Chapter 30 - Ale at the Food Stalls
"Shall we head for lunch soon? Is there anything you’d like to eat?"
As they stepped out of the café, Volf asked her this, and Dahlia thought for a moment.
Truthfully, there were things she wanted to eat and drink, but as an unmarried woman, she hesitated. Would Volf find her choices acceptable?
However, she quickly brushed aside her doubts.
She had resolved to eat what she wanted to eat and drink what she wanted to drink.
If Volf objected, she would deal with it then.
"How about having ale at the food stalls in the central district?"
"Sounds good. The weather’s perfect for it, so I’m all for it."
He replied with a broad smile and a nod.
They took a carriage back to the central district and headed toward a nearby park.
Around the park, food stalls were lined up from midday to dinnertime. In the royal capital, it was common for families to grab lunch or dinner at the stalls.
With the pleasant weather and season, today was especially bustling.
Stalls were tightly packed along the edges of the park, each displaying colorful flags bearing the names of their offerings—red, white, blue, yellow, green, and purple flags fluttering in the breeze.
The stalls sold ale, wine, fruit juices, a variety of bread, sliced fruits, skewered meats, grilled fish, crepe-like treats, sausages, salami, and trays of shredded cheese.
There were even stalls selling inexpensive accessories, handkerchiefs, and scented pouches.
Since it was past lunchtime, the area wasn’t overly crowded, but there was still a steady flow of people.
Many seemed to be tourists from other countries, as groups wearing unusual attire occasionally passed by.
The chirping of birds in the park’s green trees, the buzz of people’s conversations, and the calls of the food vendors blended together. Amid this symphony of sounds, the savory aroma of grilled food and the sweet scent of fruits wafted through the warm air.
"Volf, do you like porchetta? Have you tried it before?"
"I’ve never had it from a food stall, but it smells amazing."
"Then I’ll buy two portions."
"Then, I’ll grab two ales while you’re at it."
Porchetta bought from stalls was a favorite of Dahlia’s father.
The dish consisted of a medium-sized pig, deboned and stuffed with various vegetables and herbs, then roasted whole until golden brown.
At the stalls, it was sliced thinly and served on plates, two pieces per serving, resembling ham or roasted pork. The outer layer was a rich, golden brown, while the inside revealed moist, white meat. The contrast of colors was irresistibly appetizing.
In her previous life, she had only eaten porchetta twice at an Italian restaurant, but the stall version here seemed to have a richer flavor.
When she first tried it, she had mistakenly expected it to be as dry as some roasted pork dishes. However, she quickly learned it paired wonderfully with bread or alcohol. The differences in stuffing and spices also made the flavors unique to each vendor, which she found fascinating.
While Dahlia bought the porchetta, Volf returned with two large cups of white ale, one in each hand.
"Dahlia, do you like crespelle?"
"Yes, I do."
"Great, let’s get some of those too."
Crespelle were slightly thick, firm crepes filled with stir-fried vegetables and meat, or seafood, then folded into squares and topped with generous amounts of sauce. Customers could choose from seasonings like salt and pepper, ketchup, or fish sauce, creating various combinations.
"I’ll go with the vegetable and meat filling seasoned with salt and pepper. How about you, Dahlia?"
"I’ll take the seafood with fish sauce, please."
The vendor took their payment and skillfully wrapped the fillings in the crespelle on the spot.
The aroma of grilled meat and seafood mixed with the savory scent of caramelizing sauces, carried on the warm breeze, was mouthwatering.
Though there were tables available near the stalls, the sunlight was intense, so they opted for a shaded bench in the park instead.
Volf finally removed his cloak. His shirt was soaked with sweat, especially on his back.
"Let’s start with the ale."
As Dahlia arranged the food and drinks on the bench, Volf pulled an anti-poison ring from his chest pocket.
"Sorry to trouble you, but could you wear this when we eat together? I don’t expect anything to happen, but in the unlikely event someone targets me and poisons your food, I’d feel better knowing you’re safe."
"Don’t you need an anti-poison ring, Volf?"
"Nah, I don’t. I’ve already built up a resistance to most things, and besides, I’ve got an anklet for protection."
The casual tone of his words belied the seriousness of the topic, making Dahlia acutely aware of this man's status as a noble.
