The Princess Named D'Eon

"What's wrong, Tamamo Cat?" Shirou had already Projection an apron onto himself, counting the ingredients in the castle.

"Master! Cooking is my job!" Tamamo Cat pounced on the boy and said very seriously.

"No, it'll be faster if two people do it. Anyway, I'll be the head chef, and you can make a few of your best dishes, okay?" Shirou said, looking at the cat.

"Then it should be Master who helps me, Meow! Meow has undergone cruel training in a maid café, woof~!" Tamamo Cat said, looking conflicted.

The young man could not back down in this area; his soul as a chef was burning within him.

Shirou looked at the cat and said, "I don't think my cooking skills could possibly be inferior to yours."

Tamamo Cat is the only one she cannot tolerate, the only thing she cannot give up, whether as the strongest and most perfect pet or as a virtuous wife.

"Meow? Master! Well, I have to make you understand that cooking is a pet's way of showing affection. Master, you just need to focus on earning money, and when you get home, you just need to sit quietly and receive the service."

"I think pets only need to be cute, after all, letting pets into the kitchen violates restaurant hygiene regulations. Why don't you just sit down and accept our kindness?" Shirou Projection the Ganjiang Pot, held it in his hand, and looked at the cat.

"Meow! Even if you praise me for being cute, Master, I won't back down!" Tamamo Cat seemed to have been hit hard by the boy's words. Her face turned red, and she wanted to laugh happily, but she stubbornly held back.

Normally, faced with such a handsome owner, she would probably be lying on the ground, showing her belly and surrendering. But this is the one thing she can't back down from.

Tamamo Cat gripped the frying pan with both hands, shaking her head violently until the bell around her neck jingled. She finally calmed down. If she had to hand over even the kitchen, her battlefield as a devoted wife, to someone else, then her only remaining value would be warming the bed!

"Huh? Why? Why are the two of them suddenly fighting?" Jeanne d'Arc of Arc asked, puzzled.

"Is that so? I understand!" Shirou nodded, understanding Tamamo Cat's determination.

"It's wonderful that you understand, Master!" Tamamo Cat said with a smile.

"Let's decide things in the kitchen the way we do it! Let's have a cooking showdown!" the boy and the catgirl said in unison.

"So! Why did you two start a fire on your own?" Jeanne d'Arc exclaimed in bewilderment.

More than an hour passed after that.

Shirou sent a servant to summon the ministers and generals, while he himself went to another building to find the emperor and his entourage, who had already rested. He invited them to sit down for a meal in the banquet hall in the center of the castle, and arranged for servants to deliver meals to the servants and soldiers.

In the spacious banquet hall, crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling like waterfalls, and on the floor, a long rectangular table covered with a white cloth sat on a golden candlestick, where candlelight flickered.

One by one, the servants brought out silver platters, each covered with a gleaming, semi-circular silver lid.

The maid brought over special slender wine glasses and poured champagne for the guests as an aperitif.

This time, the client wasn't Britain teenagers and burly teachers, but the King of France, if this Emperor Louis was, as he suspected, the same 'Louis'.

During the era in which he grew up, France culinary culture had already taken shape, with even royal cooking competitions. Court nobles considered tasting fine food a great pleasure in life, and ordinary dishes could not satisfy the emperor and his ministers.

If we're talking about pure deliciousness, then stinky tofu is delicious, houttuynia cordata is delicious, and the Inuit dish 'Kiviak,' made by sewing dead Haiyan swallows into the bodies of seals and burying them in the ice to ferment for three years, is also an exquisite delicacy. Surströmming is also an exquisite delicacy.

However, these dishes certainly wouldn't be fit for a state banquet. French court cuisine requires no unpleasant odors, no loud noises, and must not stain the elegant gowns or lack of etiquette. The real test for the young men is how to ensure they enjoy the most delicious food while adhering to the rules of nobility and royalty, and while maintaining an elegant and presentable dining experience.

