Lou complained while glancing at me as usual. Mother also looked at me before lightly hitting Lou’s head.

“Today we also have tomatoes. Even though it’s early summer, I found some ripe ones and quickly picked them for you.”

“No. I mean food cooked with fire. Warm and soft food that makes you smile while eating. That’s the kind of food I want, Mother.”

As Lou made a sad face, mother’s expression also saddened.

“Why are you complaining about food today of all days? Today, this is really all we have. Even your sister can’t do anything about the situation.”

The atmosphere was such that the mother and child might burst into tears if I pretended not to notice. Though I was tired from the tense cooking competition, I had no choice.

Not wanting to hear wailing, I reluctantly got up.

“Sister, why? Why are you getting up?”

“You have that olive oil we received from the young Count last time, right? I think it should still be there since we rarely use it. Please give me that, I’ll grill something.”

“Grill? What?”

“Warm and soft food that makes you smile. I’m going to grill that food. For our Lou.”

“What are you talking about? What is there to grill here?”

I deliberately didn’t answer Lou’s question.

I was too busy examining how to light the long-extinguished oven to have time to answer.

The annex had a large oven. This was because the dwelling had been converted from an old lord’s mill.

But we had never used the oven until now. When preparing meals, we had always cooked dishes that required only a brazier.

The oven, abandoned in a corner of the house, had taken the form of a useless appliance. It resembled our bewildered and helpless selves.

“No, what exactly are you trying to do?”

Though constantly whining, Lou diligently gathered firewood. The child helped me enthusiastically, and we lit a fire in the oven.

Like the small victory I had achieved today, the oven unhesitatingly kindled red flames even with poor kindling.

“Now. From this point on, like the oven, we’re also starting anew. Give me the tomatoes.”

“Tomatoes?”

“Yes, I’ll make you a delicious dish by grilling tomatoes.”

“Grilling tomatoes?”

“Yes.”

I took out a knife, as if asking why he kept questioning something so obvious.

Then I sliced the tomatoes horizontally.

I placed a flat pot on the fire and drizzled a small amount of olive oil. When I placed the tomatoes on the heated oil, a delicious friction sound spread with a ‘sizzle.’

It felt like vitality was spreading through the previously dark house.

“Is it because I’ve only lived for ten years? This is completely new to me.”

“It’s a cooking method that’s good for health, but it also tastes good. When you grill tomatoes, their sweetness and umami flavors increase. Bring the bread and cheese from the table too.”

“What are you going to do with that dried-up cheese?”

“You don’t want to eat it?”

“Hey, why are you like this? I’ll eat it.”

Lou moved quickly and swept everything from the table.

With the child’s help, I began cooking in earnest.

First, I spread Dijon mustard on the rye bread, sprinkled bacon crumbs, then sequentially placed dried cheese and grilled tomatoes on top.

Next, I covered it with rye bread like a lid, inserted it into a clean grill, and finally thrust the grill into the hot oven.

Sizzle, sizzle.

Soon the rye bread baked fluffily, making a sound as the cheese inside melted.

Our family’s faces turned rosy from the savory smell of cheese. Father, mother, and Lou sat in front of the oven waiting for the dish to be completed.

I watched them and repeated the same process several times.

***

The cooking was successful. Between the bread grilled with grill marks, tomatoes, bacon, and melted cheese all clumped together, showing off a delicious appearance.

Taking one bite would make sourness, sweetness, and savoriness dance together. I had thrown in all the ingredients that taste better when eaten together.

I placed the completed sandwiches and vegetables on each plate. I also sprinkled dressing made with available ingredients on the vegetables.

French dressing made in a simplified way by combining Dijon mustard, vinegar, oil, salt, and pepper.

It wasn’t an exceptional taste, but thanks to it, I could serve a refreshing salad with reduced raw smell.

“Mmmmm.”

After taking one bite of the sandwich, Lou smiled like a crazy person.

The cheese stretching between the child’s mouth and the sandwich looked appetizing.

Lou rolled the stretched cheese with a finger, popped it into her mouth, and opened her eyes wide. Laughter scattered through the small lips that were chewing.

“It’s so delicious. I can’t help but smile. Mmmmm.”

Following Lou, father and mother also smiled sincerely. Seeing the wrinkles on all three foreheads, it was clear they were enjoying a satisfying meal.

