Chapter 439: The Banquet Preparations
It didn’t take long before the scheduled day for the banquet arrived. Since it was also considered as a victory party, even the residents of the kingdom are celebrating. So are even splurging on buying things in food stalls while so take this chance to have a single day to relax and spend their ti with their family or to have fun with friends. As for rchants, they took this chance to sell their stuff in the busy streets as people both local and tourists have been celebrating the occasion.
Even Elaina’s business is booming. Thanks to her employees and their good ways to develop their workplace where equality and good work ethics are being followed, employees enjoy plenty of orders and business opportunities while also not lacking the amount of ti to rest. Since overti is rewarded, so even purposely want to work overti just to gain a bonus. Thanks to that, the logistics of the business have always been busy and the rating is quite high. With the banquet underway, business continues as well and although Elaina made sure to let the employees enjoy their ti as well, they didn’t want to waste their chance to earn extra money considering that working on a holiday is still paid.
As for Elaina herself, she left the managing of the farm to be handled by the Fey Family and Curaj as she will be busy with her role in the castle soon and has to go there much earlier. With both Princess Margaux and Princess Tabatha going with her, she has to be with them much earlier.
Her kids didn’t want to join as they would rather stay at ho. They didn’t like to join parties and have to mingle with other people as it is much better for them to stay at ho and either train or play with the others which Elaina is more relieved to hear.
Considering that the nobles would also be there and she would be busy in the kitchen, she didn’t want her kids to suddenly stir up trouble while she was busy prepping for food.
Elaina, Princess Margaux, and Princess Tabatha are riding the sa carriage which currently bears the royal insignia of the Royal Family. Even though Elaina is not part of the Royal Family, considering that she trains one of them and lets the other princess stay at her ho like she is part of Elaina’s family, one can think that Elaina might be also part of the Royal Family and she is qualified to ride with them.
"It would have been better if I just rode another carriage. I am not a royalty for
to join with you two together and go to the castle with you two."
"Nonsense, Miss Elaina. Considering how many things have you done for us, it’s only natural that we would be allowing you to join us in this carriage. And besides, you are not a stranger to us. You are one of our closest confidants that we can confidently say even if you are not a royalty, you are still a family to us," Princess Margaux smiled as she reassured Elaina.
"Indeed, Master. And besides, who said you are not royalty yourself? You might have stepped down being an empress but no one can deny that you have been a royalty before and one can only dream of becoming one unless they are born to it or have been married to one of the royalty or adopted to the family. So don’t say that you can’t ride with us."
Elaina chuckled at their reasonings on why she shouldn’t ride another carriage. But she is content with it. And besides, the Royal Family has been quite kind to her even though she is one of the main reasons for the war to begin. But she decided to forget all of that. Now she has to focus on the next battlefield that will require all her expertise; the Royal Kitchen.
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When the carriage arrives, Elaina is quickly escorted by the servants of the castle towards the Royal Kitchen. Princess Margaux and Princess Tabatha needed to do their duties and report to their Father and Mother their respective tasks and activities which Elaina does not have any business with.
The last ti Elaina was at the castle, the place was a bit gloomy and pretty high class that Elaina could not get used to even when she usually lived in the castle back when she was still the Empress. She prefers a dium ho that doesn’t feel spacious or cramped. Just the right amount of space.
The maids around the castle are all busy preparing for the banquet. Since the main banquet happens in the Royal Hall, the maids have to be thorough with their preparations.
"Past this door is the Royal Kitchen. The Royal Chef is already aware that you will be coming so please feel free to enter the door," the maid said as she redirected Elaina to the door that leads straight to the hot battlefield of ladle and ingredients.
"Thank you."
"Please call us if there is anything you need. We will do our best to fulfill it."
After that, the maid quickly returned to her duties and left Elaina alone.
"Alright. Let’s get this work started."
Once Elaina pushes the door, the aroma of various food being cooked wafts around the kitchen. It reminds her of the kitchen of Mr. Douglas but a lot stronger.
The chefs are all busy and do not even care who enters the door. Their attention is all focused on the food they are cooking and nowhere else.
An old man who had a clean-shaven face and had an eyepatch on one of his eyes looked in Elaina’s direction. He looks stern and strict but Elaina didn’t mind that. She couldn’t feel any malice or danger from his stern face, perhaps he just looked like that.
Approaching Elaina, he looked at her and nodded. "Just from the look of you, you might not look like soone born from the kitchen but since Douglas himself vouched for your abilities and how even the Royal Soldiers are also vouching, I am looking forward to your cooking. Welco to the Royal Kitchen, I am the Head Chef and we are already inford of your arrival. We prepared your station and the tools you will need. Co, follow ."
His voice was oddly soft-spoken for soone like him. It was like his voice didn’t match his looks.
Elaina followed the Head Chef past the cooking chefs. One can easily tell they are professionals as no one is speaking carelessly while cooking. They only talk when they need sothing, otherwise, everything is going well.
They soon arrive at her station, which is just beside Douglas who is also cooking. Douglas waved at Elaina, silently greeting her with a wave in the hand before he returned to cooking.
Elaina nodded in response before she inspected every tool at her disposal. The frying pans and pots are all in pristine conditions even though it has signs of being used. The various knives are also sharpened enough, ready to cut any ingredients. The seasonings are also complete and although she might need a few other things that are not common condints, she has them prepared. She just needed to ask for permission.
" Can I use so condints that are not among the available condints?" Elaina asked.
"May I inspect it?" The Head Chef asked.
"Sure."
Taking the hogrown and well-crafted condints, she handed them to the Head Chef. As soon as the Head Chef saw the items, his eyes went wide.
"Ooh, I never thought I would be seeing this condint again! Isn’t this what they call Paprika? And this one! Chili powder! Miss, can I have a taste?" the Head Chef is really thrilled by the two condints in his hands.
"You can...but isn’t that bad since it is spicy?"
"I just wanted to test its tang and how it is in quality."
Since Elaina had given permission, the Head Chef tested both and his eyes lit up.
"No doubt about this. This is indeed a high-class chili powder and paprika! The unique tang of the chili powder, strong but not too much, and the paprika, enough to give a unique tickle to the tongue with this taste!"
Chili is hard to co by in the Darcero Kingdom. Regular chili is not easy to grow in the kingdom due to the weather. But thanks to the Dungeon Farm, growing regular chili and other varieties helped with the creation of both Paprika and Chili Powder.
"So, are these passable for use?" Elaina asked.
"Indeed. This is sothing you can use. Feel free to use it. But I have a request. Since this ingredient is hard to co by, can the Royal Kitchen order to receive a shipnt of Paprika and Chili Powder?"
Elaina grinned. Although she didn’t an to advertise her product, that doesn’t an she won’t take advantage of it. Money is not sothing she would decline.
"Of course!"
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