Chapter 3: 1.2

PART 2

「However, Dear Sister? Must I remind you that today would not be the first time that you happened to oversleep, but actually above the twentieth one? Plus, the time when you happened to be oversleeping the most was in February, when there was still snowing, and ––––––」

「T-That’s because it was right after the New Year’s! and besides, February can be categorized as “Spring” as well!」

Edinburgh shyly grabbed the hem of her apron while she was shouting words of excuses.

Then, when she saw Belfast starting to spin the tea blender in a swift and memorized motion, she suddenly noticed a can of tea leaves that was placed on the table.

「That tea, could it be……?」

「Yes, that’s right. Those are the tea leaves I happened to bought at that time.」

Hearing her sister’s inquiry, Belfast nodded her head in confirmation.

Those two tea leaves cans were bought from a certain trader on the market the other day when the two sisters went there to shop, and were checking out the different scents of the various teas that were available.

「I chose Assam. You, Nee-san, went with Ceylon. Both tea leaves are suitable for morning tea, so I decided to put them together and try to make a blend out of them.」

「Yes, yes, I think that they are perfect, too. And you could even make a milk tea out of them if you really wanted to.」

Realizing what her sister had in mind at the current moment, Edinburgh walks away from the table right away and picks up the milk pot, trying to get her sister’s idea into action.

At precisely that exact same time, the boiling kettle began to make a loud noise, signaling that the water was ready and boiled. And right next to the boiling kettle, there was a soup that was quietly simmering in the pot, an indispensable part for every morning meal.

Just below the stove, there was a large sealed kiln dedicated exclusively for burning coal in it. But at the same time, its purpose could be doubled as an oven for baking pizza and all kinds of bread. It was a kitchen stove dedicated solely to the Royal Navy’s dormitory, which is much larger than any other stove that you could possibly find at any individual home.

Then Belfast got the mix of the two kinds of tea leaves and placed them inside of the pot, picked up the kettle filled with boiling water from the top of the stove and poured the boiling hot water right into the tea pot.

While imagining the tea leaves swirling and twirling inside of the tea pot and letting their essence mix together with the water, Belfast quietly put the pot on top of the serving cart.

「Nee-san, could you please pass me the milk pot as well?」

「Yes, right away.」

Said Edinburgh while putting the milk pot on top of the cart, just like her sister asked her to do.

Then, she also placed a small plate with thinly sliced lemons right next to the milk pot. 

「…… Thank you, but when did I asked you to do it?」

「I just prepared it in advance for those people would fancy would like to drink lemon tea instead of milk tea or the usual tea.」

Edinburgh quickly explained her reasoning to her sister Belfast, who was looking at her with the sternest expression possible on her face.

From Edinburgh’s own standpoint, her sister Belfast is a perfect and impeccable maid. She was so graceful and full of elegance that others would oftentimes find her overwhelming, and it was true for both the members of the Royal Navy and other factions alike.

–––––– That is why there were times when Edinburgh would regret the fact that she had such an exceptionally gifted sister.

And the fact that this exceptionally gifted sister of her was her younger sister, that fact was also giving the older sister a whole of additional worries onto her already full plate.

「Nee-san?」

Realizing that her Perfect Maid of a little sister was staring right into her face very intently, Edinburgh stopped daydreaming and had to pull herself together. In the meantime, the cafeteria was already beginning to be filled with loud and enthusiastic voices of the other girls who were living in the dormitory.

「When it comes to the morning routine, it is every second that counts. This rings especially true to the young ones of the Royal Navy, as they can all be very noisy and particular about their food. So we have to make sure that everything is ready before the food and tea goes cold.」

「I-I know that, geez!」

Having said that, Edinburgh grabbed the handle of the cart and started hurling it forward.

All of a sudden, there was a knocking sound onto the kitchen’s door, which caused Belfast and her sister hauling the serving cart with breakfast on it to turn their gazes towards the entrance to the room at once.

「–––––– Please pardon the intrusion.」

You are reading story Azur Lane: Episode of Belfast at novel35.com

The one to enter the room that was usually reserved for the Maid Corps personnel only was the personal bodyguard of “Her Majesty” of the Royal Navy, the Battleship of the Queen Elizabeth Class named Warspite.

「Warspite-sama.」

Seeing the sudden visitor who was by no means a member of the kitchen staff, Belfast’s eyes rounded with surprise. Warspite only shook her head in a hurry while going through the door and stepping into the kitchen.

「I do realize that the kitchen is a maid’s workplace, and that the morning is a really busy time for you. I apologize for entering here so suddenly, especially since you are still busy with preparing breakfast.」

「Umm, is there something that you need? Or perhaps you want us to do something?」

Edinburgh asked Warspite that while her whole body was shaking strongly, and at the same time began to look around the kitchen as if she was looking for something in particular.

「I would like to use this place during lunch hours, if it is not going to be too much trouble.」

The two maids then look at each other while holding onto the wagon cart, visibly confused.

「I mean, Warspite-sama, it’s not that we mind letting you use the kitchen, but……」

「Could you at least tell us the reason why you wish to use it?」

Both Belfast and Edinburgh opened their mouths and asked at roughly the same time, to which Warspite simply pointed at the kitchen in general.

「I’m sorry, but while I cannot exactly tell you the reason for that, at least let me tell you that I will require to use that thing over there.」

The kitchen equipment that Warspite pointed towards was located just below the stove on which the soup was still boiling in a lazy manner.

It was the open kiln that could be sealed with the use of lid if the one using it required it to be that way.

「Yes, certainly. But, do you know how to handle a kiln like that, Warspite-sama?」

「Does that mean that the answer is a “no”?」

Hearing that sudden question of Edinburgh, Warspite retuned her answer while clearly annoyed and let down.

As a matter of fact, neither Belfast nor Edinburgh have ever seen Warspite cook before, or even use the kitchen or any of its utensils in general.

Belfast then put her hand on her chest and advised Warspite in earnest.

「If you don’t mind, Warspite-sama, would you like me to accompany you in doing whatever it is that you need to do?」

「No, it won’t be necessary. It’s not like I actually need your help with doing what I want to do. As long as this thing is an open one, I can use it just fine on my own. After all, I might not look like it, but this Old Lady here sure has quite a bit of experience behind her belt, you know?」

And just like that, the two maids’ offer to help was turned away. Edinburgh then looked to the side, trying to glance at her sister’s face as discreetly as possible, only to see Belfast shaking her head slightly. Apparently, it was a good idea to just leave this matter at that and not to try and press it any further.

「As you wish, Warspite-sama.」

Belfast said while bowing down deeply.

Suddenly, Warspite’s expression changed and she smacked her fist into her other opened hand in a gesture as if she just remembered something important.

「Which reminds me, it would seem that Her Majesty is yet to arrive at the cafeteria.」

「Her Majesty?」

Belfast rose her head and directed her gaze towards Edinburgh, giving her a look that demanded an answer as she asked:

「Nee-san, is there something wrong with Her Majesty?」

「Huh?」

The only thing that Edinburgh was able to muster out of her throat was that single sound as she looked at Belfast completely dumbfounded.

「Nee-san, if memory serves me correctly, today is your turn to be on the duty to wake Her Majesty up, am I right–––––– ?」

You can find story with these keywords: Azur Lane: Episode of Belfast, Read Azur Lane: Episode of Belfast, Azur Lane: Episode of Belfast novel, Azur Lane: Episode of Belfast book, Azur Lane: Episode of Belfast story, Azur Lane: Episode of Belfast full, Azur Lane: Episode of Belfast Latest Chapter