Chapter 12
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Just How Wealthy?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"How much money does she have...?"
"...Pardon?"
Bellatrix doubted her ears.
And for good reason—her lady had just dropped a bombshell out of nowhere.
"You reserved the entire adventurers' guild restaurant...?"
"That's right. What's the problem?"
Problem? Of course there was a problem.
But Rosalind's expression as she said it was utterly serene.
As if she'd simply spotted something she liked on the street and bought it on a whim.
At least it wasn't mealtime, but renting out a major restaurant that could seat over a hundred—solely for one person—was downright eccentric.
What on earth did that girl have?
They'd only met half a day ago.
"Did you see even a glimmer of potential in her?"
Pfft.
The noblewoman let out a small, amused chuckle.
"Well, what about you? Did you see knightly qualities in her and bring her to me?"
"S-Suddenly saying that..."
"...is very troubling." She swallowed the rest.
Strictly speaking, Bellatrix wasn't in a position to argue either.
She'd only thought the girl was pretty, but unexpectedly, she had a clear sense of purpose.
Not only that, but enough zeal to scheme a meeting with a noblewoman and venture alone to the adventurers' guild.
Bellatrix liked her guts, too—the way she tried not to cower before nobles and knights. It felt less like bravado and more like spirit.
Bellatrix had always been weak to that sort of thing.
"Wouldn't it be fun? And who knows? She might actually make something delicious."
Rosalind spoke casually, but Bellatrix was breaking out in a cold sweat.
What could a commoner girl with no formal training—let alone any glimpse of fine cuisine—possibly whip up?
"...Still, reserving an entire restaurant feels a bit excessive."
It was borderline impertinent, but Rosalind didn't mind.
She actually appreciated the conviction behind it.
That was why she'd kept Bellatrix as her guard knight and aide in the first place.
"She'll be under tremendous pressure."
"If she can't handle that much, how will she achieve what she wants?"
It didn't sound like a casual throwaway line.
Rosalind herself had endured trials just as harsh to reach her current position.
But that was possible because she was Rosalind.
Because this woman before her had that kind of talent.
"But what if..."
That was why Bellatrix worried.
"What if she doesn't live up to expectations...?"
"Hmm."
Rosalind gazed out the window with her signature inscrutable expression.
"Then she'd have to pay the price to make up for the loss, wouldn't she?"
"The price...?"
"It'd be a shame to waste such a pretty face, don't you think?"
Bellatrix's eye twitched.
In this era, a beauty born into poverty was as good as cursed. It was never something to celebrate.
She wouldn't even have the strength to fend off lecherous men who came after her.
Unless she was born with martial talent like Bellatrix, that is.
'No way...'
A horrific thought flashed through Bellatrix's mind for an instant, but she dismissed it.
'No.'
Lady Rosalind isn't that kind of—
"I'll have her trained as a maid."
"!"
Bellatrix jerked her head up.
"Really?"
"Have you ever seen me lie?"
"......"
"What's with that reaction? You're making me feel hurt."
"N-No, that's not it. I believed you would, Lady Rosalind."
"Oh?"
A faint smile curved across the noblewoman's pale, bloodless face.
Even that was eerily seductive, living up to her title of a pearl kissed by darkness.
"Once her training's done, I'll place her as a maid in the lord's castle here."
"In the Bellaardi family?"
"That's right. They say the youngest son is a hopeless case, but who knows? Once he meets his fated one, he might shape up. Even the fiercest beast turns tame under its master's touch."
Bellatrix felt a question rising.
"What's in it for you? It just seems like you're doing someone else a favor."
"...I always think this, but you're so straitlaced, Bellatrix."
The noblewoman giggled, and the knight let out a groan.
Looking at her, Rosalind continued.
"Truth be told, I'm not expecting much from the cooking. My real goals are elsewhere. Three of them, in fact."
"Three?"
Bellatrix's eyes widened as she asked, and instead of answering, Rosalind held up her index finger.
"One: I can pull the youngest son of a powerful family to my side. That's a huge win already."
Next was her middle finger.
"Two: Even if I can't win him over, it doesn't matter. Just employing a commoner girl as a maid in a prestigious house will boost my reputation further."
And finally—
"Three."
Her ring finger, adorned with a ring, extended.
"While working in the Bellaardi household, she'll bring back intriguing info on that supposedly flawless eldest son. That's the most important part, actually."
"...!"
At that, the purple-haired knight was once again struck by the reality of whom she served.
'Ha, I really didn't see this coming.'
Ailin stood blankly in the center of the kitchen and sighed.
She'd blurted it out, but she hadn't expected them to demand she cook right then and there.
Let alone renting out the entire adventurers' guild restaurant. She'd never dreamed of it.
