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Shomin no Aji - Chapter 642, 643, 644
🕑 Added 2024-12-03 08:41:10 +0000 UTCPlease tell me!
After dinner, we moved back to the reception room to discuss Idika, which seemed to be the rice of the Samonar Kingdom.
"Prince Kaldor, could you please tell me as much as you know about Idika?"
Honestly, it would be faster if we had the actual product on hand.
Since they wouldn’t likely bring livestock feed out, I decided to ask some questions to determine if it was something like the Thai rice I knew of.
"Hmm. From what I’ve heard its cultivation is not much different from Lars. It’s harvested twice a year. Therefore, not only is there plenty to feed the livestock, but the poor even grind the surplus into flour for their own consumption."
I see, it’s a double-cropping variety.
I had someone bring some unpolished brown rice and polished white rice from the kitchen, placing them in small dishes for comparison.
"This is Lars as it is when purchased and processed for easier consumption. Could you tell me about any characteristics of Idika or differences from Lars that you might notice?"
When I asked, Prince Kaldor picked up each small dish with interest, closely examining and sniffing them.
"Ah, yes… First, the shape is different. This Lars is somewhat round, but Idika is more slender. I haven’t seen it in a dehusked state like this, but it’s clearly distinct."
Hmm, as I thought, it seems to be a long-grain type, like Thai rice.
"Then there’s the fragrance. Unlike Lars, it has a strong aroma. If it’s this different even before cooking, it might be hard to eat it in the same way as Lars..."
It seemed that Prince Kaldor, while noting the similarities, had concluded that Idika was a distinctly different product, leaving him visibly dejected.
Seeing his dashed hopes of "maybe it could work" gave me a sense of his earnestness.
I must find a way to make it delicious at all costs.
From what I’ve heard, it seems like it could be a variety close to jasmine rice, so it should work.
"Prince Kaldor, if the Idika you speak of is what I imagine, I believe it can be made easier to eat using methods different from those for Lars… Probably."
"Really!? What method is that? Please, tell me!"
Prince Kaldor eagerly leaned forward toward me, but under the intimidating presence of Kurogane and Mashiro standing behind me, he froze with a stifled "Guh!"
Tika-san let out a frightened "Eek!" and became immobile. Some guard he is…
"Kurogane, Mashiro, calm down. Prince Kaldor, I apologize for my attendants. Regarding cooking Idika, if we had the actual grains, we could test and verify methods directly. For now, all I can do is write down potential preparation methods based on speculation."
Without the actual product, even my knowledge from a past life has its limits.
"The actual grains… If it’s Idika, I did bring some! Would it be possible to try with that?"
Wait, really?
"Yes. Hearing that Lars has become scarce in recent years, I brought some thinking it might be added as livestock feed. However, it was rejected, as it might differ from Lars, and livestock might not eat it..."
As Prince Kaldor spoke regretfully, Tika-san patted him on the shoulder in encouragement.
They seemed to have an easygoing relationship, more akin to siblings than master and servant, likely due to being raised together.
"If you have the actual grains, could you share some with me? I’d like to try several preparation methods..."
"You’ve already thought of some methods just from our conversation?! Of course! I’ll present all the Idika I brought this time! So, please..."
When Prince Kaldor bowed his head in earnest, I hurriedly asked him to raise it.
And so, I was tasked with figuring out how to cook Idika.
However, since the grains were managed by the trade caravan, we decided to retrieve them with Tika-san tomorrow, bringing today’s meeting to a close.
Incidentally, Leon-sama watched the proceedings with a smirk, saying only, "I’ll come back tomorrow," as he returned to the castle.
… Should I prepare any food for him tomorrow?!
After escorting Prince Kaldor to the guest room, we returned to our respective chambers—
"We’d like to have a detailed discussion, Cristea,"—or so I thought, but I was stopped.
Surrounded by Otousama, Okaasama, and Oniisama’s archaic smiles, I realized I couldn’t escape unnoticed and resigned myself to being led to the office.
"Well, let’s just say it’s partially our fault for proceeding without caution this time."
As soon as we sat in the reception area of the office, Otousama spoke with a sheepish expression.
Ah, the cacao thing.
The adults were so excited about it, after all. Haha.
"However, you do understand that it was a mistake on your part not to consult me when Prince Kaldor summoned you, correct?"
"Y-Yes..."
"Even with Kurogane and Mashiro accompanying you, you must refrain from reckless actions."
"Yes..."
Otousama was right about that.
I could have at least informed him and discreetly increased the number of guards.
