Chapter 4 - Mille-Feuille Nabe (1/2)

Mille-Feuille Nabe is a simple Japanese hot pot that is made with napa cabbage and pork belly slices cooked in a savory dashi broth.

To live, Luana lied.

“You just said you are not. How do I believe you’re a witch?”

‘You didn’t believe me when I said no earlier, and now you still don’t believe me when I say yes. You don’t have any friends, do you? How can you act so superior with such a character!’ Luana cried inwardly and lifted her left forearm. When she rolled up her sleeves, there was a pattern that looked like a dark red snake. It seemed so believable on the surface, that Luana had no doubt that the Duke would doubt it.

But the truth was, she got it when she was trying to cook with a metal pot that looked like the most expensive one in the abandoned palace. The nanny was frightened when she had a scar on her only merit, her fine skin. But Luana excitedly clapped her hands seeing the pretty looking pattern and then played by pretending to be a Black Dragon for a while. She said with a regretful expression while thinking about memories of the past.

“It’s actually a witch’s mark.”

“Then did you use magic to make the jerky?”

“No, it’s just my skills… No, you’re right! It was a magic jerky!”

“Isn’t it harmful for the body?”

“No, it’s not harmful at all!”

‘It’s just a normal dish, so how the hell can it be harmful!’ After working a few nights to try something delicious, she bought expensive meat with the money she received and dried it carefully. If that didn’t taste good, it’s just too unfair! Then no one can keep her from saying her piece of mind.

“It is rather actually good for the body. Because I used pure beef from the Kingdom and then aged it in a clean environment with a refreshing breeze!”

As she talked about the food, the Duke who was caressing the tongs with a boring expression, stopped moving.

“It’s really tasty! Besides, what went into the beef jerky is my secret seasoning! It’s a special seasoning that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. It was what added so much flavor to the jerky!”

“That’s not an insect by-product, is it?”

“No. Why would I put that in food?”

“Witches are good at putting such things in.”

‘Yeah, maybe I should feed you something like that.’ Concealing her wicked heart, Luana smiled furtively.

“I didn’t put in anything like that. I wouldn’t put something like that in my own food.”

“Then do you put it in other people’s food?”

She must say, he was really a good talker, but as an underdog in this game, Luana just answered calmly.

“No, I don’t. I’m too lazy to cook twice.”

“Okay, then.”

Luana looked nervously at Legion’s face

“Cook for me. I’ll let you live if I like it.”

“Really? Really?”

“I don’t lie.”

“Then swear on your family!”

“I swear.”

But she was nervous because it was too easy.

“Oh, really?”

Come to think of it, this madman could destroy his family if he needed to.

“Let’s do a pinky promise!”

“Pinky promise?”

“It’s making a promise by interlocking fingers.”

“Your fingers?”

“No! I mean the Duke’s fingers.”

“My finger?”

The tongs in the peacock’s hand moved and made a whistling noise. She felt as if it would take her fingers away.

“No, it’d be me who would rather bet on my family.”

Luana quickly changed her posture.

So the Duke and Luana came to an agreement. He picked up Luana who was sitting on the floor, clutching his feet and then threw her over his shoulder like a sack.

“Ugh! Ugh! Eck!”

As she groaned because it was very uncomfortable to climb the stairs like this, the Duke rolled the tongs in his hands and said.

“Noisy.”

“Oh, I’ll be quiet. Shh!”

‘But why are you still holding the tongs?’ Luana was very curious, but she kept her mouth shut in fear he would use it on her.

* * *

Luana was forcibly dragged into the kitchen. The Palace Kitchen was originally used to make the meals for the king, so it was much different from the kitchen of her abandoned palace. It was much cleaner and had more tools and materials.

“But what should I make?”

‘If I can’t make something delicious, he wouldn’t let me go. No, wait! Why do I have to even worry about this? Luana who was pulling her hair out in stress, straightened herself as she felt a gaze from behind. She had forgotten about the guards who came in with her.

‘Let’s just make what I want to eat now! The food is best made when you make something you want to eat!’

Luana randomly searched for the ingredients.