The Cooking Princess - Chapter 85

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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 85

Chloe’s mind went blank for a moment at the current situation where the male protagonist was asking the original villainess with a timid face whether she believed in his abilities.

But she understood Shuel.

‘He’s been suppressed by Claude and the Empress his whole life until now.’

Being dragged around by circumstances, he probably never had a chance to realize his own competence.

But since it was a bit pitiful to see him doubting his clearly existing abilities, Chloe straightened her expression and retorted.

“What are you saying such things for?”

Shuel still had a dark expression as he tried to add something more.

“But my abilities,”

Since he still had that dark expression, Chloe rudely cut off Shuel’s words.

“Are you doubting my judgment, Your Highness?”

“…Huh?”

At his bewildered question asking why it would be like that, Chloe struck her chest as if truly frustrated and retorted.

“My business has never failed even once.”

At those confident words, Shuel looked at Chloe as if entranced.

“Of course, I plan for it to be the same this time too.”

At Chloe’s words, Shuel moved only his lips for a long time before finally answering.

“…Yes.”

Chloe observed Shuel’s reaction and thought.

‘Even so, was comparing him to business a bit too cold?’

Thinking that, Chloe carefully asked Shuel.

“You’ve been reading the tactical books I mentioned well, haven’t you?”

“I have…”

Seeing Shuel nod, Chloe decided to just bet everything on the original male protagonist.

What if he’s incompetent unlike the ‘original’?

Even if that were the case, Shuel had saved Chloe’s life.

She couldn’t cut ties with him now even if he turned out to be incompetent, and she didn’t want to either.

And the Shuel she had seen so far was kind and smart, the ‘male protagonist’ himself.

Chloe trusted the Shuel she knew.

“The Garnet Family will take full responsibility for funding and supply chains. The Empress’s family must have provided support to the Grand Duke too, so they won’t have anything to say either.”

Having said that much, Chloe fell into deep thought.

‘What problems are there in the navy that Shuel could solve? If he shows his abilities once before joining, he’ll be able to control the soldiers much more easily.’

Since the navy always had to live on ships, she figured she should think about problems that sailors might face. Thinking it would be better to ask directly rather than worry alone, she calmly advised Shuel.

“If you solve the sailors’ concerns once and then Shuel joins, they’ll welcome you too. I’ll take measures in advance.”

***

Chloe first asked the person who procured seafood ingredients and reported on the situation.

[Are there any inconveniences for you who board ships?

His Highness the Prince will be boarding that ship soon, so speak freely.]

Then, as if there really were inconveniences, a reply came back quickly not long after.

[To Chloe Garnet.]

Seeing that the reply came quickly, there must have really been something they needed, she thought vaguely as she unfolded the letter.

[As it happens, the crew members have hardships. Those who have lived on ships for a long time have bleeding gums, become tired and weak, then sometimes die from infections. It’s strange that it’s a disease that particularly affects sailors.

Do you happen to know a way to prevent or eliminate this?

From the Captain.]

At the captain’s words, Chloe’s green eyes widened.

They probably didn’t think that Chloe, who only had expertise in cooking, could cure their disease.

They must have asked with the feeling of grasping at straws.

And this was, fortunately, a problem Chloe could solve.

‘It’s scurvy.’

This disease caused by vitamin C deficiency was dangerous if left untreated for long due to weakened immunity.

Chloe immediately placed oranges and lemons brought from the Southern Continent in front of her and thought.

She had spent quite a bit of money purchasing large quantities in a short time, but it was fine.

‘It’s money I can make up for by processing tuna into cans. So naturally I should also care about the health of the people who produce them.’

Though it wasn’t exactly the same as ‘cans’ from the previous world, Chloe had somehow succeeded in creating various sealed containers in cooperation with the Magic Tower.

Maybe she could make fruit like canned goods from her previous life too, but she didn’t have time to try that right now. She had to finish preparations before Shuel departed.

They probably couldn’t store and eat oranges and lemons for long on the ship.

Then there was only one solution.

‘I’ll have to make marmalade and preserve so they can eat it for a long time.’

But…

Chloe felt dizzy facing the dining room.

In the end, she wrote down the recipe for the chef with a tired face and asked.

“First peel several oranges completely including the skin, put them in a pot and add a cup of sugar.”

“Yes, miss.”

“Boil it over medium heat. When it starts boiling, change to low heat.”

“Yes.”

Following Chloe’s detailed instructions, Russo diligently stirred the oranges in the pot to prevent them from sticking.

“And on top of that… I’d like you to squeeze one lemon tightly.”

Chloe said to Russo while blinking listlessly.

“After stirring, drop about one drop of cold water. Does it seem to spread?”

“No, it seems firm.”

At those words, Chloe checked the marmalade with her own eyes.

It looked right to her too, so she instructed them to let the finished marmalade cool and this time told Russo the lemon preserve recipe.

“This time it’s a slightly different recipe. Not oranges, but those lemons there? Yes, the ones I took out. This time we’ll use the peel too, so wash them as cleanly as possible with coarse salt.”

Chloe added while holding her throbbing head.

“Slice all the lemons and remove all the seeds. Then just mix sugar and lemons in a 1:1 ratio and put them in a container and it’s complete.”

Russo obediently followed Chloe’s words and made the lemon preserve.

‘I can’t even do such a simple recipe alone and have to get help from others.’

She felt a bit of reality shock, but thinking there was no choice, Chloe gave Russo more instructions.

“I’ve also written down the recipe, so I’d like you to make as much marmalade and lemon preserve of this consistency as possible. Since it’s short-term, you can hire other workers too. I’d like you to make large quantities so the people on a big warship can eat it regularly.”

“Understood, miss.”

“You must be having a hard time too… I’m sorry I can’t help.”

Even at Chloe’s apology, he shook his head and answered firmly.

“No. You should rest, miss. I’ll just wait for the day when we can cook together again.”

They had just procured a simple juicer too, so it was an opportunity to try various other dishes.

But Chloe absolutely could not cook.

Just standing in front of the cooking station made her see Shuel collapsing overlap with her vision.

‘I’m really weak too. Even though I know Shuel is fine, I’m like this.’

Though Chloe couldn’t move at all, many people gathered to lend a hand.

The servants of the Garnet Estate, and people Chloe had separately hired for cooking.

In addition, those who were now retired and had opened shops but learned that Chloe had been caught up in the huge scandal of the Prince’s poisoning all worried about Chloe and rolled up their sleeves saying they would help her.

Thus they succeeded in making large quantities of marmalade and lemon preserve.

‘This should be plenty, but it’s not so much that it can’t be loaded on the ship either. What a relief.’

She planned to separately reward those who had worked hard.

As the day for Shuel to board approached, Chloe delivered the marmalade and lemon preserve and explained their use.

“Among those who have been on ships for a long time, there will be people whose gums bleed.”

Shuel quietly listened to Chloe’s words.

“Give them this when that happens.”

She spread the portioned marmalade on bread and showed it to Shuel as she spoke.

“You can spread it on bread and eat it, and the preserve made from lemons can be mixed with water for a refreshing drink. Shuel, you could also become weak if you don’t eat this while living on the ship, so eat it regularly.”

Shuel didn’t ask how Chloe knew such knowledge and thanked her first.

“Thank you.”

He looked at Chloe for a long while with eyes dripping with regret, then finally boarded the ship.

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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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