Dinner Time at the Kuonji Residence

When making the Béchamel sauce, the most important thing is to ensure there's no raw flour taste in the sauce. It should be smooth and creamy with no grainy texture, and have the right consistency.

To achieve this, Aoko stirred the mixture of flour and butter (which she had sautéed for 5 minutes) while gradually adding whole fresh milk and nutmeg powder, a little at a time. She made sure to mix thoroughly to prevent the flour paste and milk from clumping at the bottom of the container.

After preparing the Béchamel sauce, Aoko took a spoon, scooped up some sauce, observed it carefully, and nodded with satisfaction, indicating that it was perfectly made!

Next, Aoko flattened the dough into a pasta sheet of moderate thickness. Then, using a pasta cutter with a gear-like front, she divided the sheet into about 30 pieces, each measuring approximately 5x3cm. She then grated the Cheddar cheese into fluffy shreds using a grater. This step was crucial as it affected how the cheese melted in the oven and the final texture of the dish.

Following that, Aoko took a rectangular ceramic dish and layered all the ingredients in the order of: meat sauce -> Béchamel sauce -> grated cheese -> pasta sheets, repeating the process multiple times. This ensured that the cheese and pasta sheets were thoroughly combined, leading to a better taste when baked.

With everything prepared, Aoko covered the dish containing the Lasagna with aluminum foil and placed it in the oven. She then adjusted the timer knob to 15 minutes and turned on the oven.

While the oven was working, Aoko skillfully selected some vegetables and fruits that Alice and she liked. After washing and chopping them, she divided them into two portions, placed them on plates, seasoned them with sea salt and black pepper, and finally drizzled them with Caesar salad dressing and olive oil, topping it off with some breadcrumbs. The two side salads were thus completed.

"Salad, do you want lemon juice in yours?" Aoko asked Alice, who was beside her.

"Mhm," Alice nodded gently. She could already smell the aroma wafting from the oven. The salad's flavor was a minor concern!

Hearing Alice's reply, Aoko poured about a quarter cup of chilled lemon water over her own and Alice's salads. Then, she thought for a moment and sprinkled some of the remaining grated cheese on top, as wasting food was not a good thing!

After a short wait, a "ding!" sound signaled the end of the baking time. Aoko put on thick, heat-resistant gloves and took the ceramic dish out of the oven, placing it on a serving cart.

The pasta sheets in the lasagna had been baked to a golden brown, with the edges slightly wrinkled and lightly browned. This was the perfect level of doneness for the best Lasagna texture, and Aoko was very satisfied with her cooking.

"Alright, alright, Miss Alice, why don't you wait for me in the dining room? I'll be right there~" Aoko said to Alice.

Alice nodded, picked up her book, and headed towards the dining room on the first floor.

Aoko placed the cutlery, salads, and a basket of toast on the serving cart and was about to push it to find Alice. However, before leaving the kitchen, she remembered something. With a glint in her eye, she went to a storage cabinet, took out a bottle of red wine, and placed it along with two stemmed glasses on the cart. Smiling, she pushed the cart towards the dining room.

The dining room of the Kuonji Residence was located in a room opposite the living room. It featured a round wooden table that wasn't large but was antique and elegant. Beside it was a wall-sized, arc-shaped balcony-style glass window, which provided excellent lighting for the dining room.

The dining room was adorned with several lush green plants, which were usually cared for by Alice's PLOY. Recently, Aoko's familiar, Dazhuang, had also been helping to tend to the plants using some cantrips Aoko had shared with it.

Speaking of Dazhuang, where had it flown off to? Aoko thought as she pushed the serving cart into the dining room. She could, of course, use the familiar contract to confirm Dazhuang's location, but she felt it was unnecessary.

Alice had already tidied up the items on the dining table and was sitting elegantly, looking at Aoko, who was wearing an apron and a chef's hat. She was already eagerly anticipating the delicious meal.

"Have I kept you waiting, Miss Alice?" Aoko said with a smile as she began placing the food on the table. Using a small spatula, she placed a few pieces of Lasagna, which had some slightly stringy cheese, onto the plates, adding cherry tomatoes and basil leaves beside them to complete the presentation.

After placing all the food, she then put the stemmed glasses she had specifically brought out in front of Alice and, with a long-planned gesture, swirled the bottle of sparkling wine in front of her.

"Care for some?" Aoko asked in a seductive tone. "This Blanc de Blancs from the Weston Estate (actually a wine released in 2010, but the author has modified the timeline) is my dad's private collection, and I secretly brought a few bottles."

Neither Aoko nor Alice had reached the legal drinking age, but as the saying goes, if you don't get caught, it's not a crime. Moreover, as top-tier Magus and Mage, mere alcohol could be expelled from their bodies with a simple circulation of magic.

"...Mhm." Alice's face flushed slightly, to a degree that was barely noticeable if one didn't look closely.

Aoko smoothly opened the bottle with a Magic Net Trick and poured a glass of wine for both Alice and herself.

"The British really are pretentious, aren't they? A winery in England, yet they give it a French name," Aoko commented while pouring the wine.

Just then, a tapping sound came from the window beside them. Aoko turned her head and saw that it was her familiar, Dazhuang, who had flown off somewhere earlier. This creature was very precise about meal times and always returned before dinner.

Aoko walked to the window and opened it to let Dazhuang fly in. Aoko's familiar first glanced at the food on the table, then looked at Aoko with expectant eyes, its two dark eyes shining brightly. (Dazhuang was very clean and would use the Magic Net Tricks shared by Aoko to clean itself before returning every day.)

"Caw! Is there any for me, Master Aoko?"

Dazhuang was a female New Caledonian Crow, and for some reason, its voice sounded like a high-pitched little girl, with a somewhat crisp tone.

"Hi hi, of course, there is, don't rush," Aoko said, moving Dazhuang's usual small round table next to their dining table. She then served Dazhuang a few pieces of Lasagna and poured fresh water into its usual drinking bowl.

After finishing everything, Aoko took off her chef's hat and apron and sat down at the dining table opposite Alice.

"To celebrate my official becoming the Fourth Mage, cheers?" Aoko raised her glass and said to Alice.

"Ha... You still have a long way to go... But congratulations, Aoko," Alice also raised her glass and clinked it with Aoko's.

Outside the Kuonji Residence, a light drizzle began to fall. Inside, the only sounds were the clinking of cutlery against ceramic dishes and the crackling of the fireplace.

The two girls and the crow thoroughly enjoyed the moment of tranquility and the delicious dinner.