The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 69

Chapter 69: Cheese Fondue and Pick-Up Lines

Upon returning to the tent, the inside was already sufficiently warmed, making it slightly sweaty to keep the thick coat on.

As Marie helped me take off my coat, Ed, Cliff, and Rad, accompanied by Roland, visited the tent.

“Lady Melfina, we’ve finished distributing lunch to the soldiers.”

“Thank you for your hard work. Have you three already eaten?”

“No, we’ll eat now. Thank you for preparing the tent for us as well.”

Since the knights were present, Rad seemed a bit more formal than usual, so I offered words of appreciation.

“I wanted the soldiers to try the soup from the lord’s manor, so you’ve been a great help. Make sure you don’t catch a chill.”

The three of them, who had been working together all along, responded in perfect unison, bringing a smile to my face.

“Sister, it smells really good.”

“Yes, let’s have lunch too.”

Opening the basket filled with lunch on the table revealed sandwiches stuffed with various fillings, root vegetable soup prepared by Ed and simmering on the stove, and cheese fondue with vegetables and steamed mushrooms as ingredients.

In addition to this, ale was also prepared for the soldiers.

“Hey, Serleine, if it’s alright, can Marie and Cedric join us too?”

“Lady Melfina, we’ll eat later.”

Marie said in surprise, holding out her hand to stop her.

“Eating with the servants?”

“Yes, before I started eating with Serleine, we all used to have meals together at the lord’s manor. I’m used to dining with a large group, so I feel a bit lonely.”

Nobles, especially those of higher rank, tend to have fewer opportunities to dine together as a family. It is not uncommon for royals or dukes to live separately in their own palaces or mansions.

Under normal circumstances, it would not be customary for Serleine and Melfina, who are guests, to share meals other than dinner. However, given Serleine’s recuperation and the small size and proximity of the lord’s manor, they usually share three meals a day unless Melfina is occupied with work.

“If everyone is eating together, please count me in. It sounds like fun.”

“Serleine, do you mind?”

“If my sister is there, I’m sure it will be fun too.”

There was no hint of reluctance in Serleine’s words or expression.

“Marie, Cedric, take your seats.”

“But…”

“I told you, didn’t I? I was lonely.”

Both of them showed signs of confusion, but it was always Marie who took the initiative in such situations, and this time was no exception. Sitting down next to Melfina left the remaining open seat naturally beside Serleine.

Cedric cast a slightly resentful glance at Marie, but Melfina laughed, stood up, and took a seat next to Serleine.

Given Cedric’s earnest nature, it might be harsh to expect him to sit next to the crown prince of a neighboring country.

“Thank you, Serleine.”

“There’s not much I can do for you, Sister, so this makes me happy too.”

Patting her small back gently with his palm, he smiled at the still-nervous two, and lunch began.

Cheese and milk were added to the small pot, gently warmed and stirred to melt without overheating. Once thickened, it was removed from the stove.

Marie had prepared sandwiches and fondue ingredients on small plates in front of each seat.

“Sister, what’s this?”

“You dip the ingredients in the melted cheese to eat. Like this…”

She skewered a piece of ham with a fork, dipped it into the pot of cheese, and lifted it out. She placed the gooey cheese on a slice of bread and took a bite.

While this manner of eating was hardly aristocratic, eating hot food while it’s still hot was an unparalleled luxury.

“I want to try it too! So, I dip these small plate ingredients in the cheese, right?”

“Yes, the cheese stretches a lot, so be careful not to spill it on your clothes.”

The soup was warm, and the subtle sweetness of the root vegetables was comforting. The sandwich bread was soft, firmly holding the fillings inside, and the tang of the mayonnaise provided a nice accent.

Currently, the main method of meat preservation is salting, but it’s about time to start making smoked products like sausages and bacon, as well as long-lasting items like prosciutto.

—Soon, it will be the time to slaughter livestock, and with Simon, who knows a lot about herbs, around, maybe I should try making some at the lord’s manor during the winter.

If we build a smokehouse, it would be outdoors. Rubbing the meat with salt and wrapping it in moon rabbit leaves that smell of pepper might produce a simple prosciutto.

“The meals at the lord’s manor are really delicious, but eating outside like this is fun too, Sister.”

“Yes, during warmer weather, spreading a blanket and eating outside would also be refreshing and enjoyable.”

“That sounds really fun too! If a gourmet came to Enkar, they would surely end up settling here.”

In this context, a “gourmet” doesn’t mean just someone who loves delicious food, but a person knowledgeable about cuisine, almost like a profession or status.

Most gourmets are also writers or poets, and hosting a meal praised by a renowned gourmet could even influence a family’s social standing.

Gourmet cuisine—delicious food—is quite costly and labor-intensive in this world, where transportation technology is underdeveloped and food preservation methods are inadequate. Gourmets themselves are usually wealthy nobles, as otherwise, it would be challenging for them to express and share the excellence, craftsmanship, and creativity of the meals they enjoy with a broader audience.

If they hear of peculiar cuisine in the west, they travel there. If they learn of unfamiliar spices in the east, they make the journey. Constantly seeking new ingredients, cooking techniques, and the resulting delicacies, they are sometimes invited by royalty to sample sophisticated court cuisine.

In this world, they are a rare breed—wandering nobility.

