Chapter 82

Miso and Chopsticks [Part 1]

“This is sakidzuke... appetizer.”

With ‘itadakimasu‘ as the signal, the waiters started serving the dishes.

...jellied fish? grilled eggplant with sweet miso paste? Japanese rolled... omelet?

Dishes similar to Japanese cuisine Emma had never seen before in this world were placed on the table.

(T/N:Jellied fish, grilled eggplant with sweet miso paste, Japanese rolled omelet)

“People use this to eat in Imperial Japan. Please try it if you’d like.”

What the waiter put on the table after a brief introduction was... chopsticks.

Robert, who was holding one chopstick on each hand, talked to the Imperial Prince.

Unlike his rude manner when facing Emma, he had a proper behavior appropriate for a formal occasion.

He was born in a Duke family, so he was accustomed to this.

“Imperial Prince Tasuku, how should I use this?”

“This is called ‘chopsticks.’ You hold both in one hand and use it to clip food.”

The Imperial Prince began to explain with a smile while demonstrating it to Robert and the people at the same table who had never used chopsticks.

“Uh-oh... This is hard, isn’t it.”

“Ah, please take a look at my fingers. Use it like this instead of squeezing them hard.”

Finding it unpleasant if Emma stood out alone, Beatrix expressed her thoughts on the dish.

It seemed she had temporarily given up on the chopsticks and used a fork and a knife to eat.

“Ah, that is ‘miso.‘ Um... ‘fermented soya...?‘ ...’koji mold...?‘ I’m sorry, I couldn’t describe it well because I don’t know the words, but it’s a commonly used seasoning in our country.”

The Imperial Prince was confused on how to explain miso.

Given that Imperial Japan had just begun diplomatic relations with the Kingdom as His Majesty said, the Prince might not have enough time to study the language after his study abroad was decided. The Imperial Prince apologized that he still didn’t know many complicated words.

“Miso? It sounds unusual, doesn’t it. It has a rich and delicious taste.”

“It’s a flavor I have never had before, but it certainly is delicious. It seems to be an ingredient our kingdom doesn’t have.”

Arthur and the Prince seemed interested in the grilled eggplant with sweet miso paste after eating it.

The Imperial Prince smiled frustratedly.

Ah, I recognize that smile...

Emma suddenly recalled a memory of her past life. Emma, or rather Minato, had also experienced it before.

The well-off unmarried Minato often traveled alone. Her favorite destination was Kyoto. For some reason, whenever she went there, there was a high chance that foreigners would ask her for directions.

Being called with an ‘excuse me~‘ when going to a sightseeing spot even though she never heard any English in her daily life. Is this the fate of all people with a 100% Japanese face?

Her English grades weren’t bad when she was a student, but it became much more difficult when it came to speaking.

She just wanted to say, “Go straight, there’ll be a shrine on your right, then the station can be seen right away after crossing,” but because she panicked, the English she had learned for so many years was just stuck on her brain. She knew what she wanted to say yet couldn’t communicate it. Emma knew that frustrating feeling very well.

The smile I made at that time, is it the same as Prince’s smile right now?