Recently, the faces of Aeclys, Garn, and Gyngus have been looking brighter, as if their once-separated hearts have finally found a way to connect. Before, when they passed each other in the hallway, there was a sense of awkwardness, a stiffness in their greetings. But lately, when they cross paths in the corridor, they exchange a few words lightly. Seeing this brings peace to my heart. After all, it’s unpleasant to watch family members continue to be at odds with each other.
Hello everyone, it’s Shuri here. Now that Aeclys’s big present operation has been successful, I can focus on my work with peace of mind. Garn, too, has become more enthusiastic about his work. I’ve been telling him not to overdo it, but he seems a bit too fired up, so I’m keeping an eye on him while giving instructions. As I’m like this, Gungrave comes to ask me something today. It’s during work hours, while I’m serving breakfast in the dining hall.
“Lenha isn’t touching her meals.”
For some reason, Gungrave has a solemn look on his face.
“Huh? But I tasted the cooking of Garn and the other subordinates, and there was no problem.”
Lenha Sounité. She’s the mastermind who was working behind the scenes in the recent Sounité civil unrest. It might be hard to understand from a modern Japanese perspective, so let me explain it simply again. First, Garn is the eldest son of a mistress… a woman who is neither a concubine nor a legal wife. Aeclys is the eldest daughter of a concubine. She’s Garn’s half-sister. And lastly, Gyngus is the son of the legal wife, the second son in this case. He’s the youngest. If I may say one thing from my perspective as someone with modern Japanese sensibilities: It’s just complicated and heavy, a story with too much darkness. In Japan, this would be the level of relationship dealt with in novels or shoujo manga. But back to the story. That Lenha is a criminal. The mastermind… she was plotting behind the scenes in this recent turmoil. She tried to take advantage of the previous lord’s metal allergy to do away with him. Then she tried to install her son, Gyngus, as the lord. The reason for this is unknown. Given this background, we have to provide her with the minimum necessary meals, but I’ve been leaving that task to the subordinates and Garn. Garn has been putting his all into this assigned task, regardless of who it’s for. I tasted it last and sent it out since there was no problem, but…
“No, she’s just making a fuss saying things like, ‘I am of noble birth! I won’t put such dog food in my mouth!’“
How rude. Calling it dog food when there’s nothing wrong with their work… I can’t help but feel angry. However, Gungrave seems exasperated… or something. He says this while pressing his temple. If she’s troubled by it herself, she should just ignore it.
“But aren’t criminals like her supposed to be treated harshly? Like withholding meals. Humans can go without food or drink for two or three days without dying, so why not just leave her alone until she really needs food?”
To be honest, I can’t understand letting such a willful criminal have her way. Even modern Japanese prisons aren’t that lenient. In this world, which is two or three times harsher than modern Japan, I thought they would be even stricter. However, Gungrave says with a troubled look:
“Well, you see…”
Hm? Gungrave hesitated?
“Well, Lenha is the legal wife of the Sounité lord. We can’t treat her carelessly. Besides, she probably still can’t break free from the fence of power.”
I see, I understand a little now. In other words, treating Lenha carelessly would cause problems. Come to think of it, there were supporters of the legal wife too. If we don’t give her a punishment that everyone agrees with, those people might start a riot. By the way, those supporters of the legal wife have already been removed from this Sounité town. With mercenary group surveillance.
“I see. Then I’ll make it today.” “Sorry for the trouble.” “No, it’s part of a cook’s job to pacify a fussy guest with a dish that leaves no room for complaints.”
Now, what should I make? I put my hand on my chin and think. Well, I don’t know her preferences or anything… Maybe I’ll start with a bit of an elaborate soup and bread. As I’m thinking about this, I glance over and see… Garn, peeling potatoes with a dejected look on his face.
“Um, Garn?” “Oh, Shuri…”
Oh no, he looks really down. His face lacks energy. It can’t be helped, I suppose. If the food you worked hard to make was called dog food…
“Sorry, my skills weren’t enough to satisfy Lenha…” “Garn…” “Haha, I still have a long way to go… I need to work harder.”
While his words are positive, his eyes remain downcast. This isn’t good. His confidence has been completely shattered… I place my hands on Garn’s shoulders from behind.
“I’ve had plenty of failures in cooking in the past too.” “…” “There were times when I wanted to quit cooking. I tried to escape to ready-made meals or eating out.” “…I see.” “But each time, I gritted my teeth and kept at it. Garn, relax your shoulders. Let’s keep practicing. If we do, we’ll surely be able to make dishes that can make someone smile.” “…” “So, let’s do our best, slowly but surely, okay?”
Garn nods while looking down. I deliberately don’t look at his face. I don’t look at anything. I think that’s also a form of kindness. Now, I wonder what kind of dish would satisfy Lenha… Thinking about this, I start preparing to cook.
“What are you here for! You fragment of a land thief! Don’t show your filthy face before me!”
Yes, this is the first thing she says. Suddenly calling me a land thief. Well, I did think that in my heart, but still. So, I prepared the dish and came to the underground prison where Lenha was being held. And this is Lenha’s first words upon seeing my face. Let me clarify in advance, I’m not an M. I’m not a pervert who gets excited by verbal abuse… alright? So, these words only irritate me. This kind of irritation is the worst I’ve felt since that idiot lord of Arturia when I first made curry rice. I wonder what that idiot lord is doing now? But even so, there’s no point in acting like a clown here like I did back then. They wouldn’t understand what I’m doing, and they might just think I’m crazy.
“Um… I brought you a meal.”
But man, this is scary. My voice is shaking. Even though I’ve survived many battlefields, I’ve never actually been on a battlefield or killed an enemy, I’ve just been making food to support everyone. So when a woman in front of me is raging with her hair disheveled, I can’t help but be intimidated.
“I don’t want it! Do you think such coarse food is suitable for my palate?”
Lenha says this in a rage, but… well, there’s nothing wrong with the taste, so what do you mean by suitable or not?
“I, the cook, have prepared an elaborate soup. Please, help yourself.”
Still, I can’t just get angry and leave. This is Gungrave’s request, after all. This soup is a potage that I made when I first came to this world.
“I don’t want it! Get out!”
This person is really irritating… She refuses to accept the food I’m trying to hand over, waving her hand as if to brush it away. What if she spills it, for goodness sake!
“For now, please eat. I hear you haven’t eaten for days. There’s a limit to how long you can go on just water.” “Silence, lowborn! Don’t speak to me as if you understand civilization, you invader! You’ve probably put poison in that food!”
This is hopeless… What should I do? Is she suffering from hysteria or something? There’s no psychiatry in this world, so I can’t say for sure. And I don’t have that knowledge to make a judgment anyway. However, I’m quite annoyed now.
“I don’t particularly care if you eat or not. But it’s a problem if you continue to be selfish like this, and it would be troublesome if you died, that’s why I’m saying this.” “What’s with that way of speaking! I am Lenha Sounité, the legal wife of the Sounité lord!” “But right now, you’re just a criminal.”
