NOVEL NEXT Chapter 379
There is one thing that you should never do at a funeral.
In fact, it’s something you shouldn’t do even when it’s over.
That is resurrection.
“An undead in Winterhome!?”
[Elder Iona. It’s been a long time since we last met face-to-face.]
“Oh no!! And in the form of Duchess Rosetta? How blasphemous—!?”
“Stop! Block her with your body!”
Iona, who rushed into the office without hearing any explanations from Robin, naturally nearly attempted to exorcise Rosetta on instinct.
To attempt to banish the previous lord’s wife, Rosetta. How utterly irreverent, but I couldn’t really blame Iona.
After all, it’s an undead.
We are in Iceland.
Iona couldn’t even estimate how many undead she had dispatched herself. It must have been at least four or five carts’ worth.
Her hands moved reflexively like she was swatting flies, but surprisingly, she also came to terms with it quickly.
[It’s thanks to the nameless Traveler allowing her to go with him.]
“The nameless Traveler… then…”
The nameless Traveler is a god who guides the souls of the deceased to the afterlife.
Thanks to that, the situation somehow calmed down.
Alfred, who finally managed to collect himself, spoke as if it were a usual day without any drama.
“First, let’s keep this a secret.”
No one opposed him.
“Mother, how can you possibly be fine like this? The corpse should have been cremated, leaving only bones.”
[As I mentioned before, it’s the arrangement made by the Traveler.]
Rosetta said that Richard had received permission to remain until his death.
This is a small gift from the nameless Traveler to a devout believer.
“Grandfather said he would live until Alicia was all grown up.”
[Did I expect that husband of mine to last so long?]
In any case, a member of the Felwinter family had become a ghost.
Scholarly perspectives on ghosts vary among wizards and clergy, but to the average person, ghosts are simply undead monsters.
Honestly, Iona looked horrified, nearly launching a Holy Punch.
No need to guess how the others would react.
Nothing had changed since the declaration of secrecy.
It was still the week of Memorial Day.
The lights in the warehouse had no chance of going out, and Winterhome, adorned with turnip lanterns, was engulfed day and night by the smell of barbecue.
However, Alicia’s routine had slightly changed.
“Umm… Kitty.”
“It’s not Kitty, it’s Catherine.”
Thanks to having a private chamber, Catherine’s office had shrunk compared to before. Alicia, laying on the reception table, asked.
“Stay still.”
As Catherine checked Alicia’s pulse, she lightly nudged her forehead when she lifted her head. The pillow sunk deep.
“Well… Today, you’re fine.”
“You said you’re examining the princess’s body, right?”
“Anyway, possession puts a strain on the host.”
Catherine, having slightly lifted Alicia’s eyelids, looked around, confused.
“You remember what I said about the problem before?”
“The possession itself is a burden on the princess’s body, and if there’s a lack of vitality or mental strength, it can become dangerous, right?”
“Exactly.”
Catherine’s firm response.
“Umm… My butt still hurts from being hit by Mother.”
[Oh dear, does it still hurt that much?]
“Yes. Mother is bad.”
Suddenly appearing and sitting on the opposite sofa, the translucent Rosetta met Alicia’s gaze.
[But Elizabeth was also worried about Alicia.]
“But Grandma also got scolded later on.”
[Well… I have nothing to say. It’s surely part of my fault for not stopping you.]
It was certainly a situation caused by Alicia’s reckless charge, but for an adult to be at the mercy of a child was undeniably a sin.
“So… how long do you plan to keep this up?”
Since the possession incident, Alicia had been getting daily physical examinations from Catherine. The tests seemed to repeat endlessly.
“Until Memorial Day is over. Ideally, for a while after that too.”
Catherine replied nonchalantly.
“Even if Princess Alicia runs around like a headless chicken, thinking poorly and has a tendency to act recklessly, and eats more than her own weight each day.”
“Kitty. Alicia is still lying here.”
“Even though she often sneaks into restricted areas like a budding thief, she is still a princess. It’s entirely reasonable to have her examined.”
“Kitty. I can hear you.”
“I know.”
Catherine smirked lightly and slapped Alicia’s forehead.
“I’m saying this for you to hear.”
[Is there truly nothing wrong with her?]
Despite being translucent, the concern on Rosetta’s face was clear.
[Even if it was done against her will, she was indeed possessed. Something should be wrong.]
“No issues have been found yet.”
Catherine responded, while checking Alicia here and there as usual.
“There’s nothing detected by the examination magic. Princess Alicia is simply exceptionally healthy as always.”
It was obvious, given that she had no lack of vitality or mental strength.
“Unless she were in a state similar to the Robin after controlling his magic, or had some innate illness, it’s a body that can run around in a single dress all winter without catching a cold.”
[Our granddaughter is quite lively.]
“Actually, her overflowing stamina is likely partially suppressed thanks to the Countess.”
Karem, who had been silently listening from the side, couldn’t hide his astonishment.
In other words, even after running around all day, her appetite overflowing, the stamina that peaked in Winterhome was somewhat tempered due to her current possession…
“That’s quite fascinating.”
Karem’s tongue clicked in surprise.
“I’ve never seen Lady Alicia behave so calmly.”
