41. Culinary Skills
This was absolutely the biggest news Reina had heard in recent days: Calysia was going to cook!
If they divided the labor, one cooking and the other doing housework, from a time management perspective, it would indeed save her a lot of time.
That way, she could save two hours in the evening to study in the library, then bathe with Calysia, and be in bed by ten—falling asleep before Calysia arrived could also help her avoid unnecessary disasters.
But that was only if Calysia could actually cook!
It wasn’t that Reina didn’t trust the Dragon King; it was just that Calysia’s cooking wasn’t fit for human consumption.
Nor was it fit for dragon consumption.
Based on the clues before the hidden ending, her cooking skills were limited to simple processing of meat. And Calysia often misjudged the heat, using her dragon breath to cook, and burning down the entire kitchen.
—Back then, she almost exposed her identity because of this.
From then on, Reina never let Calysia step foot in the kitchen again. Of course, in this new world, Calysia regaining the right to cook… was impossible.
“Master Calysia, don’t be ridiculous.”
Calysia wagged her tail.
“Reina has never even tasted my cooking.”
She hadn’t indeed.
Because, back then, the entire kitchen, along with the food, was buried in the ground. Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought some strange curse had befallen the village.
“I just think that Master Calysia’s skills in cooking might be a little rusty, but I can teach you. You can assist me.”
Reina smiled.
She recalled how Calysia had teased her with her unfamiliarity with political affairs.
It was time for revenge.
As long as Calysia received the same treatment, even the Dragon King would show a hint of shame.
Reina was looking forward to seeing Calysia’s frustrated expression.
But to her surprise, Calysia suddenly became stern, crossing her arms and saying, “No, you’re not allowed to interfere. I’ll cook myself, and you’re not allowed to help during the process. Understood?”
Thinking Reina hadn’t understood, Calysia added:
“This is an order.”
“As you wish, Your Majesty.”
Reina thought she had already won.
Since she didn’t need any help, what did that mean?
Was she confident?
No…
It meant she was destined to fail.
Based on Reina’s understanding of Calysia, unless she had secretly practiced her cooking skills, there was absolutely no chance of success.
If it was just simple food processing, it wouldn’t be fit for a Dragon King’s dinner. Calysia herself would lose face and appear somewhat pathetic.
Reina firmly believed that Calysia would definitely attempt some difficult dishes, trying to show off her skills, but due to her lack of technique, she would have to ask for help.
At that time, Reina could mercilessly mock the clumsy Calysia.
Just thinking about it made Reina feel happy and refreshed. She hadn’t felt this joyful in a long time.
Reina performed a standard maid’s curtsy and left the office, went to the bathroom to retrieve the broom, mop, and bucket, and prepared to clean the never-ending dust and clutter. Her tasks included organizing the luggage they might be taking with them, packing it up and storing it in the warehouse.
She completely ignored Calysia.
After tidying the warehouse and wardrobe, two hours had passed.
Reina glanced at her watch—Calysia should have finished cooking by now.
If the food wasn’t ready soon, it would have to be considered dinner. It could still barely be called “afternoon tea” for now.
But there was no activity in the kitchen, not even any strange smells wafting out. According to Reina’s understanding, something should have happened by now.
…Of course, there was no aroma coming from the kitchen either.
Reina still wasn’t interested in disturbing Calysia for the time being. She went into the library, picked up a book on magic circles, a seemingly famous work written by a human sage, and sat down at the dining table, intending to wait for good news from Calysia while she read.
Under the dim light, she quickly became engrossed in the book.
An hour passed.
Reina looked up. The hour hand was now pointing to “5.”
Did Calysia fall into the pool?
She imagined Calysia carefully tasting her own cooking, then angrily dumping it into the trash can, and couldn’t help but chuckle.
Anyway, it was time to “inspect the results.”
Reina picked up the broom and mop she had prepared earlier, opened the kitchen door, and was met with a completely different scene.
The floor was covered in the peels of various fruits and vegetables, and there were scattered bits of meat, apparently the result of excessive force or accidental mishaps.
Cooking utensils were scattered haphazardly on the table, showing that Calysia had really tried to use them.
The good news was that the cutting board wasn’t a complete mess—because various vegetables were indeed neatly chopped there.
On the table, next to a bowl of water whose purpose was unknown, lay an old copy of “Complete Home Cooking Recipes.” The pictures of delicacies painted in watercolor created an unpleasant contrast with the mess before her.
And Calysia, holding a kitchen knife, was clumsily cutting ingredients bit by bit.
Yes, contrary to Reina’s expectations, Calysia hadn’t caused a cooking disaster—because she hadn’t even turned on the stove yet.
“Little Vassal, I told you not to interfere.”
Calysia looked at Reina with resentment.
Reina glanced at the chipped blade of the knife in Calysia’s hand and almost burst out laughing.
…Yes, Calysia had cut herself while cutting vegetables, but it was the knife that was injured.
Looking closely, there were two other knives of different sizes, now reduced to scrap metal, placed on the shelf to the left, like Calysia’s trophies.
“Master Calysia, why not try using gravity magic to cut vegetables?”
Reina pretended to be serious, mocking Calysia’s knife skills.
But Calysia wasn’t angry at all. She didn’t want Reina’s intervention. Realizing she was completely incompetent, she pointed to the food scraps in the trash can, which looked like a mixture of carrots, apples, and bananas blended into juice.
“I tried.”
Calysia’s tone was flat.
Reina originally wanted to continue mocking her, but seeing Calysia’s serious expression, she suddenly deflated.
So, she had actually tried using gravity to cut vegetables, but it seemed the results weren’t good.
Reina picked up the “Complete Home Cooking Recipes” and flipped through a few pages.
“I was wondering where this book went. So it was here, hahaha…”
“Don’t laugh,” Calysia said sternly. “I’m not eating lunch.”
“But it’s already five in the afternoon. Lunchtime has long passed.”
“…”
“Five o’clock isn’t evening.”
Calysia’s voice was laced with anger, as if she would devour Reina on the spot if she continued.
She was about to leave the kitchen when she was shocked by the scene before her.
Reina put on gloves, threw the garbage on the floor into the trash can, organized the unused cooking utensils and placed them on the shelf, wiped the floor again, and took over Calysia’s “work.”
Like a talented chef taking over a mess, she swiftly and skillfully cut the ingredients into the desired shapes. At the same time, she boiled water and preheated the oven.
…All the cooking utensils were neatly arranged, like her various weapons.
This was no longer the “scene of a cooking failure,” but the kitchen of a five-star hotel.
Calysia stared at Reina’s back, momentarily forgetting her anger.
“It’s okay, Master Calysia, you’ve done very well.”
“I’ll prepare dinner.”
