The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Hard Bread and White Sauce

After returning from shopping, while Marie was preparing lunch, Ed, Cliff, and Rad were asked to carry the beds outside for airing.

“They’ve been closed up for a while, so there might be mold, and airing them out in the sun can also get rid of dust mites and fleas.”

When explained the reason for this seemingly odd task, they readily agreed and efficiently went about the work. As professionals in carrying loads, they worked swiftly.

This practice stemmed from hygiene standards from my previous life, as mold, dust mites, and flea carcasses can be allergens, so airing them out regularly is necessary.

“Now, let’s prepare lunch.”

Entering the kitchen, Marie and Ed checked the groceries they had brought. Vegetables in wooden crates, milk in jars, and eggs in a small box lined with sawdust. Surprisingly, the meat was wrapped in large leaves.

Using one of my few usable abilities, “Appraisal,” I identified the leaves as those of a plant called “moonthorn”. They emitted a scent similar to pepper and were known to absorb moisture, enhancing preservation.

— It’s like forgotten memories resurfacing.

For a high-ranking noble’s daughter like me, “Appraisal” was a rarely used magic. It was customary for dedicated servants to check everything around me, including items for consumption. Moreover, merchants and traders often used appraisals far more accurate than mine, making opportunities for me to use it scarce.

“There’s a tale of travelers turning meat into jerky by wrapping it in these leaves during their journeys. But in reality, without rubbing salt into it, it just turns into tough, dry meat.”

“They seem to absorb moisture so much. I wonder if they grow naturally?”

“It seems they’re abundant in forests. They’re sold in bundles in shops, and it’s common for commoners to wrap their lunches in them instead of using bento boxes.”

It seemed they could serve as substitutes for lunch boxes. The meat was chicken, displaying a fresh-looking, clean pink color.

The bread in the basket is a dark chocolate-like color. Its crust is hard as rock, and the inside is dense. This is generally how bread for commoners in this world looks like, as baking it thoroughly to a hard texture is typical to enhance its shelf life.

“Sorry, but we couldn’t find any white bread in the village.”

While relatively soft white bread may appear on the dining tables of nobles close to the royalty, it’s often a closely guarded recipe of the personal chefs serving those nobles. It’s not something readily available in towns or villages.

Whether or not soft white bread can be served at dinner can even affect a noble’s status. Naturally, the baker capable of making such bread is highly sought after by nobles and seldom serves the common folk.

“Don’t worry about it. But perhaps we should try baking some soft bread next time.”

“Do you happen to know the recipe for white bread, milady?”

“Well, more or less.”

While there are no precise measuring tools here, and convenient items like dry yeast don’t exist, the memory of baking bread with natural yeast remains. Having baked bread a few times before, it shouldn’t be too difficult.

“Um, you seem to be quite skilled in cooking as well. Where did you learn?”

“Hehe, just a hobby, I’ve dabbled a bit.”

Unable to explain that it stems from her previous life of living alone, she casually laughs it off and proceeds to sauté chopped vegetables and meat, transferring them to a pot to simmer. Soup is essential on the table for dipping the hard bread.

“I wish we had some fine-grained consommé, but since we don’t, I’ll just add a bit more salt to compensate.”

Merfina decides as she simmers the meat and vegetables, while simultaneously melting butter in a frying pan on the adjacent burner.

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong?”

Merfina asks.

“Oh, it’s nothing… I’m just surprised you’re using butter in the cooking.”

For Marie, it seems unimaginable to pour a generous amount of butter into a frying pan.

Come to think of it, butter is a luxury in this world, reserved for nobles who lightly spread it on bread. Since they couldn’t find any white bread, Marie must have bought it as a small luxury.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make it delicious.”

“Okay…”

As she sautés thinly sliced onions in butter, Merfina can’t help but think.

Marie doesn’t often change her expression, and she’s quiet, but she seems like a kind girl. Despite being surveillance for the Duke like Cedric, she’s at least softer in her approach than him. Not only did she accompany me the day after my wedding when I hastily left the castle, but she also pays attention to the little things.