Oops, maybe I went a bit too far. But I couldn’t help saying it. When someone who makes cooking their job is accused of putting poison in the food, it’s the lowest thing you can say, and I couldn’t control my emotions. Feeling the tension in my temples and between my eyebrows, I look straight at Lenha. The fear from earlier is gone. Now, only anger at having my cooking insulted dominates me.
“Don’t be ridiculous! What have I done, what crime have I committed! You should know your limits with these false accusations!” “You planted utensils that would poison your husband, and tried to run away when things got bad. Any way you look at it, that’s what a criminal does.”
Anyone who says they’re innocent in this situation must have nerves as thick as a Yakusugi cedar… It’s admirable in a way. Though I don’t want to emulate it. But I’ve done what I came to do, so shall I go back?
“Wait, where are you going?” “I’m going back. If you’re not going to eat, there’s no point in me being here.” “What are you going to do about my meal!” “I’ll leave it to the person in charge.”
I can’t deal with this anymore. My head hurts from her shrieking voice. I’m the one who’s going to have a nervous breakdown at this rate! …But I can’t just say that, can I?
“That was a joke.”
If possible, I want to fulfill Gungrave’s request. I owe him more favors than I can ever repay. I face Lenha again.
“So, what kind of meal would you be willing to eat?” “Ha! I won’t put your cooking in my mouth! There’s no way I’d want to eat it!” “Hmm… Putting aside your pride and status, isn’t there something you’d like to eat?”
Yes, Lenha might be being stubborn. A former person of power, imprisoned as a criminal, chained in an underground prison. I think she’s desperately trying not to break her pride. But that’s not the way to live in the present. That’s not okay. At the very least, she needs to eat.
“You… What are you planning?”
Lenha seems to be taken aback by this approach, her expression surprised. Yeah, maybe this was unexpected. Maybe the people before now didn’t try to see things from her perspective, just looking down on her as a criminal. I try to speak calmly and gently.
“Simply put, there’s a limit to how long we can keep butting heads. Don’t you also want to break this stalemate? I think it wouldn’t be bad to fill your stomach, just in case.”
Yeah, this is more like me. Rather than being influenced by her angry words, it’s better to dodge them and get closer. Cooking should be able to satisfy not just the stomach, but also the heart. It’s better this way than getting irritated.
“Hmm, very well. I can see that your stubbornness is indeed unbreakable. So, I’ll give you one path.”
Lenha smiles as she speaks to me. Her eyes seem cold to me, looking down on people, with a cold smile.
“Bring me a luxurious meat dish. If it suits my palate, that is.”
Hmm…
“A meat dish?” “That’s right. Let’s see how far someone of your lowly status can go.”
A meat dish, huh? Well, this is troublesome. No, what’s troublesome isn’t the meat or the cooking. What’s troublesome is the difference in values. I’m from a commoner background, so to me, a luxurious meat dish would be anything over 2000 yen. But Lenha is nobility. In other words, by Earth standards, she’s rich.
To use an analogy, she’s the kind of person who would have a vacation home in a resort area and enjoy a languid afternoon tea. Our values are different. So I need to choose a dish based on the values of nobility, the values of the rich on Earth. Hmm, in that case, the first thing that comes to mind is!
“Alright, I’ll bring you something exceptional!”
Steak, of course!
So, I think I’ll make a steak. I immediately return to the kitchen and ask Gungrave, who was waiting there.
“So, Gungrave, I need some good meat.” “You, you actually managed to get a concession from that person…”
When I explain what happened, Gungrave looks at me with a stunned expression. Hey, did you not trust me even though you asked me yourself? Well, I understand wanting to think that way when dealing with such a hysterical person, but still…
“Well, when anyone gets hungry enough, they can’t afford to be stubborn.” “That’s a scary thing to say.”
It’s a kind of truth. As living beings, it’s something we can’t avoid.
“So, Gungrave. What about the meat?” “Don’t worry. I’ll get you something good.” “Thank you.”
And what’s prepared is beef fillet. Indeed, this is a good cut. However, in this world, there aren’t many cows raised with the assumption of being eaten. They’re all limited to helping with farm work as livestock or for milking. I think only Nouviche raises cows with the premise of eating them. Or is that not the case? So, even if it’s called fillet, it’s a bit tough because it’s from an old cow that has done farm work. Moreover, this is what’s called a filet mignon, a small cut of the fillet. Was there not much quantity?
“Hey, are you really going to make grilled beef with this?” “Gungrave. It’s steak.” “Oh, right. It is steak indeed.”
Hm? Do they have steak here too? If the name is the same, does that mean it’s the same dish? Well, I guess so. In any world, there’s probably grilled meat. Maybe the name just happens to be the same.
“But I rarely hear of beef steak.” “Is that so?” “Yeah. Cows are mainly for farm work or dairy, right? You know that.” “Yes, of course.” “So there’s little beef raised just for meat. You know that too, right?” “Yes. I heard all about it from Garn.”
Since coming to this world, I’ve been trying to learn about the common sense and knowledge of this world by talking to various people about various things. Because of that, I seem to be treated as a bit of an oddball. That’s rude, I’m a normal person. Just from another world.
“So, you see. There aren’t many lords or royalty who serve beef. So we don’t hear much about it. Even this good cut we’ve prepared is from a cow that’s just a step away from being retired. Can you make a good steak with this?” “Hmm”
I take a small piece and nibble on it. Indeed, it’s a bit tough for a fillet? But the taste isn’t a problem.
“It’s not a problem. It is a bit tough, but…” “No, it is a problem. If you grill tough meat, it’ll be even tougher.” “That’s what cooking is for – to overcome such challenges.”
I have a secret weapon this time. Ignoring Gungrave’s puzzled face, I call out to Garn. For this dish, I had asked Garn for a favor. When I told him that if this goes well, we could change Lenha’s evaluation, he put his all into it. I guess Garn was really frustrated. That’s why he put so much effort into this request.
“Garn, is the onion ready?” “Yeah, it’s ready…”
Garn has prepared a bowl full of grated onion. But his eyes are bright red and he’s crying. Don’t tell me…
“Ah! I told you not to rub your eyes with hands that have cut onions!” “Sorry, I forgot…”
Oh boy… It seems his enthusiasm made him forget the warning about onions. Really, he’s such a handful.
“Put an ice pack on your eyes. It’ll make you feel better.” “Got it…” “Now then, we’ve got garlic prepared too, so let’s start.”
When people imagine a somewhat fancy steak, they probably think of something tender and juicy. So, let’s make something close to that. First, I thoroughly rub the grated garlic and onion into the fillet. This not only adds flavor but also makes the meat very tender due to the enzymes in the onion. Then I grind some pepper over it with that grinder thing and knead it in well. Now we let it sit for a while.
“Shall we make the sauce?” “Hey, aren’t you going to salt it? Even I know that much.” “Indeed, that’s necessary, but it’s done right before grilling.”
