it really?" ［Ernes］

  "It is! Your Majesty, you experie for yourself.! ［Carlton］

  In order to sate the King's curiosity, Carlton passed the bottle to him. The Queen also took part aed it together with her husband as she too was curious about what st Carlton was talking about.

  "Oh my! What a beautiful st. It could rival the perfumes I'm using!" ［Talia］

  "I khat vanil was a fragrant garden pnt, but to think it could be used like this... Truly iing..." ［Ernes］

  The King, Queen, and Carlton ehe smell for a little while with rexed faces, and piqued by her curiosity, Vanessa, who was just retly dejected, also joined in as well.

  "Grey, I have some of this? I want to use them in my cookies?" ［Vanessa］

  "Ah, sure, but please test it out first." ［Grey］

  "Ok, thanks!" ［Vanessa］

  With a smile on her face, Vanessa grabbed ay drinking gss and poured some vara it. She got about a hundred ml of it, enough to st her for quite some time.

  "Hm, I wonder what this tastes like..." ［Vanessa］

  "Ah, Bis Sis Vaneー" ［Grey］   "Wait, Bis Sisー" ［Yuna］

  Grey and Yuna tried to stop Vanessa, but it was already too te, Vanessa had already dipped her finger irad tasted it ceously. The moment was very predictable.

  "Bitter!" ［Vanessa］

  Tears almost formed in the er of Vanessa's eyes as she stuck out her tongue. She looked exactly the same when Yuna tried tasting varact the first time Grey made pudding for her.

  A mix ret and surprise was evident in Vanessa's face wheried to wash off the taste by rinsing her mouth with water. Everyone all watched her amusingly as su act was happening.

  After that little exhibition from Vanessa, Carlton, Yuna, and Grey tinued with making pudding. Vanessa also tinued with her cookies while trying tet the taste of varact.

  "Now that I think about it, are these ingredients really everything we need in making pudding? I thought we needed way more than these..." ［Carlton］

  "Actually, it's a really simple recipe. These are all the ingredients we need." ［Grey］

  "..." ［Carlton］

  Not making a single ent, Carltohe ingredients curiously, still not being able to uand how a delicious dessert would be created from them. They were all on ingredients in his eyes.

  "Yuna, I'll be making the base, please prepare the caramel sauce." ［Grey］

  "Un!" ［Yuna］

  Heeding Grey's instru, Yuna immediately grabbed a bag of sugar and a sau and headed to a nearby stove. She then poured sugar and water to the sau and turned oove to medium high.

  "Should I watch Lady Yuna first?" ［Carlton］

  "Ah, there's no need. All that's left for her to do is to watch out that the caramelized mixture doesn't burn." ［Grey］

  "Huh?! That's all?!" ［Carlton］

  "Yeah. Like I said, this is a really simple recipe." ［Grey］

  Still not able to believe Grey's words, Carlton observed Yuna for a while only to witness her looking out for the caramel sauot burning, just like Grey had said. He looked extremely baffled.

  "Ah, Mister Calrton, please warm this milk for me." ［Grey］

  Grey said whilst handing a jug of fresh milk to Carlton. While he usually uses magic to heat the milk, as he was teag Carlton, he decided it would be best to just make it normally. After all, not all people are as adept as him at trolling magic.

  Hearing Grey's words, Carlton immediately shifted his attention from Yuna to the jug of milk, and followed the former's instru without question. He did his work very meticulously.

  While making sure Carlton was watg, Grey then whisked the eggs, sugar, and the varaside a mixing bowl. He made sure he was whisking it without wasting anything.

  When the milk was warm, Grey then asked Carltonto pour the milk on the mixing bowl while he tinued whisking the mixture. By the time Grey finished whisking, Yuna was also doh the caramel sauce.

  Yuna then prepared the moulds and poured the caramel sau each of them. As frey, he was straining the mixture to make sure there were ne particles in the pudding.

  After straining the mixture, Grey then poured it on the moulds with caramel sauce already in it. And with that finished, he thehe pudding inside a steamer. All that o be done was wait.

  "Was that really everything that we o do?" ［Carlton］

  "Well, after waiting for the pudding to finish cooking, we still o chill them, but all in all, retty much done." ［Grey］

  "Un! Pudding is easy to make and delicious!" ［Yuna］

  After minutes upon minutes of waiting, the pudding was finally done. All that was needed was to chill it in the refrigerator. Of course, it was a magic refrigerator which could chill it faster than ones ba Earth.

  Meanwhile, Vanessa had also finished with her cookies, and pletely outside of Grey and Yuna's expectations, they smelled and looked fantastic. It wouldn't be an uatement to say that they were very tempting.

  "Woah～!" ［Grey］

  "Big Sis Vanessa, these cookies are delicious!" ［Yuna］

  "It's delectable as always, Vanessa." ［Talia］

  "As expected of Vanessa." ［Ernes］

  "Fufufu, thank you!" ［Vanessa］

  Everyone showered Vanessa's cookies with praise, making the baker really pleased with it. She wasn't able to hide the smile on her face as she was smiling from ear to ear.

  'Ah, how nostalgic...' ［Grey］

  The cookies reminded Grey of his childhood where his mother would always make it for him after school, and paired with a gss of warm milk, it was one of the things that made his day.

  "Well, other than being delicious, it also is fragrant now. That varact really was a miracle worker. Hey, Grey, would you mind giving me more of those extracts?" ［Vanessa］

  "Oh, sure, but in exge, please teach me how to bake these." ［Grey］

  "Sure! It's frey and Yuna after all." ［Vanessa］

  Vanessa ended her statement with a blooming warm and sincere smile. It was a smile which reminded Grey of his mother. Because of it, Grey now khe reason why he couldn't bring himself to hate Vanessa despite how troublesome she was.

  Well, he knew full well that that wasn't the only reason. It was because even though they weren't reted by blood and they had just met not that long ago, Vanessa had already bee his and Yuna's older sister, something he couldn't fully uand as well.

  "Grey, the pudding's ready～!" ［Yuna］

  "Ah! Be there in a minute!" ［Grey］

  A few moments ter, pudding was also served o table. With the cookies and pudding oable, everyone eheir afternoon by eating and chatting to their hearts' tent.

  Although pudding and cookies weren't really the best of binations there was, it was something that filled both their stomachs as with a satisfa and warmth. It was sweets which brought them closer with one another.

  CHAPTER 90 END