The Past Winter
First Dish

After taking a bath, Serena and her four favorite cats rushed in their clothes and prepared for dinner. The five of them again almost missed their meal schedule due to taking too long a shower. Serena directed her children towards the dining room in one of the rooms in the parlour.

The dining room consisting of neatly arranged long tables made Rubi, the girl who only passed her days in the cell amazed. His eyes rolled in all directions. Seen by many other children, both boys and girls are busy queuing in front of the food storefront. Serena also directed her foster children to come in line according to the line, to look neat.

Behind the food storefront were two parlor officers in charge of guarding the food stand. They give the food they have cooked to children according to the portion that has been determined. There are only children who protest because they feel their rations are lacking. There are children who are too picky about food. There are also those who seize food belonging to others that trigger a dispute.

In his little head Rubi immediately thought, that the incident felt familiar to him. In the place that Serena called as the orphanage is not much different like the cell that he had known. What is different is the place is spacious, cleaner and fragrant, the food is tasty and still warm (although today's diet is just a piece of bread, tofu soup, and an apple).

Rubi can also bathe with very refreshing water, wear clean clothes, and sleep on a warm mattress in the building with his friends. There was no fear of guards, no rats passing by, no horrible looks of other children, and no wet, smelly soil around. Ah, after thinking about it again it turns out that this place called orphanage is different and is an amazing place.

Serena who had gotten a seat in the corner of the room called her foster children to where she was. The five of them sat facing each other. On the table there is a tray filled with warm food.

Serena led her four foster children to pray to the god Eos, the sun god, and to thank them for the warm and delicious food that was before them today. Because Rubi had never done it while in the cell, he just lowered his head and followed what Serena and her friends were doing.

This eating event should usually be led by the chairman of the home. But because he was not in the place so the children who had been hungry had immediately surrounded the dining room like flies. The joint prayer before meals was gradually dispensed when the head of the home was not in place. Because the other parlour officers are not able to give the command like the head of the home who has a firm face and authoritative. Even the vice-chairman who should be able to replace the chairman position was overwhelmed with children when they were starving.

There were about seven parlors who were assigned directly by the holy temple. And there were a few extra people from outside the sacred temple who helped take care of the parlour. Those who help take care of the parlors are called volunteers. Because helping a job at this orphanage does not get paid at all, done consciously and willingly.

At certain times, more people volunteer. Even the gold-blooded nobles also intervened to take care of the little people. The young nobles dove in to help the common people, they did not carry it out sincerely, just solely for the sake of its good name and popularity. But with the presence of the nobles, one of the social service places like this orphanage has increased.

Although in its rules anyone who exercises social service is usually performed for one week, the nobles are forbidden to use their wealth. For example, bring a lot of fancy dresses and valuables to the neighborhood where social services are located. Because social service is not a magnificent villa belonging to a family, let alone aiming to show off wealth. Social service is a place of activity to help others in order to foster a sense of care and closeness to the god.

The officers stressed that they would not be responsible for any losses and losses suffered by the volunteer participants, and they were not allowed to sue anyone. Even surnames of various high levels could not give a lawsuit, even though it was the emperor's family. It is contained in one of the books of Imperial law that has been labeled the emperor's stamp. Which means that the rules are absolute and can not be contested.

It is said that any noble family who will participate in social service activities is only allowed to bring at most one servant to accompany him on two conditions.

First, the nobles who carried out these activities were the top three levels in the noble rank in the Estheria Empire, namely the noble families ranging from the Count, Marquess level, to the Duke level in the Estheria Empire. Second, the nobles who needed servants by his side. Like, a young lady or master is physically disabled, sick, or has certain conditions that require her to bring a maid.

And usually the nobles who can not bring servants because the level is too low to get around by smuggling food ingredients into the kitchen. Although it is prohibited in the rules, but it is also a benefit of the home. So the parlors allowed it on condition that it did not smuggle anything in excess. As a result, the residents can eat good food brought by the nobles who perform social service activities in their place.

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Rubi scoops warm soup with a spoon in his hand. His first bribe was the best. The little girl shed her tears as she swallowed the delicious soup into her throat. The savory, fresh, warm, and slightly sweet taste of the soup and bread created a wonderful taste sensation on Rubi's tongue. And for the most part Rubi cried while eating delicious food in front of him.

The three friends laughed amusedly at the behavior of Rubi who was eating and crying at the same time. Serena who saw Rubi's behavior was initially laughing with the children, but then the tip of her eyes heated up. The simplest food menu served in the dining hall can make a little girl very grateful to be able to eat it.

“Do you like it?” Serena asked Rubi while wiping her nose and tears streaming down her face. Only five minutes would it take Rubi to devour the dish in front of her, after Serena had divided half of her food into Rubi.

Rubi nodded his sign in agreement. He thrust his swollen face from crying it out to Serena to clean up. Serena who discovered the behavior of one of her foster children, Rubi, is so adorable now hugs her tightly.

The woman also hopes Rubi who is like a doll that he can take everywhere and he dandani as much as possible. Serena also wanted him to devour Rubi round and round right then and there, because Rubi was adorable for her. Allen, Elyn, and Olive agree with Serena, they also feel that Rubi, whom they already consider to be the youngest sister, is adorable.

His three brothers were unceasingly tempting Rubi by feeding him food from their respective bowls. Rubi who was happy to get a lot of delicious food just opened his mouth obediently and enjoyed the mouth after mouthful that came into his mouth. His three brothers laughed cheerfully to find their youngest brother who opened his mouth wide to take a bribe from him.