Chapter 21

The fluffy chiffon cake was brought to the dining hall.

Cut into bite-sized pieces, it was completed with a dollop of freshly whipped cream placed on top.

The well-whipped cream was light and airy.

The white whipped cream, sitting atop the fluffy, pale yellow chiffon cake, resembled clouds.

The soft and appetizing colors made for a combination that brought happiness just by looking at it.

This presentation not only added changes in taste and texture but also concealed the uneven parts of the chiffon cake.

Although I would definitely have muscle aches tonight, I think it was worth the effort to make it.

"Miss Letitia~~! I've finished my work! Are there still any sweets left?"

"Crona, welcome back. We're just about to start the tasting."

"Yay~~!"

Crona, exclaiming with joy, sat down in front of me.

After cutting the cake and piling on the whipped cream, she eagerly reached out with her fork.

"Swish~~!!"

Crona, who had taken a bite, opened her eyes in surprise.

Her pupils were wide and round, like those of an excited cat.

Following her, I also brought a piece of cake to my mouth.

The light and soft texture, yet smooth and sweet, was delightful.

It was both smooth and fluffy.

The gentle sweetness of eggs and sugar filled my mouth, a tender and comforting taste.

The exquisite texture, created by adding oil to the batter and mixing it, was perfect.

Crona seemed to be completely absorbed, finishing the cake in no time and silently asking for more.

I was happy that she enjoyed it, but I shook my head.

"Unfortunately, that's all for today. I also want to share it with the chefs who lent us the kitchen."

"Disappointing... But indeed, this shouldn't be monopolized..."

Crona, silent and melancholic, seemed to have a drooping tail.

"However, I plan to make it again. Would you and the maids like to share it then?"

"Yes! Thank you!!"

Crona, suddenly cheerful, beamed with bright eyes.

...If the chiffon cake can bring such joy, I think it's a good start.

I intend to serve it to the maids and staff to foster better relationships.

After finishing the cake, I took a break with the tea that Lucian had prepared. Just then, the dining hall door was knocked on.

The person who entered was Gilbert, the head chef of this palace.

He was tall and slender, with sunken eyes, a middle-aged man...

...However, his complexion seemed a bit off today.

His usually shadowy demeanor seemed even darker today.

"Miss Letitia, I heard the sweets are ready. May I partake as well?"

"Of course. I would appreciate your feedback."

I cut a piece of cake and offered it to him.

Gilbert observed the appearance and aroma for a while before starting to eat slowly.

How would the professional chef evaluate the chiffon cake?

As I waited with a bit of nervousness, Gilbert's mood seemed to darken.

"Did it not suit your taste...?"

When I asked hesitantly, Gilbert looked up, startled.

"No!! It was very delicious!! But, precisely because of that..."

What did he mean?

I was happy to hear that it was delicious, but his expression was too dark.

Gilbert, with a gloomy face, reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper.

The words written on it were:

"...Resignation letter?"

The neat and fine handwriting was characteristic of Gilbert, but the words were the issue.

"Perhaps there is some family matter or personal issue?"

"No, that's not it. What I had anticipated has become a reality with this chiffon cake."

"......What do you mean?"

Serve the cake. Eat it and say it's delicious. Turn pale and submit a resignation letter.

...I was completely confused.

"This cake was very delicious. I think I am not a competent chef compared to someone like Miss Letitia, who can create such wonderful dishes... I am used to being fired, so please feel free to dismiss me."

"Why would it come to that... I am very grateful for the meals prepared by you and your team."

It was the truth.

The day after I arrived at this palace, I had requested that the spices be used sparingly.

I didn't want to change the entire menu, so I made this request, and the resulting dishes were much easier to eat.

Even with reduced spices, the flavors were still rich and well-balanced, making the dishes quite enjoyable.

Since I would get tired of rich dishes every day, I decided to make a chiffon cake today.

It was, in fact, the most delicious noble cuisine I had ever tasted in this world.

Apart from the seasoning, the presentation and cutting techniques of the ingredients also demonstrated the solid culinary skills of Gilbert and his team.

There was no way I would dismiss someone who prepared such meals for me.

I returned the resignation letter and tried to persuade him, and I could see Gilbert heaving a sigh of relief.

"I apologize. I thought that the order to change the seasoning and your appearance in the kitchen today were due to dissatisfaction with our cooking..."

"That's not the case. I entered the kitchen today out of personal interest, and I requested the change in seasoning because I prefer a lighter use of spices. You and your team have responded well to my preferences. Please have confidence."

"......Thank you. Your words are too kind for someone like me."

Gilbert, humbly, almost to the point of being submissive, spoke in a way that was too deferential even for a queen.

"Mr. Gilbert, I have a question... Earlier, you mentioned that you are used to being fired. Does that mean you were dismissed from your previous job?"

"Yes, that's correct. It's an embarrassing story... Before coming here, I was in charge of the kitchen for a certain noble. However, I didn't get along with my colleagues and was let go."

...So that was the situation.

My arrival at this palace was decided rather suddenly.

It must have been difficult to gather top chefs in a short period.

That's why Gilbert, who had solid skills but a troubled past, might have been assigned here.

Being a chef is not just about cooking.

It also involves managing relationships with colleagues and gaining the favor of employers.

For chefs employed by nobles, the weight of non-cooking skills is even greater.

Sometimes, chefs form factions and fight, with the losers being dismissed.

Gilbert, though not a bad person, seemed to be too meek.

Given that I couldn't find any significant flaws in his skills or character, it was likely that he was caught up in a factional struggle at his previous workplace.

After being dismissed, he had lost all confidence in his cooking, a rather harsh story.

"Mr. Gilbert, please don't look so down. I believe your cooking demonstrates solid skills and experience."

"Thank you. But there's no need to be kind to someone as pitiful as me..."

"I'm not being kind. To prove it, if you're willing, would you like to join me in my cooking when you have time?"

"......In your cooking?"

"Yes. Can you do that for me?"

There are many recipes I want to try, but I am practically a novice when it comes to the unique ingredients and cooking methods of this world.

If I can get the help of an expert like Gilbert, I believe I can make significant progress in recreating and adapting Earth dishes.

I hope that through this process, Gilbert can regain some of his confidence.