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CHAPTER 08………………………..
“……That’s not what I meant.”
“That’s not what you meant.”
I agreed.
“But I know you don’t trust me.”
Calios looked briefly caught off guard.
I let out a small laugh and began cooking the samgyetang.
It didn’t take long.
All I had to do was place the pre-boiled chicken into the pot, pour in the broth, and let it simmer.
Soon, a rich aroma spread throughout the kitchen.
My mouth watered instantly.
It was my first time eating proper food since coming to this world.
Sharing it with Calios was a bit of a loss—but considering he was finally learning my cooking skills, it wasn’t really a disadvantage.
I hummed while transferring the finished samgyetang into bowls.
The rich scent of chicken broth rose gently into the air.
“Ta-da.”
I placed a chicken leg and two ladles of soup into a small bowl and handed it to Calios, then began eating the rest enthusiastically.
‘It’s so good…!’
I closed my eyes for a moment, savoring the rich broth.
The chicken was so tender it melted in my mouth.
And the rice soaked in the soup…
I focused entirely on eating, not wasting a single drop.
Naturally, my bowl was emptied in no time—just like the Emperor’s earlier.
‘It’s too good…’
I felt like I might cry.
It was unfair that I had gone so long without eating something like this.
‘Did Calios finish his too?’
I smiled and looked up—then froze.
I couldn’t believe it.
The bowl I gave Calios remained untouched. Not even a single spoonful had been taken.
‘Is it too unfamiliar? No… the Emperor ate it just fine.’
While I was confused, Calios spoke calmly.
“Now that the meal is over, there’s something you should know.”
“…What is it?”
“Your family has already started making suspicious moves. Be careful.”
That was unexpected.
I hadn’t really worried about Adelheid’s family. After all, they couldn’t just drag away the Emperor’s personal chef.
But something else bothered me more.
Calios hadn’t touched the samgyetang at all—he was still clearly wary of me.
And yet he was warning me like this?
He was a man I couldn’t understand.
“You’re quite kind.”
At my words, he looked flustered.
“No, I’m not—”
His eyes drifted to the soup.
“I just repaid you for a good meal.”
“Huh? You didn’t even eat it.”
“……”
He quickly picked up the spoon as if realizing his mistake.
My heart started pounding.
How would this cold, stone-faced man react to my samgyetang?
“So, how is it?”
“It’s good.”
“….”
His tone was flat, emotionless.
In other words—he did not sound like someone enjoying it.
As someone who had run a restaurant before, I could tell immediately.
He took another spoonful.
“It’s good.”
Again. Mechanical.
“Are you sure?”
He glanced at me and nodded.
I swallowed my comment that he didn’t seem to be enjoying it.
Pressuring someone who was clearly just being polite felt wrong.
Instead, I took the bowl away from him.
“You’re full anyway. Don’t eat more. I’ll finish it.”
“I could still eat it.”
He muttered in dissatisfaction, but I noticed the faint relief on his face.
‘He definitely doesn’t like it.’
Was I disappointed?
Of course.
But I wasn’t discouraged.
Instead, a strange competitive spirit rose in me.
No one had ever disliked my food before.
Even picky children had happily eaten dishes made with ingredients like cucumber.
‘So there are picky eaters here too.’
Calios was a prince. He must have grown up eating fine, luxurious food.
Of course his palate would be refined.
‘I thought he would love it… but I was wrong.’
I stared at his still-pouting face.
Next time, I’ll make a dish that even Calios will have to give a thumbs-up to.
The Next Morning
I woke up at dawn and rushed to the library.
I planned to serve appetizers that matched samgyetang with Korean-style dishes—but dessert was another matter.
If I chose something too unfamiliar, it could backfire badly.
I shook my head, remembering Calios’ reaction.
The Emperor had ordered samgyetang, so that couldn’t be changed—but dessert needed to be something familiar to this world.
‘Should I ask another royal chef?’
But waking someone at dawn wasn’t an option.
And Calios’ warning still echoed in my mind.
“Your family has already started making suspicious moves. Be careful.”
If Adelheid’s father truly was as powerful as a mid-boss, setting traps would be easy.
In the end, I could only trust myself in this vast palace.
Well… maybe Calios too, for now.
But even him, I couldn’t fully trust.
His loyalty to his father was real—but his goodwill toward me might not last.
Fortunately, the library was already open.
A sleepy librarian greeted me.
I showed my royal chef identification and headed to the shelves.
No, not the cooking section.
I went straight to the corner filled with newspapers.
Soon—
‘Found it!’
It took some digging through piles of daily papers, but I eventually found what I was looking for.
The Imperial Daily.
Most of it was propaganda and imperial news, but it also contained what I needed.
Banquet reports.
‘This is it.’
Books wouldn’t give me real details.
I needed to know what imperial banquets were like before the Emperor fell ill.
Those banquets would have reflected his personal tastes.
Then I found something interesting.
The Emperor had always preferred new and diverse cuisine.
He especially loved exotic dishes, to the point that most banquet menus contained foods I couldn’t even recognize.
‘So that’s why he liked samgyetang.’
I frowned.
But would other nobles like it too?
Judging from Calios’ reaction, probably not.
Still, the Emperor had already ordered samgyetang—now called “Royal Chicken Soup”—as the centerpiece.
There was no turning back.
So I had to find out what foods were popular in this empire.
Hours later, I returned home exhausted, carrying stacks of newspaper clippings.
‘I should make abalone butter grill when I get back.’
Maybe being transported into this world and becoming a royal chef instead of being cast out as a noble lady wasn’t so bad after all.
At least I could cook whatever I wanted.
Fresh, large abalones, scored and coated with butter, baked in the oven…
Just imagining the rich, savory taste made my mouth water.
“…Adelheid?”
I frowned.
I looked up.
A group of nobles was staring at me, but I couldn’t tell who had called my name.
