39/61

Chapter 37 — Recreating Flavors

Before crossing the heavy door of my father's study, I paused for a second.

— Father... Do you intend to host any kind of formal reception for the Duke? —

Lord Arl raised his head from the map table, frowning with a look of surprise.

— What do you mean, Kaelen? —

— If you cede control of the kitchen to me, I can prepare something special. Everything would be structured to present to the Duke, of course. We would all eat and approve the menu together, but I'm going to need plenty of help and manpower to execute what I have in mind... —

The Marquess leaned his back against the chair, narrowing his eyes with amused distrust.

— Hhm... I don't think it's very fair to leave me out of the process until then. I'd like to experience everything firsthand. —

I let out a muffled laugh, shaking my head.

— Look, I need to run a round of tests first. I promise to separate the savory experiments and leave them in the kitchen for the guard personnel and servants, but all the pastries that come out of the oven I'll send directly to you and my mother... Do we have a deal? —

My father's stern posture melted instantly, replaced by an excited gleam in his gaze.

— Yes! We have a deal. But watch what you're up to... Make sure you prepare something truly delicious. I'll go warn your mother; she will certainly be thrilled with this. —

I said my goodbyes and headed down the corridors in search of Yara. I found her walking through the inner courtyard, still maintaining the modest posture of someone trying to assimilate the bustling routine of Vance Castle.

— Good morning, Yara. How are you? —

She turned around, blinking her blue eyes with surprise.

— Good morning... I'm fine! But why are you already here so early? Shouldn't you be at your fencing practice at this hour? —

— I struck a strategic deal with my father — I replied with a calm smile. — Would you care to accompany me to the kitchen this afternoon? What do you think of spending some time in there with me? —

Yara hesitated for a second, surprised by the casual invitation, but nodded softly.

— Alright... I accept. —

Walking side by side with Yara through the corridors of the east wing, it didn't take long for us to find Katriny. The panda-monk was heading in our direction with light steps, holding a small patrol clipboard.

— Good morning, Katriny. —

— You seem to be in an excellent mood today, young master... What exactly are you up to this time? — she asked, tilting her head and immediately distrusting my expression.

— I made a deal with my father, but I'm going to need your help with the supply logistics. —

— And what do you intend to do? —

— I want to head to the kitchen to prepare some completely new things right after lunch. We only have three days until the Duke docks with the fleet. Will you help me? It's just that the afternoon might get a little short to handle everything alone... —

— Are you going to make new sweets?! — interrupted Katriny, her voice rising an octave as her eyes gleamed with an almost childish excitement.

— Not just sweets. We're going to make a complete gastronomic tour. —

The panda's eyes practically sparked with enthusiasm.

— Count me in! What will you need? —

— I'm heading to the kitchen first. Could you bring me some clean papyri, my ink, and the writing quill? I need to catalog and map out all the necessary material. If everything is in order, we'll begin the practical tests right after the meal and then move on to actual production. —

Katriny crossed her arms with a wide smile, sighing in anticipation.

— Young master... Just hearing you speak makes my mind race with the amount of delicious things that are going to come out of those ovens... —

— Leave it to me — I laughed. — Unfortunately, I'm still not free from morning training, so we'll need plenty of manpower to speed up the process. —

— Leave that to me! I'll help you with everything! — she declared, striking her chest with heteromorphic pride.

Yara, who had been watching the exchange of words completely lost, stepped forward and approached Katriny, lightly touching the panda-monk's arm.

— Katriny, please explain to me... What is happening here? Why are you so excited just because Kaelen is going to the kitchen? None of this is making any sense to me! —

Katriny turned to the young noblewoman with an almost solemn expression of pride.

— Young lady, young master Kaelen was responsible for creating the recipe for the castle's new cake! And not only that... Last time, he prepared some sliced and fried roots that were an absolute delight! I have no idea where he gets such surreal ideas from, but everything he cooks is simply fabulous. All the servants and guards beg him to return to the stoves... You'll understand perfectly as soon as you see him working in there. —

Without waiting for a break in the conversation, Katriny spun around and hurried off at a quick pace to fetch the writing materials from my room.

I adjusted my posture and looked at Yara, who remained motionless with a bewildered expression.

— Shall we? —

— Yes... Let's go — she replied, somewhat hesitant, following me down the corridor.

Arriving at the castle's service area, I pushed open the heavy wooden doors of the main kitchen. The heat of the ovens and the aroma of rustic spices flooded the air. The head chef turned around immediately.

— Good morning, chef! —

— Master Kaelen! What a great surprise! — exclaimed Master Baldo, wiping his hands on a thick dish towel. — Did you come to test new things today? —

— Yes and no. I'm going to need your help and more people from the crew. I've already received direct permission from my father: we are going to draft a menu and a complete presentation of savories and sweets for the Duke, who is due to arrive in approximately three days. We'll have to run some tests first, but you already know the routine, don't you? —

— Of course I do, Master Kaelen! Don't worry about a thing. I'll recruit more assistants in the pantry and gather all the ingredients you request. —

Seconds later, the kitchen doors swung open abruptly. Katriny rushed in, slightly out of breath from her sprint, carrying the papers under her arm.

