"Ardan, where are you planning to go? The morning might seem long, but it'll pass quickly."
"Hmm~ Though I'm really happy just walking around like this with Nearl, it's still better not to waste too much time."
Ardan nodded, thinking for a moment.
"How about we grab breakfast first? The hospital tests require an empty stomach, and you must be hungry by now, Nearl. I can recommend a dietary shop I always order from—every time I'm hospitalized, I get my meals from there."
"Really? If it comes recommended by you, Ardan, it must be quite good."
Nearl replied with a smile, instinctively pressing a hand against her backpack where she'd packed a simple breakfast.
But since Ardan had already invited her, Nearl decided it wouldn't be polite to pull out her own meal now.
There was just one thing Nearl had completely overlooked: Ardan happened to be a… taste bud anomaly.
"..."
The soup swirled in her mouth. Nearl pressed her lips tightly together, letting her tongue fully experience the bitterness.
'Good grief, this is awful. Even compared to the meals back at the orphanage when I was little, this loses by a mile.'
"Gulp."
Summoning her exceptional willpower, Nearl swallowed the mysterious concoction. She looked up at Ardan across the table, words caught in her throat.
"Hmm~ ♪ Da-da~ ♪"
Humming a meaningless little tune under her breath, Ardan's slightly narrowed eyes and gentle swaying made it clear she was in high spirits.
Nearl wasn't sure what to say. The porridge-soup before her was undoubtedly excellent for a patient—the blend of medicinal herbs and the simmering were top-notch, perfectly balanced to provide nutrition without straining the body.
It sounded ideal, didn't it? As long as you could tolerate its one tiny flaw.
'Still tastes terrible, no matter how you slice it.'
Expressionlessly, Nearl spooned another mouthful in, feeling genuine admiration for Ardan rise within her.
"Ardan, do you eat from this place regularly?"
"Mhm! Because of my health, I'm often in the hospital, so I always order from here. Is it good?"
"To be honest, I think most people would struggle with the flavor. It's medicinal cuisine made with Chinese herbs, quite different from ordinary food."
Never one to lie, Nearl phrased her opinion carefully, but Ardan, sharp as ever, understood.
Stirring her own bowl of porridge a bit sheepishly, Ardan's cheeks flushed slightly.
"...Sorry, that was thoughtless of me. I should have asked for your preference first."
"It's not really about that. I'm just curious… you seem to be enjoying it quite a bit, Ardan?"
"Huh? Well, even if you ask that… isn't this just how food tastes?"
"?"
A question mark practically popped above Nearl's head. She didn't quite follow.
"How to put it… Maybe it's a matter of background. I ate this kind of thing a lot as a child. The taste might be a little odd—I still remember sneaking off to spit it out back then—but after a while, it just became normal. Like how some people enjoy rare steak with blood still showing; I could never handle that."
Wagging a finger lightly, Ardan explained why she liked this medicinal cuisine.
Nearl didn't know how to respond.
Ardan's situation stemmed from a frail childhood and constant recuperation.
For her, the line between "normal food" and this had blurred. Or perhaps, for someone who'd grown up with medicinal meals more than ordinary ones, this was normal.
It pained Nearl's heart, but there was little she could do. A perspective nurtured since childhood couldn't be changed overnight.
'If it can't be changed, then I'll respect her habits.'
Holding that thought, Nearl finished her portion without a single change in expression.
'But it really is so bitter…'
Pressing her hands against her abdomen—though her stomach felt perfectly fine—Nearl had the vague sense it might ease the dry, bitter aftertaste coating her mouth.
"Hehe, seeing you like this, Nearl—it's rare to catch you acting a little fussy. What a novel sight."
Ardan covered her mouth with a light chuckle, her eyes gleaming with the curiosity of someone who'd stumbled upon something fascinating.
"Could it be that you're not good with bitter things?"
"…"
Subtly, Nearl's gaze lost its usual steadiness, beginning to drift slightly.
"Hmm~"
Eyes sparkling, Ardan felt an irrepressible ripple of excitement inside, like the ticklish sensation of feathers brushing bare feet after a hot bath. She could hardly contain herself.
'Such a rare expression! I've never seen this before!'
Feeling the heat of that stare, Nearl grew uncomfortable all over, as if she were sleeping on damp sheets with the window open on a rainy day—a chill creeping up her back.
And of course, it all came from those large, violet eyes brimming with amusement across the table.
"Alright, I do… have a slight aversion to this kind of bitterness."
Letting out a small sigh, Nearl confessed this tiny, almost trivial dislike—something that belonged to her alone.
"It's not all bitter flavors I mind. What I dislike is specifically that medicinal bitterness. Truly, I've never liked medicine."
As she spoke, an unusual fragility—perhaps the first time she'd shown it in front of another—flickered across Nearl's face, tinged with remembrance.
Her voice suddenly grew almost inaudible.
"I've already had my fill of those medicines in the past."
"Pfft! Hehe!"
Ardan covered her mouth, but soft giggles escaped anyway.
The gentle laughter carried no hint of offense; instead, it dissolved the ache from Nearl's memories, leaving her feeling both amused and exasperated.
"Sorry, it's just… I never imagined that the Radiant Knight—so fierce on the track, so warm and nurturing in daily life—would be afraid of bitterness like a little kid… Kuku… I can't seem to stop laughing…"
Nearl watched helplessly as Ardan shook with laughter, only the hand over her mouth preserving the last shreds of her elegant image.
And yes, she really did tremble like a flower in the breeze.
"Ardan, I don't mind, but if you keep laughing like this, you might disturb others."
She glanced around, somewhat resigned, only to find everyone nearby looking on with tender, understanding smiles.
'What exactly do you all think you understand?!'
"There, there, little Nearl-chan. Be good. Big sister will go buy you some sweets, okay? Then you won't be afraid of the bitterness anymore?"
Wearing a brilliantly beautiful smile, Ardan stood up. She wasn't joking—she genuinely intended to buy Nearl a treat.
"Wait for me, I'll be right back."
Nearl's attempts to stop her were futile. She watched Ardan stride briskly out the door.
"Sigh, I'm not actually a child. I don't need sweets as comfort."
With a resigned sigh, Nearl could only wait there for her friend to return with dessert.
Truth be told, she did feel just a tiny spark of anticipation.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.