Pepper is just for removing odors, and salt must be sprinkled right before grilling. Pepper must be sprinkled at least fifteen minutes before grilling to allow time for it to remove odors, and especially with salt, if you sprinkle it too early, the meat juices will flow out and the meat will become dry. I made this mistake in the past and had a hard time eating it. Also, it’s no good to sprinkle salt while grilling. The salt won’t blend with the meat and the salty taste will be too sharp. I made this mistake too. Steak isn’t just about grilling. So, we won’t do it now. Let’s make the sauce first. We’ll make it while the onion and garlic are blending with the meat.
“Garn, I’m going to use that red wine you’ve been hiding.” “Eh?!”
I know, you know. Even though your alcoholism isn’t cured yet, you’re hiding a lot of alcohol, and I know where you’re hiding it. Leaving the dumbfounded Garn alone, I start making the sauce. In a prepared dish, I put half grated onion and minced onion, finely minced garlic and four slices of sliced garlic. Also needed are fish sauce with the smell removed and butter. Olive oil would be perfect, but since we don’t have any, we’ll compromise this time. I hope to set up production someday. Now that all the ingredients are ready, I put the pot on the fire and heat it up.
“…This sure takes a lot of effort. Even though it’s just grilling.” “It may look like just grilling, but it requires the cook’s dedication, effort, and ingenuity.”
I understand Gungrave’s complaint, though. In the beginning, besides the failures I mentioned earlier, I once grilled something that was just thawed from the freezer. When you take it out of the freezer, you need to bring it to room temperature. Isn’t that the same as thawing? You might think, but there are various ways to thaw. Usually, people use running water thawing. Running water thawing is when you put the packed frozen beef in a bowl filled with water to thaw. If the meat is thick, you might let the water overflow little by little. What’s not good is forced thawing and microwave thawing. Forced thawing is, as the name suggests, raising the temperature at once to thaw, but if you do this, a large amount of meat juice, which is the umami, will flow out, so you shouldn’t do it. You might also end up with the disappointing phenomenon where the surface is melted but the center is still frozen. I said microwave thawing is no good, but this varies. If it’s a high-end microwave with good performance, there are some excellent ones, but thawing with a simple type of microwave is just weak heating. If you’re going to do it, buy a good one.
And so on, there are many ways to thaw. This time we’re grilling from room temperature, though.
Now, the pot has heated up, so let’s put in some oil and start grilling. I lightly sprinkle salt on the steak that has been blended with pepper, onion, and garlic, let it blend, and put it in the pot. Even at this point, there’s a knack to the heat control. Some people grill slowly on low heat, but here we’ll grill on high heat. High heat where smoke is billowing from the pot. Don’t be afraid. Also, you must absolutely not touch the meat while it’s grilling. Some people often press it down, but resist the urge. The more you resist, the more delicious it will be. After grilling on high heat for a while, flip it when meat juices start to appear. Now, let’s do a flambé.
“Garn, your red wine will make this meat superb.”
I pour in two tablespoons of red wine and let the flames rise.
“Hey! Are you trying to start a fire?! Someone get water!” “Adra, I’ll be angry if you do that.”
I calm Adra’s commotion with one word and calmly put on the lid.
“There, that’s good.” “Is it really okay?” “This is how it should be.”
I calmly respond to Gungrave’s anxious voice. Hmm, I wonder if they don’t have the flambé technique in this world? No, no, surely they must. After confirming that the flambé fire has gone out, I take it out of the pot and plate it. Now, let’s make the sauce using the remaining fat. Add garlic to bring out the aroma, then add onions and sauté. Once it’s cooked, add red wine, boil it to let the alcohol evaporate, add the fish sauce with the smell removed, and melt in some butter. This completes it. I transfer the sauce to a separate container from the plated steak, and it’s done! Hmm, it turned out well. The aroma is good, and it looks sharp. Perfect.
“Well, shall we take it to her?” “Wait.”
As I was about to take it, Gungrave grabbed my shoulder. What’s the matter?
“Let me taste it a bit.” “Huh? That’s out of the question.”
It’s a filet mignon, so there’s not much quantity. If we divide it, there won’t be enough for Lenha. However, Gungrave just smiles and doesn’t try to understand. Instead, he gradually closes in. Stop it, no matter how much you press me, I can’t give you any.
“Just a little bit… okay?” “What’s with you suddenly… I’ll make some more later, so please wait until then.” “After making such a delicious smell and sound, it’s cruel to make me wait!” “The person trying to take someone else’s meal is crueler.” “I came because I smelled something delicious!”
Bang! Princess Tevis bursts into the kitchen. Eutine is with her. Hey, what happened to your meeting? Don’t you have work to do? I’m sure I heard that. As I stand there dumbfounded, Princess Tevis strides into the kitchen triumphantly. By the way, Eutine follows with a resigned look on her face. Don’t give up, Eutine.
“Oh! Shuri, could that be a steak made with alcohol burning? As expected of Shuri, to even know the latest technique of our country!” “Ah, Princess Tevis.” “Now, let’s go to the dining hall right away! Let me taste that masterpiece steak!” “No, this is for Lenha.” “What a delicious smell! It even reached the training grounds!” “That’s a fine smell. Is today’s dinner going to be luxurious?”
What, Kuuga and Tegue too? Even these two came?
“What a nice aroma… It’s making me hungry.”
Even Arius?
“…”
Ah, Lill is in the shadow of the door!
“Shuri, there was an unusually good smell and sound, what’s going on?”
Even Aeclys boldly joins in!
“The smell is making my stomach growl after work… What an irresistible aroma.”
Huh? Gyngus too?!
“Oh, is that tonight’s dinner? Shuri, what is that?” “Well, Gyngus. This is…” “Wait, Gyngus. I get to taste it first. It’s a new steak dish.” “Hey, that’s not fair, Gungrave!” “That’s right! We’re tired from training here!” “Wait a moment. The magic unit is tired too. We should go first.” “…Inspiration for a new invention.” “Lill can have hamburger steak, right? I should go first.” “Hold on. If we’re talking about that, Aeclys can have karaage! The one with the most refined palate, me, should go first!” “Oh no, oh no, oh no…”
What is this? The magic of the steak has spread! While dealing with this, the meat should have rested nicely. In the case of steak, it’s not always best when it’s freshly made. You need to let it rest a bit and let the meat juices that have gathered in the center spread throughout. Well, let’s go while leaving these people behind. I quietly slip out of the kitchen with the steak in hand, trying not to be noticed by the people causing the commotion. I can’t deal with this.
Now, to the underground prison. I’m carrying the steak and sauce covered with a clean cloth to keep dust out. Probably by now, the undead (the captains and others) are wandering above ground, seeking meat. When I get back, maybe I’ll make steak in the shape of a cross. But… while I made this in a pot this time, it would really be more delicious if made in a frying pan. I’ve been struggling without a frying pan until now. When I get back, I’ll place an order for a frying pan with Lill. She should be happy to cooperate since hamburger steak will be more delicious too.
“The smell is coming from here!” “Ah, Shuri. So you were here.”
Oh no, I’ve been found! Princess Tevis and Aeclys have caught up.
“Just kidding. Shuri, that’s the meal for Lenha we’ve heard about, right?” “We have business with the lady too.” “Huh? Business?” “That’s right. I wanted to talk to her.” “I’m just accompanying her.”
