Chapter 39 Curry
After the discussion, the three left the chamber in confusion and obvious disbelief in Valarissa's words. After all, where had they heard of a ten-year-old teaching a knight to hold a sword?
Meanwhile, Valarissa stretched herself before standing up. It was already past noon, almost reaching the afternoon, and her stomach was already protesting. Without hesitation, she made her way to the palace kitchen.
Soon, she arrived at the palace kitchen, pushing open the door and attracting the attention of the servants and maids who were dining. They were having their lunch, and she didn't want to disturb them, but before she could say anything, everyone stood up and knelt as they greeted, "Princess."
"Everyone stand up... Stand up," she immediately said to these people.
"You can have your meal, and I just want to make something for myself," Valarissa said honestly. She had been missing the flavors in her meals, and ever since awakening her memories, she felt like she was eating bland food, to the extent that she was losing her appetite.
"This is how we allow the princess to cook. Let me cook, Princess; you can just say what you want to eat." A middle-aged man who seemed to be the Chef stood up.
"No, I insist. I want to make something for myself, and I want to do it myself, so you can go back and just have your meal," Valarissa insisted.
"This!" The middle-aged man and the other servants were all perplexed, not knowing what they should do. After some struggle, the middle-aged man spoke, "Princess, you can instruct me, and I will prepare the dish as per your instructions. It will be my honor."
Valarissa could see the man's hesitation and understood his thoughts. In this medieval world, noble ladies rarely set foot in a kitchen, and servants knew what would happen once word got out about this.
Valarissa looked at the middle-aged man. "Look here, I want to make something for myself and my family, and I want to do it alone. Take this as my order; go back and have your meal," Valarissa said with a stern voice.
The man knew he shouldn't press any more and make Valarissa angry, so he nodded. "Yes, Princess!" He said as he went back and sat down to eat with the others.
Valarissa completely ignored these people who were peeping at her from time to time with a nervous expression.
Reassuring the kitchen staff with her graceful steps, Valarissa discreetly left the staff dining area, skillfully avoiding the prying eyes of the curious servants. The moment she set foot in this domain of culinary artistry, her heart swelled with anticipation, and memories of her childhood with her grandmother filled her mind. The old stove with some ashes before, awaiting her attention. Today was a day for Valarissa to showcase her prowess as a traveler from Modern India.
The last time she had a meal, she had made a decision to have a secret visit to the kitchen. Now that she was hungry and wanted something tasty and appetizing, she decided to do it immediately.
She glanced around and found the cellar, immediately walking towards it. Inside, an array of ingredients awaited her. However, Valarissa had managed to covertly acquire only cooking oil from the cellar. The rest were taken out from her hidden jade space—many spices and vegetables that weren't available in this world.
With vegetables, meat, and spices at hand, she left the cellar.
Placing the spices near the stove, she took the meat to a corner as she started skillfully cutting it. The meat glistening on the cutting board, Valarissa's mind worked swiftly to create a masterpiece worthy of both the kitchen staff and her own family. Her knife skills were unparalleled as she effortlessly handled each cut of mutton. Carefully cleaning and washing the meat, she meticulously prepared the vegetables and blended them harmoniously with an assortment of aromatic spices.
In just fifteen minutes, everything was prepped and ready for its transformation in heat. Igniting the stove with a gentle flicker from her fingers, Valarissa placed a large pot upon it before melting savory mutton fat within. As it sizzled and danced enticingly in the pot's embrace, she added the vibrant medley of vegetables she had skillfully prepared moments ago.
Stirring them gently until they reached their peak tenderness took precision and intuition—qualities deeply embedded in Valarissa's foodie nature that not many knew. Her years of practice in her previous life guided every movement as she incorporated various spices and salts into this fragrant symphony that was slowly coming to life within that simmering pot.
With each passing minute, flavors melded together, giving the individual spices a collective identity and purpose. The kitchen, now filled with an intoxicating aroma, became a stage for anticipation. The chefs and staff, drawn by the captivating scent that wafted through the air, could hardly contain their excitement. Their bodies instinctively reacted with gurgling sounds, and some even had their mouths overflowing in a daze.
Valarissa's moment had arrived. Carefully unlocking her jade space once more, she poured water into the pot with grace and precision, all the while making it seem like she was just using the pot of water from the kitchen. The liquid flowed seamlessly from her hand into the mix, completing the transformation of ingredients into a tantalizing curry.
Closing the lid of the pot gently, Valarissa allowed her creation to simmer and infuse further. She knew that this crucial step would ensure every bite would be an explosion of flavors on the palate—each morsel tenderly carrying memories of spices.
As time passed within those kitchen walls, Valarissa's presence was felt not only through mesmerizing beauty but also through her culinary ability. The air buzzed with anticipation as conversations quieted down in reverence for what was about to be served.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity for those eagerly waiting souls, Valarissa lifted the lid to reveal a masterpiece—a rich and aromatic Indian mutton curry that promised to transport anyone who tasted it to distant lands filled with exotic flavors and vibrant colors.