The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 72

Chapter 72: Lord’s Mansion Pizza Party

After getting ready and leaving the room, Serleine appeared outside with a maid just as I did.

“Good morning, Sister!”

“Good morning, Serleine. Perfect timing.”

We naturally held hands and descended the stairs. Serleine rarely experiences dizziness anymore, but as a precaution, it had become a habit for someone to accompany her in places with many stairs or steps.

“You look well. Did you sleep well last night?”

“Yes, it was very quiet, and I slept soundly until morning.”

“Snowfall makes everything so quiet. Fortunately, it doesn’t seem to have piled up much.”

However, in the northern regions, once snow falls, it doesn’t melt until the spring thaw, so from here on out, it will continue to accumulate. Although we’re not completely shut in, we’ll need to shovel snow as needed.

After finishing a simple breakfast in the dining room and relaxing in the gathering room, which was usual, Serleine seemed unusually restless today due to a certain plan.

“Serleine, time won’t pass any faster if you’re so restless.”

“That’s true, but I’m looking forward to it.”

“Anticipation often makes things even more enjoyable after the wait.”

Serleine pouted childishly and then realized it herself, hugging Felice tightly and burying her face in his dense winter fur.

“I wonder if knitting lace like Cedric will make time fly by.”

Cedric, who was sitting opposite Serleine and calmly knitting lace, smiled vaguely when suddenly addressed.

“If you’re having so much fun, you might not want to come downstairs?”

“Having so many enjoyable things is quite luxurious, isn’t it?”

Even so, since there’s only one body, you inevitably have to choose between multiple hobbies. What Serleine meant was that waiting for such a long time felt tedious.

“Though it’s a bit early, shall we begin?”

“! Yes!”

Bark! Felice barked as if she were prompted by Serleine, and then she ran around the living room in circles. But with a palm held up, she stopped on a dime.

It seems Godot had trained her well.

Due to the kiln, the warmest place in the lord’s mansion was the kitchen, and today the entire room was enveloped in a gently warming heat.

Even in midwinter, the stable baking of bread owed much to the warmth of this kitchen.

“Lady Melfina, are we starting already?”

“Yes, Serleine seems impatient.”

“Sister, you’re being mean.”

After pouting slightly and giving a fleeting glance from below, Serleine approached Ed.

“Ed, I’m counting on you today.”

“Yes, leave it to me!”

Since Serleine started having meals with everyone in the dining hall, a few days had passed.

Initially concerned whether Serleine, accustomed to solitary meals due to her position, would be bewildered, it seemed she had already grown accustomed to dining with others from her previous meals with Melfina. Much more smoothly than expected, Serleine also managed to fit in at the dining hall.

Currently, meals at the lord’s mansion were primarily prepared by Ed, with Anna assisting him. Melfina occasionally joined them, but Ed took charge, and recently he had also been overseeing the purchase of ingredients and kitchen matters.

Having conversations with chefs and servers, they dined in the dining hall connected to the kitchen, which seemed to have sparked Serleine’s interest in cooking. Since she expressed interest in helping out, they decided to make a new dish while they were at it.

“First, measure the flour, then put it in a bowl with water, salt, and soybean oil, and knead it. Start by mixing with a spatula, then once it’s combined, knead it by hand—it’ll be easier that way.”

Serleine measured the flour into a cup, and Ed efficiently brought it together. This part was familiar to him from making pie crusts and quiches.

“Don’t knead too much, or it’ll become too sticky. Once it’s come together somewhat, roll it into a ball and let the dough rest for a while.”

Half an hour should be enough rest time, so during that period, they decided to make the sauce.

“Let’s finely chop the garlic and onion, but Serleine, knives can be dangerous.”

“I’ll be very careful! Please let me do it, Sister!”

“But even so, if you cut your finger…”

Serleine’s anemia had improved considerably over the past month, and she hardly ever seemed pale anymore, but Melfina couldn’t help feeling a bit overprotective when it came to injuries and bleeding. Sensing Melfina’s hesitation, Serleine, who usually obeyed without fuss and looked adorable, spoke more firmly than usual.

“I’m a boy. I’ll be fine even if I get a little hurt. Besides, Ed, who’s the same age as me, can do it. It’d be embarrassing if I couldn’t.”

“Well…”

Ed now showed a glimpse of his talent, but he had said he hadn’t cooked before coming to Enkar this spring. The gap with Serleine was only about eight months.

Ed and Serleine came from vastly different backgrounds, so it was natural that there were things each could and couldn’t do. Even in the small mansion of the Enkar region’s lord, the closeness between two boys of the same age was unavoidable.

“Alright, promise me you’ll be careful and not get hurt, okay?”

“Yes!”

Onions made their eyes sting, and garlic had a strong smell, so Ed handled those while cutting the sun-dried tomatoes they made during the summer.

Born with overwhelming magical power but enduring a weak constitution, Serleine seemed very precarious gripping a knife for the first time, but she managed to cut the tomatoes as instructed.

“We’ll rehydrate these with a bit of water and vinegar. In a separate frying pan, sauté the garlic and onion until the onion turns transparent. Then, transfer the tomatoes along with their juices to the pan, cover, and simmer over low heat for about fifteen minutes. Once that’s done, continue simmering until the liquid reduces, then adjust the seasoning with salt to finish the sauce.”