Hmm, what could this be about? Neither of them looks suspicious… I don’t have enough information to refuse.
“Well, I don’t mind. As long as you don’t try to steal the steak.” “I won’t promise, but I’ll do my best.” “I won’t guarantee it, but I understand, Shuri.”
What? Does that mean there’s no promise and no trust? How am I supposed to judge this? Feeling uneasy, the three of us descend the stairs towards the underground prison.
“By the way, Shuri. The technique you used when grilling the meat earlier. Was that alcohol burning?” “Alcohol burning?” “The technique where you added red wine and sealed in the aroma.” “Ah, you mean flambé.”
Alcohol burning, huh. That’s quite literal.
“Did you learn that from someone?” “Well, mostly self-taught.”
The internet is really convenient, isn’t it? Back when I was on Earth, there were things I couldn’t understand just from cookbooks, but the internet taught me. Flambé was the one thing I really couldn’t figure out. The knack, the amount to use, and so on. I looked everything up and practiced. When doing it at home, please be really careful. It’s much more intense than what you see on TV, and it burns more than you’d expect.
“That’s amazing! In my country, it’s a technique that has only recently been developed and is just starting to be researched.” “Is alcohol burning that amazing, Princess Tevis?”
Aeclys asks curiously.
“Indeed, the technique Shuri used involves dropping high-proof alcohol into the pan and instantly evaporating the alcohol. It’s used as a final touch, and if done by someone with skilled craftsmanship, it can add a wonderful aroma. As I said earlier, it’s a technique that has only recently emerged in my country, Nouviche, and there’s still room for refinement. I tasted a steak made by the first person to do it, and it had an indescribably wonderful aroma. You could tell even from far away, couldn’t you, Aeclys?”
“Ah… So that’s why we could smell such a good aroma from far away.”
Is it really that impressive? I mean, of course this steak is successful, so even I can tell it smells good, but still.
“Well, to think that such wonderful cuisine will first be tasted by that woman. It’s really something.”
Tevis sighs dramatically.
“A wonderful new technique, a new sauce, and a new steak. Any of these would be most fitting for me to taste first. Even I was captivated by the smell.” “Um… being praised that much makes me a bit uncomfortable.”
This excessive praise is… well, it’s the opposite of when I first brought food to Lenha, but it’s equally unbearable. As I smile wryly, a coughing voice comes from the back.
“Hmph, can’t those of lowly birth even bring food to nobility quietly?”
A voice echoes from the depths of the underground prison. It seems we’ve reached the lowest level without realizing it, and Lenha is glaring at us with an unhappy face. Oh dear… we were a bit too noisy, weren’t we?
“Lowly, you say, Lenha. Even though someone connected to the Nouviche royal family is here.” “! …So Princess Tevis is here too.” “It’s been a while, Lenha.” “For me, it feels like just yesterday! Have you come to mock me?! You too, Aeclys!” “My lady, I have no such intention.”
This is bad, Lenha’s unhappiness meter seems about to break. While Tevis and Aeclys remain calm, Lenha’s anger seems to be growing proportionally.
“So? Has that cook brought something suitable for my palate?” “Yes, it’s a special dish.” “Hmph, a mere cook from some mercenary group. There’s no way you could make something suitable for my palate.” “No, this steak is worthy of you.”
I place the steak plate in front of Lenha, remove the cloth, and pour the sauce over it. Immediately, a good aroma spreads.
“Red wine sauce steak, prepared with a red wine flambé.”
I announce, trying to sound a bit cool.
“What… is this aroma? The rich scent of meat and sauce fills the entire dungeon…!”
Oh, Lenha’s face has finally softened.
“What… what did you do to this dish?!” “What do you mean, ‘what’? I just cooked it…” “Don’t lie! There’s no way a steak could emit such an excessively rich aroma of flavor! What magic did you use?!” “Hmm, if it’s a trap by magic, I’ll taste it first.”
Before I can stop her, Princess Tevis snatches the fork and knife from my hand, sits down in front of the steak plate placed on the ground, and reaches for the dish.
“Don’t worry, Eutine. Stay in the shadows.”
Huh? I think, as Princess Tevis elegantly brings a piece of steak to her mouth. A smile spreads across her face.
“Ah, wonderful. The tenderness of the meat is far beyond what I know, almost soft enough to cut with my lips. Yet it retains the original texture of the meat, and with each bite, a wonderful aroma spreads. The scent of the meat, the aroma of the sauce, and the flavor added by the alcohol burning harmonize, creating an indescribable pleasure that fills my mouth. This subtle aroma couldn’t be achieved without the alcohol burning, and without the skilled craftsmanship of the alcohol burning technique. It spreads through the mouth and nose, ah, it’s wonderful. The taste is excellent too, of course. The new technique of combining garlic, onion, red wine, and fish sauce with the fat left after grilling the meat. The meat, perfectly and correctly cooked, brings out a good flavor with this sauce. The use of salt is neither too sharp nor too weak, but just right. The smell-removing effect of the pepper has eliminated the gaminess of the meat. Each and every aspect – the new technique, the new sauce, and the perfect cooking and calculation – represents the completed form of the conventional steak cooking method. It may be hundreds of years before something surpassing this appears.”
Wow, Princess Tevis’s explanation is amazing… Both Aeclys and Lenha look like they’re about to swallow their saliva. Now, I place the steak in front of Lenha again, wiping the fork and knife with the cloth that was covering it and setting them beside the plate. Princess Tevis has a satisfied look on her face.
“Well, I apologize for using the knife and fork first. However, even I couldn’t resist. What do you think? Why don’t you try it?”
Lenha cautiously picks up the fork and knife and puts a piece of steak in her mouth.
“…”
Lenha stops with a look of astonishment on her face.
“I see, indeed this is a steak worthy of me, no, perhaps even beyond me.”
Lenha puts down her fork and knife with a clink and looks straight at Princess Tevis. The hatred from earlier is gone from her face. It’s as if she’s trying to discern something.
“I see, Princess Tevis. Is this why you went to such lengths, even risking yourself, to obtain this person?”
Eh?
“Shuri. I and Aeclys have a bit more to discuss with this person. Could you go back ahead of us?” “Huh?”
Both Princess Tevis and Aeclys have serious expressions on their faces. It seems this is beyond my realm of understanding. I don’t know what’s going on between these three, but I guess I should quietly withdraw.
“I understand.”
With just a word of acknowledgment, I decided to return to wash the dishes.
The next day, I received a report from Aeclys that Lenha had quietly accepted her crimes. I wonder what they talked about… Gungrave also said that if she’s quietly accepting her crimes, he’ll settle for exile to the frontier and banishment. It feels like there might have been some behind-the-scenes deal… I’ll just stay out of it.
Check out my Patreon for early access to upcoming updates. Patreon Link
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Chapter 45
Recently, the faces of Aeclys, Garn, and Gyngus have been looking brighter, as if their once-separated hearts have finally found a way to connect.
Before, when they passed each other in the hallway, there was a sense of awkwardness, a stiffness in their greetings.
But lately, when they cross paths in the corridor, they exchange a few words lightly.
