Chapter 54

54.

“Th-thank you very much.”

The woman with black hair rose as I lightly grabbed her hand to help her up.

‘Hmm.’

Definitely an assassin.

As she drew closer, I could feel her trademark presence.

It was so subtle that one would miss it without heightened senses, an eerie and unpleasant aura.

Trying to avoid my perception with mediocre skill would be impossible. Is she a master?

I suppressed the urge to reach for my sword and instead inspected her condition.

“Are you injured anywhere?”

“No. Thanks to you, Sir Knight, I’m unharmed. I truly appreciate your help.”

The woman still held my hand lightly as she bowed her head slightly.

For a brief moment before her face turned downward, I caught a glimpse of her indifferent eyes. When she raised her head again, her amber eyes softened as she smiled warmly.

‘Impressive.’

Her acting skills were considerable, perhaps due to her background as an assassin. Anyone would see her as a delicate woman rescued from a villain. If there had been no witnesses, she likely would have struck already.

Fighting the urge to draw my weapon, I withdrew my hand.

While checking for any tracking scents on my hand, Hunts and the guards approached and saluted.

“To the order of the empire. I am Officer Hunts of the Second Guard Unit of the South Gate Security Division. Thank you for your assistance.”

After scanning the surroundings, Hunts spoke softly.

He was clearly being cautious, aware that I had come incognito.

‘Perceptive.’

He seemed experienced, and when I had briefly assessed his combat ability, it was around the upper level of a knight, just below a master.

“Hunts Officer. That strange guy caused quite a ruckus.”

“No, it’s our duty as guards.”

“Hmm, true. Anyway, I shouldn’t keep a busy person.”

I waved my hand dismissively as he hesitantly lingered.

“Go on. I need to leave too. I’ll visit the South Gate Security Division sometime, so let the captain know.”

“Yes, yes. Understood.”

With a quick salute, Hunts and the guards departed.

They disappeared quicker than they arrived. Could they have been fleeing?

‘Well then.’

Turning back to the woman who had patiently waited while I conversed with the guards.

As if she had been waiting for this moment, the woman spoke quickly.

“Perhaps some form of gratitude…”

“It’s not necessary…”

I stopped mid-sentence as my gaze fell upon a store sign featuring various spices and beverages.

I remembered why I had come to the southern district.

“I’ll accept your offer.”

“Yes, understood. Please return here at sunset. Alternatively, I could prepare it right away…”

“No. Not necessary.”

I looked into her amber eyes filled with curiosity and continued.

“I’ll need sugar, milk, and honey.”

I’ll be making pudding anyway.

After obtaining some high-quality meat recommendations from her and collecting pudding ingredients along with pork belly, I headed towards the inner defenses.

It would be insane to have an assassin serve me at night. Not that I had any intention of doing so.

Could she have possibly laced the sugar with poison out of frustration for my refusal?

“…”

To be safe, I tasted a bit with my fingertip.

“…It’s sweet.”

The ingredients were top-notch.

With a more relaxed mind, I quickly returned to the imperial palace.

*

I was greeted by Alberto with a serious expression upon my return to the palace.

“Your Majesty…”

The white-haired elder let out a small sigh as we crossed paths in the hallway on my way to the kitchen.

“You’ve been outside the outer walls again, haven’t you?”

“Staying cooped up would harm my health. Don’t I need some fresh air and wind?”

“You’re not spending enough time in the Audience Chamber to harm your health, are you?”

“If Her Majesty the Empress had spoken, I might have understood.”

Alberto’s gaze was sharp as he muttered that.

It’s pointless for him to look at me like that.

Even if I sit at the desk with great enthusiasm, hives break out all over my body.

My body simply rejects the mountain of documents and books.

“I’ve been diligently handling state affairs recently.”

“You’ve skipped all your lessons.”

“…”

Alberto shook his head and looked at the basket in my hands.

“Ingredients gathered from outside the outer walls, I see. Is there any particular dish you’d like me to prepare?”

“I’m not asking someone to make it. I gathered these to make it myself.”

“Making it yourself? Could it be that the palace cuisine doesn’t suit your taste?”

“Not that…”

Come to think of it, does Alberto like snacks?

“Chamberlain. Do you like desserts?”

“Desserts, you say?”

“Yes. I’m planning to make one. Something quite sweet. Would you like to join me?”

Alberto’s expression hardened at my words. Could it be he dislikes sweets?

“I pride myself on a rigorous palate and philosophy regarding desserts. It would be very enlightening. As the Chamberlain of the Imperial Palace, I shall truly experience the taste of Your Majesty’s dessert.”

“Haha, don’t get your hopes up…”

I informed Alberto that it might take a while and asked him to come to the Audience Chamber an hour after dinner.

“Come with the Empress Rani. Ah, keep the contents a secret from them.”

“Hmm. Understood. I’ll prepare an appropriate tea.”

Perhaps a mild tea…

No, a slightly bitter tea might be more fitting…

Alberto walked away, muttering seriously.

I watched his departing figure, brimming with enthusiasm, before entering the kitchen.

The kitchen was bustling with chefs preparing dinner.