In this remote countryside, there aren't many special ingredients; caviar and abalone are out of the question. But the only advantage is that there are farms everywhere, where you can get freshly picked, the freshest, and highest-quality vegetables, flour made from polished rice, and livestock raised in the fields eating grass, earthworms, and without pesticides.

Shirou chose a creamy mushroom and chicken puff pastry box as his appetizer. The golden-brown round pastry was filled with puff pastry and chicken, and brushed with layers of egg wash, resulting in a crispy and crunchy pastry.

The soup is a sweet and fresh vegetable soup. You put a spoon in the center, scoop up the soup, and then slowly sip it with your mouth against the side of the spoon, without making a sound. The warm vegetable soup, the moment it enters your mouth, brings you the refreshing feeling of enjoying the natural scenery and being caressed by a gentle breeze.

The appetizer was brandy-braised snails, served with a foie gras salad; its strength lay in the freshness of the ingredients.

The main course is roasted lamb chops, slow-roasted to medium-rare, paired with cherry wine made from locally picked wild cherries and a sauce that is tender, juicy, and eliminates any gamey taste, leaving a lingering aftertaste.

The emperor and his entourage ate with smiles on their faces, thoroughly enjoying their meal. They chatted as they ate. If there was any shortcoming, it might be the lack of violin or piano music, but the delicious food made up for it perfectly.

"This is truly delicious! The preparation of the ingredients is impeccable. Shirou, where did you hire this chef? I'm delighted to have such a skilled royal chef in the Imperial Palace," Emperor Louis asked curiously.

"Well... this situation is a bit special, and it's a long story. Actually, my chef isn't anything special, but he has mastered quite a few new dishes. I can have him give all the recipes to your personal chef. With the recipes, I believe that with more study and practice, he can also make the same dishes."

Shirou chuckled dryly. Since he didn't know whether a nobleman's fondness for cooking was a plus or a minus in this place, Shirou chose to keep it a secret.

"Is that so? Well then, thank you, Shirou." Emperor Louis nodded in satisfaction.

At that moment, in the kitchen, Tamamo Cat, dressed in Maid Outfit and wearing a long apron, knelt down on the ground, supporting herself with her hands.

"Losed, woof! This cat's already a homeless wretch. It actually lost to its master in cooking! Was its training at the maid café insufficient? Meow's running away from home! It'll come back to find its master after it's trained properly. This cat is no longer worthy to nap with its master, woof!"

Tamamo Cat wiped away her tears, pulled out a stick from somewhere, tied a cloth around its end, and headed for the door.

"Hey, don't go! Your cooking is actually quite delicious. How should I put it? It has a girlish feel to it, different from Shirou's delicate style, and it also has a wild, free-spirited feel to it," Jeanne d'Arc said, tasting the omelet rice made by Tamamo Cat.

"Meow, I won't be happy if my owner doesn't praise me, woof." Tamamo Cat smiled through her tears, revealing a bright smile, and said, "But if you like to eat it, then eat it all, woof."

"Who praised you? I just don't want you to leave, otherwise there won't be anyone to rush in as cannon fodder. Besides, if Shirou feels that he caused you to leave, his troublesome personality will cause him a lot of trouble. Otherwise, who cares about a stray cat's feelings! But if I finish all the food you made, you can stay." Jeanne d'Arc said awkwardly, then buried her head and started eating the fried rice in big mouthfuls.

"Meow~" Tamamo Cat smiled and stopped talking, but walked over and rubbed her head against Jeanne d'Arc's chest.

In the banquet hall, Emperor Louis, along with the blonde woman in the long Western hat, and his accompanying ministers and generals, enjoyed a series of exquisite dishes and glasses of wine.

We savored the last dessert: a white mousse cake sprinkled with pretty rose petal flakes that turned into red granules, and an egg honey milk tea made with fresh eggs, milk tea, and wild honey.

