[CHAPTER 70]
The end of the inner corridor that led to the dining room.
A clattering noise leaked through the open door.
Caliph walked in slowly.
Beyond the massive marble table, someone was making a mess in the small kitchen.
The moment he saw her back, Caliphâs eyes, which had wavered with mixed feelings, turned cold in an instant.
It wasnât Meyna.
“Ugh. Why is this so complicated!”
The woman with long flowing blonde hair stomped her feet in frustration.
Caliph swept his gaze over the ingredients scattered messily across the island counter.
“I put in all the Black Thornbush roots. A 9:1 ratio of diluted red potion? Where did I put the red potion again…”
The woman, who had been ruffling her hair wildly, spun around and froze when she saw Caliph.
Her round eyes shook, and her lips trembled before she snapped to attention like a startled soldier.
“S-Sir Lennox! Good day, sir! It is an honor to meet you for the first time!”
She lifted her head quickly and added in an excited voice.
“I am Pippin Perepena, assigned to work as your aide starting today. Iâm from the western city of Moonkasim, and from the House of Baron Perepena…”
Pippinâs voice, which had been explaining eagerly, faded away when she saw Caliphâs shockingly cold expression.
He didnât react at all.
Silence stretched on.
“Um…”
Pippinâs lips twitched uneasily as she tried to ask if she had done something wrong.
Caliph, who had been standing crookedly, began walking across the dining room toward her.
He reached her in an instant and extended his hand.
What he took from the frozen Pippin was a single slip of paper.
âHealth Juice Recipeâ
The handwriting at the top was familiar.
It was Meynaâs.
Caliph scanned the note quickly, not even aware of the terrified Pippin trembling right in front of him.
The small letters were packed densely, like a page torn out of a thick law book.
â
Health Juice Recipe
1. Fresh seasonal fruits including apples, pears, lemons, and berries.
2. Rosemary, herbs, and lavender grown directly in the garden.
3. Vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, and kale.
4. Important) Five types of medicinal roots.
– Open the door to the left of the pantry to find the storage for medicinal ingredients.
– Around five hundred kinds of herbs are stored there, and the ones used for the juice are marked separately.
5. Very Important) One teaspoon of red potion diluted in a 9:1 ratio.
– Excessive intake may cause health problems, so keep the ratio exact.
â
Below that, there were impossibly detailed notes about the fruits and vegetables used in the juice.
Which seasonal fruits were best.
Which regions produced sweeter varieties.
Which cities and markets carried the highest quality produce.
Which vegetables blended well together and which combinations should be avoided.
What fruit trees grew in the inner courtâs garden.
Which herbs were planted in the small garden behind the dining room.
As he read the words that Meyna had written with such care, he could almost hear her voice.
“In spring, we begin harvesting apricots and cherries. When you smell the sweet scent of fruit while strolling through the garden, prepare to pick them with Head Maid Magia.”
“Summer is the season for peaches and plums. The peaches from Asirius are especially famous for their sweetness. Raspberries and blueberries can be harvested all summer, and blackberries grow sweet at the peak of summer.”
“The kitchen garden is managed by Sous-chef Reri. Herbs go into the health juice, tea, cookies, and dishes, so try to learn their uses in detail. Reri is like a kind teacher when it comes to ingredients, so donât hesitate to ask for help.”
It was as if Meyna were standing right beside him.
He saw her walking through the castle in all seasons, carrying baskets full of colorful fruit.
He remembered her gentle hands plucking tiny herb leaves one by one.
Meyna was moving through his thoughts.
But she was no longer in this castle.
The voice he heard, the face he saw so clearly, the gestures that filled his mindâeverything was only a memory.
The stiff paper crumpled in Caliphâs fist.
“If I did something wrong, please let me know, Sir Lennox.”
Pippin gathered her courage and spoke.
Meyna Winslet.
She was famous in the industry, and before she quit, she left numerous notes for an unknown successor.
The health juice recipe in the small kitchen.
The hangover and restorative dishes in the inner kitchen.
The teas for easing insomnia in the bedroom.
The notes in the study…
While collecting each memo, Pippin had wondered:
âHow many bodies did this woman have?â
It was a sincere question. No single person could possibly handle all that work.
Among the many handover notes, certain lines stood out.
“Do not expect Sir Lennox to be gentle or friendly. His work puts him at the brink of life and death, so he is rather sensitive.”
“But donât let it hurt you. If you get wounded by sharp words, you wonât last here.”
“Once again, however, dear new aide whose name I do not know. If duty is most important to you, endure his harsh words and rude behavior. But if your own happiness matters more, donât try to endure. Quit before you get hurt. Leave before you grow attached.”
Pippin knew all too well about the infamous Caliphâs terrible personality.
The rumors spread through the entire empire: a man with a sculpted face who spoke like a blade, a nobleman in appearance but a brute in behavior.
Still, she had wanted to work here.
She applied with earnest hope and, by a miracle, was accepted.
Pippin bit her lip and looked up at Caliphâs face.
âEek!â
In person, he was even worse than the rumors.
His gaze alone made people tremble.
Every small movement intimidated anyone watching.
When she saw him tuck the crumpled note into the pocket of his indoor cardigan, Pippin spoke.
“If I made a mistake, please tell me. Iâll fix it.”
“…”
“And if you donât need that note, please return it to me. I havenât memorized the recipe yet…”
Seeing his chillingly expressionless face, Pippin added quickly:
“If you do need it, I can copy it and give the original back!”
“No.”
Caliph finally answered.
He added without expression:
“You donât need to make it.”
“…Pardon?”
“Just do what I tell you.”
“Ah…”
Pippin replied with an extremely troubled expression.
“But the former aide told me I must handle those tasks…”
Caliph looked at her silently.