— Here it is, young master! Everything you asked for. —

— Excellent. Thank you, Katriny. —

I pulled a wooden chair close to the central counter, rested the papyrus, dipped the quill in ink, and began projecting the flow of supplies in my mind. — The physics and chemistry of cooking are, at heart, merely variations of molecular reagents and heat conservation. — I thought, concentrated.

I proceeded to list the essential items for Master Baldo.

— We are going to need: eggs, abundant milk, potatoes, cuts of beef, poultry, sausage, almonds, prunes, good-quality wine, at least five bottles of bubbling and naturally effervescent thermal water, pears, fresh strawberries, ginger, cherries, and three bottles of sour or tart wine. Also bring garlic, saffron, finely milled wheat, and a wide selection of seasonings of your preference. Bring everything in large quantities, okay? —

Master Baldo noted everything down on a piece of parchment, impressed by the peculiar combination of items. Before finishing, I looked around the large kitchen and asked:

— Master Baldo, do you have any small room or attached pantry that isn't being used at the moment? —

— We do, Master Kaelen. It's right over here next to the main kitchen. But why the interest? —

— I need you to leave that environment completely clean for me. Have them clean absolutely everything, including the walls and ceiling. I'm going to use that space as a laboratory for assembling and testing dishes. —

— Understood, Master Kaelen! When do we start? —

— If all the supplies are in order, we'll start right after lunch to pull the first samples out of the oven. —

The head chef reread the list, scratching his beard with a hint of concern.

— Master Kaelen... Regarding some of these items you asked for, they are rare or very delicate foods for the season. I'm afraid some might spoil or that we won't get everything in time for this afternoon... —

— Don't worry — I reassured him with a wave of my hand. — Just see what you can gather from the immediate stock. We'll adapt and test different dishes with whatever is available. —

I left the kitchen accompanied by Yara. As we walked at a slow pace toward the training courtyard, I kept the papyrus in hand, scribbling and cataloging each recipe as the memory of my past life brought the concepts back.

— Creamy boiled potato soup with chicken chunks and fine herbs; Rolled meat stuffed with sausage and bacon in wine sauce; Imperial roast chicken marinated in wine with pears, potatoes, and oregano; Dense mashed potatoes; Velvety wheat cream with dried meat and crispy bacon; Churned artisanal butter; Caramelized chestnuts with raw dark brown sugar; Plum and raisin cake; Structured cake filled with egg yolk cream and fresh strawberries; Chilled beverages flavored with bubbling water and natural strawberry, apple, and pear juices; Hot spiced wine beverage with ginger and dark brown sugar; Final dessert of strawberry and pear puff pastry with rich cream... —

I added a footnote in the corner of the leaf. — Note: It is entirely possible to execute fried potatoes and fried cassava in animal fat. Reserve purified butter exclusively for the puff pastries and toasts. —

I finished detailing the basic ingredient structure right as we reached the edge of the training yard. I put the quill away and looked at the young noblewoman by my side.

— Care to train with us today, Yara? —

Yara looked at the beaten earth floor, the sweaty guards, and the wooden swords, taking a step back.

— Not today... Do you want me to take these papers and scrolls to your room? —

— No need to bother. Just hand them over to Katriny. —

— Alright then, I'll be going. —

— Thank you. See you shortly. —

As soon as the rigorous morning fencing training ended, I took a quick bath and headed straight to my quarters. I needed to organize the final document in an impeccable handwriting. The menu for Duke Nerius's reception was not merely a meal; it was an instrument of visual and sensory diplomacy to impress the high nobility.

I sat at the writing desk and copied out the official version cleanly:

Reception Banquet for Duke Nerius

Main Dishes and Savories

Rolled Meat with Sausage and Bacon in Wine: Noble meats stuffed with cured cold cuts, marinated and slow-cooked with a reduction of wine and spices.

Imperial Roast Chicken: Poultry marinated in wine with pears, seasoned with oregano and rosemary, slow-roasted in animal fat.

Wheat Cream with Meat and Bacon: Dense and velvety porridge of wheat cooked in milk, incorporating selected pieces of meat and fried bacon.

Root Mash with Rosemary: Dense puree of local roots mashed with fat, pepper, and finished with notes of fresh rosemary to balance the richness.

Rustic Toasts with Butter and Oregano: Slices of artisanal bread toasted, strategically utilizing butter with a touch of herbs.

Side Dishes

Caramelized Chestnuts: Finished with a crunchy crust of raw dark brown sugar.

Sweets and Desserts

Plum and Raisin Cake: Rustic and dense batter, moistened by selected dried fruits.

Royal Filled Cake: Structured cake with a creamy filling based on egg yolks, milk, and fresh strawberries.

