The Cooking Princess - Chapter 66

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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 66

 

This time, she couldn’t be certain which dish was Chloe’s, but she could roughly guess.

 

It was probably one of the few dishes with less sweetness among those she had eaten earlier.

 

‘She’ll be eliminated anyway, so there’s no need to find out more.’

 

The Empress set down her teacup and turned her attention to the next plate with a gentle smile.

 

‘Hmm.’

 

It was a plate she had glimpsed when the dishes were being brought in earlier.

 

A crude and unremarkable, yellow round dessert.

 

Since the other desserts around it were so fancy, it actually stood out in contrast.

 

“Ha, what was this thing called again?”

 

The Emperor also seemed bewildered upon seeing that dessert and asked his attendant with a hollow laugh.

 

The attendant bowed deeply and answered the Emperor.

 

“It was called a cake made with cheese, Your Majesty.”

 

“Cheese?”

 

Everyone doubted their ears upon hearing the attendant’s answer.

 

“Did you just say cheese? A cake made with cheese?”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty. It was definitely called ‘cheesecake,’ a cake made entirely with cream cheese without any flour at all.”

 

The judges looked down at the cheesecake with eyes as if viewing something strange.

 

“How can cheese become a dessert?”

 

In the Empire, cream cheese was food to be spread on bread, not a dessert.

 

Even if unpleasant, judging had to be fair. The Emperor first brought his fork to the cheesecake with a disapproving expression.

 

Swoosh-

 

Interest sparked in the Emperor’s eyes at the smoothly cutting texture.

 

And the moment the cheesecake entered the Emperor’s mouth.

 

“Mm!”

 

The Emperor widened his eyes and exclaimed in surprise.

 

“Your Majesty, does it taste alright? If it’s strange, please spit it out quickly.”

 

The Empress brought her hand under the Emperor’s chin and acted coquettishly. The Emperor shook his head.

 

“That’s not it. Empress, you should try it too. You all should taste it as well.”

 

The Emperor recommended the tasting to the Empress and priests as well. Surprised by the Emperor’s rarely excited voice, everyone took a bite of the cheesecake.

 

“Oh my.”

 

“Oh, dear God. Lord almighty.”

 

“Wow…”

 

All three people who ate the cheesecake were amazed, and the nobles watching became curious to the point of madness.

 

“No, it’s already surprising that crude thing is a cake. What on earth does it taste like?”

 

“Isn’t it terribly tasteless? They’re frowning so much.”

 

“That must be it. Food that looks like that couldn’t possibly taste good.”

 

Due to such intense reactions, the nobles thought the judges were shocked by eating something too tasteless.

 

But that misconception was immediately shattered when a priest suddenly stood up and shouted.

 

“This is truly the first time I’ve tasted something like this! I regret not knowing this flavor until now!”

 

“B-Brother, please calm down. I share your sentiment, but. Ahem.”

 

The priest beside him calmed him down and made him sit back down, but ultimately what he said had the same meaning.

 

‘It’s delicious.’

 

That simple-looking cake had caused a reaction that hadn’t appeared even after eating over ten different desserts.

 

“Truly surprising. I was getting tired of the continuous sweetness, but this has a refreshing yet excellent taste.”

 

“That’s right, Your Majesty. I thought all dessert flavors were similar, but when the cheese flavor entered my mouth, I felt my mind clear up.”

 

Though it wasn’t Chloe’s intention, the cheesecake with less sweetness became a masterstroke.

 

If it had simply been less sweet, it would have been evaluated as lacking in flavor like other contestants, but the rich and savory taste of cheese filled the mouth heavily, providing a change of pace.

 

“The appearance is quite humble, but the taste is remarkable. It’s like Lord Enril’s words reminding us not to forget that the largest tree grows from the smallest seed…”

 

The devout priest was overwhelmed and suddenly started praying, while the other priest, regardless of his colleague’s behavior, scraped the plate clean as if having a meal rather than judging.

 

Like the bread fritters from the previous competition, a situation arose where all other dishes became mere supporting acts.

 

This dessert was probably also the work of that contestant who had amazed everyone.

 

Only then did the Empress realize her defeat and trembled with clenched fists under the table.