Seeing this brings peace to my heart. After all, it’s unpleasant to watch family members continue to be at odds with each other.
Hello everyone, it’s Shuri here.
Now that Aeclys’s big present operation has been successful, I can focus on my work with peace of mind. Garn, too, has become more enthusiastic about his work.
I’ve been telling him not to overdo it, but he seems a bit too fired up, so I’m keeping an eye on him while giving instructions.
As I’m like this, Gungrave comes to ask me something today.
It’s during work hours, while I’m serving breakfast in the dining hall.
“Lenha isn’t touching her meals.”
For some reason, Gungrave has a solemn look on his face.
“Huh? But I tasted the cooking of Garn and the other subordinates, and there was no problem.”
Lenha Sounité. She’s the mastermind who was working behind the scenes in the recent Sounité civil unrest.
It might be hard to understand from a modern Japanese perspective, so let me explain it simply again.
First, Garn is the eldest son of a mistress… a woman who is neither a concubine nor a legal wife. Aeclys is the eldest daughter of a concubine. She’s Garn’s half-sister.
And lastly, Gyngus is the son of the legal wife, the second son in this case. He’s the youngest.
If I may say one thing from my perspective as someone with modern Japanese sensibilities:
It’s just complicated and heavy, a story with too much darkness. In Japan, this would be the level of relationship dealt with in novels or shoujo manga.
But back to the story.
That Lenha is a criminal. The mastermind… she was plotting behind the scenes in this recent turmoil.
She tried to take advantage of the previous lord’s metal allergy to do away with him. Then she tried to install her son, Gyngus, as the lord. The reason for this is unknown.
Given this background, we have to provide her with the minimum necessary meals, but I’ve been leaving that task to the subordinates and Garn.
Garn has been putting his all into this assigned task, regardless of who it’s for.
I tasted it last and sent it out since there was no problem, but…
“No, she’s just making a fuss saying things like, ‘I am of noble birth! I won’t put such dog food in my mouth!’“
How rude. Calling it dog food when there’s nothing wrong with their work… I can’t help but feel angry.
However, Gungrave seems exasperated… or something. He says this while pressing his temple.
If she’s troubled by it herself, she should just ignore it.
“But aren’t criminals like her supposed to be treated harshly? Like withholding meals.
Humans can go without food or drink for two or three days without dying, so why not just leave her alone until she really needs food?”
To be honest, I can’t understand letting such a willful criminal have her way.
Even modern Japanese prisons aren’t that lenient. In this world, which is two or three times harsher than modern Japan, I thought they would be even stricter.
However, Gungrave says with a troubled look:
“Well, you see…”
Hm? Gungrave hesitated?
“Well, Lenha is the legal wife of the Sounité lord. We can’t treat her carelessly. Besides, she probably still can’t break free from the fence of power.”
I see, I understand a little now.
In other words, treating Lenha carelessly would cause problems.
Come to think of it, there were supporters of the legal wife too. If we don’t give her a punishment that everyone agrees with, those people might start a riot.
By the way, those supporters of the legal wife have already been removed from this Sounité town. With mercenary group surveillance.
“I see. Then I’ll make it today.”
“Sorry for the trouble.”
“No, it’s part of a cook’s job to pacify a fussy guest with a dish that leaves no room for complaints.”
Now, what should I make? I put my hand on my chin and think.
Well, I don’t know her preferences or anything… Maybe I’ll start with a bit of an elaborate soup and bread.
As I’m thinking about this, I glance over and see…
Garn, peeling potatoes with a dejected look on his face.
“Um, Garn?”
“Oh, Shuri…”
Oh no, he looks really down. His face lacks energy.
It can’t be helped, I suppose. If the food you worked hard to make was called dog food…
“Sorry, my skills weren’t enough to satisfy Lenha…”
“Garn…”
“Haha, I still have a long way to go… I need to work harder.”
While his words are positive, his eyes remain downcast. This isn’t good. His confidence has been completely shattered…
I place my hands on Garn’s shoulders from behind.
“I’ve had plenty of failures in cooking in the past too.”
“…”
“There were times when I wanted to quit cooking. I tried to escape to ready-made meals or eating out.”
“…I see.”
“But each time, I gritted my teeth and kept at it. Garn, relax your shoulders. Let’s keep practicing. If we do, we’ll surely be able to make dishes that can make someone smile.”
“…”
“So, let’s do our best, slowly but surely, okay?”
Garn nods while looking down.
I deliberately don’t look at his face. I don’t look at anything. I think that’s also a form of kindness.
Now, I wonder what kind of dish would satisfy Lenha…
Thinking about this, I start preparing to cook.
“What are you here for! You fragment of a land thief! Don’t show your filthy face before me!”
Yes, this is the first thing she says. Suddenly calling me a land thief. Well, I did think that in my heart, but still.
So, I prepared the dish and came to the underground prison where Lenha was being held.
And this is Lenha’s first words upon seeing my face.
Let me clarify in advance, I’m not an M. I’m not a pervert who gets excited by verbal abuse… alright?
So, these words only irritate me. This kind of irritation is the worst I’ve felt since that idiot lord of Arturia when I first made curry rice. I wonder what that idiot lord is doing now?
But even so, there’s no point in acting like a clown here like I did back then. They wouldn’t understand what I’m doing, and they might just think I’m crazy.
“Um… I brought you a meal.”
But man, this is scary. My voice is shaking. Even though I’ve survived many battlefields, I’ve never actually been on a battlefield or killed an enemy, I’ve just been making food to support everyone.
So when a woman in front of me is raging with her hair disheveled, I can’t help but be intimidated.
“I don’t want it! Do you think such coarse food is suitable for my palate?”
Lenha says this in a rage, but… well, there’s nothing wrong with the taste, so what do you mean by suitable or not?
“I, the cook, have prepared an elaborate soup. Please, help yourself.”
Still, I can’t just get angry and leave. This is Gungrave’s request, after all.
This soup is a potage that I made when I first came to this world.
“I don’t want it! Get out!”
This person is really irritating… She refuses to accept the food I’m trying to hand over, waving her hand as if to brush it away.
What if she spills it, for goodness sake!
“For now, please eat. I hear you haven’t eaten for days. There’s a limit to how long you can go on just water.”
“Silence, lowborn! Don’t speak to me as if you understand civilization, you invader! You’ve probably put poison in that food!”
This is hopeless… What should I do? Is she suffering from hysteria or something?
There’s no psychiatry in this world, so I can’t say for sure. And I don’t have that knowledge to make a judgment anyway.
However, I’m quite annoyed now.
“I don’t particularly care if you eat or not. But it’s a problem if you continue to be selfish like this, and it would be troublesome if you died, that’s why I’m saying this.”
“What’s with that way of speaking! I am Lenha Sounité, the legal wife of the Sounité lord!”
“But right now, you’re just a criminal.”
Oops, maybe I went a bit too far. But I couldn’t help saying it.
When someone who makes cooking their job is accused of putting poison in the food, it’s the lowest thing you can say, and I couldn’t control my emotions.
