The Cooking Princess - Chapter 61

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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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The Princess Who Cooks

 

Episode 61

 

Everyone’s gaze, including the Empress’s, turned to the priest. As attention focused on him, the priest reflexively hunched his shoulders but continued speaking.

 

“The meat inside this is finely chopped to make it easy to chew, and because it’s warm, it’s even better to eat.”

 

“….”

 

“This theme isn’t just about food that stimulates appetite on hot days, but also food that helps restore energy. When energy is low, it’s good to eat meat.”

 

“Then wouldn’t it be fine to just eat the meat cold?”

 

The Empress’s questioning tone was sharp. She seemed displeased that her opinion was being directly contradicted.

 

The priest showed a troubled expression but added his explanation.

 

“While cold food might be appealing on hot days, if someone who is tired and low on energy eats cold meat, it won’t digest well.”

 

The temple was fundamentally a religious organization that primarily engaged in religious activities.

 

At the same time, it also served as a clinic, school, orphanage, funeral home, and more for commoners. The volunteer service was just one small example.

 

As such, many priests had a high understanding of human health and healing arts.

 

The priest in charge of judging also calmly evaluated the dish based on such knowledge.

 

“But since the meat and flour are kept warm, and the ingredients are cut small to make them easy to chew and swallow, this is excellent food for restoring energy.”

 

Another priest beside him also chimed in.

 

“And the texture of the zucchini and cucumber inside is really nice, isn’t it? Even though it’s clearly hot, it gives a refreshing feeling. It fits perfectly with the theme of appetite-stimulating food.”

 

“That’s right. Also, this cucumber salad served alongside has a sour taste that refreshes the palate.”

 

The priests’ successive praise sparked curiosity in the nobles’ eyes.

 

“The Empress and the priests have differing opinions.”

 

“I wonder what His Majesty the Emperor thinks.”

 

“Wouldn’t he save face for the Empress here?”

 

“Still, he seemed to enjoy eating it….”

 

While the discussion continued, the Emperor had silently finished all the dumplings and cucumber salad on his plate.

 

“…Your Majesty, it seems to have suited your taste.”

 

Seeing the Emperor’s plate, the Empress asked in a demure voice.

 

“I still don’t want to eat hot food on a hot day.”

 

“Hmm, the Empress’s thinking isn’t wrong either.”

 

At the Emperor’s words that seemed to take her side, the Empress’s complexion brightened.

 

“Your Majesty feels the same way, don’t you?”

 

“I….”

 

The Emperor paused mid-sentence and fell into brief thought.

 

“I will taste all the other participants’ dishes before making my evaluation.”

 

At the Emperor’s words that didn’t give a definitive answer, the Empress’s face stiffened slightly, and the nobles began murmuring again.

 

“Was His Majesty somewhat ambivalent?”

 

“Hot dishes for summer food were certainly a gamble.”

 

“What kind of dishes did the other participants make?”

 

After the tasting of the ‘Zucchini Dumplings’ ended, some time passed and other participants’ dishes began arriving one by one.

 

“Oh my, the fruit is cut so beautifully. Is that cheese on top?”

 

“They soaked bread in milk. It would be soft, but I wonder if that counts as food without liquid….”

 

“What is that thing? How dare they make food for His Majesty the Emperor like that. What nerve.”

 

As varied as the dishes were, so were the evaluations. There were glamorous dishes that caught everyone’s attention, and strange dishes that made people frown at first sight.

 

“I’d like to try that frozen cucumber with egg yolk sauce on top.”

 

“Please don’t say such things….”

 

Grania Garnet, Count and Millenia Garnet, Countess were also seated in the banquet hall, observing the competition.

 

The Count held his forehead while stopping the Countess, who was admiring what was clearly problematic bizarre food.

 

Thanks to becoming accustomed to Chloe’s cooking over the years, Grania Garnet, Count had also developed quite refined taste. Ordinary food no longer satisfied his palate.

 

Yet his beloved wife, while enjoying Chloe’s delicious cooking, still seemed to have that same sense for bizarre food—he couldn’t understand it.

