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Chapter 30
“Haha. I just got here, so there’s a lot to learn, and I keep getting lost.”
When I gave an awkward excuse, Hatsen immediately relaxed his expression.
“That makes sense. Even just walking one lap around Bloody Mary Castle takes half a day.”
“You believe me?”
“Skilled people don’t lie.”
It would have been natural to suspect a maid wandering around freely, but he believed me without showing any doubt. It seemed he really liked my cooking.
“That yakgwa you made yesterday—the pastry.”
“Yes. The one you said you didn’t like, Chef.”
When I deliberately brought up yesterday’s incident, Hatsen coughed loudly.
“When did I ever say I didn’t like it? Ahem!”
“I’ll assume you did like it.”
“More importantly, look at this.”
Hatsen quickly changed the subject and brought out a container. When he opened the lid, a sweet scent filled the air. It was familiar.
“Is this the syrup I made? The one brushed over the yakgwa?”
“Yes. It’s your syrup, and I put that yakgwa inside it.”
Several pieces of yakgwa were soaking in the rich brown syrup.
“Oh? You soaked them in here?”
“As I kept eating, it felt like the sweetness was lacking, so I tried this.”
When I took one out, the lightly brown yakgwa had absorbed the dark maple syrup and turned into a deeper earthy color. I looked at Hatsen in surprise.
“This is called the jupcheong process. How did you know?”
“Jupcheong? I’ve never heard that before.”
“You did it without knowing? It’s the process of letting the syrup soak deep into the yakgwa.”
In traditional yakgwa, it’s practically essential.
“I didn’t know. It was more like cooking research. There was a lot of syrup left, and it felt wasteful.”
At that, I broke a piece of yakgwa in half. Syrup, fully absorbed into the inside, dripped out stickily.
“You figured this out immediately even though it’s your first time seeing yakgwa. Chef Hatsen, are you a genius?”
This technique had been developed centuries ago through repeated experimentation by royal court chefs. And Hatsen figured it out on his own. I gave him a thumbs-up.
“…A genius?”
“Yes. Look at this. If discovering this recipe instantly isn’t genius, then what is?”
As expected of the head chef of Bloody Mary—he really was different.
Without waiting for a reply, I pushed a perfectly made piece of yakgwa into Hatsen’s mouth. His expression clearly showed how impressed he was by the different texture and new flavor compared to yesterday.
“Alright then, shall we prepare breakfast?”
The maids who had been sneaking glances at us all nodded at my words.
Seeing their eyes full of expectation instantly chased away my remaining sleepiness.
I made stir-fried pork for breakfast.
The disappointing part was that there was no gochujang.
There were dried chili peppers in the storage room—I should make gochujang when I get the chance.
Thinking about it reminded me of the sauces I had aged for ten years back in my previous life. Ever since I got married, I had been regularly fermenting sauces in earthenware jars.
Suppressing my regret, I picked up the tray and quickly stepped outside the annex.
Since Getty had been leaving me alone, I had gained some freedom.
Even walking around like this, no one paid attention.
Maybe because I hadn’t actually married Dochef yet, or because Francesca hadn’t made any official announcement, no one recognized me.
At most, they just seemed curious about my ambiguous outfit that looked neither noble nor common.
“The weather is really nice today.”
Bathed in the warm sunlight, I walked lightly forward.
Going to the main building carried the risk of running into Helbern, but he hadn’t been seen for several days.
Thanks to that, I could comfortably head there.
“Where are you going?”
Well—that was true until just now.
Instead of Helbern, I ran into Francesca.
Wearing a black dress fastened neatly up to her neck, Francesca approached with flawless elegance despite the early morning hour.
After spending time casually chatting with the maids, my relaxed mindset instantly tightened with tension.
Right. It wasn’t only Helbern.
“Hello. Good morning.”
Still holding the tray, I bowed deeply.
I bent nearly ninety degrees, but Francesca’s expression didn’t look very pleased.
