Chapter 69 – Leisurely and Delicious Days
Princess Yunia and her entourage had about five days left in their stay.
They had already taken care of nearly all matters that could be considered official business and were now indulging in a carefree gourmet lifestyle.
Since we were dining together—not for every meal, but often enough—I had grown quite accustomed to their company. In fact, they had finally come right out and said it.
「Sui-sama, you and we are family by relation. So please, in informal settings, feel free to relax」
「I would appreciate it as well. Well, I am an adopted child to begin with, so whether I can truly be called a member of the royal family is a bit questionable…」
At first, I still felt hesitant. But being too reserved would only come across as rude. So at least while we were here in Sidra, I decided to change my mindset.
Not as the First Princess. Not as the Prime Minister.
To me, Yuni-san and Eidel-san would just be an older sister and brother from the family.
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「And so, today, we’re making curry!」
「Curry! At last, that…! Ah, I have dreamed of this moment!」
「Because Parker-san went and talked about it…」
And so, midday arrived at Noah’s estate.
Yuni-san, Parker-san, and I stood together in the kitchen.
Spread across the counter were vegetables, meat, dairy products, and various spices.
As for the essential chili peppers, a massive stock of them hung from the walls. It seemed the rumors were true—Parker-san, or rather, the beastkin as a whole, really were fond of them.
「I put in a request with the trading company. Had them bring in a whole bunch」
「Even so, that’s an incredible amount…」
「It’s a shame we can only get the dried ones. Back home, we use them fresh」
Parker-san gazed happily at the curtain of red, while—
「The cuisine of the Beastkin Territory is also quite exquisite. I once visited during a diplomatic tour」
「A lot of it is spicy, but elder sister-in-law-san ate it all without batting an eye」
「Will today’s curry be spicy as well?」
Yuni-san looked at me with an eager expression.
「Yes. Since we’ll be eating it with naan, I was thinking of making it a bit spicier」
「Naan…?」
「It’s a type of bread. It’s somewhat similar to the one Noah made before」
The three of us put on our aprons. It seemed Yuni-san would be participating in the cooking this time.
Behind her, the lady-in-waiting was watching with a mix of concern and nervousness. …Had she ever even cooked before?
「Well, it’s not too difficult, so it should be fine. Alright, let’s get started」
With that, we relaxed our shoulders and began making curry.
※※※
Began… or so I thought.
「Sui-san, regarding the spices, is there a particular reasoning or effect behind these selections and combinations?」
「Um… not really. I’ve just been experimenting to recreate the taste of ‘curry’ from my memories」
She showed interest in the blend,
「I see, so it’s simmered… The aroma is quite strong, but does it not overpower the flavor of the ingredients?」
「It’s fine. The base flavor changes depending on the type of meat used, and vegetables are generally chosen for their fragrance and texture」
Even as I stirred the pot, the questions kept coming.
「Ah, so the thick consistency comes from using flour. …And why add yogurt?」
「It softens the spiciness and gives a milder taste. It also enhances the umami」
When we neared the final steps, her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
「You use quite a bit of butter in the dough. Since you’re cooking it in a pan, does that mean it won’t rise?」
「That’s right. It’ll be flat and chewy. …Would you like to taste it?」
As I started cooking the naan, she looked at it longingly.
At some point, I realized.
Or rather, I finally caught on.
She didn’t want to participate in cooking.
She just wanted to observe the process…!
「Hey, elder sister-in-law-san, don’t wander around too much. If you’re not careful, you’ll get in the way」
「Ah, my apologies… It’s just that the process is so fascinating」
Parker-san, ever considerate, had been subtly guiding Yuni-san away from our work area to keep her from disrupting our movements.
「You’re like a child clinging to their mother…」
Yuni-san pouted at being scolded, while Parker-san, despite chastising her, couldn’t help but smile.
Different races, no blood relation—but the bond between them was undeniable. Watching from the sidelines, I couldn’t help but feel it.
They were family.
「Still… I thought it would turn red since you used pepper, but this color is quite unusual」
「Beastkin Territory’s pepper soup is red, after all. We should make sure you get to eat some before you leave, elder sister-in-law-san」
「Oh, I would love that. It’s truly delicious—the lingering heat and sourness are addicting, yet the unique aroma of coriander soothes the soul…」
「I’ve been wondering for a while now, but do you have any foods you dislike, elder sister-in-law-san?」
「Hmm… I wouldn’t know」
「What do you mean, you wouldn’t know? It’s your own tastes we’re talking about」
「Well, there are still so many foods in this world that I’ve yet to try. There might be something out there that doesn’t suit my palate, don’t you think?」
「Ah, I see… That’s so like you, elder sister-in-law-san」
The curry was nearly done—all that remained was to let it simmer so the flavors could meld.
The naan was also finished baking.
With the main tasks completed, the two of them happily chatted away.
At this point, as a man, I had no place in their conversation.
I simply stood a little behind them, absentmindedly watching the lively exchange between the two women—while keeping an eye on the curry to make sure it didn’t burn.
「Sui, got a moment?」
「What is it?」
The kitchen door cracked open slightly, and Karen peeked in, her upper body leaning inside.
「Chocola wants more milk」
「Oh, got it. It’s almost ready, so would it be okay to serve it along with everyone’s lunch?」
「Chocola, think you can wait a little longer?」
「Bark… kwunn…」
Peering out into the hallway, I saw a pair of round eyes staring up at me.
「Hey, don’t give me that look. It won’t work」
「Bark…」
Talking with Karen and Chocola, I felt my heart grow a little lighter.
Maybe I was feeling envious of how much fun Yuni-san and Parker-san were having.
—A family’s conversation, huh.
It was probably because we were making curry.
Because curry… is the taste of family.
Turning back toward the kitchen, I called out,
「Everyone’s waiting. Let’s bring it out soon」
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