Chapter 21 - A Certain Chef Apprentice POV (part 4)

Tap, tap, tap.

A sound of someone running to the kitchen.

Creak.

The sounds of the kitchen door opened and both of us could see the gleeful face of the head chef. It looks suspicious and scary for some reason.

"Good news for you! The Viscountess decided to approve your suggestion and you can only give your trial foods to that thing and her mother. You can start tomorrow. Don't forget the Viscountess's kindness and make sure you thank her later." He said while reminding us (especially my lady) to be grateful to the Viscountess.

"Of course, I will remember what you told me, Sir. I thank you for your kindness, Mister Head Chef!"

My lady tone seems happy. I peek at her almost expressionless face and found out that there is a change in her face. It was a minuscule change but I only notice it after carefully looking at her face.

So she also changes her expression although it is only slightly different from her usual expressionless face.

At that time I remember that the head chef is still in front of me.

"Thank you, Teacher." I snapped from my dazed, and thank the head chef.

"Mm, good to know that you understand the grace that we gave you. Continue with your work. I will check your work later. Remember that you can't be slacking around and still have to finish your work. I will leave the cleaning to you now." The head chef said like some good person before he leave the kitchen.

After the head chef leaves the kitchen, my lady suddenly grins. For some reason, her smile looks like someone who plotting something bad. Maybe because she grinned with her almost expressionless face.

It's better to stop her from making such an expression before someone came and saw her with that expression.

"Do you have anything that you need to do, my lady?" I decided to ask while looking at her face.

Fortunately, she stops grinning.

"..." She open her mouth as if she was trying to say something but then she stop.

Her eyes getting a bit bigger. Maybe she feels surprised. I thought as I carefully observed her.

"Oh my goodness, I almost forgot about the books that I have to read. I'm sorry Brother Winslow, I need to do my homework. See you later." She quickly dash to her room and left me in the kitchen.

That was an unexpected reaction.

Her tone reminds me of my younger siblings that afraid of the punishment when they do something wrong. I couldn't help as I laughed at her unexpectedly childlike reactions.

I wish she will be able to express herself more freely in the future.

I continue my work and prepare for lunchtime. As I work I was wondering about what she might say about her plan.

She says that she wants to teach me about new recipes. I can not wait to see her at lunchtime. I continue with my work but strangely I feel extremely energetic today.

But when lunchtime came, she never came to the kitchen.

I started to feel worried.

'Did something happen to her? Did they do something to her?'

I tried to ask about her to other servants but no one knew or care about what happened to her. I try to hide my intent like what she told me and said that I am looking for her because the Viscountess decide to make her as my new recipe taste taster.

After listening to my reasoning, most of them are having a similar reaction as the head chef. Some of them even suggested me to put some poison in the food. I can't understand why they were acting like that when she never do something bad to them.

I wait and wait but she never came to the kitchen even after dinner time.

Only when everyone finishes their dinner and I was alone in the kitchen to wash the dishes I could hear someone sneaking into the kitchen.

"Where have you been? Why don't you come at lunchtime? Do you know that it is not a good thing to skip your meals? You are just a two-year-old child, you should care more about yourself..."

Unconsciously I speak with a quite harsh tone while carefully looking at her thin and small body. Luckily there was no wound or other abnormal sign. But she was breathing roughly. Maybe she run as quickly as possible because it was already this time.

"Brother Winslow, can you continue your scolding after I get my dinner? Oh and can you give me an extra portion?"

She seems to try acting cute. Well, actually it was quite funny because of the difference in her tone and expression. She might look cute if she could express herself more normally.

"Haa..., you are really...haa..." I just sighed and give her the dinner.

I feel as if my worry and anger are suddenly washed away because of her strange act.

"Thank you, Brother Winslow!" She thanked me and started to eat her dinner at the corner like before.

"Do you know how worried I was because I can't see you at lunchtime and even though everyone has finished their dinner you still have not appeared? What are you doing to make you skip your meals?" I asked her with worry tone.

I am really curious about her reason for being unable to get her meals. I almost finished my work. If she comes a bit late, I might go to her room to check k her condition.

"You will get old quicker if you keep worrying like that."

But she was joking as if she didn't know that I was worrying about her condition.

"That's not funny!"

It makes me feel angry as I raise my voice.

"Haa, I know about that, Brother Winslow." She sighed and this time she answered seriously.

She suddenly bows her head.

"I'm sorry for making you feel worried." She apologizes to me.

I was surprised to see her bow her head like that.

"I know it's not good for skipping my meals, but I need to finish my reading before tomorrow. Besides I forgot about the time because I was too serious when I started reading. It's fun to read and learn so many things that I didn't know. I think you can say it was my bad habit." As she said it, her face flushed a bit red. I think from her reaction, she seems to be embarrassed.

"So you realized that it was wrong but still doing it, right?"

Unbelievable! What kind of reason is that?! How could you have this kind of habit when you are only a two-year-old child? Did you think I will spare you from my nagging if you make that kind of reasoning?

I continue with my nagging while glaring at her.

"...But Brother Winslow, I can't do that because I live in this house. They will give me more punishment if I didn't do it!" She timidly answered.

"..."

'Punishment'! I never thought of it. No, I never even imagine that they will do that to her.

How could they tell her to do that? I had heard that she had not lived in this mansion for a week when I ask about her at lunch and dinner time to other servants. Isn't that mean she just started learning about how to read?

I tried to say something to her but I couldn't utter any words.

"You can add some salt, peppers, herbs, cheese, butter or some stocks to this mashed potato. You can also add a sauce to make it taste better." She suddenly said while continue eating her dinner.

Her word really surprised me.

"What! Why are you looking at me like that?" She asked me when she saw my expression.

"Ahem. How do you know about this?" I feel odd. How could she know about this?

"I read it in the book that I read," She answers me.

But there is something suspicious in her answer. Although I can't point out the disturbing part of her answer.

"Ah, right! You can also add some egg yolks if you like. I think it will make a smoother texture but it will also be made the taste a bit sweet and tangy. If you dislike it, just put some butter or warm milk when you start to mash it." She add more tips as if she was reciting what she had read before.

Hmm!!

"Is it safe for adding the uncooked egg yolks into it?" I asked as most people know that you might have a stomachache if you eat an uncooked egg.

"It's safe if you can be heated it in their shells but not enough to cook the eggs. The heat will clean the eggs of any dangerous substances. There also some dressings that use raw eggs as their ingredients." She suddenly explains.

"Did you also read it from the books?" I still feel suspicious about it.

"Un, that's right." she just nodded at my question.

"Alright, I will try it for tomorrow's breakfast."

I will try it tomorrow morning. I can't wait to try what she was telling me.

"While you cook it, there are few important things like the heat,..."

I never thought that she continues to give more tips to improve my cooking skills. As expected from a real genius.

"Right, my lady, have you finished your reading? You said that you need to finish reading all of the books your tutor give you, right?" I asked with concern. I don't want her to get punished.

"Oh no! I forgot to read the last one! I'm sorry brother Winslow, see you tomorrow."

She quickly said goodbye and run back to her room.

"Don't work yourself too hard and ask for help if you are in trouble."

Looking at her reactions, I could only feel worried