Feeling the tension in my temples and between my eyebrows, I look straight at Lenha.
The fear from earlier is gone. Now, only anger at having my cooking insulted dominates me.
“Don’t be ridiculous! What have I done, what crime have I committed! You should know your limits with these false accusations!”
“You planted utensils that would poison your husband, and tried to run away when things got bad. Any way you look at it, that’s what a criminal does.”
Anyone who says they’re innocent in this situation must have nerves as thick as a Yakusugi cedar… It’s admirable in a way. Though I don’t want to emulate it.
But I’ve done what I came to do, so shall I go back?
“Wait, where are you going?”
“I’m going back. If you’re not going to eat, there’s no point in me being here.”
“What are you going to do about my meal!”
“I’ll leave it to the person in charge.”
I can’t deal with this anymore. My head hurts from her shrieking voice. I’m the one who’s going to have a nervous breakdown at this rate!
…But I can’t just say that, can I?
“That was a joke.”
If possible, I want to fulfill Gungrave’s request. I owe him more favors than I can ever repay.
I face Lenha again.
“So, what kind of meal would you be willing to eat?”
“Ha! I won’t put your cooking in my mouth! There’s no way I’d want to eat it!”
“Hmm… Putting aside your pride and status, isn’t there something you’d like to eat?”
Yes, Lenha might be being stubborn.
A former person of power, imprisoned as a criminal, chained in an underground prison.
I think she’s desperately trying not to break her pride.
But that’s not the way to live in the present. That’s not okay.
At the very least, she needs to eat.
“You… What are you planning?”
Lenha seems to be taken aback by this approach, her expression surprised.
Yeah, maybe this was unexpected. Maybe the people before now didn’t try to see things from her perspective, just looking down on her as a criminal.
I try to speak calmly and gently.
“Simply put, there’s a limit to how long we can keep butting heads. Don’t you also want to break this stalemate? I think it wouldn’t be bad to fill your stomach, just in case.”
Yeah, this is more like me.
Rather than being influenced by her angry words, it’s better to dodge them and get closer.
Cooking should be able to satisfy not just the stomach, but also the heart.
It’s better this way than getting irritated.
“Hmm, very well. I can see that your stubbornness is indeed unbreakable.
So, I’ll give you one path.”
Lenha smiles as she speaks to me.
Her eyes seem cold to me, looking down on people, with a cold smile.
“Bring me a luxurious meat dish. If it suits my palate, that is.”
Hmm…
“A meat dish?”
“That’s right. Let’s see how far someone of your lowly status can go.”
A meat dish, huh? Well, this is troublesome.
No, what’s troublesome isn’t the meat or the cooking.
What’s troublesome is the difference in values.
I’m from a commoner background, so to me, a luxurious meat dish would be anything over 2000 yen.
But Lenha is nobility. In other words, by Earth standards, she’s rich.
To use an analogy, she’s the kind of person who would have a vacation home in a resort area and enjoy a languid afternoon tea. Our values are different.
So I need to choose a dish based on the values of nobility, the values of the rich on Earth.
Hmm, in that case, the first thing that comes to mind is!
“Alright, I’ll bring you something exceptional!”
Steak, of course!
So, I think I’ll make a steak.
I immediately return to the kitchen and ask Gungrave, who was waiting there.
“So, Gungrave, I need some good meat.”
“You, you actually managed to get a concession from that person…”
When I explain what happened, Gungrave looks at me with a stunned expression.
Hey, did you not trust me even though you asked me yourself?
Well, I understand wanting to think that way when dealing with such a hysterical person, but still…
“Well, when anyone gets hungry enough, they can’t afford to be stubborn.”
“That’s a scary thing to say.”
It’s a kind of truth. As living beings, it’s something we can’t avoid.
“So, Gungrave. What about the meat?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll get you something good.”
“Thank you.”
And what’s prepared is beef fillet. Indeed, this is a good cut.
However, in this world, there aren’t many cows raised with the assumption of being eaten. They’re all limited to helping with farm work as livestock or for milking. I think only Nouviche raises cows with the premise of eating them. Or is that not the case?
So, even if it’s called fillet, it’s a bit tough because it’s from an old cow that has done farm work.
Moreover, this is what’s called a filet mignon, a small cut of the fillet.
Was there not much quantity?
“Hey, are you really going to make grilled beef with this?”
“Gungrave. It’s steak.”
“Oh, right. It is steak indeed.”
Hm? Do they have steak here too? If the name is the same, does that mean it’s the same dish?
Well, I guess so. In any world, there’s probably grilled meat. Maybe the name just happens to be the same.
“But I rarely hear of beef steak.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. Cows are mainly for farm work or dairy, right? You know that.”
“Yes, of course.”
“So there’s little beef raised just for meat. You know that too, right?”
“Yes. I heard all about it from Garn.”
Since coming to this world, I’ve been trying to learn about the common sense and knowledge of this world by talking to various people about various things.
Because of that, I seem to be treated as a bit of an oddball. That’s rude, I’m a normal person.
Just from another world.
“So, you see. There aren’t many lords or royalty who serve beef. So we don’t hear much about it. Even this good cut we’ve prepared is from a cow that’s just a step away from being retired. Can you make a good steak with this?”
“Hmm”
I take a small piece and nibble on it.
Indeed, it’s a bit tough for a fillet?
But the taste isn’t a problem.
“It’s not a problem. It is a bit tough, but…”
“No, it is a problem. If you grill tough meat, it’ll be even tougher.”
“That’s what cooking is for – to overcome such challenges.”
I have a secret weapon this time.
Ignoring Gungrave’s puzzled face, I call out to Garn.
For this dish, I had asked Garn for a favor.
When I told him that if this goes well, we could change Lenha’s evaluation, he put his all into it. I guess Garn was really frustrated. That’s why he put so much effort into this request.
“Garn, is the onion ready?”
“Yeah, it’s ready…”
Garn has prepared a bowl full of grated onion.
But his eyes are bright red and he’s crying. Don’t tell me…
“Ah! I told you not to rub your eyes with hands that have cut onions!”
“Sorry, I forgot…”
Oh boy… It seems his enthusiasm made him forget the warning about onions.
Really, he’s such a handful.
“Put an ice pack on your eyes. It’ll make you feel better.”
“Got it…”
“Now then, we’ve got garlic prepared too, so let’s start.”
When people imagine a somewhat fancy steak, they probably think of something tender and juicy.
So, let’s make something close to that.
First, I thoroughly rub the grated garlic and onion into the fillet. This not only adds flavor but also makes the meat very tender due to the enzymes in the onion.
Then I grind some pepper over it with that grinder thing and knead it in well.
Now we let it sit for a while.
“Shall we make the sauce?”
“Hey, aren’t you going to salt it? Even I know that much.”
“Indeed, that’s necessary, but it’s done right before grilling.”
Pepper is just for removing odors, and salt must be sprinkled right before grilling.
Pepper must be sprinkled at least fifteen minutes before grilling to allow time for it to remove odors, and especially with salt, if you sprinkle it too early, the meat juices will flow out and the meat will become dry. I made this mistake in the past and had a hard time eating it.