 

‘Our daughter must be doing well.’

 

The Count and Countess knew Chloe’s skills well and firmly believed in her, so they weren’t too worried.

 

However, as Chloe had also worried, they were only anxious about what schemes the Empress who hosted this competition might be plotting.

 

“I just hope Chloe doesn’t get hurt.”

 

“I feel the same way.”

 

Regardless of this competition’s results, Chloe was the best chef in the Garnet Domain—no, in the Luzhiere Empire—to the Count and Countess.

 

‘In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to say she’s the best on the continent.’

 

Grania Garnet, Count had such doting thoughts while looking up at the Empress on the platform.

 

“I believe Chloe will naturally do well, but if she should fall victim to the Empress… it would be a big mistake to think I’ll just stand by.”

 

“Of course. Such a trivial matter won’t leave a blemish on the Garnet Family’s heir.”

 

If the Empress played tricks and they worked, causing Chloe to be eliminated from this competition.

 

If the Empress used this as an excuse to try to tarnish Chloe’s skills and reputation.

 

The Countess would stop her reclusive lifestyle of not participating in social circles.

 

And the Count was also prepared to seriously enter the power struggles among nobles that he had been observing from the sidelines.

 

“I especially didn’t want to get involved in the succession struggle for imperial power… But if the Empress continues like this, we’ll have no choice.”

 

Grania Garnet, Count’s voice was ominous as he muttered quietly so no one would hear. The Countess nodded quietly in agreement without batting an eye.

 

“For now, according to what I heard from the Imperial Kitchen servants, they didn’t tamper with the ingredients.”

 

The Countess had bribed several Imperial Kitchen servants before the competition to monitor the Empress’s movements.

 

If she could catch evidence of the Empress plotting schemes or witness it firsthand, that would be ideal, but even if not, she intended to find out how much and in what ways the Empress was interfering with the competition.

 

The bribery paid off, as the servants had faithfully reported the competition preparation status to the Countess.

 

“Then she must be planning to cause trouble during the competition.”

 

“All the attendants running the competition can be considered the Empress’s people. His Majesty isn’t one to interfere in such matters, and even if he did, he’d likely side with the Empress.”

 

The Countess clicked her tongue, saying it was unfortunate that the attendants couldn’t be bribed due to their high loyalty to the Imperial Court.

 

“Then it will be difficult for us to help during the competition.”

 

“Well, I don’t think we need to step in.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“The Imperial Kitchen servants told me a very interesting story….”

 

***

 

Chef Vance of the Imperial Palace was about to burst from frustration.

 

Daniel was the disciple Vance had marked as his successor to become the next Imperial Palace head chef.

 

He was upright and sincere, which Vance appreciated, and he had exceptionally quickly promoted him to sous chef.

 

“I never thought you would repay kindness in this way.”

 

Vance’s hands trembled with anger.

 

If he had continued learning quietly as he had been doing, the head chef position would soon be Daniel’s.

 

He couldn’t understand why this sincere fellow who used to take on difficult tasks was now playing into the Empress’s schemes.

 

Originally, overseeing the food for the Founding Day ceremony was Vance’s responsibility.

 

But when the Empress suddenly announced she would hold a competition, Vance found himself in a very difficult situation.

 

Vance had been in charge of this ceremony’s food many times, which put him in an advantageous position for the competition.

 

Unless major variables arose, Vance had the highest chance of winning the competition anyway.

 

So why go through the troublesome process of a competition to decide a new supervisor?

 

Vance suspected there were definitely political intentions hidden here, and his guess was exactly right.

 

The Empress’s attendant had secretly approached him.

 

‘Her Majesty the Empress wishes to bestow favor upon the head chef.’

 

‘Favor? What do you mean?’

 

‘Normally, this would just be something the head chef naturally does.’

 

‘Of course.’

 

‘But Her Majesty the Empress, highly valuing the head chef’s devotion to the Imperial Court, wants to make this natural duty not so natural.’

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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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