With the help of a servant, the plates and cutlery were cleared away, and a corner of a napkin was used to gently wipe away the grease from the mouth and hands.

From the King to the ministers and generals, everyone wore expressions of utter satisfaction. Even the woman who had half-covered her face had a blissful smile on her lips, clearly enjoying the delicious meal.

"By the way, Shirou, I actually have a suggestion," the emperor said, looking at the boy.

"Please speak," Shirou replied.

"Actually, I'm looking for a suitable son-in-law. Alright! There's a limit to shyness. You're Princess, this is too rude. How long are you going to keep wearing that hat?" Emperor Louis reached out and snatched the blonde woman's hat away.

"Your Majesty! Wait!" The blonde woman, whose hat had been removed, let out a tinkling cry. Now her true face was finally revealed: her long, straight, golden hair shimmered in the light of the crystal chandelier and Gil.

Her azure eyes were like jewels, her face was pretty and dignified, and her brows and eyes exuded a heroic spirit, revealing her to be a young lady with the demeanor of an upright knight.

Emperor Louis looked at his daughter with loving eyes, praising the beautiful woman without reservation, saying, "Shirou, my beloved daughter, the Princess of the France Red Heart Kingdom, you have seen her now, haven't you? The nation's treasure, my darling, a rare woman of both beauty and talent."

"Huh?!" Shirou looked at the beautiful Princess with long golden hair who was blushing so much she looked like she was about to burst into flames, and for some reason, she gave him a strange sense of unease.

The feeling is subtle, much like the famous Mona Lisa, which is arguably the most famous painting in the world. Its mystery has led to various interpretations, including by the painter, mystery novelists, film Director, and all sorts of other people.

Firstly, there's the mystery of the most famous Mona Lisa's smile. From a distance, the whole painting appears to be smiling, but when you focus your gaze on the mouth, you'll find there's no curve there, making it seem like the person in the painting isn't smiling. However, if you shift your gaze and look at the painting again, you'll find that the person is indeed smiling.

Secondly, the mystery of the Mona Lisa's gender: although the general consensus in academia is that the Mona Lisa was modeled after a noblewoman, some scholars have proposed that she was modeled after Da Vinci's lover and student, Salai, a man.

Another theory suggests that the left half of Mona Lisa's body is male, while the right half is female. This is evident in the face, and upon closer inspection, one can see that the left hand in the painting is slender and long, like a male hand, while the right hand is soft and plump, like a female hand.

Therefore, the Mona Lisa is also considered a masterpiece that encompasses beauty in both men and women.

The blonde Princess opposite him gave him this conflicting feeling. Was she a blonde girl with long, flowing hair and a light blue Princess dress? Or a boy who seemed like Princess?

The employees in Chaldea, who were spying on him through the surveillance cameras, were whispering among themselves, some even chuckling. Several male employees were biting their handkerchiefs in frustration, pounding their fists on the table, and glaring at the young man with jealousy.

He, or rather she, was a France Dragon Knight, a legendary multi-spy who honed his swordsmanship to perfection. Even after his death, his true gender remained a mystery. Although there were rumors that someone verified his true identity as male after his death, there was no real and valid evidence.

Yes, he/she is...

"Chevalier d'Eon!" Gudako and Mash from Chaldea Mash in surprise. Wasn't this the Servant had disappeared from Chaldea?

"Uh... why are all these familiar faces?" Jeanne d'Arc Alter said unhappily as she watched the live stream through the 3D image of Chaldea in the kitchen.

"Meow? Princess? Is this an enemy? Woof?" Tamamo Cat squinted, revealing its wild, vertical pupils.

"Well, Shirou, now that you're unmarried and have elders in your family, you can make your own decisions. I won't tell you to make a decision right now, but you could try talking to my Princess. We accepted your hospitality today, so now I invite you to my palace. You young people can get to know each other better," Emperor Louis said with a smile.