It was still early for dinner, yet the chefs were already busy preparing ingredients and cooking.

As I stood at the entrance observing the lively kitchen scene, the rotund head chef approached and greeted me.

“Your Highness. This way.”

The head chef led me to a corner of the kitchen.

I had previously informed him of my intention to use the kitchen tools and space before heading out to the southern district.

Despite the sudden request, the head chef nodded without hesitation. He even mentioned wanting to taste this dessert he’d never seen before.

‘Good thing I prepared extra.’

The assassin woman had handed them over for free, so I ended up bringing more than planned.

Considering the head chef as well, four portions should be enough, with some leftovers.

With the various tools prepared in the small space, all that was left was to begin making the dessert.

‘Let’s make it quickly and rest.’

First, I heated the sugar to make caramel syrup.

The ingredients are sugar and water. Placing them in a small pot and heating over a medium flame. When the sugar water turns brown, I gradually added water to achieve the desired amount, completing the caramel syrup.

A small layer of the finished syrup is poured neatly into the bottom of the molds to shape the pudding.

“Good.”

Next, the pudding base.

After cracking eggs into a bowl, I quickly whisked them. Whisking with moderate force breaks the yolks…

Crack.

“…”

As I lightly whisked with the stick, it accidentally hit the bottom.

The bowl shattered.

‘What is this?’

Could it be due to absorbing Aidan’s mana, making my strength more volatile?

It seems I’ve recently lacked practice in controlling my strength.

I thought I had used my usual gentle force when whisking, but apparently, I applied too much strength.

“…”

With the head chef’s help, I quickly cleaned up the area.

I added eggs for four portions into a new bowl and whisked carefully with controlled strength.

Whish, whish, whish.

Thankfully, the bowl didn’t break this time thanks to my restraint.

I added plenty of honey to eliminate any fishy smell before placing the mixture over heat. Stirring continuously while adding sugar and milk, I heated it until fully dissolved.

I strained the liquid with a sieve and poured it carefully into the molds with the caramel syrup, covering them.

Finally, the grand finale.

Place the molds on a cloth-lined pot. Add an appropriate amount of water, cover the pot, and steam over low heat for a while.

Since ovens and gelatin don’t exist here, precise heating and cooling are crucial.

If overcooked, it becomes sugar steamed eggs – a failure I experienced when making pudding in my previous life.

Thinking of sugar steamed eggs, I shook off the bad memory and checked the timer.

Carefully transferring the pudding molds to a metal tray, I headed to the corner of the kitchen.

Normally, I would refrigerate the pudding after steaming, but fridges don’t exist in this world.

However, surprisingly, a small refrigerator facility does exist here!

It doesn’t match a modern fridge’s power, but it can maintain adequate cold storage for refrigeration.

These facilities are rare, only existing in the palace kitchens and some major city kitchens.

Still, it exists.

The world’s background story, with its mysterious mix of technology and magic, explains this phenomenon.

While not common, the world does have magic, evidenced by Calion and occasionally mentioned in the novel.

Not often, but occasionally.

It seems this setting was casually added by the author when explaining certain anomalies impossible in that era.

Living in this world, I’ve found such conveniences do exist.

Some mysterious wizards occasionally grant advanced technology.

Perhaps I’ll meet one eventually. Having risen to a high position in the empire, uncovering some hidden truths of the world seems natural.

‘Anyway, it’s done.’

Lifting the cloth covering the molds, the firm yellow pudding was revealed.

Replacing the cloth, I placed the molds into the small refrigerator in the kitchen corner.

Beaming with anticipation, I informed the head chef.

“Let it cool for about two hours. I’m going to train for a bit.”

“Yes! I can’t wait!”

*

By evening, after the sun had completely set.

I brought three puddings to the brightly lit Audience Chamber.

I had given one to the head chef upon completion.

Upon tasting it, he had tears streaming down his face with an expression of pure bliss.

It wasn’t that good, was it?

The surrounding chefs mentioned that he often reacts that way to delicious food.

Regardless, this dessert, approved by the imperial palace’s head chef, should please the two guests well. Rani had tasted it before at Hassen Baronet and should enjoy it.

‘Ah.’

Focusing only on moving the pudding, I forgot the spoons.

‘Am I developing amnesia?’

I might have forgotten while plating it for show.

Going back to the kitchen would be a hassle.

I called for a nearby maid to bring three spoons.

We had some time before the guests arrived, so I could wait patiently for the spoons.

Knock, knock.

“Oh, you’re quick.”

About five minutes had passed when I heard the knock on the Audience Chamber doors and invited the maid in.

The maid, with neatly arranged posture, bowed formally as she entered.

Her soft green short hair and amber eyes marked her as one of the more attractive maids in the palace.

The maid approached the table with the pudding without making a sound and placed the spoons down.

‘Hmm.’

I watched the maid bow again and headed towards the door.

‘…There’s a smell.’

There’s an undeniable smell.

The subtle yet disturbing and sneaky smell.

This faint, dirty presence. The presence of an assassin.

‘This one is…’

Daring to tread the palace, let alone boldly walk before me?

I immediately launched myself towards the green-haired maid as she stepped outside the door.