Fortunately, since the other party was royalty, this time it was forgiven on the grounds that any major mishap could have turned into an international incident.
"I heard that Shin summoned you, but upon closer inquiry, it seems a servant accompanying him as a porter was almost held hostage. I intend to file a formal complaint with Prince Kaldor about this. However, if it allows us to gain an advantage in future dealings, we might let it slide."
Otousama smiled wickedly.
What a devious grin...!
Although it was Prince Kaldor’s fault, it seemed he might face some unfortunate consequences. Poor guy.
"I could lecture you endlessly, but let’s stop here... Can you really handle this Idika?"
Otousama asked with a worried look.
"Well… I remember reading about something similar to Idika when I was researching Lars at the academy. If it’s that, I’ve thought of a few cooking methods that might work."
That’s a lie. I’m sorry.
"I see… Your passion for food is truly remarkable."
"Haha… It’s not that impressive."
As my Otousama and the others stared at me in exasperation, I subtly averted my gaze.
"Very well. As for Prince Kaldor’s stay, Leon-sama will discreetly inform His Majesty. Whether he moves to the royal palace or continues to stay here will be decided. Until then, remain here and do not return to the academy."
"What?"
Why? Once I demonstrate how to cook Idika tomorrow, Prince Kaldor should swiftly—er, promptly—move to the royal palace, and I’ll be relieved of my duties, right?
"The head chef mentioned he’s still uncertain about the spices you’ve instructed him on. Your presence here would be reassuring. I’ll inform the academy director that you’ll be taking a break at the royal family’s request. Understood?"
"Y-Yes…"
Under the pressure of my Otousama and Okaasama, I could only respond with a trembling voice, like a frog being stared down by a snake.
Oniisama offered a faint, sympathetic smile as if to say, "It can’t be helped." Ugh…
However, since it wouldn’t look good for Prince Kaldor and me to stay together for an extended period, Oniisama would remain with us too.
Thank goodness! That’s a bit of relief!
Ah… I was supposed to return to the academy with Mariel-chan…
Hmm, I’ll need to ask Sei to escort her back instead.
Freed up for the rest of the evening, I rushed to my room to write letters to Sei and Mariel-chan in preparation for tomorrow.
----------
As usual, that's perfectly fine.
I wrote a letter addressed to Sei, requesting him to escort Mariel-chan to the academy, and asked Kurogane to deliver it. He not only delivered it but also brought back a response of acceptance.
Indeed, the reliable and secure Kurogane Express.
Afterward, to show my gratitude to Kurogane and Mashiro, I brushed them thoroughly until their fur became soft and fluffy before heading to bed.
Having indulged in fluffiness to my heart's content, I was fully satisfied.
The next morning, I woke up early as always, got ready, and headed to the kitchen.
"Good morning, everyone."
Everyone, busy with preparations, returned my greeting while continuing their work.
"Good morning, Cristea-sama."
"Good morning, Chef."
I exchanged greetings with Head Chef, who quickly spotted me entering the kitchen and hurried over. Then, we moved to the small room next to the kitchen for a meeting.
"Um, are you sure about sticking to the usual menu this morning?"
Head Chef looked at me anxiously.
Well, it's not like I know what a typical Samonar Kingdom breakfast is, and some countries don’t even eat breakfast.
Besides, considering Prince Kaldor's stay here is an unusual situation, I honestly don’t think we need to fret over breakfast and risk being criticized for trivial matters.
Additionally, from my conversations with him, I’ve realized that although Prince Kaldor can be a bit short-sighted, he’s a good person who genuinely cares for his people. I believe that serving him a heartfelt meal will convey our sincerity.
"Yes. We can’t afford to reveal the dishes prepared for the banquet beforehand. Moreover, since Prince Kaldor has been secretly staying in the country and eating our food for some time, there shouldn’t be any problem."
Unlike noble cuisine, which often has complex flavors, commoner dishes tend to have simpler seasoning. If something felt lacking, they could adjust it with their own spices.
… Now that I think about it, those overly rich noble dishes are kind of problematic, aren’t they? Frighteningly so.
"Besides, the dishes from our household should be the most delicious in this country. Don’t you agree?"
When I asked, Head Chef grinned and replied, "Of course, absolutely."
That said, I can’t serve Japanese-inspired dishes reminiscent of Yahatul, so the breakfast menu consists of toast, salad, omelets, and consommé soup—simple yet classic.
The bread is fluffy and soft, baked using natural yeast, served with plenty of butter, and optionally jam or marmalade.
