The food Lisa had prepared so carefully since early morning was laid out neatly on the table.
At a glance, it looked decent enough. A sandwich stuffed with various ingredients between thick slices of bread, and a bowl of soup that resembled bone broth—though I couldn't quite tell what it had been made from.
It was a simple, home-style meal. The kind of food commonly found in households across the Empire.
"How is it?" Lisa asked eagerly, her eyes shining. "It's good, right?"
"…Yes. It's good."
I nodded, matching her proud expression as best I could.
To be honest, though, it wasn't particularly tasty.
Too salty in some places, strangely sweet in others. The flavors clashed instead of blending. It had that unmistakable feel of a beginner's cooking—someone trying their best, but still lacking experience.
There were plenty of issues if I really thought about it.
But still…
It was warm. And filling.
More importantly, it was made with effort.
