Chapter 36

It got a bit long, so I split it.

This is the last part of the special chapter.

At the previous tea party, terrace seats facing the garden were prepared, but this time, Jill decided to have a luncheon indoors. A single table was set up in the dining room, and Jill came to greet Laurent and the others. Today, Jill was unusually dressed in a pure white chef's outfit.

"Ah, everyone, hello. Sorry for calling you all so suddenly. It's just a way to show my appreciation; it's not a special celebration or anything. Please relax and enjoy yourselves."

Despite her words, Jill waved her hand casually as she approached.

Her attitude was no different from usual.

The Laurent family, who had expected a grand greeting, looked taken aback but were also relieved. They hadn't noticed, as they were busy calming Chelsea's agitation, but everyone had been unconsciously tense.

"Ah, but there's one thing I'd like to ask, or rather, say..."

Jill fidgeted and averted her gaze.

"What is it? Don't hold back, just say it," Laurent said.

"I learned cooking from my uncle, but it was more of an extension of a hobby, not to become a professional chef. So, if I make any mistakes, please bear with me."

"Jill, you shouldn't say that before we even start eating," Tina said.

"But Tina, your evaluations are so harsh..."

At those words, everyone except Tina burst out laughing.

"That's not true...?" Tina said, looking bewildered, but everyone in the room had a serious expression.

"No, it is," Mars said.

"It is," Chelsea agreed.

"Sometimes you hit the nail on the head, which is actually reassuring," Laurent added.

Mars, Chelsea, and Laurent sighed deeply.

Everyone had experienced the harsh evaluations from Tina.

"Why, you—!"

While Tina pouted, Jill smiled and began preparing the meal.

First, the appetizer.

◆

Jill had struggled with what to serve at this luncheon, but her approach was quickly decided.

One was to show gratitude to Laurent, representing those who had thought of Conrad.

To recreate as many of Conrad's dishes as she could remember.

To demonstrate Conrad's culinary philosophy and ideas through her own interpretation.

Jill wanted to show this.

"The appetizer is a pumpkin soup. For the aperitif... how about juice for Mars and Tina?"

"This isn't exactly Shelland cuisine, is it? It's more like a potage."

At Laurent's words, Jill nodded.

"I'm not sure how to categorize it. It could be a mix of Shelland and my uncle's cooking, but it might also be a category that already exists in my uncle's teachings."

In Shelland, it is traditional to eat pumpkin soup.

It is made by cutting pumpkins and onions into chunks, cooking them sweet, and adding various ingredients, essentially a mixed stew. It is also Maureen's specialty. Depending on whether the pumpkin is mashed into a smooth broth, used as a solid ingredient, or left with the skin on, each household has its own way of making it. Criticizing another household's method can even lead to a fistfight.

The soup Jill served this time was a smooth potage. The pumpkin was mashed and carefully strained, with cream added. It was a technique she learned from Conrad, which ultimately traces back to French cuisine. It had also become a standard technique among the town's chefs.

However, this soup also contained various ingredients. Broccoli and mushrooms, cut to a uniform size, and other vegetables easily available in Shelland. The thick soup clung well to the ingredients, enhancing the flavors.

In other words, Jill's goal with this appetizer was to blend the traditional Shelland soup with the French cuisine Conrad taught.

"If I had to describe it, it's a dish that falls somewhere between home cooking and restaurant cooking."

"The soup is delicious. It's so smooth... I think Jill is really good at making purées and appareils. She might be one of the best in Shelland, maybe even the best... But I think Dad is better at selecting and handling ingredients."

"Hey, Tina."

"Ah, sorry."

A purée is a smooth liquid made by mashing vegetables or fruits and straining them. An appareil is a mixture of eggs, milk, and flour, like the mixture used to make custard. Tina was recalling the custard she had eaten before.

"Um, it's fine. I want you to enjoy it without holding back, including the imperfections."

While saying this, Jill was a bit intimidated by Tina's serious expression during the meal.

◆

By the way, what Conrad spread was not just recipes and dishes.

He also introduced the concept of a multi-course meal to the town.

Primarily, Conrad drew inspiration from Italian cuisine. It was partly because it was difficult for small restaurants to serve as many dishes as in French cuisine, and partly because Conrad had a preference for Italian cuisine.

In an Italian multi-course meal, antipasti (appetizers) and aperitifs are served first.

The next course was the genre of dishes Conrad was most skilled at.

"The next dish is a pasta. Please enjoy it while it's hot."

"Pepe... It's the Cacio e Pepe, right?"

There are two types of pepe in this town.