The salad features fresh baby leaves harvested from vegetables we started growing in the back of the manor, dressed with freshly made French dressing or mayonnaise.
The omelet is prepared to perfection using a frying pan specially crafted for eggs, achieving a soft, trembling texture, cooked as a live performance.
The consommé, prepared the previous day, is a golden, translucent soup offering a delightfully complex harmony of flavors with just one sip.
Served with tea or coffee, this creates a standard yet impeccable breakfast. Oh, milk and fruit juice are also options—I’ll go with juice!
As for the coffee, I had Miria replicate the hand-sewn filters Mariel-chan made for the drip coffee process.
Miria acted as an instructor, teaching the servants how to brew using the drip method, and they even got to taste it. Surprisingly, preferences were quite divided.
I also had my parents try it—Otousama liked it, but Okaasama seemed to prefer tea.
Hmm, so Otousama is a coffee enthusiast, while Okaasama favors tea.
With no issues regarding breakfast, we discussed the cooking methods for Idika rice, suitable side dishes, and other related matters.
Approaching breakfast time, I left the rest to Head Chef and moved to the dining room.
Upon entering the dining room, I noticed that Prince Kaldor and Otousama were already seated.
Wait, isn’t this too early?
"Good morning, Prince Kaldor."
"Ah, good morning. Miss Cristea, you’re an early riser."
Prince Kaldor greeted me with a refreshing smile, a stark contrast to yesterday's grim demeanor.
He’d transformed from a brooding handsome man into a cheerful one.
"Prince Kaldor, you’re quite early as well. You could’ve taken it easy this morning to rest."
"No, I was too curious about Idika to sleep longer. Besides, I’m used to waking early for farm inspections back in my domain."
Ah, that’s right. Despite being a lord, he personally works in the fields. I’d love to learn about medicinal herb cultivation from him.
"By the way, where is Tika-san?"
I didn’t see Tika-san, who had gleefully indulged in curry under the guise of taste-testing yesterday.
"Oh, I figured there’s no need for guards here, so I sent him to retrieve the Idika from the inn. Could I trouble you to let him eat once he returns?"
"Ah, sure…"
Poor Tika-san. At least let him have as many servings as he likes.
"Prince Kaldor, while safety is assured in my home, it’s still risky to go without a guard. This is…"
Otousama expressed his disapproval of the lack of security, to which Prince Kaldor responded with a hearty laugh.
"True, but considering Miss Cristea’s guards are highly skilled, neither Tika nor I could match them. If the Duke offers his protection, staying near Miss Cristea seems far safer."
"Well… that’s debatable. These two are solely loyal to Cristea," Otousama replied, frowning deeply.
Yeah, I can’t deny that. It’s completely true.
Of course, if I asked them to help Prince Kaldor, they’d grudgingly assist, but their priority would always be me.
"Ah, Miss Cristea has excellent attendants. Duke, you must be very fond of your daughter."
"Ha, ha…"
Otousama’s dry laugh resonated with my inner thoughts.
Unbeknownst to Otousama, I’ve interacted with the Divine Beast Byakko who helped me form two Sacred Beast contracts.
It’s probably my fault his forehead wrinkles have deepened in recent years.
Thus, breakfast commenced, with Prince Kaldor marveling at the softness of the bread, enjoying the freshness of the salad, being thrilled by the omelet performance, and savoring the exquisite consommé.
----------
The Idika has arrived!
As Prince Kaldor was about to enjoy his post-breakfast coffee, Tika-san returned to the mansion.
"Here you go, Your Highness! I got it for you! Seriously, you’re such a demanding master—what a handful!"
Tika-san came back puffing and huffing, carrying a burlap sack on his shoulder that seemed to hold as much as a bale of rice.
Wait, isn’t that heavy? And do we even need that much?
"Tika, enough noise. The future of Idika—and by extension, the future of the Samonar Kingdom—is at stake. Quit complaining and get to work. Ah, my apologies for the wait, Miss Cristea. This is Idika. Use it however you please."
With that, the burlap sack was plopped down in front of me with a thud.
Wait, the future of the Samonar Kingdom?
Since when did it become such a big deal!?
Nobody told me about this!
At what point did I become responsible for the future of Samonar?
If I fail to cook this Idika into something delicious, am I going to be charged with breaching a contract (not that I signed any)?
"I-I’ll take care of it then..."
I started to break into a cold sweat, realizing that if this Idika wasn’t what I imagined, it could spell disaster.
Nevertheless, I had Kurogane carry the sack for me as I headed to the kitchen... but wait, why is Prince Kaldor following us!?