“Sister, my fingers smell really good.”

“Cooking tends to leave smells on your hands. After handling ingredients, don’t lick your fingers; make sure to wash your hands each time.”

Apart from dried tomatoes and vegetables, meat and fish carried risks of bacterial contamination or parasite infection. Despite leaving the lord’s mansion, Serleine couldn’t imagine a situation where she’d touch food again, but as an adult, she might face battles with monsters or eat in unsanitary places.

Establishing habits of washing and wiping hands would be beneficial for health reasons.

In the kitchen where the scent of tomato sauce was beginning to waft, Ed took charge of the sauce, while Serleine divided and rolled the dough evenly. Once done, they flattened and shaped it with a rolling pin.

“It looks like flatbread.”

“Similar in shape, but the finished product will be completely different.”

After heating the stone oven and preparing the dough, they spread the completed sauce. They added their favorite toppings.

“Add your preferred toppings and finish with cheese. I recommend thinly sliced bacon or frankfurters, but bell peppers and herbs can add a nice touch too. Adding vegetables can give it more volume.”

They had Mozzarella and a round cheese aging nicely. Though not yet matured like Mimolette or Parmigiano-Reggiano, it had changed from deep yellow to a light orange on the surface, looking quite appetizing.

As they each topped their dough, they cut the cheese and sprinkled it for “appraisal”. They confirmed no microbial growth, then tried a slice.

The outer layer feels moist but firm, while the inside is still slightly soft. The mingling of milk and salt enhances the savory umami from aging, enriching its flavor.

…Delicious. This is already good enough for sale.

It might not satisfy those who prefer a stronger cheese flavor without any distinct character yet, but this taste should appeal to everyone. It’ll complement various dishes, and simply drizzling honey on it would undoubtedly be delicious.

Currently, the cheese is sold by monasteries and enjoyed by nobles. To sell it commercially, it must mature into a hard cheese to enhance portability and appeal to a broader market.

…Now, should I cut and bottle it with oil, or produce in bulk to lower costs and make it affordable for those with less purchasing power?

The former would incur higher costs but allows for preservation and on-demand consumption.

The latter might be premature at this stage.

“Sister, I’ve finished arranging the toppings.”

“Alright, now choose the cheese. Mozzarella or this new cheese—both are delicious in my opinion.”

“Can’t we use both?”

Serleine’s suggestion momentarily surprised her, and she chuckled softly.

Back when they had just arrived at the lord’s mansion, there were many days when Serleine hardly touched her plate. Now, she had become quite the food enthusiast.

“That sounds good too. Let’s go with both!”

After finely cutting both Mozzarella and the round cheese, they placed them on the dough using a long-handled spatula and slid it into the preheated stone oven.

“It’ll bake quickly, so keep an eye on the time. It’ll start to burn if it goes beyond 60 to 90 counts.”

“Yes! One, two, three…”

“Four, five, six, seven!”

Ed counted aloud, and Serleine followed suit. Their delightful mannerisms made Melfina couldn’t help but smile.

“Ed, Cliff, could you bring the ale barrels from the cellar?”

“Yes, right away!”

With the aroma of baking cheese filling the air, the two hurriedly left the kitchen. The freshly baked pizzas were swiftly placed on the table.

Baked in the high heat of the stone oven, the cheese had taken on a slightly browned color. The warmed cheese and meaty aromas mingled together, creating an irresistible scent that stimulated the appetite.

“Wow, looks amazing! It smells so delicious!”

“Let’s cut them and share. Ale goes really well with pizza.”

Melfina and Serleine, along with Ed, had chilled tea, while the others poured ale into their cups. They toasted modestly and Melfina lifted a slice of pizza first.

The crust, freshly baked and unleavened, was crispy. The tangy tomato sauce, gooey melted cheese, the savory smokiness of bacon—all combined into a luxurious yet indulgent flavor.

“Mmm, it’s really delicious.”

“I’ll have some too.”

Serleine took a slice topped generously with round cheese and took a bite. Her blue eyes lit up instantly.

“Wow, this is so delicious!”

“Everyone, please enjoy while it’s hot.”

They each reached out for a slice and enjoyed it, showing joyful expressions. The pleasure of eating hot pizza and washing it down with ale was irresistible.

“Sister, can we have some ale too?”

“The ale here at the lord’s mansion is strong in alcohol, so it’s not good for you until your body has fully matured. Let’s toast with tea instead.”

Raising her wooden cup, Serleine tapped it lightly and then turned to Ed.

“Ed, let’s toast too.”

“Uh, sure.”

“Ed, raise your cup.”

Hurriedly lifting his own cup, Ed chuckled as Serleine clinked hers against his. Melfina did the same, toasting with Ed.

“The tea is delicious too, Sister.”

“The taste varies depending on the toppings, so try a variety.”

“Yes!”

—After pizza and ale, perhaps fried chicken… or chicken nuggets would be nice.

She knew how to fry in lard, but hadn’t tried it yet. The leftover oil could go to the compost, and she’d have to try that next.

After that, with coleslaw salad and once potatoes were harvested, she’d definitely like some fried potato