CH 57

Luke Penfound.

The only son of House Penfound, a family known for their culinary prowess. And, he’s one of the people whose engagement got recently canceled.

One might think this way:

Compared to families known for being swordsmen, archers, cavalry knights, sorcerers, merchants, and national artists, wasn’t being a family of cooks kind of lame in comparison?

However, if you look closely at the relationships between the nine households—including the imperial family—you’d soon hear the following words.

The founding members of this nation were absolute lunatics who were like trash that couldn’t even be recycled. Who do you think reined them in?

Of course, it was none other than the first household head of the Penfound family.

Her cooking would make a baby stop crying, make an angry bull become like a gentle sheep, make a coo coo crazy lunatic act like a normal human being.

Therefore, some people would joke about this—jokes that were close to blasphemy against the imperial family, actually—that the hidden boss of the nine households was House Penfound.

‘In fact, they’ve also been holding the post of Minister of Internal Affairs for generations now… It’s safe to say that they’re real bigshots.’

As such, those who hail from House Penfounds were the most extraordinary people with the most ordinary jobs.

Dismayed about this for no reason, Reina waved her hand.

“No need. I’ll make it.”

Luke lowered his hand as he stared at her.

“You?”

“Yep. Me.”

Rolling up her sleeves, Reina smiled.

‘I’ve lived alone for ten years in my previous life, kiddo. Maybe I can cook even better than you.’

That’s definitely not the case, nope. But still, since Reina had been puffing up with so much confidence these days, she couldn’t tell reality from fiction.

“Just tell me where the flour is.”

Luke’s eyes went wide, perhaps surprised that she’s genuinely searching for the flour.

“Flour?”

“Yes. I need to make some dough first.”

As though he couldn’t comprehend her answer, he just looked at Reina. However, it seemed like he wanted to see what she’d come up with, so he moved.

“Yeah. Well, alright.”

He didn’t seem to have much trust in her when she said she’d need to make the dough first, but he didn’t bother to stop Reina either.

He headed to one corner of the kitchen and took out the flour, handing the bag over to her. Then, he crossed his arms.

“Are you really going to make the dough from scratch?”

“Ah, yup, I already said so. That’s how it’s gonna be delicious.

“…Hmm. Okay. Go ahead and try.”

And so, Reina then took the bag of flour and moved to a suitable spot on the counter where she could knead the dough. Then, she spoke to him again.

“But by the way, why’d you come here to the kitchen?”

“Never mind that. Just focus on your task.”

‘Wow… Listen to the way this kid talks, huh?’

She thought that he was the silent type, but it’s actually just that he’s got a rotten personality, and it’s reflected in the way he talks.

Reina willed herself to not retaliate and just clicked her tongue at Luke.

“Tch. Fine.”

Turning her head away from him, she began to prepare the kalguksu dough.

‘Alrighty, a noodle dish is all about the broth.’

And coincidentally, there was a lot of seafood here.

‘You’ll see, kiddo. You’ll be clinging to my leg while begging to eat more.’

Again, unwarranted confidence was fueling her thoroughly due to her recent successes.

* * *

Meanwhile, at another part of the annex where Reina and Luke weren’t present.

A little while ago, several members of the nine households—excluding Reina—had been enjoying a game of cards late into the night, but it was time for them to part ways. Letis, who was leading the way, suddenly stopped in his tracks and sniffed around.

“Sniff, sniff. Can you guys smell that?”

Following right behind him, Paul sniffed the air as well.

“Ah, yeah. This is a scent that I’ve encountered many times already before…”

Paul stopped as well, and he thought for a second. The corners of his lips were slowly curling upwards on both sides.

“Hmm… It looks disgusting, but when you eat it, you’ll forget its disgusting appearance… It’s that kind of food… I guess.”

“There’s no such food like that.”

“There is, there is, I tell you. Who do you think would make such a… Oh! Reina!”

As Fran was walking ahead, he flinched the moment he heard Reina’s name being called. But whether he noticed the other young man do that or not, Paul just went on to chatter louder with excitement.

“This is the smell of Reina’s food! Absolutely!”

“You said it looks disgusting, but delicious when you eat it?”

“Yeah!”

“Are you praising or cursing her skills…”

As Fran muttered, Paul smiled brightly.

“I’m cursing out her skills, and I’m praising at the same time!”

Eli started to take in the wafting scent as well the moment Reina’s name was mentioned, but he soon stepped forward with a grim look on his face.

“It smells like she’s cooking right now.”

Recognizing the source of the food’s smell, Eli moved towards its origin with a completely different expression.

And when Eli went there, Paul and Letis on his flanks, Fran followed reluctantly, almost sobbing.

“No… Why are you going… Why the heck are you going there…”

* * *

“So, what do you think?”

“……”

“Good, right?”

“……”

His eyes were sparkling. But, in spite of this, Luke remained silent.

“Hmm.”

You couldn’t not like it. The secret of the recipe lies in the broth. Reina quickly took a spoonful to taste it, but she tilted her head to the side, perplexed.

‘If you eat it together, it’s delicious enough that you’d want to even kill the other person you’re eating with just so you can have everything for yourself. So why?’

What’s wrong with his reaction?

Reina observed Luke’s reaction. With his brows knitted together, he looked like he was tasting something unpleasant.

“You don’t like it? Well if you don’t, more for me, I guess.”

This guy. She did her best to cook for him, but how could he be so dismissive?

But the arrogant chef pulled the bowl back towards himself.

And then.

Tak—

“Let’s eat together.”

“You said it’s not good.”

“When did I…”

“Your reaction just now is enough to say that.”

Luke’s expression subtly became distorted as if to prove Reina’s point.

“That’s not it?”

“……”

“Then is it good?”

“……”

“Ah, if you keep being like that, then I’ll eat all the noodles.”

Seeing as the cooking prodigy wouldn’t respond to this or that, Reina inevitably got annoyed. She pulled the bowl back.

However, he pulled the bowl as well, back to the spot right in front of him.

“Let’s eat together.”

‘…Oho. Would you look at this guy?’