Chapter 25

When I saw it from the other side of the door, I thought it was quite spacious, but once inside, I was truly overwhelmed by its vastness.

Indeed, this is the royal palace. It is nothing if not that.

The open kitchen is as large as two school classrooms.

At a glance, it seems to have everything—refrigerators, ovens, and more.

The small window on the right wall appears to connect to the adjacent dining hall.

I suppose the guards and security personnel who are not in the dormitories receive and eat their meals there. The dining hall is about the size of a gymnasium, or slightly smaller.

"……Rina…… What’s wrong?"

"……Huh?"

Suddenly, I was startled by the voice.

"……Huh?……Lana?"

There, Lady Lana was standing. I never knew where she was when she wasn’t around, but I never expected to meet her here.

"……Flirting……?"

It’s still before noon, so it’s a bit early to come to the kitchen for a meal, isn’t it?

——*Knock*

"……Ah!"

"……There’s no way!?"

Lady Lana hit me on the head.

……Lana is becoming less lenient these days…….

If this is the real Lana, I’m glad.

"So, what were you doing?"

"……Rina…… You always look a bit uncomfortable when you eat, so I was thinking if there was anything I could do……"

I’m sorry…… Was it that obvious on my face……?

"……There’s no need for you to worry, Lana."

Rina is grateful for her kindness.

Diet and living habits vary from country to country, and region to region. She thought it was inevitable.

"But if there’s something I can do, I want to help……"

"……Thank you."

Everyone thinks she is a pitiful girl who was "sent" from another world. This is due to political reasons, not to hide a kidnapping.

She will tell them eventually, but for now, she’s keeping it to herself.

Lady Lana is one of the few who knows she was called. She must be feeling sympathetic. Even so, it’s a thoughtful gesture.

"……By the way, what are you doing, Rina?"

"Huh?……Oh, right. Could I have a bottle that can fit whole apples?"

I almost forgot my purpose due to the unexpected encounter.

"……Apples and a bottle?……What for?"

Of course, it’s curious, isn’t it?

"Well……yeast?……Something to make bread soft?……"

It’s hard to explain. "Natural yeast" wouldn’t make sense to them.

"……? Something to make bread soft?"

Of course, the question mark is visible above their heads.

"Apples making bread soft? What’s that supposed to mean?"

Prince Egidius looked at Rina suspiciously.

"……I don’t know!!"

Rina said confidently.

She was confident, but when questioned, she honestly didn’t know.

"……What’s with you?"

"Because it’s the first time I’m making it here, how would I know?"

"……"

The two of them were silent, as if they couldn’t argue with Rina’s logic.

"……By the way, how are you going to use the apples and the bottle?"

The head chef, who seemed to be the most senior, handed Rina the apples and the bottle and asked.

"……Thank you. Well……cut the apples and put them in the bottle……"

Rina took the apples and the bottle and looked around for a knife.

"Here, if you need a knife……"

One of the chefs, who understood what she was looking for, pointed it out.

Rina thanked him, cut the apples into eight pieces with the skin on, and put them in the bottle.

Ignoring the curious looks from everyone, she found what seemed to be a faucet and filled the bottle with water to about one-third.

This completes the preparation. Now, all she can do is hope it ferments well and produces yeast.

……Incidentally, water magic stones are really convenient…… I realize this again.

Just touch it, and water comes out; touch it again, and it stops. Thanks to this, I don’t feel the inconvenience of my world.

Magic covers "electricity," "gas," and "water"…… It’s an amazing world.

"……So? What are you going to do with it?"

Prince Egidius still looked suspicious.

Well, I can understand that. I would think the same.

Everyone seems to be half-interested and half-suspicious.

"Huh?……That’s it."

"……Huh?"

"That’s it."

Really, there’s nothing else to do. If anything, maybe changing the air once a day and gently stirring it.

But for now, there’s nothing to do.

"……Are you making fun of me?"

He said it almost angrily.

Well, from someone who doesn’t know, it’s understandable to think that.

"Hey, I’m not making fun of you."

It’s suspicious, but this method is correct.

"You just put apples and water in a bottle, right!?"

"Right."

"Then why would it make bread soft!?"

Prince Egidius got even angrier.

Everyone looked at Rina suspiciously.

"……I don’t know!!"

Rina said boldly again.

"……! What’s with you?"

His eyes said, "Stop being so stubborn and just admit you don’t know."

"……Even if you asked Ed to explain the origin of humanity, he wouldn’t be able to, right!?"

Rina countered. Some might call it a reverse tantrum.

……Yeah…… It’s really grand.

After all, explaining yeast and bacteria wouldn’t make sense, and there’s no way to explain it.

Rina herself doesn’t know how fermentation works or how yeast is produced.

Maybe there are yeast bacteria or something similar on the apples.

"……I don’t really understand, but…… is it something on that level?"

Prince Egidius seemed to understand just from that.

You’re amazing, kid…… I would be angry or bewildered if someone said that to me.

"……Well, can you wait about 4 or 5 days?"

Fermentation takes that long.

And…… probably…… it will work…… hopefully.

"Does it take that long!!"

He might have thought it would be ready immediately.

"……Good things take time."

Rina smiled wryly.

Having boasted so much, I can’t just say, "It didn’t work," can I……? I’ll keep that regret to myself.