She must have heard that I refused etiquette lessons. Even though she had no choice but to bring me here, she might think a mere commoner was trying to enjoy privileges without effort.
“…Good morning. It’s been a while since I’ve heard that greeting.”
Contrary to my expectation of being scolded, Francesca’s expression softened slightly.
“You woke up early.”
“Huh? Yes. I had something to do.”
I couldn’t bring myself to say that I cooked because the nutritional meals didn’t appeal to me, so I answered vaguely.
Her gaze then moved to the tray in my hands.
“What is that?”
“It’s nutritious porridge.”
“Porridge?”
“It’s oatmeal with vegetables, meat, and medicinal ingredients—made easy to eat.”
Since there was no rice here, I soaked oatmeal to make porridge.
When I asked Hatsen about medicinal ingredients, he generously gave me some he had been saving.
“You made it yourself? This early in the morning?”
“Yes.”
“For whom?”
“For Young Master Dochef.”
At that answer, Francesca’s eyes grew complicated.
“After what happened, Dochef must be very exhausted.”
She spoke in a deeply subdued voice, likely recalling how he had been beaten by Nikolai.
If she knows that well, she could have at least sent a physician with tonic medicine.
It seemed she couldn’t because she had to watch Nikolai’s reaction.
This family really was complicated.
“May I take a look?”
“Oh—yes.”
She opened the lid of the bowl.
Steam rose softly, revealing the porridge.
Honestly, to someone seeing it for the first time, it looked strange. To noble eyes, it might look even worse.
Maybe she would flip the table like my mother-in-law once did, shouting, “You expect my son to eat something like this?!”
“It may not look great, but for someone who’s sick—”
“Thank you.”
Just as I hurried to add an explanation, Francesca gave a faint, bitter smile.
“…Pardon?”
Instead of scolding me, she thanked me.
Did she just say thank you?
While I stood frozen, she closed the lid and stepped back.
I quickly added one more thing.
“The Young Master has awakened.”
She probably already knew, but since it didn’t seem like she had visited him, I said it anyway.
“He’d be happy if you went in my place.”
I held out the tray. Francesca slowly turned her head.
“That is not your concern.”
Her face had turned cold again, just like when I first met her.
Despite her cold words, Francesca went to find Karl with a dark expression.
“Madam, did you visit the young master?”
Karl asked cautiously, his face filled with expectation.
But Francesca shook her head.
“Why didn’t you go? He must have been hoping to be congratulated.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Of course.”
Everyone knew that no one had waited more for his awakening than Francesca.
“That is only from my perspective.”
Of course, she desperately wanted to go congratulate him. But now that the miracle had actually happened, her steps wouldn’t move easily.
She lacked confidence.
She had always treated him harshly.
Whenever she saw him, she frowned first.
Now that he had awakened, she didn’t believe she could suddenly embrace him with warm words. And even if she tried to act friendly, Dochef wouldn’t accept it kindly.
He’d just think I’m being insincere and push me away.
Francesca regretted it.
For a long time, she had treated Dochef like a painful weakness.
Suppressing the bitterness in her chest, she spoke to Karl.
“Call the tailor.”
“Are you planning to make new clothes?”
Karl asked, but she shook her head.
“Not for me—for that child. The clothes she wore today looked shabby. Have new ones made.”
The clothes Halarah was wearing.
They looked uncomfortable and thin, letting in the wind and making the body cold.
Such clothing was not suitable for a pregnant woman.
Moreover, as the prospective daughter-in-law of Bloody Mary, wearing such clothes would disgrace the family.
“Yes, Madam. How many sets should be made?”
“Twenty should be enough.”
“Yes, Madam.”
“And tell the maid in charge to pay attention not only to her meals but also to her grooming. She shouldn’t be wandering around like that.”
Her bare face and uncombed hair had stood out.
“Yes, Madam. Also, there is something to report regarding Young Master Helbern.”
“Let’s go inside first.”
Karl acknowledged and walked with her through the lobby.