 

‘That insolent wench again…!’

 

The Empress’s anger grew uncontrollably. Chloe who wouldn’t go as planned, Vance who didn’t obey her, and even the stupid Daniel who couldn’t seize opportunities despite being given chances. Her hatred and anger were directed at everyone except herself.

 

“Regrettable, Empress. It won’t be easy to eliminate that duchess here.”

 

“…!”

 

The Emperor leaned toward the Empress and whispered in a very small voice that others couldn’t hear.

 

“With such clear results, giving low scores would cause controversy. I don’t want to endure such troublesome matters.”

 

“Your Majesty.”

 

“I’ll withdraw, so Empress, do as you wish.”

 

Having said that, the Emperor straightened up calmly as if he had said nothing. Only the Empress bowed her head to hide her reddened face.

 

Now the trembling spread from her hands to her entire body.

 

‘I will never, ever forgive her.’

 

The Empress’s hatred had somehow transformed, losing both cause and purpose. It was because the Empress’s pride was greatly wounded.

 

She had forgotten both her initial decision to make Chloe her daughter-in-law and her anger at being rejected.

 

Now the Empress’s only goal was to make Chloe Garnet, that detestable wench, fall to rock bottom.

 

***

 

“The winner has been selected. I will announce it.”

 

With judging complete and only the results announcement remaining, tense anticipation filled the competition hall.

 

Except for the attendant who knew the results, no one even opened their mouth.

 

‘Please, please…!’

 

Daniel, whose future would end if he disappointed the Empress, prayed more desperately than ever.

 

‘…Will it work? No. It will work.’

 

Chloe, who had suddenly changed her menu at the last minute, trembled her legs from the rare anxiety rising within her.

 

And the attendant announced the results without dragging it out too long, before they collapsed from anxiety.

 

“The winner is Chloe Garnet. Congratulations.”

 

‘!’

 

Chloe covered her mouth in surprise.

 

‘Wow, this…’

 

She was happier than expected.

 

After experiencing difficulties in a competition she thought would be nothing special, the victory achieved after twists and turns felt even more precious.

 

“No, it can’t be!”

 

She heard Daniel’s lament from over there, but Chloe didn’t care.

 

“Congratulations, Miss.”

 

“You worked hard. Congratulations.”

 

“Ah, I wanted to win. It’s disappointing but can’t be helped! Congratulations!”

 

The contestants each congratulated and encouraged Chloe. Perhaps because they had seen Chloe struggle in the final competition, there seemed to be no one doubting or envying how such a young girl could win.

 

“Only the winner remains, everyone else please exit.”

 

When the attendants escorted out all contestants except Chloe, only Chloe remained in the spacious competition hall.

 

Chloe, as the winner, couldn’t rest. She had to immediately prepare food for the noble spectators.

 

“You must make 50 servings each of all three dishes you submitted this time. We cannot give you much time.”

 

The nobles had been provided simple finger foods and refreshments during the judging, but hadn’t had a proper meal.

 

Fortunately, the servants from the Imperial Kitchen agreed to help.

 

Chloe taught the servants the recipes and supervised the cooking process while creating the dishes anew.

 

‘Consistently attending the Service Group is helping here.’

 

If she hadn’t become accustomed to large-scale cooking, she might have already collapsed from exhaustion.

 

Though Chloe and the servants were working together for the first time, Chloe skillfully collaborated while steadily completing the dishes.

 

The experience from the Service Group, and from her previous life running a family restaurant where she daily made hundreds of servings with kitchen staff, hadn’t disappeared.

 

“There, I’ve completed all three desserts for 50 people!”

 

With Chloe’s cheerful exclamation, the competition truly came to an end.

 

“You’ve worked hard, Duchess.”

 

The attendant’s tone became very respectful, unlike when he was with the other contestants earlier. Back then, he had to treat all contestants fairly, and there was no need to reveal that Chloe was a high-ranking noble’s daughter and create unnecessary tension.

 

But now that only they remained, he adopted a very deferential attitude toward Chloe, who was a duchess.

 

“We’ll transport the food, so please change your clothes and head to the banquet hall.”

 

Following the attendant’s guidance, Chloe headed to an empty waiting room to change her clothes.

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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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