Also, it’s no good to sprinkle salt while grilling. The salt won’t blend with the meat and the salty taste will be too sharp. I made this mistake too. Steak isn’t just about grilling.
So, we won’t do it now. Let’s make the sauce first. We’ll make it while the onion and garlic are blending with the meat.
“Garn, I’m going to use that red wine you’ve been hiding.”
“Eh?!”
I know, you know. Even though your alcoholism isn’t cured yet, you’re hiding a lot of alcohol, and I know where you’re hiding it.
Leaving the dumbfounded Garn alone, I start making the sauce.
In a prepared dish, I put half grated onion and minced onion, finely minced garlic and four slices of sliced garlic. Also needed are fish sauce with the smell removed and butter. Olive oil would be perfect, but since we don’t have any, we’ll compromise this time. I hope to set up production someday.
Now that all the ingredients are ready, I put the pot on the fire and heat it up.
“…This sure takes a lot of effort. Even though it’s just grilling.”
“It may look like just grilling, but it requires the cook’s dedication, effort, and ingenuity.”
I understand Gungrave’s complaint, though. In the beginning, besides the failures I mentioned earlier, I once grilled something that was just thawed from the freezer.
When you take it out of the freezer, you need to bring it to room temperature. Isn’t that the same as thawing? You might think, but there are various ways to thaw.
Usually, people use running water thawing. Running water thawing is when you put the packed frozen beef in a bowl filled with water to thaw. If the meat is thick, you might let the water overflow little by little.
What’s not good is forced thawing and microwave thawing.
Forced thawing is, as the name suggests, raising the temperature at once to thaw, but if you do this, a large amount of meat juice, which is the umami, will flow out, so you shouldn’t do it. You might also end up with the disappointing phenomenon where the surface is melted but the center is still frozen.
I said microwave thawing is no good, but this varies. If it’s a high-end microwave with good performance, there are some excellent ones, but thawing with a simple type of microwave is just weak heating. If you’re going to do it, buy a good one.
And so on, there are many ways to thaw. This time we’re grilling from room temperature, though.
Now, the pot has heated up, so let’s put in some oil and start grilling.
I lightly sprinkle salt on the steak that has been blended with pepper, onion, and garlic, let it blend, and put it in the pot. Even at this point, there’s a knack to the heat control.
Some people grill slowly on low heat, but here we’ll grill on high heat. High heat where smoke is billowing from the pot. Don’t be afraid.
Also, you must absolutely not touch the meat while it’s grilling. Some people often press it down, but resist the urge. The more you resist, the more delicious it will be.
After grilling on high heat for a while, flip it when meat juices start to appear.
Now, let’s do a flambé.
“Garn, your red wine will make this meat superb.”
I pour in two tablespoons of red wine and let the flames rise.
“Hey! Are you trying to start a fire?! Someone get water!”
“Adra, I’ll be angry if you do that.”
I calm Adra’s commotion with one word and calmly put on the lid.
“There, that’s good.”
“Is it really okay?”
“This is how it should be.”
I calmly respond to Gungrave’s anxious voice.
Hmm, I wonder if they don’t have the flambé technique in this world? No, no, surely they must.
After confirming that the flambé fire has gone out, I take it out of the pot and plate it.
Now, let’s make the sauce using the remaining fat.
Add garlic to bring out the aroma, then add onions and sauté.
Once it’s cooked, add red wine, boil it to let the alcohol evaporate, add the fish sauce with the smell removed, and melt in some butter. This completes it.
I transfer the sauce to a separate container from the plated steak, and it’s done!
Hmm, it turned out well. The aroma is good, and it looks sharp. Perfect.
“Well, shall we take it to her?”
“Wait.”
As I was about to take it, Gungrave grabbed my shoulder. What’s the matter?
“Let me taste it a bit.”
“Huh? That’s out of the question.”
It’s a filet mignon, so there’s not much quantity. If we divide it, there won’t be enough for Lenha.
However, Gungrave just smiles and doesn’t try to understand. Instead, he gradually closes in.
Stop it, no matter how much you press me, I can’t give you any.
“Just a little bit… okay?”
“What’s with you suddenly… I’ll make some more later, so please wait until then.”
“After making such a delicious smell and sound, it’s cruel to make me wait!”
“The person trying to take someone else’s meal is crueler.”
“I came because I smelled something delicious!”
Bang! Princess Tevis bursts into the kitchen. Eutine is with her.
Hey, what happened to your meeting? Don’t you have work to do? I’m sure I heard that.
As I stand there dumbfounded, Princess Tevis strides into the kitchen triumphantly.
By the way, Eutine follows with a resigned look on her face. Don’t give up, Eutine.
“Oh! Shuri, could that be a steak made with alcohol burning? As expected of Shuri, to even know the latest technique of our country!”
“Ah, Princess Tevis.”
“Now, let’s go to the dining hall right away! Let me taste that masterpiece steak!”
“No, this is for Lenha.”
“What a delicious smell! It even reached the training grounds!”
“That’s a fine smell. Is today’s dinner going to be luxurious?”
What, Kuuga and Tegue too? Even these two came?
“What a nice aroma… It’s making me hungry.”
Even Arius?
“…”
Ah, Lill is in the shadow of the door!
“Shuri, there was an unusually good smell and sound, what’s going on?”
Even Aeclys boldly joins in!
“The smell is making my stomach growl after work… What an irresistible aroma.”
Huh? Gyngus too?!
“Oh, is that tonight’s dinner? Shuri, what is that?”
“Well, Gyngus. This is…”
“Wait, Gyngus. I get to taste it first. It’s a new steak dish.”
“Hey, that’s not fair, Gungrave!”
“That’s right! We’re tired from training here!”
“Wait a moment. The magic unit is tired too. We should go first.”
“…Inspiration for a new invention.”
“Lill can have hamburger steak, right? I should go first.”
“Hold on. If we’re talking about that, Aeclys can have karaage! The one with the most refined palate, me, should go first!”
“Oh no, oh no, oh no…”
What is this? The magic of the steak has spread!
While dealing with this, the meat should have rested nicely.
In the case of steak, it’s not always best when it’s freshly made. You need to let it rest a bit and let the meat juices that have gathered in the center spread throughout.
Well, let’s go while leaving these people behind.
I quietly slip out of the kitchen with the steak in hand, trying not to be noticed by the people causing the commotion.
I can’t deal with this.
Now, to the underground prison. I’m carrying the steak and sauce covered with a clean cloth to keep dust out.
Probably by now, the undead (the captains and others) are wandering above ground, seeking meat. When I get back, maybe I’ll make steak in the shape of a cross.
But… while I made this in a pot this time, it would really be more delicious if made in a frying pan.
I’ve been struggling without a frying pan until now. When I get back, I’ll place an order for a frying pan with Lill. She should be happy to cooperate since hamburger steak will be more delicious too.
“The smell is coming from here!”
“Ah, Shuri. So you were here.”
Oh no, I’ve been found!
Princess Tevis and Aeclys have caught up.
“Just kidding. Shuri, that’s the meal for Lenha we’ve heard about, right?”
