Chapter 30

The hot season has arrived... It seems like a lot has happened, hasn't it? My life as a maid was going smoothly, but then there were the responsibilities of being a viscount's daughter that I had been avoiding, and my father, who had (arbitrarily) lost hope in our family, did something unnecessary (for some reason) and (strangely) reconnected our family bonds with my stepmother and younger brother. I was mistaken for a rich man's daughter, and for a moment, I became the talk of the town at my debut in society.

This was really just a moment. Just that one party. Once it became known that the dress was provided by Her Majesty the Queen Dowager and that the fabric would be sold in the future from the territory of the Count of Céleste, no one asked about the dress anymore. Well, it was quite amusing to see people who had seen me in makeup look at me in my maid's uniform and act suspiciously, wondering, "Is this really her...?" Makeup is truly amazing.

So, as the head of the Rizel Trading Company predicted, the head of the Jenda Trading Company sent detailed information about the debt, and in the end, the accounts turned black. I looked over the documents several times, but there was a consolation payment included... I think I need to ask about this in more detail, don't I? I want to know, but I don't really want to. The Minister only gave me a casual response, saying that it's fine not to ask if I'm not interested, but if I am, I should go ahead and ask. I shouldn't have given him those excellent cookies. But I won't complain about such a trivial matter! After all, they were just cookies!

This time, I made cocoa-flavored icebox cookies and created checkerboard and swirl patterns. Since my palm is the size of an ice cube, it's very convenient! When I showed them to our head chef, he said he would make more sophisticated ones from now on... That's fine. He's the kind of person who, once you show him a piping tip, will not only make decorated cakes but also piping cookies and other things before you know it. By the way, the head chef's name is Metabon, but he is a very slender person.

"Milady Yuria, the goods from the Rizel Trading Company have been received in the kitchen."

"Thank you, Metabon. I plan to serve the cookies I baked earlier as tea snacks. Which tea do you think would be best... The tea leaves from the high mountains all have a good aroma."

"Indeed, I would recommend the Masheti tea, which is considered the best among the high mountain tea leaves from Shelbunda. The tea leaves, which are harvested at the highest altitude in the high mountain fields, are rare and have a refreshing and fragrant flavor, so I think it would be best served straight."

"You're so knowledgeable! But you're right, the Jerejere tea might also be good... I think it would be good as a milk tea too."

"Milady Yuria, you are aware of it as well. It's not often found in the market, so I thought you might not know about it..."

"No, I only read about it in some materials. Just because we're in the royal palace doesn't mean we always have the best items. I thought it would be for special occasions. But since production has stabilized recently, if Lady Primera likes it, we could consider purchasing the tea leaves regularly."

"Is that so. ...By the way, Milady Yuria, is it alright for me to continue serving as the head chef here?"

"Huh? What are you talking about? There aren't many chefs who can meet the expectations of Lady Primera and me. I always rely on you, Metabon."

I find his name funny no matter how many times I call him!!

Meeting this person was a stroke of luck. When Lady Primera was younger, she was a bit picky about her food, and I had to prepare and serve meals. But I'm not a chef. I can make home-cooked meals, but teaching etiquette through cooking is difficult. Lady Primera used to complain about the food from the previous chef. Thinking back, Lady Primera is a real angel now, but back then, I was really struggling... I asked for a new chef several times, but it was hard to find someone suitable.

Metabon's resume was interesting. His family was in the merchant business, but after a falling out, he became an adventurer. He was well-respected in the guild (this is verified by the guild), then he discovered his passion for cooking and switched careers. After training at a restaurant in a border region, he returned to the capital and saved up for his own business while working as an adventurer. He saw the job posting for a chef at the palace and applied... What a dramatic life!

I couldn't help but ask him about his adventures and his time in the border region. He looks a bit tough and has a stern face, but he's a very kind person. He reminds me of the uncle at the lunch shop I used to frequent in my previous life. He was also very kind and often gave me extra shredded cabbage... I was actually happier with the meat, but I couldn't bring myself to say it. A chicken moment, I guess.

Anyway.

What's he suddenly talking about? There's no one better than him at satisfying Lady Primera... But there are people who regularly criticize him for being a former adventurer, so maybe he's feeling down. This person is actually quite sensitive despite his appearance.

"Because... I..."

"Metabon, I have seen the skills and trust you have built up. Lady Primera trusts you so much that she says you don't need to taste for poison. There's no reason to fire someone who is knowledgeable about both poison and cooking and behaves sincerely."

Yes, Metabon, being a former adventurer, is knowledgeable about poisons! Isn't it amazing that he can detect if the ingredients are poisoned?! It's the people who call him a "commoner" or a "barbaric former adventurer" who are in the wrong. He has a good reputation from the guild, where he worked diligently and took care of his juniors!

By the way, the adventurer guild in this country is not state-run, but it's almost as good as state-run. It's privately run, but the state provides substantial subsidies so that adventurers can help in times of national crisis. Even some nobles and members of the knight order are registered in the guild. The lines are blurred, as I, who can't fight, see it.

But, having a skilled former adventurer by my side is reassuring!

So I can't afford to lose him! Lady Primera was initially surprised by his stern face, but now she gets anxious if his stew doesn't appear. His cooking skills are excellent.

"...Thank you, Milady Yuria. To think you would still say that even knowing I'm Tarbott's son... I'm truly blessed!"

"...What?"

"Hey, don't play dumb. I heard you met the head of the Rizel Trading Company and the head of the Jenda Trading Company. They couldn't possibly not know about my origins, and if there was something about Tarbott, I could be seen as either black or white..."

"Metabon?"

Hold on a moment.

I've started to understand the thoughts of important people recently!

Don't you think they are all too cautious and thoughtful, especially those who work in the palace?

No, that's not it.

I had no idea about the connection to the Tarbott family!

While I was stunned, Metabon started preparing the tea and, wiping his teary face roughly, pushed the tray towards me.

...Well, I don't plan to fire him, and it seems he doesn't want to leave, so maybe this is fine...

Still, is Metabon's real name Metabon Tarbott...

I don't know, Metabon and Tar... No, never mind.

Let's go see Lady Primera!!

We must cherish peaceful days!

It seems the protagonist has given up on thinking about things.

From next time, Lady Primera will also appear!!!