"Excellent! Infiltrate the enemy directly! Shirou, quickly agree to the Emperor's request!" Da Vinci shouted telepathically into the ear of the boy who was still completely unaware of the situation. She was trying her best to suppress a smile and pounding the table.

Shirou nodded and said to Emperor Louis, "I understand. Please allow me to pay my respects at your palace."

"Hahaha, that's exactly how it should be! Excellent, this couldn't be better. I can introduce you to my family later." The emperor stroked his beard with satisfaction and laughed heartily.

"Haha, I'll be right back. You young people should have a good chat together." Emperor Louis said this, then walked out the door with his ministers and generals, laughing and talking.

The huge banquet hall was now empty except for the young man and the Princess, who wore a light blue dress and had long, flowing golden hair.

Chapter 175 The Princess's Chevalier d'Eon

Shirou and the Princess stood on opposite sides of the long table in the banquet hall, their amber and azure eyes meeting, each wary of the other.

This person, with an angelic and pure appearance yet displaying masculine courage, is suspected to be Princess is half male and half female.

"Now that there's no one else around, it's perfect timing, I've been wanting to talk to you for a while." Shirou looked at the person before him and asked, "You're Servant, right? Why are you with the emperor here? Do you know what this dream world is all about?"

"And who are you! What is your purpose? I will never allow you to approach Your Majesty the Emperor!" The Princess drew a long sword from under her skirt and pointed it at the boy, demanding an answer.

"Yo! Chevalier d'Eon ~! Long time no see~!" Chaldea's Projection screen appeared directly in front of the Princess, Gudako waved in their direction.

"Eh? Gudako, Mash? So you're actually from Chaldea?" Chevalier d'Eon also realized who the newcomer was.

"Chevalier d'Eon? You've become Princess here?" Gudako asked in surprise.

Wearing the dress, Chevalier d'Eon said shamefully, "Master... I didn't want to be Princess here either, but it's the Queen's order. I have no choice. I'm supposed to be Dragon Knight protecting the royal family."

"Chevalier d'Eon? That famous France spy?" Shirou said in surprise.

Chevalier d'Eon vu, the Dragon Knight of the White Lily, a symbol of France, and the Sword Saint of Europe. He, or rather she, as a spy, traveled between Russia and England, carrying out various shady and secret tasks for the French emperor, facilitating diplomacy between nations. After many ups and downs and exile, she never abandoned her love for her country, and in the end, she witnessed the destruction of the nation she served.

"So, this isn't actually your castle, young man? And you're not Marquis?" Chevalier d'Eon asked.

Tamamo Cat then jumped in from the doorway and retorted, "No, no, meow! This is the castle I stole for my master!"

"That's not right, this has nothing to do with you, stray cat. This is my castle! Shirou's castle!" The silver-haired girl said, crossing her arms as she walked in.

"You are the witch who tried to destroy France..." Chevalier d'Eon frowned when she saw Jeanne d'Arc of Arc dressed in black, her hand involuntarily resting on the hilt of her sword. She recalled terrible memories; she had once loved her country dearly, but had become the enemy of the respected Queen due to her Mad Enhancement.

"What? Want to fight?" Jeanne d'Arc of Arc immediately summoned her banner and glared back. If the other party showed any intention of fighting, she would simply set it on fire.

Tamamo Cat shook its head, looking like it couldn't do anything with you. "The Demon King is such an insincere and unpopular child, completely unfit to be a pet. According to the script, the Demon King should have turned into a carrot and then been eaten by the cat."

But the cat's owner is just too handsome, which is honestly a real problem for the cat. Unexpectedly, the Demon King surrendered before the fight even started, willingly becoming the master's prisoner and offering up the castle along with himself. The Demon King is such a clingy child."

"Whoa! What... what are you saying, you wild cat?!" Jeanne d'Arc cried out, her face flushed.

"Meow haha, the Demon King is angry! Master, save me, woof~!" Tamamo Cat laughed, raised her hands, and ran behind Shirou.

