The Cake

Kurao returned back to his room after his discussion with Vayla, and went straight toward the spot he hid the book. The book with its old looking black cover felt lighter in his hands and was covered in a very thin layer of dust after being abandoned. 

Placing it on his desk he opened it up after months of neglect and started looking for the numbers. The numbers were all over the book, and felt a bit stupid when he realized that.

'How stupid of me, though I have grown up with this number system instead of what was previously taught, how did I overlook that though the whole book is undreadable that the numbers weren't?'

Kurao who felt everything relating to the mystery of the book was just starting to show a few hints. Looking at the numbers followed by the undreadable text on the pages with blueprints, diagrams, and anatomy.

The excitement was getting to Kurao as he looked at one of the pages and quickly pulled out a blank paper and pen. 

Kurao spent the next few hours writing while constantly looking at the book trying to find any clues. After spending hours compiling, Kurao felt excited.

'All I need to do is back check this and if its correct I could crack the whole of this book!' 

Finding what he needed to test he decided to start drawing it as was seen on the page as well as a write a few of the numbers and try and write the undreadable text best he could into his notebook.

After copying a few pages into his notebook he flipped to a page that had a cake drawn on it with the same unreadable text and few numbers in it and copied it as well. 

After preparing everything he needed, grabbed his notebook and headed towards the kitchen of the castle.

'If this theory is correct, I could try and decipher the other pages to the point of understanding the language.'

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 The Palace Kitchen

Kurao who arrived at the kitchen was surprised to see no one.

'Where the hell are all the servants?'

Looking around to see if he could spot a servant. As he was heading towards the second kitchen he started hearing noise.

'Someone is in the second kitchen, ill ask them.'

Hearing a noise in the second kitchen that was connected to the first he walk on through he didn't see anyone but as he was gonna question if he heard anything, a sizzle popped and he turned to see a woman in the corner by a stove.

A tall woman of 196cm that had long navy blue hair that went past her shoulders standing in front of one of the stoves in the corner was cooking something. Kurao who saw that she wasn't dressed in any servant clothes instantly recognized her.

"Sister Nolaya what are you doing here?"

Kurao asked surprised to see the giant woman in the kitchen.

Upon hearing someone she stiffened slightly, but after hearing Kurao she turned around with a slightly embarrassed expression.

"Just cooking.?"

Kurao felt that it was a bit weird that she would have such a expression after being seen by someone, seeing it was weird decided to ask.

"Is there something wrong sister Nolaya?"

Kurao closed the distance and started smelling two distinct smells, one of tart fruit and smell of bacon. 

Getting a closer look Kurao could see a grilled sandwich that was oozing with fruit jam and oil from the bacon within it.

Nolaya seeing him come closer explained slightly flustered by tried to maintain a calm exterior.

"Kurao I want you to never speak that you saw of this to anyone." 

"Seen what?" Kurao asked.

"Exactly." Nolaya said feeling a bit relaxed, before hearing Kurao again.

"Exactly what? Also, why are you making a grilled sandwich of bacon and jam?"

Nolaya felt a bit of fluster return, but decided to just say.

"Well thought I would enjoy a snack after training. And since the servants are not working currently I didn't want to bother them."

Kurao started to come to the conclusion for the reason why Nolaya looked embarrassed when he walked in earlier.

"Won't that taste gross?" 

He asked while pointing to the sandwich that was grilling in the pan and offered,

"I can help find a servant to help you make something if you are hunger sister Nolaya?"

Nolaya grabbed his wrist in a fluster and spewed out words,

"T-There is no need, like I said earlier I don't want you to speak of this to anyone. I know how to cook I just prefer cooking in my own way."

"I bet any of the cooking staff would be willing to make anything you want, so why hide it?"

Nolaya seeing that he didn't understood turned off the stove and plated her sandwich,

"Cause my tastes are a bit unique that most don't understand. Some may think I am weird or gross for them, which would spread rumors. And though I don't mind most rumors there are still a few things I would like to keep private."

Seeing Kurao nod in response made her feel a weight rise off her chest,

"Thanks little Kurao"

She then cut her sandwich, as she offered a slice of her amalgamation to Kurao.

"Here try a piece, who knows you may like the taste."

Still feeling a bit off by the whole meal, he decided after grabbing the sandwich he would try it. The took the a small bite at the corner before his face scrunched up as he grabbed his handkerchief and spat the things in his mouth into it and proceeded to walk and drop it in the trash.

"Oh come on, its not that bad!" 

Nolaya exclaimed as she laughed

Kurao still with a gross expression on his face returned and asked with skepticism,

"Are you sure you know how to cook?" 

Nolaya looked a Kurao with a exaggerated offended expression as she dramatically slammed her fist down,

"Of course I know how to cook! I know how to cook all types of noodles, meats, and even baked goods!"

Kurao who was still getting the taste out of his mouth by eating bread, pulled out his notebook and flipped to his most recent entries. He then looked up at Nolaya and asked,

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, yeah, I do know how to make the original recipes to a T."

Kurao asked as he pointed to a drawing on his notebook,

"Is that true? Then can you tell me how to make a cake like this?"