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Chapter 24
Outside, thunder rumbled relentlessly.
No matter how fierce a thunderstorm might be, it usually eases off eventually—but this had been going on for an hour.
Strikingly, the lightning seemed to be targeting only the castle grounds. The gardens and the backyards were almost completely devastated.
Even the flower beds that Olivia tended as a hobby were ruined by trees toppled from lightning strikes.
Amid all this chaos, I was frying potato pancakes.
Sizzle, crackle.
The sound of oil popping filled the air along with a savory aroma.
“You’re using quite a bit of oil,” Chef Vilt commented, jotting something down.
Although I had unexpectedly taken over the stove, he didn’t seem the least bit upset.
Olivia had mentioned that he was not only a capable chef but also a culinary researcher. He seemed more curious about new dishes than concerned about pride.
Well, potato pancakes probably didn’t exist in this world, so it made sense that he was interested.
I flipped the pancakes and replied,
“Yes. I usually prefer fried pancakes rather than the ordinary kind.”
“Fried pancakes? I think I understand the concept of ‘pancake’ now… but fried pancakes?”
“They’re fried in plenty of oil, so the edges get extra crispy.”
“Hmm…”
Vilt busily took notes.
I noticed Calib peeking curiously from his makeshift table in the kitchen corner.
It seemed the new term, ‘fried pancakes,’ had piqued his interest as well.
I stacked a few of the finished potato pancakes and brought them to the table where Cedric and Calib were waiting.
“Oh?”
Calib’s eyes widened as he saw the steaming pancakes.
“They look just like mashed-up French fries!”
“Yeah, that’s right. Back at the cabin, I used to mash the potatoes, but this time I tried something a little different.”
Instead of mashing, I julienned the potatoes.
As Calib had said, it looked like clumped-together French fries.
The reason for this method was simple.
There was ketchup in this world even if there was no soy sauce.
But maybe it seemed unfamiliar because he wasn’t used to it.
Even in front of the highly anticipated potato pancakes, Calib hesitated to pick up his fork.
Cedric did the same, just observing.
“Huh, quite an interesting presentation.”
He examined the pancakes with a very serious expression, as if unsure how to eat them.
Wait a second. Could it be…
I quickly looked at Calib.
As expected, he too seemed unsure how to eat them, clattering his fork nervously.
Back at the cabin, he had eaten freely, tearing the pancakes apart as he liked.
There, no one was watching, so it was fine—but here was the Grand Ducal Castle.
Cedric and even Chef Vilt were watching him.
“Shall I cut them for you?”
“Uh… okay?”
“Potato pancakes are fine to tear apart freely, but these are harder to do that with.”
It was a little hard to explain, but like buying chive pancakes from a shop—they’re often cut into squares.
“How should I cut them?”
Quick-witted Vilt hurriedly grabbed a knife.
“Just into squares, bite-sized pieces. It’s not exactly a refined dish.”
I shrugged, as if to say, “I’m just a commoner who made these.”
Yet, perhaps because he was experiencing a new dish thanks to me, Vilt didn’t seem to mind my social status.
With a very serious expression, he cut the pancakes into neat squares.
“I preserved the edges to keep them crispy, as you said that’s their main appeal,” Vilt said proudly.
“You really have a good sense for this,” I complimented, and he proudly placed a hand on his chest.
I moved two edge pieces and four center squares onto Calib’s plate.
“Here, try it.”
“Thanks, Elia,” Calib said brightly.
He immediately poked a piece with his fork.
“Ooh, ooh.”
Blowing on it to cool it down, Calib eagerly nibbled the pancake, looking completely delighted.
How could he eat so neatly?
I watched him happily nibble the long, crispy edges like a little rabbit eating hay.
Vilt, who had been observing Calib’s childish delight, quickly recovered his composure.
“Please, Cedric.”
He placed the pancakes on Cedric’s plate exactly as I had arranged them for Calib.
“Hmm…”
Cedric studied the greasy pancakes with a subtle, unreadable expression.
Honestly, I believe the smell of a potato pancake is 60% of its appeal. The savory, oily aroma whets the appetite—but the problem was Cedric had lost his sense of smell.
