Chapter 28

The soup still wasn't ready.

"Huh?"

We were now silently cleaning the boiled chicken bones—chicken carcasses—with Chef Rick.

I had many questions about how we met and other things, but Lady Rana's gaze seemed to say, "Don't say anything unnecessary," so I couldn't say a word.

Just from this, I already feel like I'm being dominated.

I'm too scared to say anything...

After cleaning the dirt and scum that had stuck to the bones, Rana put the chicken bones back into the pot and added water.

"…What are you going to do with clean bones?"

Prince Egiedilus, who had never seen anyone wash bones before, furrowed his brow.

"I'm going to simmer them."

"…Garbage?"

Indeed, from someone who doesn't know, it might look like I'm cleaning garbage and boiling it.

"…Not garbage, but chicken carcasses. When you simmer them, you get chicken consommé."

Chicken carcass soup and chicken consommé are similar, depending on what you use to remove the odor and what you add or subtract.

Rana, intending to make consommé, peeled a few onions and tossed them whole into the pot.

"Consommé…? You're putting in whole onions?"

"Sure, I am. I'll put in whole carrots with the skin on, and celery with the leaves too."

Without hesitation, Rana washed the vegetables lightly and tossed them whole into the pot.

I would have liked to add something like sake, but since it would be a hassle to ask, I just added a cup of white wine I found.

"…What are you really doing?"

Prince Egiedilus looked increasingly puzzled at Rana's seemingly careless actions.

I'm sure everyone here thinks the same.

"What did I say? I'm making chicken consommé."

"I heard you! But can you really make it by putting in chicken bones and whole vegetables?"

"Sure, you can."

Because that's how it's done. In fact, I don't know any other way to make it.

If anything, I'd rather just buy granules or cubes because it's so much trouble.

"…You're not making fun of me, right?"

"I wouldn't go to such lengths to make fun of you... Besides, you don't have to eat it if you don't want to, so why worry?"

No one said I had to serve it, just that I had to make it.

"……"

Prince Egiedilus fell silent, perhaps thinking the same thing.

"…So, what do you do next?"

Lady Rana asked on his behalf.

"Well, simmer it on low heat for about 3 to 4 hours. That's it."

"…What? You're going to boil it for that long?"

From the way she said "it," she might be thinking, "What are you going to do with boiled garbage?"

"I am. …By the way, if you put a whole chicken instead of bones and simmer it for a day, you get a white broth soup."

But it's too much trouble, so I won't do it.

"……"

Everyone was silent, perhaps unable to imagine what she was talking about.

"Um… I'll be occupying the stove for that long, is that okay?"

I thought I should get permission, even at this late stage.

"Ah… It's fine. If you like, I can keep an eye on it for you."

Chef Rick even offered to watch it for me.

"Thank you! I'll leave it to you."

Staying here any longer would just be a hindrance. I decided to take Chef Rick's offer.

Of course, I didn't forget to remind him to skim off the scum occasionally.

"Then, I'll come back in three hours… Thank you for your hospitality."

With a bow, Rana left the kitchen, glancing at the puzzled chefs.