"Master, it's time for lunch," Regan reminded him.
Claire finally snapped out of the Magic Book. The magic in this world really was incredible and wondrous. Studying it was nothing like the misery of studying back when she was in school. Claire often became so absorbed in her research that she lost all sense of time, as though she had entered the mountains and forgotten the passing years.
Claire set down her book, nodded, and followed Regan into the dining room. Five or six exquisite dishes had already been laid out on the table, with maids standing nearby to serve. Claire also spotted Melly at the end of the line, craning her neck to look around at the dining room's decor, her eyes full of curiosity and envy. She had come with Yuna.
But the dishes were still the same old Western fare. Claire really wasn't used to the food here.
So she called Melly over. "Come eat with me."
Maybe she would have more of an appetite if someone sat beside her and ate with her.
Melly shook her head like a rattle drum again. "Melly already ate. Big Brother, you eat." As she spoke, she glanced at Regan behind Claire. Regan nodded in satisfaction. At least she knew the rules.
Claire also knew that the maids did not eat the same food as her. Even Regan did not dine with her; they had all eaten before she did.
"Then forget it." Claire picked up her knife and fork and boredly cut into the steak before her.
She thought to herself, Sigh, steak every day. It's fine once or twice, but I'm sick of it if I have to eat it every day.
Still thinking that, Claire cut off a piece of meat and slowly put it into her mouth.
After only a few chews, Claire slammed her knife and fork onto the dining table. "Smack!"
Yuna, standing nearby, jumped in fright. She had made every dish on this table herself and tasted them before serving them. There was nothing wrong with the flavor, so why had the Baron suddenly slammed the table in anger?
"No! I can't eat this anymore!" Claire stood up. Eating this for a day or two was fine, but if she had to eat this stuff for the rest of her life, she would die!
As expected! The Baron thinks the food tastes bad. I'm done for. Am I going to get fired?
Yuna stepped forward fearfully, her voice trembling. "Baron, what part of it doesn't suit your taste? I'll go make you another meal."
Claire was also taken aback, not knowing how she had frightened the little maid. She quickly smiled. "It's fine. What you made is delicious. I just suddenly want a different taste."
"Then tell me, and I'll make you another meal right away," Yuna said quickly.
Claire gave a soft laugh, her tone brimming with confidence. "What I want to eat isn't something you can make."
"I'll work hard! Please just tell me," Yuna said, still fighting to keep herself from being fired.
"You can learn. I'll teach you."
Yuna: "Huh?"
Regan: "Huh?"
Melly looked at Yuna, then at Regan, and chimed in, "Huh?"
"I'll make it once first, and you can watch and learn from the side," Claire repeated.
When it came to cooking, she was fairly skilled. She had to thank her parents from her previous life for that; they had never spoiled her in the slightest. When other twelve-year-olds were still shouting for their mothers to make fried chicken legs, she had already been taking a few dozen dollars to the market and haggling with the aunties. Whenever the adults at home were busy, she was the one who cooked.
Later, after she moved out and lived alone, she had to cook every day, and her skills only improved with time.
That was probably the main reason she couldn't get used to the food here. If I had never seen the light, perhaps I could have endured the darkness...
"Master..." Regan immediately stepped out to stop her.
Claire raised a hand to cut off his long speech. "Don't try to talk me out of it. I've made up my mind."
Outside the kitchen, every maid in the Baronial Manor had run over. They pressed themselves against the glass windows to watch Claire inside, chattering nonstop among themselves.
Meanwhile, Regan, Yuna, Melly, and the others entered the kitchen. As the butler, Regan naturally had to follow her in. Yuna needed to learn how to cook from the side, while Melly... well, no one stopped her, so she simply followed behind Yuna.
Claire first opened the seasoning jars and tasted them one by one, determining the properties of this world's spices and finding suitable equivalents.
Fortunately, although some seasonings were different, most of them had counterparts. There was no MSG, chicken essence, or other modern flavor enhancers, but basic ingredients like salt, sugar, vinegar, and chili peppers were available. They simply did not seem to be used often; most of the containers were nearly full, except for the sugar and salt.
After briefly familiarizing herself with the kitchen utensils, Claire began preparing the ingredients.