One is the peperoncino, Garuda's favorite.

The other is the Cacio e Pepe that Jill just served.

The ingredients used are pasta, pepper, pecorino cheese, and the salted water used to cook the pasta.

Butter can be used, and other ingredients can be added, but if the four ingredients are used, it can be defined as Cacio e Pepe. It is a pasta that tests the quality of the ingredients more purely than peperoncino.

"Um, it's good. The pasta is flavorful, and it has a strong bite."

Laurent said, looking satisfied.

The pasta was where Jill had put the most effort.

She had been kneading the flour for several days to make fresh pasta.

"Hehe, thank you."

"Aran, Tina, savor it well. This is the pasta of Master Conrad... the culinary evangelist."

"Did he have a nickname like that?"

"No, I just gave it to him."

The characteristic of fresh pasta is that it is chewy yet has a strong bite.

Unlike dried pasta, it doesn't last long because it contains eggs, but it doesn't lose its texture even if overcooked. The chef also has the freedom to cut the dough as desired. This time, Jill cut the pasta into fettuccine, flat noodles, and then pulled them by hand to create a wavy texture.

To savor the pasta itself, no other seasonings were used except cheese, pepper, and salt. This basic pasta was one of Conrad's specialties.

"Is that so? I thought I should serve this since I learned pasta from my uncle... I'm glad you enjoyed it."

"You can be more confident, Jill."

"But it feels more like I learned it because it was fun, not because I was trained as a chef."

"That sounds like him."

"I don't really know much about how my uncle lived. He didn't talk much about his time in this town..."

"It's similar to now. He would chat while eating. Most chefs are rough, but he was... light and easy-going. His presence is similar to yours, Jill."

The others looked at Jill with a nod of understanding.

Jill also had a light air about her.

Not in a superficial way.

She wasn't noisy, but she had a brightness that didn't take things too seriously.

"Huh, I'm a bit confused?"

"Yeah, Conrad used to deny it himself."

Laurent chuckled.

At that moment, Chelsea clapped her hands.

"I remember. This guy kept asking to be taken on as a disciple because he wanted to learn seasoning and recipes. He would run around town doing good deeds every day to get an invitation. It was really fun back then."

"Hey, don't say that, Chelsea."

"At first, Conrad said, 'No disciples!' But after he kept coming, Conrad gave in. He didn't take him on as a proper disciple, but he would say things like, 'It's a multiple-choice quiz! Guess the secret ingredient!' or give him cryptic homework... It felt more like a teacher and student than a restaurant. The nickname 'evangelist' was also given by Laurent... He was a troublesome student."

Jill and the others listened to Laurent and Chelsea's stories with great interest.

For a moment, Jill thought she saw the face of the young Conrad. She had never seen him cheerfully stirring pots in the kitchen or chatting with customers, but a vivid and colorful scene appeared in her mind.

Jill had always wanted to hear such stories. But when she actually heard them, they had a greater impact than she imagined.

The feel of Conrad's hand patting her head.

The smell of tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil when he was in the kitchen.

The warmth of the stove.

The deliciousness of the food he made.

Memories flooded Jill like a domino effect.

Ah, I might cry.

Just as Jill thought this,

"Ugh... uh... ugh...!"

"Hey, Chelsea."

Chelsea burst into tears first.

Tears streamed down her face, no matter how many times she wiped them with a handkerchief.

"Recently, I found out that the person was Conrad, and that he had died in battle... I was also surprised to hear that you are Jill... I thought you must have gone through a lot of hardship... I didn't know what to say...!"

Laurent, who tried to comfort her, listened intently to Chelsea's heartfelt words.

"It feels like a dream to be back here... I even proposed here and received his blessing...!"

"What, really!?"

Jill and the children were surprised.

It seemed they had never heard this before.

"It's true. I didn't mean to keep it a secret."

Laurent mumbled, blushing.

Jill, caught up in the unexpected turn of events, forgot her own tears and listened with great interest.

"So, the wedding too?"

"Well, he said, 'I'm not a church,' but he did teach us various cake and dessert recipes. He even showed up at the ceremony secretly."

"Even the Conrad who blessed us is gone, and you, Jill, were expelled from the castle... Despite all that, you're acting so lively...!"

Overwhelmed, Chelsea hugged Jill tightly.

"It must have been hard... But we're on your side... Please tell us anything...!"

"Chelsea..."

Jill endured the pain, not wanting to say it hurt.

She realized that everyone in the room was tearing up.

Jill was incredibly moved that people were shedding tears for her late uncle.

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