Surviving as the Wife of the Swordsmanship Clan’s Troublemaker - Chapter 41

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 41

 

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Francesca saying she wanted to learn cooking, and me frozen in place.

 

Between us, two maids and May with eyes wide like startled rabbits.

 

Seeing their reactions, it seemed my ears weren’t playing tricks on me.

 

“Um… Madam, do you perhaps mean you want me to make food?”

 

In case she had misspoken, I asked again.

 

But Francesca calmly cleared her throat and continued speaking.

 

“I liked the food you made for me. I’ve always had a wish to try making something like that myself.”

 

“Ah…”

 

Mulling over the word ‘wish’, my gaze naturally turned to her hands.

 

Despite having given birth to three sons, her hands were whiter and more radiant than those of the young maids standing beside her. If her wish was to cook, she would have had plenty of opportunities. Even the innocent and kind May seemed unable to believe her words.

 

The fact that she had come here, when she hadn’t set foot in this place even once since I moved to the annex…

 

Clearly had another meaning.

 

‘Mother-in-law harassment.’

 

An ominous feeling struck my mind.

 

The voice of my mother-in-law from my previous life, which I had momentarily forgotten, pierced my ears.

 

“Let me see how you cook. Is this all you bought? Where did you get this stuff?”

 

Back then, I simply thought mother was curious about how I managed the household and was asking various questions.

 

“You put this trash into our Sanghyuk’s mouth? You’re looking down on our Sanghyuk right now! Some nobody with no background feeding this garbage to our precious eldest grandson!”

 

The side dishes I had worked so hard to make were overturned by mother’s hand and scattered on the floor.

 

I was naive then, thinking I had made a mistake, and even attended cooking classes. But later I learned the truth when I overheard mother boasting to someone else: “You have to establish control from the beginning so they know to fear their husband and in-laws and won’t act carelessly.”

 

It was just mother-in-law harassment.

 

“If you’re tired, I can come back another time.”

 

She asked with concern, but I knew better. Those were just empty words.

 

“No, I’m fine.”

 

“That’s good then. Don’t hold back from speaking if you find me intimidating.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Was the dish you served earlier made in the annex?”

 

“Yes.”

 

‘She must be curious. Even if the food was delicious, it might not suit her palate accustomed to Western cuisine, and she’d be suspicious since it was made in the annex.’

 

With no guests now, the annex only prepared meals for the servants, so the ingredients and hygiene wouldn’t be trustworthy.

 

“Let’s go there.”

 

“Madam, this is not a place suitable for you to visit. I’ll escort you to the main building.”

 

Then one of the maids spoke up cautiously.

 

Francesca immediately refused.

 

“The main building has too many watching eyes.”

 

Though she said that, I knew her real intention. She probably wanted to expose every detail of which kitchen it was made in to educate me.

 

I had expected she wouldn’t just leave me alone.

 

I could tell from when Geti brought me various books saying I needed education. Geti was a maid from the main building, so she must have received orders from her. If anyone thought I needed etiquette or education, it could only be her.

 

‘But I’m a veteran daughter-in-law.’

 

Even if she tried to harass me like a mother-in-law, I was confident I wouldn’t be pushed around.

 

“Let’s go then. I’ll guide you.”

 

I smiled and took Francesca’s hand.

 

Startled by my sudden grasp, she froze in place.

 

“Come on.”

 

“…Alright.”

 

The annex kitchen.

 

After the servants had finished their delicious lunch and left, Hotsen and a few kitchen assistant maids remained, cleaning up the kitchen.

 

“Everyone, may we come in for a moment?”

 

When I greeted them first, Hotsen immediately rushed out of the kitchen.

 

“Young Madam! Coming here without resting. I’m worried you’ll harm your health.”

 

I felt embarrassed by his gaze filled with concern.

 

“Thank you for worrying. But today I came with Madam.”

 

“Madam? …Gasp!”

 

The Duchess.

 

Seeing Francesca following behind me, Hotsen immediately prostrated himself on the kitchen floor.

