In the ledger's countermeasures column, Elena had written only three lines the previous night. "Court Banquet・Culinary Service Request・Unopened" That was all. From the moment she saw the royal seal pressed into the wax, she somehow couldn't bring herself to open it. In terms of her previous life's sensibilities, it was close to that uneasy feeling before opening an email that suddenly arrived from an executive. The morning at Tsukikage-tei always began in the kitchen. This small café, located one alley back from Central Market Street in the royal capital of Blanche, was still dim outside, yet only the kitchen glowed with light. The floor inscribed with cooling magic circles gleamed faintly, and eggs were arranged neatly on the shelves. Elena transferred milk from Petrika Village into a pot and set it over the flame, measuring out the sugar. Another pot for caramel sat cold and untouched. Elena retied her apron's waist cord while glancing at the sealed letter placed at the edge of