Aiden looked around at the guests with a proud expression, then shrugged his shoulders as he looked toward Anje.
“It’s a bit early to get this excited. Don’t you think so, Anje?”
“That’s right, it’s only just beginning.”
As she had confidently declared, other delicious dishes continued to be placed on the table without pause. Beef Wellington, where tenderloin was wrapped in minced mushrooms and pie crust and baked, and honey-roasted ham, coated with honey on its surface and cooked in the oven.
Especially, the honey-roasted ham had diamond-shaped cuts on the surface, with a black clove embedded in each diamond, giving it an appearance similar to a pineapple.
This was Anje’s idea, inspired by the custom of serving pineapples to important guests at the ducal house.
Sally clapped her hands in admiration.
“That’s a great idea! I should ask the dormitory chef to prepare the spring party ham like this.”
“It’s not only pretty but also delicious. Here, I’ll cut you a piece, so try it quickly.”
Of course, since eating only meat could become tiresome, vegetable dishes were also prepared.
Glazed dishes where carrots and parsnips were coated in a thick sauce and roasted, braised red cabbage with a vibrant red color, savory steamed Brussels sprouts mixed with smoked bacon, and roast potatoes that were crispy on the outside but moist inside.
So many dishes had been prepared that it was almost difficult to fit all the plates onto the table. Doug stuck out his tongue in amazement.
“Our principal is not only a genius at farming but also at cooking!”
“It’s thanks to Aiden and Mrs. Meg’s help.”
Anje smiled brightly and modestly replied. Aiden, who was carving the turkey with a large knife, quickly interjected.
“But this roast turkey was made entirely by Anje, everyone.”
“Wow, something this big? That must have been a lot of work!”
As Sally said, preparing a turkey for a feast was a very labor-intensive dish.
First, after thawing and cleaning the turkey thoroughly, seasoning is sprinkled inside, and then lots of onions, lemons, and bay leaves are stuffed inside.
Then, a seasoning mixture of butter, salt, lemon, and oil is made and inserted between the skin and the meat, pressing it firmly with hands to spread it evenly throughout the turkey.
The remaining seasoning is also spread evenly over the surface of the turkey, and then olive oil is drizzled over it once more—only then is the preparation for roasting the turkey complete.
Anje insisted on handling the preparation of the turkey herself. She wanted to personally take charge of the highlight of the feast, and after helping Aiden prepare it last year, she had thought she might be able to do it alone next time.
Of course, it was far more grueling than just watching from the side, and there were moments when she wondered if she had chosen too large a turkey, but seeing the completed dish today, she had no regrets about her decision.
Moreover, the turkey that Anje made turned out to be incredibly delicious.
“Thanks to this dish, I feel a new idea coming to me. Yes, next year’s spring clothing series will be… bird-themed. Feathers and vibrant colors, all tied together with soft cotton fabric.”
While unable to hide her pleasant smile, Anje did not forget to give credit to Aiden.
“Aiden did almost all the roasting. Please praise him too.”
“As expected, my Muse No. 2!”
Even during roasting, the oven had to be opened from time to time to scoop up the juices pooled at the bottom of the pan and baste them back over the turkey to complete a delicious roast.
Since it was hard for Anje to bend over, she had to leave this part entirely to Aiden.
Aiden, looking for Anje’s hand under the table, replied.
“Let’s just say the couple perfectly and splendidly completed a joint task.”
While busily loading food onto his plate, Jean chattered away.
“I’m worried we’ll get so heavy from eating too much that the sleigh won’t move later—no, Mary, I wasn’t talking about you!”
Mary, who had been pretending to slit her throat with a knife toward Jean, quickly added compliments when everyone’s eyes turned to her.
“With such a splendid feast, even His Imperial Majesty would be envious if he saw this table.”
“Right? I bet his jaw would drop if he saw it.”
At Mary and Sally’s praise, Aiden and Anje, who truly knew the emperor, couldn’t help but exchange meaningful glances.
‘Would William really be envious of this dinner?’
By now, he was probably attending a luxurious banquet. In the palace dining hall surrounded by gilded wallpaper, he would be feasting on turkey, of course, along with many rare delicacies.
However, the Fitzroys, who were holding hands tightly under the table, could assert that he wouldn’t feel as fulfilled as they did.
Meg nodded in agreement.
“Of course, such a splendid dinner must be the first since Leslie Town was founded.”