Layered Final Pastry: Rustic pies with a firm, crunchy crust stuffed with pears, strawberries, and rich cream.

Beverages

Alchemical Carbonated Waters: Pure thermal spring water with natural gas, combined with natural strawberry, apple, or pear extracts and juices.

The Duke's Mulled Wine (Hypocras): Full-bodied wine spiced with ginger, dark brown sugar, and spices, served warmed.

Footnote: The banquet will also feature rustic local delicacies, such as potatoes and cassava sliced and fried at high temperature.

With the parchment properly folded, I made my way to the castle's dining hall for lunch. Upon opening the double doors, I noticed that my father, mother, and Yara were already seated at the table, helping themselves to the routine daily dishes.

Lord Arl raised his eyes as soon as I stepped into the hall, flashing a knowing smile.

— You took quite a while this time, Kaelen! So, where's the surprise? —

— Yes, father. I wrote down the official menu structure. Would you like to take a look? I intend to start practical work in the kitchen this very afternoon. —

Lady Sylvia interrupted cutting her roast, looking at both of us with a sharp and curious gaze.

— What are you two hiding from me? —

— Mother, I agreed with father that I'll take charge of creating the official reception menu for the Duke — I replied, approaching the table. —

— You're going to make new things?! — exclaimed the Marchioness, her voice overflowing with joy and surprise. —

— Yes, several completely new dishes and two exclusive beverages. —

Lord Arl raised an eyebrow, interested.

— Two beverages? —

— Quite sweet?! — chimed in my mother, her eyes shining.

Yara, who was observing the Vance family's enthusiasm without understanding the magnitude of what it meant, asked in a hesitant tone:

— New dishes...? —

— Yes, they are... But why all this commotion? — I asked, finding amusement in their reaction.

Lord Arl leaned back in his chair and let out a deep laugh, looking at me with mock banter.

— And when are you going to start preparing the dowry? —

— Tonight I begin... — I replied nonchalantly, pulling out a chair.

Yara widened her eyes, startled.

— What do you mean he's going to make the dowry?! —

— You'll see, Yara... It's going to be a surprise. I hope your father enjoys the reception. —

— How so? — inquired the young woman from Oceanus, staring at me with perplexity. — Are you going to create something new? —

— Yes, something along those lines... —

— "Along those lines," my son? — teased the Marquess, shaking his head. — You're being far too modest! It's more like something that's going to make the Duke drop his jaw in absolute shock! —

Lady Sylvia adjusted her posture, looking at her husband with amused distrust.

— Aren't you two pushing your luck just a bit? —

Yara turned to the Marchioness, her voice betraying genuine shock.

— Madame Sylvia... Is he... Is he always like this? —

Lady Sylvia let out a dramatic sigh, staring at Yara with a maternal gaze loaded with complicity.

— My dear child... Brace yourself. Prepare your heart! The last time this boy pulled off a stunt of this magnitude was when he decided to design and build that entire hanging garden just for me... And if Arl is stating this with such certainty, I can only assume the surprise this time is going to be gigantic! —

Yara looked visibly pale, staring at me as if I were an indecipherable enigma.

— What exactly is Kaelen planning to do...? — she murmured, almost voicelessly.

Arl arched an eyebrow, crossing his arms.

— And how do you intend to store these foods without them spoiling in the seasonal heat? — questioned the marquess, evaluating his son.

— I asked the head chef to clean the room next door — Kaelen replied naturally. — It's a small chamber, but now we've turned it into an ice vault. It will serve perfectly to store supplies and prepared sweets for a time. From time to time, I'll go in there myself to manipulate the environment and keep the chill low. —

And that was precisely how my three days preceding the arrival of the ducal entourage unfolded.

— If I wasted breath trying to explain the thermodynamics of a rustic refrigerator based on ice blocks under psychokinesis to them, their minds would suffer a cellular meltdown... — I thought with a side smile while organizing the wooden shelves. — It's far more practical to let them think it's merely an unusual cooling device.

Although the initial purpose was a rigorous diplomatic reception, those who enjoyed the process the most were my mother, Katriny, and Yara, who devoured every sample of sweet and puff pastry as soon as they came out of the test ovens. Just in time, after several attempts at dosing and sealing the glass jars, I managed to perfect the beverages with effervescent bubbles using the water that bubbled up from the thermal springs.

And as for my father, Marquess Arl Vance found his new personal vice: hot mulled wine spiced with ginger, which he swore by his vitality would become the official drink of all the province's cold nights.

Outside, in the adjacent hall, Yara waited anxiously for the outcome of the discussions, intrigued by the promises of a banquet that promised to revolutionize the customs of the local nobility. Kaelen knew that every choice — from the exact doneness of the wine-braised rolled meat to the lightness of the desserts and the effervescent drinks — would be a crucial step on his political chessboard, transforming simple foods into weapons of diplomacy.