'How much money does she have...?'
But this only solidified her resolve to make Rosalind her patron, no matter what.
"What are you doing? Get started already."
Bruno, the guild's exclusive chef, spoke in a rather nasty tone.
He was a rare male chef in this era. A former adventurer, he'd somehow ended up running the kitchen here.
A place frequented by rough types probably needed a man at the helm.
"...What? Why? I'm just watching to make sure you don't cause any trouble. These tools aren't cheap, you know?"
Ailin shot him a glare that said not to rush her, and Bruno flinched as he replied.
He didn't know who she was, but if this girl had some connection to that Rosalind Vandimion, he couldn't treat her lightly.
'Even so, no need to bow to some commoner girl. She's pretty for a peasant, though.'
He had his pride.
Occasionally, when members of the Bellaardi family or wealthy merchants like Rosalind dropped by, he'd cook for them personally.
'I'm not about to grovel anywhere.'
Excluding the untouchable lord's castle kitchen or the few high-end restaurants in the city, he was Greenveil's top chef—and he took pride in that.
"What are you making?"
"...Beef stew."
"Hmph. Nothing special."
Bruno snorted.
Beef stew was basic of the basics.
He must have made it thousands of times right here in this kitchen.
He had no idea why a noblewoman like Rosalind would have this young girl make such pedestrian fare, but...
"If you ask nicely, I might even help out."
Bruno emphasized "nicely," wanting to put the cheeky girl in her place a bit.
"......"
But Ailin ignored him completely.
She was concentrating fully, trying to recall every detail, with no spare attention for anything else.
'What was the first thing Damon did?'
Ailin wasn't much of a cook, but her brilliant mind gave her excellent memory.
Not genius-level, perhaps, but enough to bluff in front of Rosalind.
—Can I use some meat?
Finally, she remembered: the moment Damon entered the kitchen, he'd asked his mother for meat.
'Not using pre-cooked—he grilled it fresh.'
Sizzle...
Ailin immediately started searing the beef in the pan.
—I seared the outside over high heat.
—You filled the juices that escaped with broth while searing. Right?
The magic of juices bursting on every bite was purely technique, he'd said.
'Just sear the outside—that's key.'
Her movements were clumsy, but she tried her best to mimic it.
Damon's gestures, his feel for it, his speed...
She recited it all in her head, striving to recreate even his breathing.
'Right after searing the meat, he stir-fried veggies in the same pan.'
She didn't forget the tomato paste, frying it in too. Damon had said tomatoes brought a umami he'd never tasted raw.
'Can't skip the wine.'
That moment was unforgettable.
It was when she'd seen a new side to Damon, whom she'd pegged as a handsome dimwit.
The idea of cooking with wine, not just drinking it—he was clever in ways she wasn't.
Then.
"Hey, what the hell are you doing...!"
After being rudely ignored by the girl young enough to be his niece, Bruno had been standing awkwardly by when he witnessed the bizarre act and finally smacked his forehead, yelling.
"For umami."
"Umami?"
His mouth snapped shut.
'I've definitely heard that term before. Where...?'
While he racked his brain, the cooking continued.
As the wine boiled off its alcohol, Ailin added mushrooms, peas, potatoes, carrots, and more.
By then, Bruno had completely forgotten to nitpick.
He'd thought pouring in wine was madness, but soon an extraordinary aroma filled the kitchen, erasing all doubt.
As someone who'd made his name in this trade, his instincts told him:
'This is gonna be delicious!'
As Ailin finished by thickening the stew with starch and adding herbs, Bruno wiped his mouth.
From her perspective, the gulping swallows beside her were naturally annoying.
'I probably did the same next to Damon. Nah, no way.'
If so, it'd be mortifying enough to die. People never notice their own blunders, after all.
Unaware of her thoughts, Bruno had sidled right up to the pot, as if ready to dive in.
'I wanna try it! Just one bite, please...!'
That was the moment.
"...Shall I serve you a bit?"
Ailin looked at Bruno and asked.
Her eyes brimmed with pity, but now wasn't the time for pride.
"Please, yes...?"
Bruno beamed like he might jump for joy.
And seeing him, Ailin felt an inexplicable satisfaction.
The first time in her life she'd thought cooking was fun.
Rosalind fixed her gaze on the silver tray, which looked rather fancy.
She even snorted at the insulating lid—clearly meant to make it presentable.
—Take it like this. She'll like it much better.
The kitchen chef had slipped her that advice as thanks for letting him taste heaven (by his standards), but Rosalind had no way of knowing.
'Well, the smell's good.'
As Rosalind raised an eyebrow in surprise,
"Here, please try it."
Echoing words she'd heard once, the girl lifted the lid covering the food.