The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 79

Chapter 79: New Year’s Eve Cooking

Before the sun reached its zenith that day, a visitor to the lord’s residence was Fritz, the son of Lutz from Enkar Village.

A middle-aged man who, in place of the elderly Lutz, effectively manages Enkar Village. He is also the father of Lloyd, the apprentice soldier who frequently brings fish as gifts.

They all have very similar appearances, suggesting a strong family resemblance.

“Lady Melfina, I apologize for the sudden visit. We had a large harvest of white beans in our fields, and I thought I would share some with you, if you don’t mind.”

“I’m delighted. I’ve never seen white beans before; could you show them to me?”

Although the basket offered was small, it was filled with beans that had already been removed from their pods. They were larger than oil beans or winter beans, and their shape was closer to fava beans. True to their name, they were pure white beans.

As Melfina, this is the first time seeing these beans, but they closely resemble white kidney beans from her previous life.

“Today and tomorrow, we are celebrating the New Year, so we harvested extra beans. My father said he would like you to try them if you’re willing.”

“Really, from Lutz? That’s wonderful.”

Although she still feels Lutz might be intimidated by her, she is very pleased if he has started to trust her a little.

“In this area, do people eat these beans for New Year’s?”

“Yes. For this day, we put plenty of pieces of dried ham that we’ve been saving into a pot, along with the beans soaked in water and various winter vegetables. If we can include duck legs, it makes for a really luxurious dish. We usually simmer it slowly from the afternoon with salted tomatoes. This year, I think most families will be using chicken.”

“It sounds delicious.”

In essence, it’s a hearty soup with plenty of ingredients. With ham, chicken, vegetables, and beans, plus tomatoes, it’s a combination that can’t possibly taste bad.

“Although this area wasn’t rich enough to celebrate New Year’s in such a manner in the past, it became a tradition to eat until we’re full at least on the last day of the year. Thanks to you, Lady Melfina, everyone no longer has to go hungry. Still, it’s a long-standing custom, so this year too, we want to keep it going.”

Fritz said.

“I think that’s wonderful. The lord’s residence will also make it tonight, and we’ll all enjoy it together. Hehe, it feels like being part of the Enkar region.”

It’s probably a local specialty of the Enkar region. Such traditions often become famous or develop into various versions over time.

“We’re happy too. Well then, have a peaceful last night of the year.”

That phrase is a northern end-of-year greeting. By the way, for the New Year, the greeting is “Congratulations on a healthy start to the new year.”

“Fritz, have a peaceful last night of the year as well.”

Smiling bashfully, Fritz left the lord’s residence.

In this world, I had thought there were neither Christmas celebrations nor New Year’s festivals, but it seems that the turning of the year is indeed something special.

—Indeed, milestones are important, aren’t they?

“Tonight, let’s prepare a modest feast to celebrate the successful end of the year at the lord’s residence.”

“I’ll help.”

“I’m really looking forward to it.”

Marie and Cedric, who were standing behind and beside me, also smiled.

It will be very cold tonight. The warm soup and celebratory dishes are sure to make it a special and memorable evening.

＊　＊　＊

Winter in the northern region sees sunset very early. Following the customs of this world, we eat dinner before it gets dark and quickly go to bed, so dinner feels quite early by Melfina’s sense of time.

Naturally, preparations for the meal must begin much earlier, so I decided to head to the kitchen immediately after lunch.

Ed, who has grown a bit taller, was sparkling with curiosity since I had announced that we would be making a new dish today.

“Today, we’ll be making gnocchi with the last of the pumpkin.”

Most of the large quantity of pumpkins bought from the residents of Enkar Village in the fall were purchased by Alexis. However, we used some for the autumn festival’s soup and decorations, and the lord’s residence also consumed a fair amount.

And finally, this will be the last one.

“After removing the seeds from the pumpkin, cut it into manageable pieces, peel the skin, and place it in a pot. Add a little water, cover it, and steam until it becomes soft.”

Once softened, discard the water left in the pot and cook it over low heat, mashing it with a wooden spoon. After thoroughly mashing and removing excess moisture, add salt while it’s still hot, toss in some butter, and mix well after cooling slightly. Then, add the egg yolk and mix thoroughly.