"Don't Run! You wildcat!" Jeanne d'Arc angrily pounced on her.

The boy and the cat circled around him, chasing each other, but Tamamo Cat always managed to dodge Jeanne d'Arc's grasping hand with its agile and wild movements.

Shirou felt two colors, black and white, spinning before his eyes. Finally, he couldn't resist and grabbed the silver-haired girl's shoulder.

"Jeanne d'Arc, calm down, calm down. There's no need for you to get so angry with Tamamo Cat. She's just like a child."

"What? Shirou, are you on the side of the stray cat?" Jeanne d'Arc asked the boy angrily.

"No, Jeanne d'Arc, I'm very grateful for your help and for entrusting this castle to me, but I knew from the beginning that you would do this," Shirou said with a light laugh to the silver-haired girl.

Although he's stubborn and blunt, and his words can be harsh, he's not a bad person at heart.

Actually, she has a very simple mind, a straightforward personality, and takes everything she does very seriously. She trusts those she believes in unconditionally. Having such a good friend is truly a blessing in life.

"What?!" Jeanne d'Arc felt her heart pounding, but she forced herself to calm down and stole a glance at the boy's profile, asking, "What do you mean?"

"Because you came into this world to help me in the first place, right?" Shirou said gratefully to the silver-haired girl. "So after things are over here, as promised, I'll take good care of you! I'll take you to eat delicious food and have fun, and then... um, you like dancing, so let's go to a ball together."

"Hmph... Good that you remember!" Jeanne d'Arc turned her head away, crossing her arms, but from an angle the boy couldn't see, a blush appeared on her cheeks. The anger she had felt earlier had long since vanished.

"..." Seeing this, Chevalier d'Eon sheathed his sword, feeling that this woman, who was so easy to deal with, was indeed a different person from the Dragon Witch from before.

"Princess, do you understand now?" Tamamo Cat ran up to Chevalier d'Eon and asked.

"What?" Chevalier d'Eon asked, looking at the cat-like Servant in front of him with a puzzled expression.

Tamamo Cat smiled brightly and said, "So! This castle belongs to the master! The master's things are meow's things! Meow is also the master's things! So! The master is also meow's things, woof~!"

"Ha, I understand your loyalty to some extent now." Chevalier d'Eon nodded. Although he couldn't keep up with the thoughts of this beast-like Servant, he could sense in Tamamo Cat the same sincere affection and loyalty for his master.

"Is that so? That's good, Princess ~!" Tamamo Cat smiled, turned around, and jumped onto the boy's back, saying, "Master, I want to go back to my home in the outside world with you too."

"Is that so... But I already have a dog at home," Shirou said.

"Master, even a cat can guard the house! I cook for you every day and wait for you at the door when you come home. You and your pet are practically like a married couple," Tamamo Cat said with a smile, her pretty red face cupped in her hands.

"Hey, wildcat, going to that world isn't so easy. First, you need the Holy Grail as energy, and then there needs to be a human there with enough compatibility to summon you," Jeanne d'Arc explained to Tamamo-no-Mae.

"Although I don't really like those inedible golden cat food cans, I'll find them and bring them back one or two so I can live with my owner!" Tamamo Cat said confidently.

In the holographic projection of Chaldea, Gudako was steadily approaching the Dragon Knight, resting her chin on her hand and staring at Chevalier d'Eon's chest. "By the way... Chevalier d'Eon, aren't you wearing a Princess dress right now?"

'Everyone says it's not what I wanted to wear... Oh well.' Chevalier d'Eon lowered his head in despair.

"This loose style of clothing shouldn't make the clothes bulge out, right? Then... what's with the bulge on Chevalier d'Eon's chest? Mash, what do you think?" Gudako asked, stroking his non-existent beard and squinting.

"Reporting to senior, there must be something fishy about this, but it has indeed bulged up, and according to observation, it is probably A-!" Mash, who was working on the machine, reported earnestly.

Plop plop plop.