And his taste too, so to him, potato pancakes were just something fried in oil—nothing more, nothing less.
What a shame. I wished he could taste them.
While I was thinking this, Calib suddenly exclaimed,
“Wow, Elia! I really like this too!”
“Really? I’m glad.”
“Yeah, the ones at the cabin were chewy, which I liked, but these… really feel like French fries.”
He said this with sparkling eyes, asking for more.
I wiped the oil from his lips and placed another pancake on his plate.
Cedric watched Calib eat with such enjoyment for a long time, then picked up his fork.
Unlike Calib, he cut the long edges into bite-sized pieces.
He didn’t even use ketchup, eating it as-is.
Since he couldn’t taste it anyway, sauce was unnecessary.
Then suddenly…
“…ugh!”
Cedric clutched his mouth and slumped forward.
“Huh?”
I froze mid-bite, hair tucked behind my ear, watching him in surprise.
“Cedric?”
“Brother?”
Vilt and Calib were equally startled.
“Ugh…”
Cedric gagged as if he had eaten something revolting.
For a moment, it felt as though the warm kitchen air had turned icy.
“C-could it be poison…!”
As Vilt instinctively stepped back, Calib shot him a sharp glare.
“That’s ridiculous! I’m perfectly fine!”
He reacted defensively, worried I might be falsely accused.
Olivia, quietly waiting in the background, shouted urgently,
“I’ll fetch a doctor!”
“And everyone else, stay put in the kitchen, just in case!” Vilt quickly ordered.
Then Cedric lifted his hand off the table.
The chaotic kitchen fell completely silent.
Through the stillness, the only sound was crisp, crisp, crisp…
Cedric chewing the potato pancake.
Finally, he slowly raised his bowed head.
“…Phew. Vilt, could I have a glass of water?”
“W-water?”
“Yes.”
Vilt quickly fetched a glass of water.
I watched Cedric, still frozen, drink with his throat audibly swallowing.
The very cause of all the commotion calmly picked up another piece of pancake with his fork.
And this time, he dipped it in ketchup before eating.
“Cedric…!”
Vilt’s eyes widened as he watched Cedric eat.
The same man who had just gagged as if poisoned was now eating casually.
Both Calib and I were dumbfounded.
Cedric finished all the pancakes on the plate Vilt had arranged.
“…Ha.”
He let out an unreadable chuckle.
Then his calm, hydrangea-colored eyes turned toward me.
I froze in a different way, unable to move, staring back.
Cedric said,
“Elia.”
“Y-yes… um?”
I was so surprised my voice jumped. I quickly tried to regain my composure, but froze again.
“…Huh.”
Calib, with wide, astonished eyes, also gasped.
Because Cedric—yes, Cedric—was smiling brightly!
His usual hydrangea-colored eyes were crescent-shaped from the grin.
His normally stern lips curved into a gentle smile, radiating the peaceful atmosphere of a sunny afternoon after the rain.
He looked so harmless and cheerful, it was hard to believe it was the same person.
And he was looking at me!
Thump.
Huh?
Startled, I felt my chest flutter as I looked at Cedric’s radiant smile.
But my heart was strangely calm.
What just happened?
I tilted my head in confusion, still watching Cedric’s absurdly bright smile.
He spoke:
“I could taste the oil.”
“Uh… yes?”
Cedric stood and approached me.
“And the potato, and the pepper and salt inside.”
He stood before me, smiling happily again.
“And the ketchup… I could taste it too. It has flavor, Elia!”
Cedric hugged me tightly, like someone overjoyed by the best news ever.
“Uh… ah…”
I didn’t immediately understand, blinking in bewilderment.
“It has flavor, I can taste it!”
He even claimed he could smell it now, lifting me off the ground in excitement.
“C-Cedric!”
I held onto his shoulders in surprise, and he looked at me with that smooth, joyful smile.
No exaggeration—his eyes seemed to drip honey as he looked at me.
It wasn’t just my imagination; I could hear Olivia sighing in admiration from behind.
“What’s going on…?”
