SWS CH 35

Chapter 35

The moment I opened my eyes in the morning, some shocking news reached me.

“Getti ran away?”

Apparently, Getti fled yesterday without looking back.

No one knew the exact reason.

“Could it be because of what happened yesterday?”

The one who told me this was May.

“I don’t think so.”

If she’d run away just because she’d been rude to me in front of the servants, she would’ve done it long ago. Instead, she had stayed behind and even waited for me in my room.

“Something felt strange after she fell yesterday. Did she maybe hit her head?”

Otherwise, her sudden disappearance made no sense.

“Actually, before you came in yesterday, Getti suggested that we drive you out. She said it didn’t make sense for a commoner to be the little madam, and asked if we weren’t upset.”

“Really?”

I had expected as much.

“There were quite a few people who heard that. When the head chef said he’d report it to the upper ranks, she probably got scared and ran away.”

She’d even gone so far as to suggest kicking me out, yet still had the nerve to show up in front of me.

I didn’t know the exact reason, but she must have left after meeting me in my room.

“She was limping too. I don’t know how she even managed to run in that condition.”

“Ah…”

Honestly, she was a troublesome girl until the very end.

“From now on, I’ll serve you.”

“May, you will?”

“Yes.”

And then came some good news.

They say when the junk leaves, a luxury car arrives!

“That’s amazing, May!”

I jumped up and grabbed her hands, shaking them excitedly.

The aches all over my body suddenly felt like they were easing.

“Are you really that happy?”

“Of course!”

“I’m happy too.”

When I smiled brightly, May smiled back at me.

“Don’t think of me as your ‘mistress’ or anything stiff like that. Just treat me comfortably.”

I wanted to tell her not to use honorifics at all, but that would probably make her uncomfortable.

“I don’t think stiffly. But I will still call you ‘Madam.’”

“Alright. Then, as thanks for you coming today, I should make you something delicious.”

I rolled up my sleeves and stood up.

I felt bad for deceiving everyone yesterday, and grateful that they still accepted me, so I wanted to repay them.

“Madam, you can’t cook anymore. That’s our job.”

May looked troubled.

“You said your waist hurt. You also said Getti shoved you and you weren’t feeling well. We should be calling a doctor, if anything.”

“I’m fine! I’ll rest later.”

“Please, let me do it.”

Even Hatsen tried to stop me while I was holding the ladle, but it was already too late.

“Five-dish table complete.”

In no time at all, I finished five dishes.

“Whew. It’s been a while since I really showed my skills, so I’m a bit slow.”

“…You made five dishes in an hour and a half.”

Hatsen stared at the clock on the wall in disbelief.

“What do you think? It took a bit longer since it’s been a while since I cooked Western food.”

Today’s menu was salad, pasta, and mushroom risotto.

They weren’t things I usually made, but I adapted them to my own style.

“I’ve never seen pasta prepared like this before. What kind of pasta is it?”

Hatsen asked, looking at the earthy-colored noodles.

“That’s japchae pasta.”

“Japchae… pasta?”

I’d originally wanted to make japchae, but since there was no glass noodle here, I boiled pasta noodles until soft and mixed them with vegetables, meat, and japchae seasoning.

At least garlic existed in this world. Thank goodness.

“Please try it. I made enough for everyone.”

“When did you even—?!”

“While you were preparing the salad ingredients.”

Ta-da.

Behind me was a large bowl piled high with japchae pasta.

“You made that much?!”

“Japchae tastes best when you eat it generously.”

Compared to how much I usually made, this was barely half.

“I made it to thank everyone, so please enjoy it.”

“Thank you. The maids will love it.”

“Please give me feedback later. And try this with it.”

I held out a pile of cabbage on the side.

“What is this?”

“Kimchi. Made with cabbage… sort of like a spicy pickle?”

Since there was no napa cabbage, I tried making kimchi with regular cabbage.

“Kimchi…?”

Once again, Hatsen tilted his head at the unfamiliar name.

“Ugh, that spicy smell. What is this red stuff?”

“That’s chili pepper. The storage was full of it.”

They were even thoroughly dried, perfect for grinding into chili powder.

“You used that? It’s barely even used as medicine, so we just stored it away.”

Hatsen looked horrified.

“Why? It’s such a great ingredient. Don’t people here eat chili peppers?”

“Almost never. The taste is too harsh and just spicy. So once we realized that, we dried them and stored them.”

No wonder chili peppers were so cheap at the market. I’d even planted them in the yard.

“But people here can’t eat peppercorns either, right? Even though they’re spicy?”

Pepper had once been an extremely expensive spice.

Hatsen looked surprised again.

“How can you compare the two? Pepper has a subtle spiciness that fills the mouth. Though… it’s been so long since I last tasted it that I barely remember.”

So spicy, but different kinds of spicy.

My lips curled upward on their own.

“Does that mean I can use all the chili peppers in storage?”

That meant I could freely cook Korean food in this land of greasy dishes!

“Yes… yes, of course. But you’re not planning to eat them all yourself, right? That would upset your stomach.”

“I won’t eat them all. I’ll use them as ingredients. Like this kimchi.”

I offered him the freshly made kimchi again.

Hatsen still looked uneasy at the red seasoning.

“It’ll feel spicy at first, but you’ll grow addicted to it. And you’ll realize it pairs perfectly with this food.”

Leaving behind Hatsen’s doubtful expression, I loaded the prepared dishes onto a tray and headed out.

I was worried it’d be hard to carry everything to the main residence, but the kitchen lent me a wheeled trolley.

“I’ll do it, Madam.”

“Hmm? Sure. Please.”

So May and I headed toward the main house together.

She asked quietly as she looked at me,

“You finally get a new dress, and you choose to cook?”

“I love it. Somehow, this dress feels as comfortable as a maid’s uniform. Why is that?”

Aren’t dresses usually tight corseted things that emphasize the waist?

But this one had no corset, no low neckline, and was even stretchy. The belly area flared comfortably, so it felt fine even if I ate a lot.

“Did they make different clothes because I’m a commoner?”

Even so, the design looked high-end, no different from noble attire.

Either way, it was good for me.

I’d cooked an entire five-dish meal without feeling uncomfortable.

“Do you think the Duchess will like it?”

“How could she not? You prepared such a variety. And you’re very skilled, Madam.”

“Thanks for the praise. Still, it’s a shame I could only make five dishes.”

Receiving twenty expensive dresses and only offering a five-dish meal felt a bit lacking.

But there wasn’t enough time before lunch to make more.

“I’ll treat her again next time.”

We arrived at the dining room and set the table together.

“But there are three place settings, Madam. Weren’t only the Duchess and you eating?”

“Young Master Docep will join us.”

“…The second young master?”

“Yes. Family should eat together. And it’s to celebrate his awakening too.”

Food tastes better when eaten together.

I excluded Nikolai and Helbern. Eating with them wouldn’t double the enjoyment.

“But the two of them don’t get along.”

May hesitated before telling me.

I knew that well.

I knew Francesca treated Docep like an unwanted child.

I wasn’t trying to hurt Docep by forcing him here. I just made a lot of food, and there were only two people I wanted to share it with.

“If things get awkward, I’ll just sing a song.”

“…What?”

“There’s a wine bottle, right? Bring one and put it here.”

I’d sing with a fork if I had to.

The invited guests would arrive soon.

Just then, Junel—who had been missing—flew into the dining room in a panic.

[Halara!]

“Please don’t call me like that.”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing, May.”

Every time Junel showed up like that, it felt like my heart stopped.

And sure enough—

[That crazy young master is coming!]

Please!