Chapter 77

I opened my mouth to address His Majesty, who was looking at the large tray covered with a lid.

"Today, I would like to present to His Majesty a cream chicken soup and a type of bread called toast."

"Toast... I haven't heard of that name before. Is it a large bread?"

"It's a thin slice of bread, and I've brought enough for one serving."

"Then, what is this large tray for?"

"It's a cooking tool."

After I answered, His Majesty seemed puzzled.

"Are you planning to start cooking from scratch here?"

"No, I wouldn't go that far."

I signaled to Lucian to remove the cover and spread the items on the tray onto the table. I laid out a thin cloth, placed two slices of bread on a plate, and set the soup in a small pot. Next to the ingredients, there was a wire rack with a handle.

"Are you going to grill the ingredients on that wire rack?"

"Yes. The soup and the bread can be enjoyed as they are, but they become even more delicious when heated."

First, I started with the soup.

Lucian held the small pot with a pot holder, and everything was ready.

The fire was not lit with charcoal or wood, but with magic.

Magic fire, when the magic power is properly controlled, can produce a stable flame without any tools. Compared to using conventional fuels, it produces less smoke and no ash, making it very convenient. As the fire burned, my magic power gradually decreased, but I had plenty, so it was no problem.

I adjusted the heat to a low flame to prevent burning and stirred the contents of the pot. The soup was made by sautéing chopped chicken, onions, and potatoes, then boiling them with water and milk. Although it had cooled down after it was made, the ingredients were finely chopped, making it easy to reheat.

"That's a good smell."

His Majesty murmured.

Gently, the warmed aroma began to waft through the air. The smooth, gentle, and appetizing smell of cream tickled my nose.

"It's about ready..."

I judged that the heating was sufficient when the bubbling on the surface stopped. Lucian placed the small pot on a trivet, and I asked him to set up the wire rack.

Next, I added a touch to the already delicious bread. I placed it on the heated wire rack, browned both sides, and then placed it on a plate. I added the soup from the small pot next to the toast, completing the dish.

"Your Majesty, please. Enjoy it while it's still warm."

"Is this toast meant to be eaten with your hands?"

"Yes. Please spread the butter to your liking and take a big bite."

I encouraged His Majesty with a slightly casual tone. He began to spread the butter with unfamiliar movements. After confirming that the butter was evenly spread, His Majesty opened his mouth and took a bite.

"......! This is......"

It's delicious, His Majesty said, sounding a bit surprised. It didn't seem to be flattery, and the toast quickly disappeared.

I'm glad. It seems His Majesty was satisfied. Seeing His Majesty enjoy the meal made me happy too.

The toast I presented, while simple and easy to make, was probably precious to His Majesty, even if it was rare in this world.

"Warm bread is this delicious......"

"Yes! Freshly baked toast is very delicious on its own."

--- Cooking is generally best enjoyed when it's freshly made.

This is a basic fact, but it's difficult for His Majesty. The food I brought, including the dishes His Majesty eats, is mostly left to sit for a certain amount of time after being checked for poison.

It's necessary for safety, but inevitably, the food cools down, and the original taste and aroma weaken. Even if His Majesty wanted to, I don't think the food would be reheated or prepared to be served warm, given His Majesty's apparent lack of interest in food.

Perhaps, because His Majesty could only eat cold food, His Majesty had lost interest in eating. I couldn't tell which came first, the chicken or the egg, but it seemed that warm meals were a rare treat for His Majesty.

His Majesty was bringing the warm, fragrant cream soup to his mouth. The soup, rich with the flavors of chicken and vegetables, seemed to be going down well, especially since it was made with His Majesty's favorite ingredient, chicken.

I couldn't help but be captivated by His Majesty's lips opening to the spoon and his throat moving up and down. Just eating a meal was enough to draw attention. Perhaps that was His Majesty's charisma (or something).

His Majesty's eyes were slightly flushed from the heat of the soup. I understood that, but his exceptional good looks made my heart race a bit.

"Your Majesty, if you like, you can dip the toast in the soup. The softened bread is quite enjoyable."

I spoke to His Majesty, trying to distract my heart.

"Yes. This is good too. The soup soaks into the bread and spreads in my mouth."

"Right? I'm glad you like it."

I smiled at the satisfied His Majesty.

I had been quite indecisive about what to present to His Majesty. To capture His Majesty's interest in food, I initially thought of making something new, impactful, and delicious. That's why I even tried salt-baked fish, but during my trial and error, I realized something.

No matter how much I focused on the ingredients and cooking methods, the food would cool down by the time it reached His Majesty due to the poison check. Of course, there are many dishes that are still delicious when cold, but I decided to change my approach this time.

I chose toast, which can be quickly baked on the spot, and a soup with finely chopped ingredients that can be reheated and served immediately. Fortunately, Mr. Melvin confirmed that a wire rack could be brought in, and heating the ingredients after the poison check was not a problem.

Thus, I selected toast and cream soup. Neither dish was particularly elaborate; they were simple, everyday meals that anyone could make if taught. But the key was that they could be served warm to His Majesty. That alone made them worth making.

"Warm......"

His Majesty's words warmed my heart. Perhaps His Majesty's words were the best reward of all.