Rasal and Vulpecula were visibly flustered as they watched Isis, their King, personally bustling about to prepare for the tea party.
"I-Isis-sama!? We will take care of the tea ourselves!"
"Yes, there is no need to trouble Isis-sama with such tasks..."
"...No... Once in a while... I want to do this. Before all of you came... I used to brew it... by myself. I am actually... quite good at it. I am also... baking... a cake."
Watching Isis explain this with a gentle smile, Rasal and Vulpecula exchanged looks and shared a wry grin.
"If Isis-sama says so, I have no intention of objecting... However, it feels wrong to leave everything to you, so please, let us help."
"Vul feels the same, ssu! Please, give us something to do..."
"...Really? ...Thank you. In that case... could you help me... with the decorations?"
The fact that Isis was preparing tea and even baking a cake for them filled Rasal and Vulpecula with joy, but the guilt of letting their King labor while they stood idle was more than they could bear.
Isis accepted their offer with a happy, beaming smile.
But it didn't stop there. Shortly after Rasal and Vulpecula, Iris and Polaris arrived, followed soon after by Sirius and Spica. One by one, they all insisted on helping, until eventually, the entire group was preparing for the tea party together.
"All right, Sirius and Spica, you're with me. We'll get the table ready. There's no sense in everyone crowding into the kitchen; it's a waste of manpower."
"Got it~ Since it's a special occasion~ I'd like to do some decorating. Maybe I'll try setting out some flowers~"
"...Did you just put a strange amount of emphasis on my name just now?"
Deciding there was no point in everyone staying in the kitchen, the group split in half. Polaris, Sirius, and Spica headed off to set the dining area.
The remaining members stayed behind with Isis to finish the tea and snacks.
"Anyway, I'm really looking forward to Kaito-sama's original blend!"
"...Yes... Kaito chose it... so it will definitely... be delicious."
"There's no doubt about that, ssu!"
As Isis spoke with a smile, Vulpecula agreed, looking exceptionally cheerful.
"Regarding the black tea brand, I hear the lottery odds for the initial release were quite high. One can see how much attention it's drawing even at this early stage."
"True. In cases like this where the hype is so high beforehand, the launch is usually the busiest. But even considering that, the level of interest is truly impressive."
Iris and Rasal chatted about Kaito-sama's new brand as they decorated the cake. Since Isis had already done most of the groundwork, the preparations didn't take much longer. Just as the cake was perfectly finished, the four of them, Isis included, made their way to a room in the castle with a beautiful view.
Polaris and the others had already finished the table settings. Once everyone was seated, the tea party officially began.
"Wow, this is delicious, ssu! It has such a sweet, gentle flavor... it feels just like Kaito-sama, ssu!"
"You're right~ It's a lovely blend. He must be quite the expert on tea to create his own brand like this~"
"I wonder, ssu? I'll have to ask him next time, ssu."
Despite their differences, Isis's subordinates all got along well. Perhaps because their personalities complemented each other, the conversation flowed naturally and lively.
"I see. This is an exquisite flavor. The sweetness is exactly to my liking..."
"How unexpected. To think an insect woman, whose tongue is surely made of nothing but muscle fibers, could actually taste the difference..."
"I might have enjoyed the aroma more if I weren't sitting next to a woman who reeks of dead meat. Truly a waste."
"...Huh?"
"...Ah?"
"If you two start a fight here, I'm blowing you both right out of the castle. Consider yourselves warned."
Iris, a vein throbbing on her forehead, stepped in to check the bickering Sirius and Rasal. It was a familiar sight for everyone present.
"...Fufu."
"Isis-sama? You seem happy."
"...Yes... To have such a kind family... who joins me like this... as a matter of course. It makes me... very happy."
"We are truly honored by those words."
The expression on Isis's face as she answered Polaris was one of pure contentment. Even for something as simple as getting ready for a small gathering, her subordinates naturally cooperated without being asked. She savored the warmth of the moment, feeling deeply grateful that these people, who could sit around a table and laugh together, were her family.
"Now that I think about it, there are six of us now. Since that's a respectable number, I think it would be good to have a collective title, like the other factions do."
"Like a formal name for the executives? Head-dono, you're surprisingly fond of those kinds of titles, aren't you?"
"That sounds fun, but would I be counted as an executive too, ssu? I'm still so much weaker than all of you..."
"Why not? It doesn't have to be about strength~ I think we should just be the initial members. Besides, I'm sure Vul will be as strong as us in no time~"
"A collective title... like the Five War Generals or the Seven Princesses? Now that you mention it, does the Underworld King's camp not have something like that?"
"That place is special in more ways than one."
The atmosphere was exactly what Isis had always yearned for—a place where a single topic could draw everyone together naturally. Just watching them made her feel blessed.
"...Then... let's all... think of one together."
"""Yes!"""
And so, the sounds of warm laughter continued to echo through the castle at the northern tip of the Demon Realm, in the heart of the frozen lands.
Serious-senpai: "This camp really does get along well. It's always so lively."
???: "It’s strange, ssu. I wonder what the difference is between here and... ahem, Alice-chan's place, ssu?"
Serious-senpai: "...The King's black-heartedness, probably."