“By the way, what’s the name of this dish?”

Ah! Is this mother’s first time having a sandwich?

In my previous life, it was created around 1760. The Earl of Sandwich started making and eating it, and it became a food named after him.

This world is currently in 1666, and interestingly, it tended to follow a history similar to that of my previous life.

Then the Earl of Sandwich hasn’t even been born yet, right?

“Hmm? What’s the name of this dish, I asked?”

“Well…… um…… Ruargo.”

“What?”

Isn’t that right? If I created this food first in this world, it should be called ‘Ruargo.’

“I made it first. So it’s Ruargo.”

“No.”

At that moment, my father, who had been focusing only on the meal, interjected.

“If you made it first, let’s not name it Ruargo.”

“Then what?”

“Miss Lea.”

“What?”

“This food’s name is Miss Lea.”

***

The intense meal ended.

We stored the remaining sandwiches in the still-warm oven and gathered around the table.

“Sister, the silver coin.”

Ah, right! I still haven’t given Lou the silver coin she so desperately wanted.

I took out the silver coin I received from the Crown Prince and handed it to her.

“What’s this silver coin for?”

“Well……”

“This is the only medium that will change our declining fate.”

It started again. The talk about astrology.

Lou said many strange things after waking up, like the prophecies recited by an astrologer.

“Wasn’t it winter when we fell asleep, with the Orion constellation in the sky? The constellation that formed when the moon goddess Artemis lost her life after being hit by an arrow mistakenly shot by her lover.”

This is rather profound for a ten-year-old child. Perhaps an astrologer is residing within her body.

I had an amusing thought while drinking water.

At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if I met someone in Ferandi saying, “I’m possessed,” “Another soul has entered my body,” “Actually, I’m Korean and know you well.”

“So we must serve the moon. Not the crescent moon that has lost too much energy, nor the full moon that has gained too much energy, but the half-moon. Better if it’s a half-moon flowing with the royal family’s steadfast energy.”

Right. For this reason, Lou had been urging me from the moment she heard the Crown Prince was coming.

If I received a silver coin from the royal family and made a half-moon necklace to wear, our family’s luck would rise again, or something like that.

As soon as he saw the Crown Prince, he caused trouble on his own, and I nearly got into a mess.

“Father. Since you’ve gained crafting skills, can you make it?”

“Make a necklace with this silver coin?”

“Yes. Cut the silver coin in half to make a medal, and use the other half to make the necklace chain.”

“How about doing it this way? Cut the silver coin in half and hollow it out. Make the necklace chain with the extracted silver. Then we can make two.”

“Two?”

“Wouldn’t two be better than one, after all?”

Lou quickly nodded and then looked at me intently.

“You should have the necklace, sister. Always wear it on your body.”

“Me?”

“Yes. You’re already born with luck, sister.”

“Luck? What do you mean?”

“You’re pretty.”

Lou’s chubby lips moved slowly, as if lost in a daydream.

“In the poor language of this world…… I cannot fully depict that beauty…… such outstanding beauty.”

“……”

“Sister is extremely pretty. It makes me think of the word ‘luck.’ Being born pretty is also luck given by fate.”

Ah….. Is that so? Come to think of it, I was surprised when I first opened my eyes in this world. There was a woman like a luxury doll in the mirror.

“By the way, will Eloise just let this go? Sister?”

Lou’s worried, lowered voice reminded me of Eloise, whom I had forgotten.

The child’s question was something I had completely forgotten in the joy of victory.

Right. Today, unfortunately, Eloise became the loser instead of me. She must be quite displeased about losing to someone she looked down upon.

“What should we do, sister?”

“It’s fine. I’ll just pretend to be sick for a while. I’ll say I’m too afraid of spreading illness to go out. What can she do? She has her reputation as a Count’s daughter. She won’t come all the way to our humble annex to cause trouble. Right.”

Thump, thump, thump.

At that moment, a rough sound rudely echoed from the wooden house’s door. Someone had come to find us.

Could it be Eloise barging in? Unable to endure even a single day, reputation as a Count’s daughter be damned?

***

“Oh my, how dazzling.”

My mother exclaimed while looking inside the box. I slapped her back to make her come to her senses.

“For what reason are you giving this?”