Chapter 8

"Wh-what...!"

As he took a bite of the ice cream, the head chef was taken aback and froze.

"It's cold and melts smoothly, yet the creamy sweetness is a first-time experience... It's delicious."

Holding the spoon, the head chef stared intently at the ice cream in the bowl. His gaze, sharpened by his profession, was very enthusiastic. The praise "delicious" was not flattery but came from the heart. As evidence, he continued to take second and third bites, savoring it deeply with a nod.

...I'm glad he said it was delicious. My cheeks naturally relaxed, and the other chefs looked surprised. I often kept a composed face even at home, so I guess it was refreshing for them.

While feeling a bit guilty for surprising them, I couldn't help but smile. I love cooking, but it's even more delightful when someone enjoys it and says it's delicious. Sharing delicious food is a joy, and it's even more satisfying when it's something I made.

In a good mood, I scooped up more ice cream from the bowl and placed it on my tongue. In the slightly warm air, the coldness was refreshing and felt great. As it melted, the sweetness spread, and the gentle honey flavor seeped in. The light and smooth texture made me want to eat more.

Yes, this is delicious. The cooking was a success. I was worried because there were no stoves or refrigerators, and things were different from Earth, but it seems I managed to make something delicious. Perhaps with a bit of ingenuity and magic, I could make various dishes in the future.

Thinking of the list of dishes I wanted to try, like cheesecake, drop cookies, hamburgers, and white stews, I was healed by the sweetness and coldness of the ice cream. After finishing my portion, I checked on the other chefs.

The ice cream I and the head chef ate was from a bowl that was properly aerated. The bowls the other chefs had were from a batch that turned out a bit harder. Considering my status as a duke's daughter, the portions were divided this way.

"The ice cream in your bowls might take some time to soften. If you like, you can try adding honey."

I offered them honey that had been warmed to body temperature. I had also prepared some to add after the ice cream was chilled, unsure how much of the honey flavor would remain. There was another reason.

In this country, the nobility's cuisine is heavily spiced and very flavorful. I thought the chefs in our duke's household, who make such dishes, might prefer well-seasoned food, so I prepared it in advance.

When I offered the honey, the chefs, though a bit embarrassed, accepted the bowls and drizzled the honey over the ice cream. The warmed honey melted the surface of the ice cream, glistening and shining.

The chefs, looking a bit hesitant, brought the honey-drenched ice cream to their mouths. They were indeed surprised and seemed to enjoy it, as the ice cream quickly disappeared.

The combination of cold and warm, the subtle honey aroma in the ice cream, and the rich honey on top created a delightful and satisfying experience, offering different textures at once.

"Thank you, Miss. This ice cream is very delicious."

The head chef, representing those who tasted it, expressed his gratitude.

"The texture is something I've never experienced before... Honestly, I was surprised. We have ice desserts made from ice, but this is the first time I've had cream that's been chilled and solidified. Where did you learn how to make it?"

"From a book about foreign cuisine. It's a rather rare book... I was allowed to read it as part of my education to become a princess."

I felt bad for deceiving them, but I couldn't simply say, "It's from my past life's memory!" The chefs seemed surprised by my vague answer.

"I see, that's impressive. You studied so much to become a princess..."

The chefs were impressed but also looked a bit concerned. I was already a former princess candidate. Feeling bad for causing concern, I watched as the misunderstanding that "princess education is amazing" spread among the chefs.

"Miss, can the ice cream that didn't set properly be re-frozen and eaten?"

"Can it be reused as a sauce?"

Once melted, the ice crystals wouldn't form properly, and the smooth texture would be lost. I had an idea.

"As a sauce?"

"Yes. It's a bit sweet, but I think it would go well with meat dishes. I'd like to have a meat dish with a light seasoning and spices to enjoy the flavor of the ice cream sauce."

"That does sound like a challenging dish..."

The head chef's face clouded over.

"Miss, do you perhaps dislike the heavily seasoned dishes we usually make?"

The head chef looked anxious. As a chef, he might have had doubts about the heavily spiced dishes he made for the nobility, even if they were requested. That might be why he looked so worried.

His observation hit the mark, but I couldn't nod honestly. I had always eaten the heavily spiced dishes without complaint. Suddenly criticizing them would be unnatural and could even put the chefs at risk.

In this country, chefs are generally commoners. They can't defy the nobility, and as a duke's daughter, if I expressed dissatisfaction with the food, the head chef would feel immense pressure.

I was about to leave this mansion and go abroad. Given my lack of responsibility for the future, I thought it best to limit my involvement in cooking to making small desserts and avoid commenting on the daily menu.

Hmm, this is a complicated and frustrating situation. I think the only way to improve the culinary situation is to do so in my place of exile.

While thinking about where my place of exile would be, I discussed the reuse of the ice cream with the head chef.

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The following days were spent handling the paperwork for the annulment of my engagement and using the kitchen during my free time. Meanwhile, my father was working tirelessly, which made me feel guilty. He was already busy, and the annulment of my engagement added to his workload, making him seem overwhelmed.

...I had also been reconsidering my relationship with my father. I had always thought he disliked and avoided me, but perhaps that wasn't the case.

My father has been busy for years, not just because of his duties as the head of the duchy, but also because of the additional responsibilities that came with my engagement to the prince. I believe he took on these tasks to shield me from the hassle.

I can now strongly feel that my ability to focus on my princess training was due to my father's support. I wanted to believe he cared for me, but his distant and formal demeanor was still puzzling. Even though I'm 17, and he might be unsure how to interact with a teenage daughter, his lack of a smile was still a bit of a mystery.

While thinking about how to interact with my father in the future, Lucian brought some documents. After reviewing a report, Lucian spoke.

"The investigation results were as expected, Miss... If this report had been delivered earlier, on the day of the annulment, would your response have been different?"

"…I can't say for sure, but I don't think it would have changed much."

The report clarified my long-standing doubts, which was helpful, but that's a different matter. I believe that even if the report had come a bit earlier, the outcome of the annulment would not have changed given the circumstances of that day.

As I explained the reasons, a gentle knock sounded.

"Come in. What is it?"

"It's a letter... The sender is..."

The envelope bore the prince's name. It had somehow slipped into the pile of letters addressed to the duchy.

The letter inside read, "I want to apologize for the annulment. Can we meet tonight?"

Thank you for reading. I would be grateful if you could leave a review or feedback if you enjoyed it.