“…”
“…”
His comment was remarkably valid, and the attendants nodded in agreement.
[Does Alicia often cause such havoc?]
“The question is misplaced.”
Rosetta had to rephrase it.
“You should ask if she cannot stay still for a second or if she intends to keep moving around.”
Alicia has been darting around Winterhome since the moment she opened her eyes.
“She doesn’t stay still unless it’s mealtime or snack time.”
“What kind of thing is that? Alicia listens to her lessons properly.”
“Every other day, she’s captured by Madam Poppins and dragged around?”
That point could not be denied. Alicia shut her mouth tight, and seeing this, Catherine stepped back to sit down.
“Well, everything is as usual today.”
“Kitty. What about now?”
“Today’s examination is over.”
“Yay!”
With a leap, Alicia jumped from her lying position and landed on the floor. She turned her head and looked at Karem with sparkling eyes.
“Karem, let’s go today too!”
“Catherine?”
“Yes. Bring me a bowl of my share.”
Catherine had no particular food preferences.
There was no need to have any.
Everyone envied her body type that didn’t gain weight, whether male or female. With the ancient magic of immortality and daily research and crafting, there was no surplus calories left to turn into fat.
As a result, Catherine’s snacks ranged from ordinary desserts to exquisite dishes one wouldn’t expect during regular meals, and the variety was also diverse.
However, this snack was peculiar.
Radish soup.
To be precise, beef radish soup.
Since there was no sesame oil, she sautéed the beef in nut oil, added the radish, and continued to stir-fry.
Once it was sufficiently sautéed, water was added, flavored with crushed garlic and soy sauce, and simmered until it was tender.
The radish soup, made with the turnips left over from creating Memorial Day’s turnip lanterns, was nothing special.
Except for one aspect that set it apart from regular radish soup.
“Craaaaack—”
It was packed with chunks.
Half radish and half broth.
So, it could actually be classified more accurately as a beef soup with radish bits rather than purely radish soup.
“Haah, haah, mmm—”
“How is it? Seems like you enjoyed it.”
“Mm.”
Catherine nodded, savoring the spoonful Mary had offered her.
“After eating nothing but barbecue for days, my stomach is flipping. Of course, this soup is delicious.”
“Mm-mm. I know that feeling.”
My stomach, drowning in heavy takeout food and copious alcohol late at night, felt like it was on the brink of dying.
(Of course, Karem didn’t know much about the latter.)
The warm broth, able to soothe a stomach that felt like it was about to explode, was like celestial salvation.
“Such a luxurious radish soup is a first for me, though.”
“Radish soup? Isn’t it actually a beef soup?”
“Um… While the beef was originally just for flavoring, I took the liberty of adding a lot of meat.”
With a slurp and a gulp, Karem drank it straight from the bowl, chewing the chunks that filled his mouth.
The rich beef broth, enhanced by soy sauce, and the radish that simmered till tender, combined with plenty of garlic and meat, delivered a delightful flavor without feeling heavy.
Even Alicia, who typically didn’t care for radish, could eat this without any aversion.
To put it bluntly, she was practically eating beef soup, not just radish soup.
[Oh my…]
Yet someone was shocked by this.
[Such a lavish radish soup…]
“Hehe, it’s delicious. So good.”
Thanks to being forcibly possessed by her grandmother every time she ate during Memorial Day, Rosetta could finally experience what “taste” was after decades.
However, none of the meals she had consumed was as shocking as the radish soup Alicia received during her examinations.
In Rosetta’s previous life, Iceland embodied deprivation.
In this harsh, cold land, only a few vegetables grow healthily.
Among them, turnips undoubtedly thrived.
Although there was a pervasive culture of shunning vegetables, turning a blind eye wasn’t an option.
The radish soup they had back in Iceland was not much different.
It was simply radishes boiled in salted water.
When adding vegetables, it became vegetable soup, and if there were plenty of ingredients, it turned into vegetable stew. On a fortunate day, one might add meat or bones.
It had been long since only powdered bones remained, but vividly before Rosetta’s eyes was the vegetable soup she had eaten daily.
In Iceland, deprivation extended to the nobility as well.
She too had eaten radish soup made with nothing but water and turnips.
Due to her status, she could eat meat relatively often, but even so, there were days when she starved without so much as bread.
“Grandma seems to like this.”
[Hmm… Yeah. This is even better than barbecue for me.]
“Eh!? But barbecue is tastier!”
[No, it has flavor. It’s tasty, but…]
Having only ever eaten bland food throughout her life, Rosetta’s memories clashed with the overwhelmingly rich and stimulating meals at the Felwinter Duke’s table.
Had she not passed away, her palate might have changed like an average Icelandic person who harbored a grudge against traditional bland cuisine.
However, she was dead.
She had been dead for quite some time.
She could hold resentment against the god trying to take that opportunity away, but Rosetta wasn’t particularly devout before her death.
There was gratitude towards the Three Gods for bestowing such opportunities.
Appreciation for Alfred’s efforts to change Iceland to this extent.
“Umm— I’m done. Grandma, can I have another bowl?”
[…I beg of you.]
“Anytime!”
[If possible, make sure to load it with chunks.]
So, she’ll definitely be having another bowl of this.
No, several more…