"All right, I’ll borrow it."
"Feel free to use it for research purposes to check the enchantment. If it breaks, I’ll just buy another one."
Hearing this, Dahlia suspected his true intention wasn’t to guard against poisoning but to provide her with an excuse to study the ring’s enchantments.
If he were genuinely worried about being targeted, he wouldn’t wander around so casually, nor would his count family permit it.
If their interactions ever became more distant, she decided she would either return the ring or send it back addressed to Volfred Scalfarotto-sama at his barracks.
"Thank you. I’ll borrow it."
Though she accepted the ring without hesitation, Dahlia tilted her head in curiosity.
"Excuse me, which finger is an anti-poison ring usually worn on?"
"For knights, it’s typically the index, middle, or ring finger of the non-dominant hand."
"Is it because holding a sword would be difficult otherwise?"
"Yeah, that’s part of it, but also because in combat, the dominant hand is more likely to get injured."
It was a deeply unsettling reason.
Looking at her left hand, Dahlia tried the gold ring on. Since the size could be adjusted slightly, it felt most comfortable on her middle finger.
"I just remembered—royal alchemists often wear rings on their left middle fingers. Do magical toolmakers do the same?"
"Not all of them, I think. My father taught me not to wear accessories with enchantments when making magical tools. Even small traces of magic could affect the final product."
"That makes sense. It seems practices vary depending on the field."
As they talked, they finally toasted with the pale ale.
The pale ale was a bit warm but still refreshing, with plenty of carbonation and a slightly sweet orange peel aroma. It was just what they needed for their parched throats.
The ale was served in wooden cups. When bought with a drink, a small deposit was required, but upon returning the cup after finishing, a half-coin was refunded. Dahlia thought it was an excellent recycling system.
"This is delicious. I think I prefer this porchetta over the ones from restaurants."
After taking bites of the porchetta, Volf continued to sip his pale ale.
It seemed he favored bold, salty, and spicy flavors.
"I’m glad to hear that. It was one of my father’s favorite foods, so I started eating it often as well. When I first came here as a child, though, I almost cried."
"Did you end up at a particularly spicy stand?"
"No, the place served whole roasted pork, and it still had its head and feet attached."
"Ah, yeah, that would be shocking..."
The impact of that sight had been immense.
As a young child, the roasted whole pig had looked enormous to her.
Though initially teary-eyed, she had closed her eyes and taken a bite, only to discover how delicious it was, which eventually allowed her to move past the shock.
Taking a crepe stuffed with seafood and fish sauce in her hands, Dahlia set her wooden cup down.
Turning slightly away from Volf, she took a big bite without holding back. The taste and aroma of seafood burst forth, followed by the slightly delayed flavor of the fish sauce. There was no trace of any fishy smell—only a rich savoriness.
The crespelle’s edges were crispy, and the dough carried a slightly stronger hint of saltiness that made it delicious on its own. It felt like she could eat it endlessly.
"This is really flavorful too."
"Yes, it’s delicious."
Though the weather was hot and humid, eating light meals and drinking ale outdoors had a uniquely pleasant charm.
Reflecting on the past year, Dahlia realized she hadn’t felt this relaxed while eating in a long time.
Looking back, Tobias had never been fond of eating at food stalls or going on picnics.
Gradually, she had stopped voicing her preferences to suit him and refrained from doing anything she wanted.
She had also found herself hoping that he would notice her feelings without her needing to say them aloud. Now, the thought of that filled her with frustration.
The faint dream she once had of building a happy family with him—now, it was a thought that made her shudder.
"Lost in thought?"
Apparently, Dahlia had stopped eating. Realizing this, she quickly pushed aside her dark thoughts.
"Yes... I was just thinking about how happy I am to enjoy ale and food from the stalls in a park on a sunny day."
"I feel the same way. And now, I’m debating whether to add to this happiness by getting a red ale."
"I’d like some too, so I’ll go buy some."
"I’ll go instead."
Volf started to rise, but Dahlia managed to persuade him to stay, saying she wanted to browse the other stalls as well.
She couldn’t bring herself to make him put on his black cloak again in this heat.
"I’ll be right back."
With her handbag tucked under her arm, Dahlia briskly made her way toward the bustling food stalls.
Comments
Post a Comment