Chef Rose

"Huh, what a coincidence? Sherry's mother is actually a cook!"

After Vivian helped Sherry away, Nalant opened the population register.

Securing the Daughter of Luck under his command was something Nalant had to ensure, and he prepared to bestow favor upon Sherry's family as was customary.

It was just that he hadn't expected Sherry's mother to be the only cook within Storm Territory.

Knock, knock, knock!

"My Lord, the guards report that a female serf has arrived outside the castle, claiming to be Sherry's mother. She is kneeling at the castle gate, begging to see you!" Just then, Thomas's voice came from the doorway.

"She comes at the right time!" Nalant had originally intended to send someone to Misfortune Village, but he hadn't expected her to come on her own. "Go and bring her to the first-floor hall!"

Instructing Thomas, Nalant stood up and walked out of the study.

"Serf Rose greets the Lord!" Soon, Thomas brought a woman in her thirties into the inner castle. Although the woman wore an old linen dress, it was washed spotlessly clean—a rare sight among impoverished serfs.

"Hmm! Rise," Nalant nodded. "Thomas, bring a stool and let her sit."

"My Lord, Rose dare not sit. I have come to beg you to release Sherry!" Nalant's kind gesture exceeded Rose's expectations, but she dared not actually sit on the stool, instead hurriedly stating her purpose.

Sherry had been running an unexplained fever since last night. Because Storm Territory lacked a physician or a priest, Rose, as a mother, had no choice but to risk entering the edge of the Blazing Forest to gather herbs.

To her surprise, when she returned with the herbs, she heard from the villagers that Sherry had become a Daughter of Misfortune and had been taken back to the castle by the Lord.

Thus, panicked, she had rushed to the castle and knelt outside the gate to beg for an audience with the Lord.

"My Lord, I know that with Sherry's current status, making this request of you is very presumptuous. But My Lord, I have only Sherry as a daughter; she is my only hope for living... I am willing to pay ten gold coins for this, and I guarantee that I will take Sherry to the Blazing Grassland and never set foot in the principality again! I only ask that you be generous and merciful enough to accept my plea!"

"Hmm? Ten gold coins?" Before Nalant could respond, he was stunned by Rose's words. Ten gold coins were a massive fortune for a serf; he hadn't expected Rose to possess such a sum.

"Rose, where were you from before?" Although he knew Rose was a cook, even a cook couldn't possibly earn such wealth. Nalant became interested in Rose's past.

"Replying to the Lord, this lowly one previously ran a tavern in Tulip City called the Rose Tavern!"

"The Rose Tavern in Tulip City?" Nalant widened his eyes, for at that moment, he found a relatively deep memory within the original owner's recollections.

A few years ago, when the original owner was still at the aristocratic academy in Tulip City, many noble heirs liked to go to a place called the Rose Tavern to dine and drink.

It was said that the cook there was not only beautiful and moving, but the dishes she prepared were also extremely delicious, even knowing how to cook the meat of a Magic Beast. Many minor nobles had even sent invitations to the owner of the Rose Tavern, but unfortunately, they were all rejected.

Looking at Rose's appearance now, although she had hidden much of her beauty through deliberate dressing and she wasn't as legendary as those noble heirs had described, she was indeed a beautiful woman.

Of course, as a useless second son, Nalant had never been to the Rose Tavern, which was why he hadn't recognized Rose earlier.

"The Rose Tavern east of Tulip City was run by you?" Nalant confirmed once more.

"Yes, My Lord. My Lord, these are the ten gold coins. Please show mercy and release Sherry. I swear to the gods that I will take Sherry to the Blazing Grassland and never return to the principality again!"

The Blazing Grassland was not far from Storm Territory, separated only by the Barony of Quinte. However, the Blazing Grassland was not a good place; its level of danger was no less than that of the Blazing Forest.

The grassland not only contained various Magic Beasts but also uncivilized grassland barbarians. There were no settlements of civilized humans on the Blazing Grassland; it was practically a forbidden zone for civilization.

If a Daughter of Misfortune went there, she wouldn't even see another person, so there would naturally be no talk of bringing misfortune to those around her.

"No, Ms. Rose!" Looking at the earnest Rose, Nalant shook his head at her with a smile.

Rose's face turned pale; she thought Nalant was refusing her plea.

Just then, Nalant's words came again: "I will not burn Sherry, nor do you need to leave Storm Territory!"

"Ms. Rose, in the eyes of others, Sherry might bring misfortune, but I, Nalant, as a Lord favored by the God of Glory, feel that Sherry will bring me luck! Therefore, I will keep her in the castle!"

"What?" Rose was stunned. She had never heard of a Daughter of Misfortune bringing luck.

However, the young Lord before her didn't seem to be teasing her. Rose spoke in disbelief: "Is this true, My Lord?"

"Of course it is true. Let's go, I will take you to see Sherry!"

Nalant stood up directly and led Rose out of the hall.

"My Lord!"

Soon, Nalant brought Rose to the maid's room, where Vivian was still guarding Sherry.

When Rose saw the sleeping Sherry and discovered that she had no abnormalities, she finally felt relieved. However, when she cast her gaze toward Vivian, she was stunned once again.

"Hello, Ms. Rose!" Vivian greeted her with a smile.

Vivian knew she had been recognized because she wasn't wearing a mask, and Rose had previously sought her out to sew dresses.

"You... hello... Vivian! I didn't expect that you hadn't..." At this moment, Rose finally believed the Lord's words. Perhaps Sherry really wouldn't have to be sent to the stake; after all, the previous Daughter of Misfortune, Vivian, was right before her eyes, and she was even wearing a castle maid's uniform.

"Thank you, My Lord, for sparing Sherry!" Rose didn't hesitate, kneeling directly on the ground to express her gratitude to Nalant.

"Rise, Ms. Rose! This is the revelation of the God of Glory, and it is also what I, as this Lord, should do." Nalant nodded with a smile, paused, and then continued: "Rose, although I will not kill Sherry, she can only live in the castle from now on, and for a long time, she will not be able to expose her identity outside..."

"My Lord, Rose understands. As long as Sherry can live safely, I have no other desires. I will say goodbye to Sherry and warn her to serve the Lord well in the future!"

Rose naturally understood what Nalant meant. Just like Vivian, letting everyone believe that Sherry was already dead was the only way for Sherry to be truly safe.

"No, Rose, I'm afraid you misunderstood my meaning. I didn't mean that Sherry shouldn't see you. I have a better idea: I will appoint you as the castle's head chef. That way, you can see Sherry every day without worrying about her identity being leaked!" Nalant said with a smile. "Ms. Rose, what do you think?"

"Ah, becoming the castle's head chef and seeing Sherry every day?" Rose was overjoyed, tears of gratitude instantly welling up in her eyes. "Thank you, My Lord, Rose is willing!"