The key to the white sauce was ensuring there was no raw flour taste at all, making it as smooth and lump-free as possible, with just the right consistency.
To achieve this, Aoko stirred the combined flour and butter mixture, which had been cooked for five minutes, while adding whole fresh milk and nutmeg powder in small amounts several times. By mixing thoroughly, she prevented the flour paste and milk from clumping at the bottom of the container.
Once the white sauce was ready, Aoko took out a spoon, scooped up a spoonful, and examined it carefully. She nodded in satisfaction. It was perfectly made!
Next, Aoko flattened the dough into a sheet of moderate thickness. Then, using a pasta cutter with a gear-like edge, she divided it into roughly thirty sheets measuring around 5 by 3 centimeters. She grated the Cheddar cheese into fluffy shreds, which was extremely important, as it determined how well the cheese melted in the oven and affected the final texture.
Next, Aoko took out a rectangular ceramic dish and repeatedly layered all the ingredients in the order of meat sauce, white sauce, grated cheese, and pasta sheets. This ensured the cheese and pasta sheets melded completely, producing a better texture after baking.
Once everything was prepared, Aoko covered the dish of lasagna with foil, placed it in the oven, turned the timer dial to fifteen minutes, and started the oven.
While the oven was running, Aoko expertly selected some vegetables and fruits that Alice and she herself liked. After washing and chopping them, she divided them between two plates, sprinkled them with sea salt and black pepper, then drizzled Caesar salad dressing and olive oil over them. With some bread crumbs added, the two salad side dishes were complete.
"Do you want lemon juice on your salad?" Aoko asked Alice, who was nearby.
"Mm." Alice nodded lightly. She could already smell the waves of fragrance drifting from the oven. The flavor of the salad was a minor issue!
Hearing Alice's answer, Aoko drizzled about a quarter cup of chilled lemon juice over both their salads. After thinking for a moment, she sprinkled some of the leftover grated cheese on top as well. Wasting food was never a good thing!
After a short wait, a "Ding!" sounded. Aoko put on thick heatproof gloves, removed the ceramic dish from the oven, and placed it on the serving cart.
The lasagna sheets in the dish had baked to a golden brown, their edges slightly wrinkled and lightly charred. This was exactly when lasagna tasted best, and Aoko was deeply satisfied with her cooking.
"All right, all right, Lady Alice. Go wait for me in the dining room, okay? I'll be right there~" Aoko said.
Alice nodded, picked up her book, and headed for the dining room on the first floor.
After placing the tableware, salads, and basket of toast onto the serving cart, Aoko intended to push it over to Alice. But before leaving the kitchen, she remembered something. Her eyes darted around, and she went to one of the cupboards to take out a bottle of red wine. She placed it and two stemmed glasses on the cart, then smiled as she pushed it toward the dining room.
The dining room at Kuonji Manor was in a room opposite the living room. It held a small but antique wooden round table, beside which stood a curved bay window that occupied an entire wall, giving the dining room excellent natural light.
The dining room was decorated with several emerald-green plants. Alice's PLOY usually took care of them, though recently Aoko's familiar, Da Zhuang, would occasionally use some of the cantrips Aoko shared with it to tend them as well.
Speaking of Da Zhuang, where had it flown off to now? Aoko wondered as she pushed the serving cart into the dining room. Of course, she could use the familiar contract to confirm Da Zhuang's location, but she did not think it was necessary.
Alice had already arranged the things on the dining table. Sitting with elegant posture, she watched Aoko, who was wearing an apron and chef's hat, and was already somewhat impatient for the feast.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Lady Alice." Smiling, Aoko began placing the food on the table. Using a small spatula, she served several pieces of lasagna with slightly stretching cheese onto the plates, then added cherry tomatoes and basil leaves beside them to finish the presentation.
Once all the food had been set out, she placed the stemmed glass she had deliberately brought before Alice, then took out the bottle of sparkling wine she had been planning to use and waved it in front of her.
"Want some?" Aoko asked in a tempting tone. "Blanc de Blancs from Weston Estate—it's my dad's private collection. I sneaked a few bottles over here."
Neither Aoko nor Alice was of legal drinking age, of course, but what was that saying again? It was not a crime if no one found out. Besides, as the greatest magus and Magic User, they could simply circulate their magical power once and expel every trace of alcohol from their bodies.
"...Mm." Alice's face reddened slightly, though not enough to notice unless one looked carefully.
Going along with it, Aoko used a magical network cantrip to pop the cork, then poured a glass of red wine for both Alice and herself.
"The British really do love putting on airs. It's an English winery, yet it has a French name," Aoko complained as she poured.
Just then, tapping came from the nearby window. Aoko turned her head and saw that it was Da Zhuang, the familiar that had gone off somewhere to play. It had impeccable timing when it came to meals and always returned before food was served.
Aoko walked to the window and opened it, letting Da Zhuang fly inside. Her familiar first looked at the food on the table, then gazed at Aoko expectantly, its two pitch-black eyes shining. Da Zhuang loved cleanliness and borrowed the magical network cantrips Aoko shared with it to clean itself before returning every day.
"Caw! Is there a share for me, Master Aoko?"
Da Zhuang was a female New Caledonian crow. For some reason, her voice sounded like that of a sharp-voiced little girl, with a somewhat crisp ring to it.
"Yes, yes, of course there is. Don't rush." As she spoke, Aoko moved Da Zhuang's usual little round table beside theirs, then served several pieces of lasagna for her as well and poured water into the bowl she usually drank from.
After finishing everything, Aoko took off her chef's hat and apron and sat down across from Alice at the table.
"To celebrate my officially becoming the Fourth Magic User, cheers?" Aoko said, raising her glass toward Alice.
"Hah... you still have a long way to go... but congratulations, Aoko." Alice raised her own glass and clinked it against Aoko's.
A light rain pattered outside Kuonji Manor's windows. Inside, there was only the sound of knives and forks touching ceramic dishes, along with the crackling of the fireplace.
The two girls and the crow all savored the tranquility and delicious dinner of that moment.