Regan stood nearby with a face full of concern. He could be said to have watched the young master grow up, but he had never seen her cook before.
Yuna was not entirely confident in Claire either. In her impression, nobles should not know such lowly skills as preparing food. She only hoped the Baron would not hurt herself later.
Melly, on the other hand, had no particular concept of it. Still, she did not think Claire could make delicious food. That was something adults like Mother could do. Big Brother was still so young, and he was a man besides. How could he possibly make something tasty?
"Garlic, garlic..." Claire murmured as she searched through the ingredients and found the garlic she wanted. Without garlic, her cooking prowess would immediately be cut in half.
"Smack!"
The practiced motion of smashing garlic made Claire feel as though she had returned to her previous life.
She seared the skin of the meat, placed it into a pot to simmer, scooped it out for later use, and cut it into small pieces.
She poured oil into the wok. Once the oil began bubbling, she added the chopped meat, and the iron wok immediately began to sizzle. Then she removed the meat once it was seventy percent cooked, stir-fried the remaining oil with the ingredients, added sugar to caramelize it, then added the meat and water before slowly braising it over low heat.
Regan would never have imagined that his young master could prepare dishes with such skill. His jaw practically dropped at the sight.
Yuna stood on tiptoe, carefully watching Claire's every movement and committing all the steps to memory. Claire's practiced motions also made her put away her initial contempt.
That braised pork belly still needed to simmer for a while, so Claire immediately began preparing the next dish.
She was proficient with every kind of knife work—slicing, chopping, cleaving, and mincing—and she did not forget to toss the wok either.
The aroma of food had already filled the kitchen. The maids outside could not help swallowing as they smelled it. Melly, who was inside, stared wide-eyed at the finished dishes without blinking. Drool unconsciously dripped onto her clothes, and she did not even notice.
"All right." Claire brought over the final dish of braised pork belly.
There were five dishes and one soup in total: Braised pork belly, Sweet and Sour Ribs, Shredded Pork with Green Pepper, Steamed Fish, Stewed Beef Brisket, and Seaweed Egg Drop Soup.
Luckily, the barony was close to the sea, so there was seaweed. Otherwise, Claire would not have known what soup to make.
"Go ahead and try them," Claire said as she looked at the stunned crowd.
These five dishes were perfect in color, aroma, and taste. Just looking at them made Regan feel saliva continuously gathering in his mouth, though he still retained a bit of restraint and dignity.
"Melly wants to try them!" Melly raised her hand and jumped with all her strength, afraid Claire would not see her because she was so small.
"All right, Melly can try them first." Claire handed her a spoon.
Melly stepped onto a chair and stood on tiptoe to reach the table. She first scooped up a spoonful of soup and slurped it into her mouth. Her eyes instantly lit up, and she hurriedly reached her spoon toward the other dishes.
"Holy crap!"
Every time she finished a dish, her eyes seemed to shine, and after shouting "Holy crap!" she turned to the next one.
Regan's brows furrowed anxiously at the side. Stop just making your eyes shine! Say something already!
In less than ten seconds, Melly had tasted everything twice by herself. Regan watched anxiously from the side and no longer cared about appearances. He directly picked up a spoon from nearby.
"Master, I'll have a taste too."
A piece of braised pork belly entered his mouth. "Holy crap!" Regan could not help copying Melly and shouting it too.
Yuna glanced at Claire, then picked up a spoon and joined Regan and Melly.
The maids outside had pressed their faces against the glass so hard that their features were distorted, their eyes filled with envy.
"Don't just stand outside. Come in and eat together," Claire invited.
As soon as she said that, the maids outside swarmed in. Seeing this, Melly immediately stuffed a huge piece of braised pork belly into her mouth, afraid she would not be able to compete with the older sisters later.
"Don't rush. You should eat this with rice... though bread should work too, I suppose." In any case, Claire would never try such a heretical way of eating it.
There was rice in this world, though it was not as common as wheat. Still, as a Baron, Claire's household had some.
Those plates of food were quickly wiped clean by the dozen or so people. Claire did not continue cooking, instead standing aside to guide Yuna.
The maid sisters nearby also cheered Yuna on. You can do it! You have to learn this skill, so we can eat it in the future too.
No traitors, give us some...
Before you continue