When it cools to a temperature that can be comfortably handled, mix in the flour, and knead well to finish the dough.

The pumpkin, which had been left to mature and ripen, had turned a vibrant yellow and gave off a sweet aroma after steaming. I had entrusted this task to Ed, and he handled it without any trouble.

“Shape the dough into sticks, cut them into about 3 cm pieces, lightly round them, and press them with a fork to create indentations.”

Marie and Serleine also helped with shaping the gnocchi. Both of them are skilled with their hands, so they rolled the dough into long, thin shapes and pressed the fork onto them with precision.

“Lady Melfina, is there any particular reason for making the fork indentations?”

Marie asked.

I tilted my head inwardly, as I had always thought this was just the way gnocchi are made without giving it much thought.

“By creating these grooves, the sauce adheres better, and it also makes the texture more enjoyable when eating, I suppose.”

“I see.”

Although my answer was somewhat unsure, Marie didn’t seem to mind. Once all the gnocchi were shaped, dusted with flour, and ready to be boiled in plenty of water just before serving, everything was set.

For the sauce, I made a creamy mixture flavored with mushrooms and white wine, using butter to cook the trout. The light trout and rich cream paired well together, creating a delightful winter dish.

Then, I arranged the winter vegetable and tomato soup with dried ham, white beans, and chicken that Fritz had told me about on the table. Ale and tea were also prepared so everyone could drink as much as they wanted, and the table was set.

It’s unusual for everyone to be in the dining room at the same time since we usually have separate duties, but today, the servants finished their work by early afternoon, and we enjoyed a long-awaited dinner together.

—It has become quite lively.

When Melfina arrived here at the beginning of spring, she had only Marie and Cedric as her attendants, assigned by Alexis. Soon after, Rad, Cliff, and Ed, who had originally accompanied her as laborers, declared themselves as servants. Anna joined as a maid, and Felice as the pet dog.

With Serleine, the prince from the neighboring country, joining the table, and Simon, his physician, also taking a seat, the table, though somewhat mismatched as a family, was filled with the warmth of the meal and the smiles of everyone.

“Thanks to all of you, we’ve reached the end of the year safely. Despite everything that happened, I truly appreciate it.”

“It’s been an exciting year for us too.”

“It was a fun year. Thank you, Lady Melfina.”

“Let’s enjoy this while it’s still warm. Cheers!”

Melfina raised her cup of ale and took the first sip. Everyone then lifted their cups, and dinner began.

“This gnocchi has such an interesting texture. The sauce clings to it, and it’s really delicious.”

“Even though it’s not hard, it has a great bite. It’s a unique texture. It’s quite intriguing.”

“Maybe ‘chewy’ is the word? It’s pretty interesting, don’t you think?”

“I see, ‘chewy’… Yes, that fits well.”

It’s moments like these, filled with shared joy and discovery, that create lasting memories. The lively conversations and warm atmosphere are surely making this a memorable end to the year.

In the Kingdom of Francesca, wheat is primarily kneaded and baked, and there’s little tradition of preparing dishes similar to suiton*. Although they seemed puzzled, everyone ate with enthusiasm and no signs of resistance.

*Japanese dish that is made by slicing flour dough by hand, rolling it by hand, and scooping it into small pieces, then boiling it in soup

“This white bean soup is incredibly delicious. The acidity of the tomatoes and the flavor of the meat complement each other perfectly, and the beans soaked up the soup so they’re wonderfully tender.”

“Apparently, this was a special dish for New Year’s Eve, but since we’ve had a good harvest of beans and chicken is now more affordable, it might become an occasional luxury instead.”

In the Enkar region, where raising chickens is encouraged mainly for manure, many households have chicken coops. Hens lay one egg a day, so any surplus is sold cheaply in the market. Both eggs and chicken meat are thus much more affordable compared to other regions, making it relatively easy for households without chickens to obtain eggs.

Chicken meat and eggs are excellent sources of protein, crucial for muscle and skin health, and overall well-being. For Melfina, it’s heartening to see the territory becoming rich enough that families can occasionally gather for a meal filled with meat and vegetables.

“I hope that’s the case.”

“I really like this soup too. Do you think it could be made in Luxen as well?”