"Um, Your Highness Kaldor. We’re going to inspect the Idika and test it by cooking. Would you kindly wait in your room?"
I turned to him and said this, but he tilted his head, as if to say, “Why?”
"I told you, didn’t I? The future of Samonar is at stake. How could I not be present at such an important moment?"
"Well... the inspection and cooking will be done in the kitchen."
What he’s saying sounds reasonable enough, I guess.
But all we’re about to do is check the ingredients and cook.
This is backstage work in my household. We can’t just let a prince from another country into our kitchen.
"If we’re cooking, then of course it’s done in the kitchen, right? Unless you plan to poison me, I don’t see the problem."
He looked at me like I’d said something absurd.
Wait, did I say something weird? No, I’m pretty sure I’m just stating the obvious about how to treat a national guest!
"Uhh, Miss Cristea, may I say something?"
As I was struggling to find a way to refuse him, Tika-san raised his hand, asking for permission to speak. I nodded instinctively.
"Well, you see, His Highness not only mixes medicinal herbs but also blends spices. In fact, he even cooks. So he has no problem being in a kitchen. Just go about your work as you normally would. You can even treat us like air if you prefer."
Tika-san said this with a bright smile, leaving me dumbfounded.
Huh...? Treat them like air? Is it really okay to say that about your country’s prince?
And wait, a prince who not only blends herbs and spices but also cooks?
I mean, I’m a Duke’s daughter and I cook, so I guess it’s not weird for a prince to cook too...?
It’s not weird, right?
"... There are cooks in my kitchen. Some of them might lack proper manners, so I hope you’ll overlook that."
Reluctantly, I agreed, and Prince Kaldor grinned.
"Don’t worry about that. My servant is like this, so I won’t consider a little lack of etiquette as disrespect."
"Exactly! His Highness is pretty lax himself. You can work him to the bone if you want."
Tika-san chimed in with more shocking words...
"... I’m beginning to think it’s about time to punish you for disrespect."
"What!? That’s awful! I’m such a devoted servant; I should be rewarded instead!"
"And where exactly does that confidence come from!?"
Watching the two of them bickering, I couldn’t help but let my guard down.
Well, he didn’t exactly strike me as a typical prince when we first met.
There’s no point arguing further; he’s not going to budge anyway...
"Fine. I’ll show you the way."
With that, we headed to the kitchen, Prince Kaldor and Tika-san following behind us, still squabbling.
When I entered the kitchen, as usual, Head Chef spotted me immediately and started to approach—until he froze at the sight of those trailing behind me.
"Miss Cristea... uh, w-what exactly is going on here...?"
He hesitantly removed his chef’s hat, careful not to offend.
"This is Prince Kaldor, the second prince of the Samonar Kingdom, who has been staying with us since last night. He’s here to observe, along with his servant Tika-san."
Although “here to spectate” might be more accurate.
"Y-Your Highness!"
Normally, he would kneel, but kneeling in the kitchen is out of the question for hygiene reasons. My earlier insistence that even royals aren’t an exception to this rule had the head chef bowing deeply instead, signaling to everyone else in the kitchen to follow suit.
Oh no, I shouldn’t have said “even royals”...!
"No need for formalities. We’ve come here at Miss Cristea’s request. Everyone, please focus on your duties."
"Yes! Thank you for your gracious words!"
At the Head Chef’s direction, the kitchen staff hesitantly returned to their tasks.
"So, Miss Cristea, where’s the ingredient to be inspected?"
"Oh, it’s over here. Kurogane, please place it in that empty space over there."
"Understood."
I indicated a slightly spacious corner of the room, and Kurogane placed the sack there.
"Tika, open it."
At Prince Kaldor’s nod toward the sack, Tika-san replied with a casual "Sure, sure..." and untied the string securing its opening.
"Miss Cristea, this is Idika."
Prince Kaldor scooped some out of the sack, placed it on a small dish, and handed it to me.
"Let’s see... Oh, this is..."
No doubt about it—it’s long-grain rice, just like Thai rice.
If its properties are similar, cooking it the same way should work.
"It’s different from Lars, but it should be delicious with the right preparation. Let’s give it a try."
"Really!? Please, I’m counting on you!"
Prince Kaldor’s face lit up, and then he bowed his head.
"Oh, please, raise your head!"
Yikes, this is a huge responsibility... but I’ve got a good feeling about this!
Idika rice... I’m going to conquer you!
Next: https://www.patreon.com/posts/117675736
