Chapter 19

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Three months have passed since the buckwheat seeds were sown. It's time to harvest the buckwheat.

The gardener Tom was surprised by the large amount of buckwheat he had harvested for the first time.

"This is amazing. If we can harvest this much, it will definitely be useful for the villagers!"

"Also, the stems and leaves of the buckwheat can be used as feed for chickens," said eleven-year-old Karl, who was interested in growing buckwheat, with a delighted look. Karl is a child who is interested in plants in general and is gradually learning Tom's work.

"This is the time for the head chef to shine," Marianne said, her breathing heavy.

In the kitchen of the manor, Chef Sam was gathering ingredients while comparing freshly ground buckwheat flour with the recipes Marianne had written.

"Miss, why don't we let the guests watch the cooking process since we have the opportunity?"

"That's a good idea! Let's do that."

Early in the morning, stone stoves were set up in a corner of the farm, and the children were very interested.

In addition to the lord and lady, their noble friends, the second prince, and Katarina, a young male student from the buckwheat-producing country also participated.

The village chiefs from the lord's territories also attended and were discussing the cultivation methods with gardener Tom.

Since it was an outdoor tasting event, round tables and chairs were set up everywhere.

The student, who was the same age as the prince and Katarina, introduced himself as Caesar. He was the third son of a baron from a neighboring country.

The orphans, dressed in their best clothes, were helping the young chefs prepare in the adjacent group.

"Alright, let's get started."

With Sam's call, the buckwheat flour party began. The flour was kneaded into dumplings, which were then boiled one after another and thrown into a soup with chicken and vegetables once they floated to the surface.

The flour was mixed with wheat flour, thinly rolled, and baked into a round shape, with ham and cheese placed on top, then folded from all four sides.

The grains were steamed, then stir-fried with garlic, onions, cheese, bacon, and soup to make a risotto-like dish.

"These are all nostalgic dishes," Caesar said happily.

"All these recipes are from books of Holland," Marianne said.

"Really? Are Holland's books translated here?" he asked, surprised.

"Well, um," Marianne stammered, and Katarina explained, "Marianne can read your country's books. She translated the recipes."

Caesar's eyes widened.

"Dear Miss, who taught you Hollandish?"

"All by myself. I think my pronunciation is inaccurate because I only read dictionaries."

When Caesar spoke to her in Hollandish, she replied in the same language, making him smile.

"Amazing! Your pronunciation is quite good."

"I'm relieved. I hope you enjoy the buckwheat dishes."

"I'm looking forward to it. I'd like you to try the buckwheat dishes from my home. They are very delicious."

"Thank you. I would like to try authentic buckwheat dishes someday."

Everyone enjoyed the dishes laid out on the tables, and the buckwheat flour party was a hit.

The village chiefs asked the head chef for the recipes and were happy to receive the prepared notes.

"I must spread this to the whole village. Everyone will be delighted," they said, tasting all the dishes with enthusiasm.

The thinly baked and folded dish, with its salty filling, could be a meal, while the honey-covered cheese-filled dish could be a dessert. The invited nobles also praised it.

The risotto made from the whole grains had a fun, popping texture.

The dumplings were rich in flavor, as the taste had soaked in.

"Prince Alexander, are you enjoying yourself?"

"Yes, Katarina. They are all delicious. I plan to incorporate them into the royal cuisine."

"Please do. Buckwheat is drought-resistant and has a short cultivation period. Marianne has been promoting its cultivation in our territory."

"I see. Marianne, huh."

The prince glanced at Marianne, who was eating a folded cheese-filled dish with Caesar and chatting.

Occasionally, she looked at the children from another group, her eyes narrowing as she watched their hearty eating, showing that she had taken on the role of their older sister.

"I'll send you more unusual grains if I find them."

"Sure, my sister will be delighted. Thank you."

Then they both looked at Marianne and Caesar. Caesar, with his dark brown hair and eyes, nodded while eating the risotto. It seemed delicious. Marianne also smiled after taking a bite.

The prince's handsome face looked a bit lonely as he watched them. Katarina looked at his profile with a wry smile.

The gentle autumn breeze caressed everyone and passed by.

In the carriage on the way back, in a relaxed atmosphere after a full meal, Caesar's voice was bright.

"Prince, Miss Marianne is amazing. I heard she started by improving the orphans' diet and set up that farm. She learned Hollandish on her own and is incredibly talented."

"Yes, she is talented. She also came up with the idea for the country's postal service. She and Miss Katarina worked on the concept, and her father is running it."

"Really? No way."

"It's true. She is now working on chicken breeding."

"She is truly a genius. I've never met such a genius before. She might become a legendary genius like the one in our country."

Alexander, with a refined smile befitting a royal, listened to the tales of the legendary genius from Caesar's country.

However, inside, he was struggling with a rough feeling.

The casual words of the student, "I've never seen anyone like her," reminded him of Marianne's recent words, "I am not good enough."

(I've never seen anyone like her.)

Though he had no ill intentions, the prince muttered to himself while looking out the window, not wanting Marianne to hear.