Enjoying exquisite food is a testament to a household’s ability to afford such luxury. When a gourmet spreads the word, it leads to the perception that the household is prosperous and influential. For nobles who value reputation above all, gourmets are indispensable and cannot be overlooked.

In a way, they are similar to Michelin inspectors who award stars to restaurants in the previous world.

“Gourmets enjoy traveling and trying food in various regions, so even if they like a place, they probably won’t settle down.”

I said.

“If I were a gourmet, I wouldn’t want to leave the Enkar region without experiencing its spring, summer, autumn, and winter a few times.”

Serleine said, munching on a sandwich. I patted her head and told her to eat more calmly. While I was happy she enjoyed the food, I felt slightly guilty that she might forget her manners after staying in the Enkar region.

“Can we make this cheese dish in Luxen too? I think even salty cheese would taste good this way.”

“Since it basically involves grating the cheese and warming it in white wine or milk, it should be possible. Any ingredients can go with it. Though managing the temperature for a party might be tricky and a bit plain.”

If overheated, the cheese burns, and if it cools too much, it solidifies, so it often needs to be reheated. Serleine placed a finger to her lips, tilting her head slightly in thought.

“If we use a magic stone stove and create a device to regulate the temperature, it might work. Not just for cheese fondue, but it could keep soups and drinks warm too, making it quite versatile.”

“That’s a wonderful idea. If an alchemist comes to the Enkar region, let’s try making it.”

“Well, it’s just a thought,” she replied.

“When you come up with something useful and try to bring it to life, it might spark even more new ideas. Gradually becoming more convenient is a wonderful thing.”

Melfina said.

Serleine smiled happily and agreed.

“Yes, that’s true.”

“You’re very intelligent, Sister, and I’ve heard you create all sorts of things. I think there’s nothing you don’t know.”

“Haha, you’re overestimating me. There are plenty of things I don’t know and many mistakes I make.”

“It doesn’t look that way to me.”

“I just make sure it doesn’t look that way.”

“Why is that?”

The question came naturally from the flow of the conversation, and Melfina could tell that Serleine didn’t mean anything deep by it.

—Why, indeed.

Even before her previous life’s memories resurfaced, Melfina was already “like that”.

There were many more things she didn’t know back then, and many things didn’t go as she wished, but she always maintained her composed demeanor as a noble lady. She never showed personal emotions—sadness or loneliness—to others.

She didn’t complain to her parents about why they didn’t love her, nor did she show any signs of loneliness or sentimentality when leaving home to marry into the Oldrand family.

“…I guess I just don’t like showing my weaknesses.”

This was likely a result of Melfina’s strong tendency not to rely on others. She never thought that crying out in loneliness or sadness would change anything.

But if she had been able to express herself, could she have avoided harboring resentment towards Maria? If she had been able to tell Alexis that being a decorative wife was painful and that she wanted to be loved by him as a wife?

—No, surely nothing would have changed.

After the wedding, he blatantly said he had no intention of loving her and told her to live wherever she liked. Even if that was just part of Alexis’s character, she couldn’t imagine him accepting her feelings no matter how she expressed them.

And so, Melfina’s life was one of repeated resignations.

Changing that core part of herself now would be incredibly difficult.

“Then, it’s the same for me.”

Serleine said.

“You too, Serleine?”

“In Luxen, winters are long, and it’s a man’s duty to hunt in the dangerous winter forests and seas. Being strong and enduring is considered manly. Because I was weak and slow to grow, I had a strong feeling that I shouldn’t show any weakness. I couldn’t call my father and mother like my sisters did; I had to call them ‘Your Majesty’ and ‘Her Highness’. Even though I wasn’t fulfilling my duties as a prince, I felt I shouldn’t wish to rely on anyone.”

“Serleine…”

The Kingdom of Luxen is a northern country where more than half the land faces the sea. It’s harder to procure food and fight external threats like beasts and monsters compared to the Kingdom of Francesca.

Perhaps that’s why strength is especially demanded of men, particularly the royal family and nobility. Serleine is only twelve years old, and because of his vast magical power, he appears even younger.

Clearly, this was a disadvantage for the first prince.

When Serleine first arrived in the Enkar region, he was extremely polite and composed. Despite his physical struggles, which must have been much more challenging back then, he never showed it.

Saying things like “I’m sleepy”, “This is fun”, or “I’m hungry”, which are normal for a child, is a considerable change in itself.

“Sister, you’re so kind that sometimes I feel like I’ve turned back into a baby. So, if you find someone you can rely on, maybe you’ll feel the same way.”

“Haha, if I turned into a baby, that would be troublesome.”

“If I were an adult, I would spoil you even if you were a baby.”

Serleine said, showing a slightly sulky profile, which made Melfina chuckle and shake her shoulders with laughter.

“Serleine, you’ll surely become a very strong and admirable man. You’re already so impressive.”

“I used to want to be like that, but now I want to grow up to be an adult like you, Sister.”

“Like me?”

“I want to be strong, admirable, cool, and a kind adult, just like you!”

At his straightforward words, I couldn’t help but feel my cheeks flush.

“…Serleine, you’ll surpass even that, I’m sure of it.”

After all, the skill of “wooing the opposite sex” is something Melfina unfortunately lacks.

Even now, though still young, Serleine has a face well-suited for being a charming target. When he grows up, he’ll undoubtedly be admired by many women and be the cause of their sighs.