“We have business with the lady too.”
“Huh? Business?”
“That’s right. I wanted to talk to her.”
“I’m just accompanying her.”
Hmm, what could this be about? Neither of them looks suspicious… I don’t have enough information to refuse.
“Well, I don’t mind. As long as you don’t try to steal the steak.”
“I won’t promise, but I’ll do my best.”
“I won’t guarantee it, but I understand, Shuri.”
What? Does that mean there’s no promise and no trust? How am I supposed to judge this?
Feeling uneasy, the three of us descend the stairs towards the underground prison.
“By the way, Shuri. The technique you used when grilling the meat earlier. Was that alcohol burning?”
“Alcohol burning?”
“The technique where you added red wine and sealed in the aroma.”
“Ah, you mean flambé.”
Alcohol burning, huh. That’s quite literal.
“Did you learn that from someone?”
“Well, mostly self-taught.”
The internet is really convenient, isn’t it? Back when I was on Earth, there were things I couldn’t understand just from cookbooks, but the internet taught me.
Flambé was the one thing I really couldn’t figure out. The knack, the amount to use, and so on. I looked everything up and practiced.
When doing it at home, please be really careful. It’s much more intense than what you see on TV, and it burns more than you’d expect.
“That’s amazing! In my country, it’s a technique that has only recently been developed and is just starting to be researched.”
“Is alcohol burning that amazing, Princess Tevis?”
Aeclys asks curiously.
“Indeed, the technique Shuri used involves dropping high-proof alcohol into the pan and instantly evaporating the alcohol.
It’s used as a final touch, and if done by someone with skilled craftsmanship, it can add a wonderful aroma.
As I said earlier, it’s a technique that has only recently emerged in my country, Nouviche, and there’s still room for refinement. I tasted a steak made by the first person to do it, and it had an indescribably wonderful aroma.
You could tell even from far away, couldn’t you, Aeclys?”
“Ah… So that’s why we could smell such a good aroma from far away.”
Is it really that impressive?
I mean, of course this steak is successful, so even I can tell it smells good, but still.
“Well, to think that such wonderful cuisine will first be tasted by that woman. It’s really something.”
Tevis sighs dramatically.
“A wonderful new technique, a new sauce, and a new steak. Any of these would be most fitting for me to taste first. Even I was captivated by the smell.”
“Um… being praised that much makes me a bit uncomfortable.”
This excessive praise is… well, it’s the opposite of when I first brought food to Lenha, but it’s equally unbearable.
As I smile wryly, a coughing voice comes from the back.
“Hmph, can’t those of lowly birth even bring food to nobility quietly?”
A voice echoes from the depths of the underground prison. It seems we’ve reached the lowest level without realizing it, and Lenha is glaring at us with an unhappy face.
Oh dear… we were a bit too noisy, weren’t we?
“Lowly, you say, Lenha. Even though someone connected to the Nouviche royal family is here.”
“! …So Princess Tevis is here too.”
“It’s been a while, Lenha.”
“For me, it feels like just yesterday! Have you come to mock me?! You too, Aeclys!”
“My lady, I have no such intention.”
This is bad, Lenha’s unhappiness meter seems about to break.
While Tevis and Aeclys remain calm, Lenha’s anger seems to be growing proportionally.
“So? Has that cook brought something suitable for my palate?”
“Yes, it’s a special dish.”
“Hmph, a mere cook from some mercenary group. There’s no way you could make something suitable for my palate.”
“No, this steak is worthy of you.”
I place the steak plate in front of Lenha, remove the cloth, and pour the sauce over it.
Immediately, a good aroma spreads.
“Red wine sauce steak, prepared with a red wine flambé.”
I announce, trying to sound a bit cool.
“What… is this aroma? The rich scent of meat and sauce fills the entire dungeon…!”
Oh, Lenha’s face has finally softened.
“What… what did you do to this dish?!”
“What do you mean, ‘what’? I just cooked it…”
“Don’t lie! There’s no way a steak could emit such an excessively rich aroma of flavor! What magic did you use?!”
“Hmm, if it’s a trap by magic, I’ll taste it first.”
Before I can stop her, Princess Tevis snatches the fork and knife from my hand, sits down in front of the steak plate placed on the ground, and reaches for the dish.
“Don’t worry, Eutine. Stay in the shadows.”
Huh? I think, as Princess Tevis elegantly brings a piece of steak to her mouth.
A smile spreads across her face.
“Ah, wonderful. The tenderness of the meat is far beyond what I know, almost soft enough to cut with my lips. Yet it retains the original texture of the meat, and with each bite, a wonderful aroma spreads.
The scent of the meat, the aroma of the sauce, and the flavor added by the alcohol burning harmonize, creating an indescribable pleasure that fills my mouth. This subtle aroma couldn’t be achieved without the alcohol burning, and without the skilled craftsmanship of the alcohol burning technique. It spreads through the mouth and nose, ah, it’s wonderful.
The taste is excellent too, of course. The new technique of combining garlic, onion, red wine, and fish sauce with the fat left after grilling the meat. The meat, perfectly and correctly cooked, brings out a good flavor with this sauce. The use of salt is neither too sharp nor too weak, but just right. The smell-removing effect of the pepper has eliminated the gaminess of the meat.
Each and every aspect – the new technique, the new sauce, and the perfect cooking and calculation – represents the completed form of the conventional steak cooking method. It may be hundreds of years before something surpassing this appears.”
Wow, Princess Tevis’s explanation is amazing…
Both Aeclys and Lenha look like they’re about to swallow their saliva.
Now, I place the steak in front of Lenha again, wiping the fork and knife with the cloth that was covering it and setting them beside the plate.
Princess Tevis has a satisfied look on her face.
“Well, I apologize for using the knife and fork first.
However, even I couldn’t resist. What do you think? Why don’t you try it?”
Lenha cautiously picks up the fork and knife and puts a piece of steak in her mouth.
“…”
Lenha stops with a look of astonishment on her face.
“I see, indeed this is a steak worthy of me, no, perhaps even beyond me.”
Lenha puts down her fork and knife with a clink and looks straight at Princess Tevis.
The hatred from earlier is gone from her face. It’s as if she’s trying to discern something.
“I see, Princess Tevis. Is this why you went to such lengths, even risking yourself, to obtain this person?”
Eh?
“Shuri. I and Aeclys have a bit more to discuss with this person. Could you go back ahead of us?”
“Huh?”
Both Princess Tevis and Aeclys have serious expressions on their faces.
It seems this is beyond my realm of understanding.
I don’t know what’s going on between these three, but I guess I should quietly withdraw.
“I understand.”
With just a word of acknowledgment, I decided to return to wash the dishes.
The next day, I received a report from Aeclys that Lenha had quietly accepted her crimes.
I wonder what they talked about…
Gungrave also said that if she’s quietly accepting her crimes, he’ll settle for exile to the frontier and banishment.
It feels like there might have been some behind-the-scenes deal… I’ll just stay out of it.
Check out my Patreon for early access to upcoming updates. Patreon Link
<< Table of Contents >>