13 13. Secret landscape.txt (1/2)

Meena comes transitioning in as if she was timing Val's return to the house.

Today, she was dressed in a black-based maid's outfit and a white apron.

'Oh, are you going to make me dinner?'

'Yes. I didn't think you'd have eaten today.

Meena knew the pattern of his behavior and had decided that if he came at this time today, she could serve him a home-cooked meal.

'I'll be grateful,'

Val decided to return the favor today.

His kitchen was too small for both of them to stand at the same time, and the kitchen and eating room had to be separated.

The kitchen and eating room had to be separated, and the eating room was only about six square meters.

This was common for houses in the second class area and it wasn't that he had chosen a poorly built house.

Meena hummed as she got permission to cook.

Her back is quite a sight, Val thinks.

'Oh, by the way, Meena, I heard you made a donation to the relief station?

'Yes. I didn't mean to be obtrusive, but now that I know Master Val is doing it, I can't bring myself to pretend that I don't know.

Meena's answer didn't stagger.

It's a good thing that you're not the only one. As long as you're running the big, big organization called the state, there may inevitably be places that you can't reach.

Baru wonders if there are limits to the politics of the ungodly body.

'I foolishly believe that it is the role of the state to deal with it,'

Meena, on the other hand, replies that it's the country's job to fix it.

He chooses to use very gentle words because he is the one, but it doesn't change the emperor's attitude of shunning him.

No wonder the emperor calls him noble and difficult to deal with.

It's certainly not a good idea to just do what you have to do. It's true that there are people who need the government's support but aren't receiving it, and they need to do their best.

Val also admits that she has a point.

Running a state sounds really difficult, and he doesn't want to get involved in the future.

'Here you go.

Meena arranges the food on a silver plate she brought with her before bringing it to us.

It's a sumptuous dish that you wouldn't see unless you went to the first class area: vegetable-laden soup, steamed clams, grilled fish, and a herb wrapped monster bird.

Her witchcraft prevents smells and other odors from leaking out of the house, otherwise the neighbors would have rushed in when they noticed the smell.

The taste was light, taking into account Val's preferences.

'Thanks, Meena. I don't mean to be stingy, but I'd be happy to have some fruit.'

When he made his request in a reserved manner, Meena replied with a smirk.