Chapter 14 First Time Cooking

Mm Mmn uu

Around the time that the risen morning had begun shining through the window, I squirmed in bed as I woke up.

Huh? Where is this, I wonder?

Reflected in my still blurry eyes was not the usual ceiling that I was familiar with, but a ceiling I had never seen before.

Having just awoken, my mind with its gears still not quite spinning tried to grasp the situation, when I rose from the bed and looked around the room.

Umm, the inn, room?

I slowly recalled the events that happened up until my sleep.

Ah, I came to the world from my old life

As the gears in my mind finally started to spin, I realised the situation.

I, have to prepare. The knights breakfast

Recalling my promise with the Prince yesterday, I remembered that I had things I needed to do.

I got down from the bed, and reached my hands out to the clothing I washed yesterday that I suspected were dry by now.

What time is it now?

When I looked outside the window, I found that the morning sun had shown its face.

When I looked at my watch, it had just hit five.

There shouldnt be any clocks in this world.

Normal people fundamentally told the time by looking at the position of the sun, and though the royal palace should have water clocks or sundials, even with those you couldnt accurately tell the time.

Most places use the sunrise as the basis for the beginning of their day, and come home when the sun sets.

Its like the lifestyle the farmers had in the olden days, isnt it.

First, Ill change and fix up my appearance.

I took off the dougi that I wore in place of sleeping clothes, and put on the underwear that I washed.

As youd expect, Im opposed to going commando when wearing a skirt and thin blouse.

Taking out the hand towel that I always carried in my bag, I headed downstairs to wash my face.

When I entered the dining room, the innkeeper was up and appeared to be preparing breakfast.

Good morning.

Greeting people is the basics of communication.

Morning. You sleep well?

He returned the greeting with a smile.

Yes, very well. Id like to wash my face, but where should I go?

If you go through that door, youll reach the well.

After opening the door that the innkeeper indicated and going outside, I found that there was a well and washing place.

While I was at it, I drank some water before heading back to the dining room.

Id like to prepare breakfast if thats all right.

I walked towards the kitchen whilst calling out.

For the ingredients, use whatever you like from here. Do you know how to use the tools?

When I entered the kitchen and looks around, I found that vegetables, eggs and bacon had been prepared.

There were three stoves in the kitchen and pots and the like lined up. Inside the room were also tools that Id never seen before, but if I compared them to the things I knew about in my original world, I could more or less guess their uses.

It should, be fine. If theres something I dont know, Ill ask.

After replying, I wondered about what I would cook while looking at the ingredients lined up.

Thinking this, I decided on bacon and eggs, salad, bacon and vegetable soup, and bread for breakfast.

If youd like, shall I prepare breakfast for the guests as well? Ill be preparing a lot, so even if I make more portions it wont matter you see.

You have to make soup in large volumes after all.

Really? Then can I take you up on that?

Understood. Ill be returning once to my room first, so could you fire up the stoves for me? Also, please boil one of these pots full of water please.

After asking this of the innkeeper, I returned to my room to grab the spices that I prepared yesterday.

When I returned to my room, I hung the hand towel from the chair, and then after checking the spices divided in the bag, I took out the ones I needed and headed down to the dining room.

After acknowledging them, I grabbed the bones from the chicken in last nights dinner, and headed to the well.

I placed the washed bones in the water that was just starting to boil, and while being careful so that it wouldnt boil over and spill, I made dashi.

After checking that we had oil and fruit vinegar, I began creating my own mayonnaise.

The innkeeper was watching my hands interestedly, so I gave him a simple explanation as I cooked.

I left my wristwatch in my room, so I didnt know the exact time.

I asked the innkeeper to wash a few vegetables, and I cut up the bacon.

I cut the parts that would be going into the soup into rough large pieces, and separated them all in preparation.

Next I lightly cooked the soup bacon.

From now on Id be using two stoves.

I separated the vegetables into the salad and soup groups, and cut them into appropriate sizes.

While the vegetables were cooking in the stew, I prepared the salad and when the soup was close to done, I threw in the spices and herbs that I prepared in advanced.

I arranged the salad in bowls too, and after putting on my homemade mayonnaise, it was done. Yup, Ive done quite well.

It seems the innkeer has finished with a few persons portions of bacon and eggs, so Ill have him try the vegetable soup.

Wow! Im shocked! Even though the ingredients you used are exactly the same, you got it to taste this good?

It seems that the assessment was the best.