Chapter 123
“I’m going to make mushroom soup. Ah, could you take out a coquo as well?”
“Y-yes.”
One of the healers handed me the iron supplement. I was about to prepare the ingredients while waiting for the water and coquo to boil in the pot.
“I’ll do it.”
“Huh? No, I can…….”
Before I could finish, Isaac said, “Would you please step aside.” Though it was phrased as a request, his sudden approach left me no choice but to move.
He had even removed his gloves, having washed his hands. It was quite a rare sight. Except for when receiving mana from me, he always wore his gloves.
“The knife as well, please.”
“Oh? Here.”
Before I knew it, I had handed over the kitchen knife, and Isaac began preparing the ingredients with swift movements. The rhythmic sound of the blade hitting the cutting board echoed steadily.
Such quick and precise knife work. Even though knights handle swords, I hadn’t expected such skill with a kitchen knife.
The vegetables and mushrooms that passed through Isaac’s hands had impeccably clean cuts. Thanks to him, I could cook with ease.
I was about to put butter in another pot besides the one boiling the coquo, and add garlic and shallots when…
A palace healer cautiously called out, “Um, Your Highness?”
“Didn’t you say you were making mushroom soup?”
“Yes? What about it?”
Is there a problem?
I looked at the healer with slight tension. The healer, appearing equally nervous, spoke.
“For mushroom soup, may I ask why you’re adding so much shallot and garlic? Of course, it’s a matter of taste, but that seems quite a lot…….”
“Huh?”
Is this really a lot? It’s just a handful of garlic and five shallots?
Confused, I looked at the other palace healers, but they seemed to avoid my gaze.
I asked Isaac, the only one looking directly at me.
“Do you think it’s too much too? Please be honest.”
“To speak frankly…… yes, it is.”
Even Isaac saying that…….
‘It must really be a lot.’
I hadn’t expected this critique.
I boldly reduced the amount by half from what I had originally planned. If I were cooking just for myself it would be different, but since I planned to share it with others, it was important to adjust to their tastes.
As I sautéed the shallots and garlic in the melted butter, a fragrant aroma wafted through the air. I could sense passersby stopping and looking our way, drawn by the appetizing smell.
“Where is that smell coming from?”
“Over there, I think?”
“Wait, isn’t that the First Princess?”
“What? The Princess is cooking herself…….”
People gathered around, murmuring amongst themselves. Some couldn’t contain their curiosity and asked the palace healers.
“What is Her Highness making?”
“Mushroom soup.”
“Soup? Wasn’t this place distributing strange pieces of metal?”
“Not metal pieces, but medicine that has the same effect as hezica. Due to strange rumors lately, Her Highness is personally proving its safety by cooking with it.”
“Strange rumors… you mean about that person dying……?”
“My goodness, if that’s true, just cooking won’t prove anything, will it?”
“Her Highness will be eating it herself.”
“What? You mean the Princess will eat something meant for commoners?”
I could hear people getting agitated behind me. While I was relieved to get the reaction I had anticipated, from choosing mushroom soup as the menu to these responses, it was still slightly overwhelming.
‘Endure it. Think of the quest.’
When the shallots had caramelized to an appetizing brown, I added all the mushrooms and sautéed them again.
Once I felt the mushrooms were sufficiently cooked, I took out the coquo from the other pot. I poured that water into the pot and tried to mash the mushrooms.
“To think she’d use water with that piece of metal in it…….”
“Is she really going to eat that?”
The murmuring of the crowd grew louder. However, I was facing an even more pressing issue.
The mushrooms were tougher than expected and wouldn’t break down properly!
‘I didn’t think of this.’
I hadn’t considered the need for a blender substitute……. At this rate, it would end up as mushroom broth with chunks floating around. What should I do?
‘There must be some way.’
As I stared intently into the pot, I felt something leaving my body, and a blue light sparkled.
Soon, the mushrooms that had been floating about shapeless began breaking into tiny pieces, mixing well with the broth to form a properly thick soup.
I immediately knew the cause when I saw it. Magic.
Since Killis wasn’t here and only healers were present, I must have unconsciously used magic.
Just like before when I had wished to apply ointment to Reno and the jar of ointment had appeared.
Isaac also seemed to realize that I had used magic and immediately approached me to ask.
“Your Highness, are you all right?”
“Yes, I think I’m fine.”
Unlike before, it was slightly taxing, and my body felt a bit warm, but…… it was bearable.
I waved my hand toward Isaac, signaling him not to worry.
As I turned off the heat and added milk and fresh cream, stirring well, the color lightened, and a typical cream of mushroom soup that most people were familiar with was complete.
I poured it into the bowls I had brought from the palace and took a spoonful.
“My goodness, she’s really eating it?”
“Shouldn’t someone stop her?”
The murmurs around me grew louder, but I paid them no mind and savored the taste.
Was it because it was freshly made? It was soft, creamy, and delicious.
‘It would’ve been better with more onions.’
Though slightly regretful, the soup’s deep flavor was still very satisfying. As I continued eating the soup, the healers beside me spoke up.
“Your Highness, may we have the rest, if that’s all right?”
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