—Marie’s employer is Alexis, and while becoming friends might be difficult due to our positions, I hope we can get along while I’m here.

Once the onions turn translucent, Merfina sprinkles flour into the frying pan and continues to sauté. Gradually adding milk to prevent lumps, she stirs until the mixture thickens into a white sauce. As she pours it into the simmering pot, Marie once again raises her voice in surprise.

Carefully stirring and tasting the sauce, Merfina finds that without consommé or bouillon cubes, it lacks some richness in flavor. However, the chicken wrapped in moon rabbit leaves seems to have produced a good broth, resulting in a decent outcome.

“Wanna try it?”

“…Sure.”

Though Marie seems tense, she takes a bite from the offered small plate and her eyes widen.

“It’s delicious.”

“Great. Let’s make one more dish and call it lunch.”

While quickly finishing up the stir-fried chicken and vegetables, Marie carries the stew to the dining room.

“Everyone, thank you for your hard work today. And Ed, Cliff, and Rad, thank you for taking on extra tasks.”

As they sit at the table, everyone hesitates to take their seats.

“What’s wrong? Let’s eat while it’s hot.”

“Well, um… it’s just… it feels a bit too much to dine together.”

Upon hearing Rad, the eldest among the porters, Merfina finally realizes. Generally, nobles don’t dine together with commoners. Even during the journey so far, meals were either taken alone in the inn room or, if necessary, Marie would step outside, even while eating in the carriage.

“My apologies for not realizing sooner. I’ll have my meal in the bedroom, so you all can stay here.”

“No! That wouldn’t be right!”

“We’ll wait until you finish, ma’am.”

Following Rad, Cliff speaks up. Though they say nothing, both Marie and Cedric seem perplexed.

However, eating alone while being watched by everyone, or even kicking everyone out of the dining room to eat alone, feels somewhat off.

“Well, this isn’t a noble’s castle, and though it’s technically the Lord’s residence, it’s more cramped than even a moderately affluent merchant’s house, isn’t it? I’m not here to play the noble lady, and I made this food. So, I’d rather eat together and hear your thoughts, if you don’t mind…”

“But…”

“However…”

“That’s right. How about you all indulge me in some practice for living here from now on?”

“Practice, you say?”

As Rad responds with confusion, Merfina nods enthusiastically.

“I understand that this goes against convention, but I intend to live here from now on, and I don’t think it’s good to cling too tightly to noble customs. I can’t and won’t kick out other patrons when I dine in a village tavern. So, I want to practice sitting at a table with many people.”

As everyone exchanges glances, Marie is the first to act. Amidst the ten chairs, she sits down next to me, leaving one chair empty.

“Marie.”

“I can’t have my master repeat himself three times.”

Responding calmly to Cedric’s reprimanding tone, Marie takes her seat opposite me. Ed, Cliff, and Rad also take seats facing Marie. Perhaps realizing there’s no use in being stubborn alone, Cedric also takes a seat, leaving one chair between him and Marie.

“Thank you all so much for today. It’s humble, but please, help yourselves.”

With that invitation, everyone starts eating without hesitation.

The meat and vegetables are tender, and considering it’s been sixteen years since I last cooked, it’s quite delicious.

“Is this… soup?”

“Wow, it’s so good!”

“Wow, it’s really tasty!”

Listening to the three servants exclaiming with their spoons in hand, I couldn’t help but smile. Marie seemed surprised too, but it appears that stew with white sauce is rare in this world.

Perhaps it’s because butter itself is a luxury item. It would be nice if commoners could use it more freely.

“It really is delicious. I’ve never tasted anything this good before.”

“I appreciate the praise, but isn’t that a bit exaggerated?”

“No, it truly is delicious.”

Marie tears off a piece of bread, dips it into the stew, and chews with a dreamy expression. It seems she really likes it.

“This stir-fry is delicious too.”

“It’s even better than the famous restaurants in the capital.”

“I still prefer the soup.”

Regardless, if everyone says it’s delicious, then there’s nothing better than that.

Eating with others for the first time in a while, especially at such a lively table, Merfina ends up eating more than usual.