“I don’t cook myself, but I’ve seen these beans in the market. You should be able to make it.”

“It’s just a matter of adding ingredients and simmering slowly, so if you have the beans, it should be possible.”

“It’s lovely to end the year with a feast like this together. It’s been really enjoyable.”

“Is there anything special about the end of the year in the Kingdom of Luxen?”

As Serleine carefully cut the meat off the bone from the tomato soup, he happily shared, “In Luxen, the clan gathers for a grand feast. On this night, even children and women are allowed to join the festivities, making the event very lively. I enjoy apple cider, so I would drink it with the maids.”

“That sounds delicious. I’ve had apple cider in the capital city as well.”

“In the capital, how do you spend the last day of the year?”

“There’s a party at the palace, but children who haven’t reached adulthood can’t attend, so we have a somewhat extravagant meal at home. Once you’ve made your debut, you can join the palace parties. I was looking forward to it, but—”

Before the first New Year’s Eve after reaching adulthood—meaning tonight—Melfina had come to the northern region, so she ended up missing the palace party.

—In the game, Melfina went directly to the capital right after leaving the ducal house, so she must have attended the New Year’s Eve party.

Since “now” is before Maria’s descent, details about this period weren’t covered in the game, but it’s likely that Melfina, as depicted in “The Kingdom of Hearts” attended such events in magnificent dresses.

—Not only did she attend New Year’s Eve parties, but she also participated in nearly all events named as such, flaunting lavish dresses each time.

In the game, Melfina was often portrayed as extravagant with her spending. Looking back, it seems that her lavish lifestyle was a manifestation of her loneliness.

Perhaps her excessive spending was also a way to test how far Alexis would tolerate her actions.

Thinking back, there must have been a famine at that time.

There was also the battle with Pluina, as conveyed by the knights.

In the game, Melfina was depicted as being engulfed in luxury, and such aspects were never shown.

—Why was she so keen on attending parties? It’s not like she had close friends of her own age, or a partner in the form of a husband or fiancé.

Men were required to have a female partner, such as a wife, fiancée, or female relative, but women could attend if they had a husband or fiancée, other male relatives, or an accompanying maid or chaperone.

While the game didn’t delve into details, it’s likely Melfina had either Marie or a suitably hired chaperone for such occasions.

As a duchess, she surely had no shortage of people trying to get close to her. Despite this, Melfina’s strong attachment to Alexis was apparent, and she showed no interest in other men.

—Being the villainess in the game, it was unlikely to include a depiction of her having another lover. Nonetheless, Melfina was steadfastly devoted to Alexis.

If she had taken on another lover, perhaps Melfina’s route with Alexis would not have ended in such a way.

“Big sis? Is something wrong?”

“…No, I was just thinking it would have been nice to have had at least one chance to attend a party. I learned various protocols, but it seems I never got the opportunity to use them.”

“In that case, would you like to dance with me?”

“Dance?”

Surprised by the unexpected suggestion, Melfina looked at Serleine, who brightened with a smile as if he had just come up with a great idea.

“I haven’t actually been to a real ballroom myself since I haven’t reached adulthood yet, and my health was weak, so I didn’t receive much training. But dancing at parties is still a tradition in the Kingdom of Francesca, isn’t it?”

“Yes, even though I was only taught the basics. However, there’s no music here.”

While the dining room is spacious enough, a party typically involves hiring an orchestra to play music throughout the night. Without music, it’s challenging to keep rhythm and time the steps and turns.

But Serleine, seemingly unconcerned, cheerfully said

“Let’s all sing! I’m sure it will be fun.”

“I think that’s a great idea, Melfina. If you don’t mind, would you accompany me for a song?”

“Marie?”

“I also learned to dance, but never had the chance to actually dance. I’d love to.”

“It would be a shame not to use what you’ve learned,” Cedric, typically so stiff, said.

Hearing this from Cedric made Melfina feel as if she were even more rigid than he was, reluctant to deviate from the usual protocols.

“Yes, since we’re in the lord’s residence, let’s dance.”

“Yes!”

In response to Serleine’s cheerful voice, even Felice, gnawing on a beef bone, barked enthusiastically. The timing was so perfect that, after a brief pause, everyone at the table burst into laughter.