“Naturally, since you helped prepare it, Aunty Meg.”
The aunty blushed.
“Oh dear, does it seem like I’m praising myself? I just wanted to propose a toast to the Fitzroys who organized such a wonderful party.”
“A toast sounds great. I almost forgot.”
“Alright, everyone, fill your glasses with wine or juice, whatever you have.”
Everyone agreed in unison and raised their glasses high, shouting, “To the Fitzroys!”
The cheer was so loud that if a bear, not yet in hibernation, had been wandering near the house, it would have been startled and run away.
Following that were toasts “To Mrs. Fitzroy,” “To Sir Aiden,” and “To Fitzroy the Second.”
TL/N: FITZORY THE SECOND!!? LMAO.
Then came toasts “To Pa-Pi-Pu,” “To the Dilton Farm School,” and “To Leslie Town,” mentioning every possible toast-worthy thing they could think of.
It was a night where no amount of clinking glasses would ever feel enough.
It wasn’t until only a few pieces of turkey were left that Mary, who had been eating as if unleashed, finally clutched her stomach and declared surrender.
“Ha, it’s really delicious, but I can’t eat anymore. If someone pokes me, I feel like all the food will spill out.”
Hearing her from across the table, Anje winked.
“But there’s still dessert left. Are you sure?”
Mary immediately lifted her head.
“Of course! I’ve saved a separate stomach for dessert.”
Sally chimed in, agreeing with Mary’s words.
“They say a human stomach actually has a separate section for meals and a separate one for desserts.”
“Exactly, exactly.”
Mary loosened her waist ribbon even more.
The appetizers and main dishes had been so amazing; missing out on dessert was simply not an option.
At that moment, Anje lightly tapped her arm, informing her.
“Look over there, in Aiden’s hand —.”
“Christmas pudding!”
Even louder cheers and applause erupted from the guests than when the turkey had appeared earlier.
The Christmas pudding, shaped round like a cannonball, was a dessert made by adding a lot of ingredients like dried fruits and nuts, and it was left to age for at least a month.
It was cherished not only for its rich and deep flavor but also because it was served flambéed — doused with brandy and set alight — making it a dessert beloved for a long time across the entire empire.
And Aiden was faithfully carrying out this traditional ritual, entering with a plate ablaze with flames.
“I’ll just eat the pudding, and then I really have to stop eating.”
Mary, muttering with a sigh as she held her fork, had no idea. Little did she know thatginger cookies, mince pies, dates, and even mulled wine would soon appear.
Of course, she couldn’t keep the promise she made to herself, but it was such a wonderful time that she didn’t regret it in the slightest.
* * *
“Phew.”
Anje collapsed onto the bed, stretching out her arms and legs.
Aiden, who had perched himself beside her, gently patted her head and asked,
“Tired?”
“… Mm, a little.”
Had they still been at the party, she never would have admitted it, but now that everyone had left and she had finished her bath, her heart had loosened.
Moreover, the sleepwear called “pajamas,” which Jean had recently created inspired by Eastern clothing, was incredibly comfortable.
At first, she had felt a bit of psychological resistance to its unique appearance, but after trying it on, she could fully understand why Jean had gone to the trouble of designing separate clothes just for sleeping.
“You deserve to be. You worked hard to prepare everything —.”
“Come on, you helped me too. It’s not that. I just danced too hard after such a long time.”
Aiden smiled softly as he recalled how Anje had looked earlier.
“Right, seeing your dance skills, I thought, ‘As expected, she’s the best party expert in Londiane.’”
Anje chuckled bashfully.
“Hehe, I didn’t know Vice Principal Case could play the violin so well either. As I listened, I just couldn’t help but get carried away.”
At first, she had hesitated, wondering, ‘Is it okay for a pregnant woman to dance?’.
But Aiden, who hadn’t missed the sight of her tapping her feet against the floor, had led her from her seat to the center of the room.
‘Would you care for a dance?’
The way he extended his hand so politely brought back memories of the night they had once held their own private ball on a summer’s night.
‘How could I possibly say no when you ask like that?’
Of course, they had adjusted the fast and intense moves appropriately, but dancing along to music again after so long felt truly delightful.
It was probably even more so because the person she was holding hands with and stepping in rhythm with was Aiden.
Today, seeing Aiden in his formal suit, he looked, once again, remarkably handsome and charming.
* * * *
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