Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Jam Cookies
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"Baon!"
"......Young Lady Aileen?"
The moment I entered the dining hall, I started looking for Baon.
Baon, who was in the kitchen, heard me call and came out.
"What brings you here? I wasn't told to expect you today..."
"I came because I have somethin' to tell you, Baon."
"To me?"
"Yeah. So..."
"Yes. Please, go ahead."
When I hesitated, not getting to the point, Baon gave me a puzzled look.
I stealthily pointed toward the kitchen.
"I wanna go in there and make snacks with you, Baon."
"......Pardon?"
Just as I expected, Baon looked flustered.
He had the face of someone who couldn't understand why I'd suddenly shown up wanting to cook.
After a moment of silence, Baon let out a small laugh.
"Is there something you wish to eat? If so, I can make it for you."
"Nuh-uh. No. It's not that!"
"Then......?"
"I wanna make snacks for Papa with you. Can I?"
At my words, Baon's expression briefly stiffened.
...He's not going to say no, is he?
As I looked up at him pleadingly, Baon smiled uncomfortably and shook his head.
"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid that will be difficult."
"Why?"
"There are many dangerous tools in the kitchen. The day the Young Lady gets hurt is the day my head will fly. I wish to live a long life, Young Lady."
But this time, I couldn't back down.
I grabbed the arm of Baon, who was about to go back into the kitchen.
And I shot him a very desperate look.
He flinched. Baon slowly opened his mouth.
"......Young Lady, I'm sorry, but this is really not possible."
"Then I won't touch anythin' dangerous."
"......."
"I'll be good."
"......."
"......Yeah? Baon."
I reached out and clung tightly to his arm, sturdy from his kitchen work. Baon closed his eyes with a look of resignation.
I grinned. It worked.
"Who could possibly win against you, Young Lady Aileen."
Shaking his head, Baon opened the kitchen door and gestured for me to come in.
Still, he spoke sternly.
"You must absolutely not touch anything dangerous. I will handle all of that."
"Okay. You can trust me."
"And first, we should get you properly dressed."
"Dressed?"
Come to think of it, Baon was dressed very neatly.
He wore a hat on his head and a mask over his mouth.
He went into the kitchen and rummaged around, looking for something I could wear.
And finally, he pulled out an apron with sparkly frills.
I stared at it.
"Baon."
"Yes."
"......Is this yours?"
When I questioned him with a curious gaze, he gave a small, dry cough. His silence seemed to confirm that the apron was his.
So this was his taste.
Everyone's tastes should be respected, after all.
I nodded, showing that I understood.
"Thank you for your understanding, Young Lady."
He put the apron around my neck, folded the hem that was dragging on the floor several times, and secured it.
Then, after tying the ribbon firmly at my waist, he used a yellow cloth to make a headband so my hair wouldn't fall down.
"Well then, we're more or less ready."
"What are we makin'?"
"Today, we'll make something simple......."
Baon chuckled and began putting away the ingredients that were on the counter one by one.
...It seemed he wasn't at ease, no matter how much I promised to be good.
Well, he did say his head would fly if I got even a little hurt.
As I stood there blankly, looking at the simplified ingredients, Baon spoke.
"We are now going to make jam cookies, Young Lady."
"......Cookies? Does Papa like them?"
"He'll enjoy anything you give him, Young Lady."
Rosaria said something similar earlier. What makes everyone say that?
"Now then, let's start with the dough."
"Okay!"
I resolutely rolled up my sleeves.
Baon's skill was truly incredible. At least, it looked that way to me.
"Wow, Baon, you're amazing!"
When I expressed my great admiration after watching him demonstrate, Baon smiled shyly.
"Haha, it's nothing special. Since this is your first time seeing cooking up close, Young Lady Aileen, it might seem that way."
"It's incredible!"
"As you just saw, the ratio of the ingredients for the dough is important."
"I see! I'll try too."
I can do this!
I put the ingredients into a large bowl one by one.
First, I poured in a suitable amount of flour, then added an egg, sugar, and melted butter.
Then, as I diligently kneaded the flour with my small hands, Baon smiled with satisfaction.
"You're doing very well."
"Really?!"
"Yes, indeed. You just have to keep kneading the dough until it no longer sticks to your hands."
"Got it."
Until it no longer sticks to my hands.
Muttering only that, I moved my arms diligently.
Knead, knead.
Baon also started kneading dough beside me.
For the record, my portion was very small, while the dough Baon was kneading was a large amount.
How long did I knead?
I straightened my back and let out a sigh.
The dough no longer stuck to my hands.
"It seems you've done it properly."
"What do I do now?"
"You just tear off a little dough and shape it however you like."
Baon tore off a piece of his dough and showed me how to make a star shape.
"Woah."
"Press down lightly in the center. We need to put jam in there."
"Got it."
What shape should I make?
Baon already made a star... a heart shape seemed easy and pretty.
I rolled the dough into a ball and then flattened it with my palm.
Then I poked the center to make an indent and shaped it into a heart.
Seeing what I made, Baon burst out laughing.
"The cookie is very small."
"Huh?"
"It must be because your hands are small, Young Lady."
I looked at the one Baon made. Then I looked at the one I made.
Gasp. Is it because it's too small?
The one Baon made looked like it would take me two or three bites, but mine was small enough to eat in one go.
To Kaide, it would probably look tiny.
"The Gaju will be able to tell right away which one you made, Young Lady."
"It's too small......."
"We can just mix them with the ones I made. Now, let's spread the jam."
"Okay."
"Here, I'll give you a spoon."
Baon took out various kinds of fruit jam. A sweet scent strongly tickled my nose.
"Please use a variety of jams. That way, they'll look pretty, too."
"Okay."
I picked up the spoon and scooped up a generous amount of apple jam first.
After repeating the process several times, putting jam on all the dough, I was suddenly finished.
"Now all we have to do is bake them. Please wait a moment."
"Wow! I'm done!"
A smile bloomed from my sense of accomplishment.
I hope Kaide likes them.
I went to a chair in the corner and sat down. My legs ached from standing so long. My back and arms throbbed, too.
Baon came over and untied my headband and apron.
"You have something on your face."
"Where?"
"I'll wipe it for you."
He brought a wet towel and wiped my face. It seemed I had flour on me.
I quietly accepted Baon's care.
After some time had passed.
*Ding.* The wind-up clock's alarm rang softly.
It seemed the cookies were all baked.
I toddled after Baon.
The cookies on the wide tray were baked to a golden brown.
"Would you like to try one?"
Baon, who had taken out the tray with large gloves on his hands, handed me a cookie that was broken in half.
I took it and had a taste.
A savory and sweet flavor filled my mouth. The part with the jam was especially soft.
"It's delicious!"
My eyes went wide.
Did I really make this? It was hard to believe.
"The Gaju will be very pleased when he receives them."
"Wow......."
Baon quickly finished packaging the cookies. A long, sky-blue ribbon was tied around the transparent box.
I accepted it.
"Thank you, Baon."
"You're most welcome."
"Do you think Papa will like them?"
"Of course he will."
"Then I'll get goin'! See ya next time!"
"I'll be waiting."
Baon saw me to the dining hall exit. After a brief goodbye, I headed straight for the office.
The packaging can't get messed up!
I walked very, very carefully. And just as I arrived in front of the office.
"Why did you permit the Loisar family to visit?"