Sizzle sizzle...

The skewers on the barbecue grill emitted a tempting aroma as they were roasted over the charcoal fire. Oil dripped down along the wooden sticks, hitting the white-hot charcoal and quickly evaporating, occasionally accompanied by crackling sounds.

"Is it really okay to have barbecue for breakfast? I feel like I'll need to exercise a lot after this." Ellie enjoyed the fragrant meat at the corner of her mouth while pinching her soft side, sighing, "Why can't Prince Tiran gain weight no matter how much he eats? Is this the luxury of the strong?"

"Erm..." Princess, who sprinkled cumin and brushed oil onto the skewers on the grill with somewhat unfamiliar movements, laughed awkwardly. How should I explain this? Is it a matter of constitution? Or perhaps the favor of the gods?

Apart from the one Tiran was using on the beach, several barbecue grills were set up for everyone to use. Behind a beach umbrella, an ice magic array preserved a variety of fresh meat, ensuring self-sufficiency.

—In fact, Mimi initially considered hiring chefs to do the cooking, but Tiran vetoed it.

"Barbecuing is definitely more enjoyable when done by oneself."

With that said, the popularity of the princess personally barbecuing was indeed the highest. Although her barbecue skills left something to be desired in the eyes of Vivian, who could perfectly control the heat, she was certainly uncompromising when it came to claiming food...

"Speaking of which, where did Xiaofei go? There's no reason for her not to be here for barbecue, right? And come to think of it, I haven't seen her much this morning, and she hasn't even gone swimming in the sea."

Aya suddenly remembered the little Angel who should have been present at this occasion, looked around, and easily spotted her near a barbecue grill close to the water's edge.

Wrapped in a silver bikini swimsuit, the girl's budding figure was captivating, with a blue headband holding her long hair in a simple bun. Rare seriousness shimmered in her golden eyes...

...Five skewers in each hand, alternating between vegetable and meat pieces, sizzling over the charcoal fire.

Whether it was the skill of skewering ingredients, controlling the heat during grilling, or adding seasonings at the right time, it was all done perfectly. Could this be a new skill that Xiaofei honed in the human world?

Taking a bite of the already grilled skewers in a nearby plate, Aya's eyes widened.

The marination of the meat was just right, not too salty or uneven. The chosen cuts seemed to be from the belly, and the texture, a mix of lean meat and fat, was exceptionally perfect. The surface maintained a slightly crispy but not burnt degree, while the inside was juicy. Most cleverly, the interlacing of fruits between the meat... The skewer in Aya's hand had pineapple, the sweet and sour taste balancing the greasiness of the meat, preventing it from becoming too heavy even with continuous consumption.

Aya looked at the astonished Xiaofei, tears of emotion silently falling. "Xiaofei, you've grown up."

"Eh? Is everything okay, Aya-senpai?"

As Xiaofei focused on grilling, she turned around upon hearing Aya's voice, looking perplexed upon seeing someone with tears streaming down.

"Cough, pay no attention... just a bit touched."

Scratching her cheek, Aya finished the remaining piece of skewer in her hand, "The taste is really good."

"Humph, of course, I learned this secretly from helping out a chef in Academy City when I went there before; Milt's students really like it."

"Hold on, how did you manage to sneak into the kitchen?" Aya caught on to the keyword.

"Erm... ran out of money and couldn't pay the bill..." Xiaofei subconsciously looked down.

"Only you would do something like that." Aya couldn't help but facepalm.

...

The journey from the castle to the beach was not far. Passing through a winding path to the cliff below, the only road on this cliff could provide a complete view of the entire beach.

"Oh, it looks lively from afar. Too bad it's too hot. I prefer the north."

Lounging against the railing at the side of the road, Shuma heard the robust voice behind her and instinctively raised an eyebrow, shifting her gaze from the bustling beach party.

Sure enough, the tall and robust figure casually tossed something over to her with a familiar smile.

"What... alcohol?"

The unidentified object traced an arc in the air before Shuma easily caught it. The cool and smooth sensation in her hand made her take another look. The slender glass bottle sealed with a cork contained a fresh, transparent liquid with bubbles, tinged with a reddish hue.

"Brought by a little-girl-looking tavern owner. According to Prince Tiran, that lad is already an adult."

The leader of the mercenaries smirked, also holding a bottle similar to hers. "It's low-alcohol fruity sparkling wine. This one is made from honey pomelo, freshly taken out and still cold. Better hurry before it changes its taste."

"I'm not drinking right now."

"This thing is no different from juice. Don't tell me you can't even handle this amount of alcohol?" The mercenary leader provocatively stared at her.

"...Tsk."

Shuma uncorked the bottle and gulped down half of it in one go. The bubbling and refreshing sensation of the chilled drink under the intense sunlight surprisingly cleared her weary mind.

"Are you going down to join the party?"

Only now did Shuma look at the guy's attire. With no armor or greatsword, his upper body exposed, and only a pair of oversized beach shorts, wet hair, flip-flops on his feet, he looked like a typical beachgoer.

Nodding naturally, the mercenary leader pointed at Shuma, "Of course. Who else would bring you drinks?"

"If I recall correctly, your name isn't on the guest list, is it?" The female knight glared at him fiercely, trying to conceal her urge to touch the muscles that seemed so robust on the mercenary leader.

"True, but didn't Prince Tiran say anyone who wants to come can join? My boys have been eyeing the maids in the castle every day, full of mischief but no courage. I came here to set an example for them. I even had some handcrafted barbecue just now, and neither Princess Vivian nor that little prince minded."

Shaking the bottle in his hand, Beinrich rubbed his chin and observed Shuma, "Compared to that, you seem like you joined at the beginning, right? Why are you still here?"

Also in her swimsuit, Shuma wore a black bikini covered with a white short-sleeved shirt, carrying a knight's longsword with her. Her smooth and slender legs were exposed, showcasing a unique charm.

"Patrolling."

Bringing this up, Shuma began to feel frustrated, "In that kind of setting... it doesn't suit me."

As a clandestine knight of the Order of the Cross, Shuma's daily life involved traveling around to execute missions, and being in the shadows was her accustomed way of living, making it impossible for her to enjoy such lively atmospheres.

Especially birthday parties.

For her, a birthday was just another day, seemingly not something worth celebrating anymore. The person who used to remind her of her birthday is no longer around.

With furrowed brows, slightly pursed crimson lips, and a look of disappointment on Shuma's face, Beinrich felt an inexplicable tug at his heart.

Strange, there had been no shortage of women with sad stories among those they encountered in brothels in the past. Why did he feel this way at this moment?