 

“Madam! How could you come to such a humble kitchen!”

 

“Are you the head chef here?”

 

“I-I’m called Hotsen. As a disciple of Head Chef Mongsel, I entered Bloodmere and have been living off Madam’s grace until now!”

 

Mongsel was a name I’d heard a few times from him – he was the head chef of the main building.

 

“Only the head chef stays, the rest of you leave.”

 

At the dismissal order, May and the maids all left. With only three of us remaining, Hotsen’s nervous breathing could be heard loudly.

 

“What brings Madam here?”

 

“How many servants are there in the annex in total?”

 

At the unexpected question, the head chef thought briefly before answering promptly.

 

“Five male servants and ten maids. Including those working in the kitchen, nineteen including myself.”

 

“You all ate the food this child made today too, right? Did you eat the same dish as me?”

 

At her question, Hotsen slightly raised his head and read the situation.

 

“That is…”

 

Though I had made it willingly, guilt was written on Hotsen’s face about servants eating the same food as their master.

 

“That’s correct. Among the dishes I made for Madam today, there was brown-colored pasta and spicy cabbage. I made those for the annex servants’ meal.”

 

I answered instead. Since I had made it, the responsibility was mine.

 

Even if Francesca questioned whether I came to make servants’ meals or was playing at being a maid, there was nothing I could do.

 

“…You made all that quantity by yourself?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Plus all the food for us to eat, all by yourself?”

 

“The head chef helped with preparing the ingredients.”

 

Somehow Francesca didn’t seem intent on scolding me. Instead, her face was colored with shock and confusion.

 

“That’s impressive.”

 

Hmm, she’s praising me instead of scolding?

 

“Thank you.”

 

I also said thank you somewhat bewildered.

 

Soon Francesca’s gaze turned toward the inside of the kitchen.

 

There were remnants of cabbage cutting left there. What I had cut was cleaned up, but cabbage was piled up cut again.

 

“That’s the cabbage I ate for lunch.”

 

Perhaps disgusted by the shabby appearance, her expression wasn’t good.

 

“No! What Young Madam made was cleaned up, and I newly cut this but haven’t organized it yet.”

 

Noticing this, Hotsen’s face turned red as he rushed over to hide the messy counter.

 

Francesca’s gaze moved to the side. Hotsen seemed miserable, sweating profusely. The old, narrow kitchen quickly became messy with just a little accumulated waste. Francesca looked troubled, but what of it. This was also a place where people lived.

 

Francesca’s gaze shifted to the side. Hotsen was sweating profusely, looking like he wanted to die. The old, cramped kitchen would quickly become messy with just a little bit of trash piling up. Francesca looked troubled, but so what? This was a place where people lived, after all.

 

“What were you making with the cabbage?”

 

“It’s a dish called kimchi that the young lady made for us. I thought I’d try making it myself…”

 

So that’s why he had chopped so much cabbage.

 

Like last time, he seemed to be researching the recipe, as there were diced vegetables including carrots beside him.

 

“Oh? Are you trying to make it with onions too?”

 

Among them, what caught my eye were the onions.

 

“Yes. Cabbage would certainly be the best, but when cabbage isn’t available, I want to try substituting with other ingredients.”

 

“Head Chef, you really are a genius.”

 

Not only was it amazing that he tried to make it himself without asking me for the recipe, but he even found substitutes to use when ingredients weren’t available.

 

“What? The real genius is you, young lady. I’m just trying my best to follow in your footsteps.”

 

“When you teach someone one thing, they learn ten. That’s the expression for times like this.”

 

“…You’re so generous with your praise in front of the madam that I don’t know what to do with myself.”

 

Something even better came to mind.

 

I quietly took Francesca’s hand again as she watched our conversation with curiosity.

 

“I’ll teach you an even more delicious dish.”

 

Gone is the spicy taste, replaced by a sweet and refreshing flavor that’s exquisite!

 

Its name: pickled onions.

 

First, we need to peel the onions.

 

You’ll join us, won’t you, Duchess?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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