~Chapter 105~
Delphina frowned. Then she remembered something Issian had once told her.
“There’s a strange man who often comes to the shop.”
“A strange man?”
“Yes, he always brings people who clearly look like chefs. And… he looks a bit like Prince Piaje.”
‘So Piaje had been coming to Northern Chicken every day. I guess a love for spicy food runs in their family.’
According to the system, the Emperor also liked spicy food.
Delphina realized Piaje and the Emperor had similar tastes.
‘Come to think of it, Prince Johannes also liked spicy food.’
Her eyes lit up.
‘People who love spicy food don’t want it to be mild. I don’t have to hold back.’
She rolled up her sleeves.
She remembered eating extremely spicy pork cutlet back in Korea. Her eyes watered, her nose ran, but in the end it became a funny memory.
‘I’ll make the pork cutlet extremely spicy, and balance it with sweet and spicy chicken. Two kinds of spice will give him joy. To the Emperor, it’ll be heaven itself.’
She sighed.
‘Too bad there’s no CoolX here. I’ll use fruit juice instead. If everything is spicy, it ruins the flavor.’
It was a pity, but banana juice would be a decent replacement.
‘He’d probably also like ramen. Spicy ramen with tuna kimbap is amazing too.’
Delphina shrugged.
‘Well, that’s not my concern. The Emperor isn’t exactly a good person. Still… I’ll cook with my best effort.’
* * *
The Chief Attendant stared at the pork cutlet and chicken before him.
As soon as Delphina finished cooking, they carried the dishes to the dining room. For some reason, the Emperor was already waiting there.
The pork cutlet was perfectly fried, golden and crisp.
‘It must crunch when bitten.’
But the sauce on top was a dark, ominous red.
The Chief Attendant’s brow furrowed.
‘That color… why is it so black-red?’
His face turned pale at the sight.
Next to the pork cutlet was a fruit juice, made with fresh fruit. It looked richer in color than ordinary juice.
The Emperor asked Delphina:
“What did you put in the juice?”
“I blended it with milk. It’s made from a fruit called banana, imported from the East. The taste should be unique.”
“Banana…”
The Emperor nodded blankly.
‘It smells good.’
The sweet scent of fruit mixed with the fiery spice and filled the air. The Emperor stabbed the pork cutlet with his fork.
The Chief Attendant watched anxiously. Royal family members of the Empire were notoriously picky eaters.
It was known that the Emperor liked spicy food, but usually chefs who tried to impress him were dismissed harshly.
“This isn’t it. You call this spicy?!”
The Chief Attendant imagined the Emperor’s angry outburst and shut his eyes tight.
But no scolding came. The room was quiet. Slowly, he opened his eyes.
The Emperor was stuffing the pork cutlet into his mouth. His face remained expressionless.
The Chief Attendant, however, felt his eyes grow wet. He had served the Emperor for years. He knew his master’s feelings better than anyone.
‘For some reason… he’s sad.’
The Emperor never showed emotion. Even when the former Empress died, he had worn the same blank face.
That was partly why his relationship with Johannes had fallen apart. Even if their marriage lacked love, how could a husband not shed a single tear when his wife died?
Now, the Emperor’s face slowly twisted. But the Chief Attendant recognized the expression — not anger, but satisfaction.
Delphina had been confident too. She had already checked the system’s evaluation of her dish.
<Spicy Pork Cutlet Set, made with Delphina’s full effort>
A dish filled with the chef’s true heart for the North’s safety.
God has responded to that sincerity! With just one bite, you’ll taste heavenly crispiness and stimulating spice.
Grade: B
(If someone dislikes spicy food, the grade will be lower.)
Special Grade for the Emperor: A
Delphina blinked. This was the first time she had ever made a Grade A dish.
As the Emperor ate, she saw it clearly — the faint glow of God Frad’s blessing rising from his body.
<Emperor>
‘Why… why did I push the former Empress away?’
After her death, he regretted everything.
He regretted saying she disgusted him.
He regretted feeling inferior because she wouldn’t obey him.
He regretted not realizing how much she supported him in politics.
The former Empress had once warned him:
“Your Highness, they are not enemies. They are partners we must live alongside. Hurting them will gain us nothing. War will only bring suffering to the people. Strengthen the alliance instead.”
But Yuria had told him the opposite:
“If the North grows strong, they could threaten the throne at any time. Just the fact that a Grand Duke exists is dangerous to imperial power.”
“They are savage and aggressive. Even their bodies are stronger than Imperial citizens. You must not let them gain more strength.”
After the former Empress’s death, Yuria took her place. Only then did the Emperor realize the truth. Her words had all been right. She had truly cared for the Empire.
But regret was useless now.
He was a man who never knew how to choose right from wrong. Even he knew he was not fit to be Emperor.
A single tear fell from his eye. For the first time, he spoke honestly to Delphina.
“Thank you for giving me this delicious meal. If there is ever something you want, come to me, Lady Delphina. If it’s within my power, I will grant it.”
<The North’s influence rises. God Frad’s range of speech to you expands.>
<Trait: Heaven’s Secret is unlocked.>
<The chance of Piaje becoming crown prince decreases. Relations between Johannes and the Emperor have a chance to improve.>
A small party was held at the North’s townhouse in the capital.
The guests were the townhouse servants, Johannes, Issian, Delphina, and Elcayan.
Johannes’s face was flushed red. He hadn’t been able to attend today’s nobles’ meeting because he had to host important foreign guests.
Even the Emperor knew how incompetent Piaje was, so he never entrusted him with diplomatic duties.
“Ah, what a shame I missed it! Piaje digging his own grave — that must have been a sight to see!”
Johannes shouted loudly, his speech slurred. He was clearly drunk.
Beside him, Issian nodded in agreement, absentmindedly fiddling with his monocle.
“Lady Delphina, you were amazing as well. They say His Majesty praised you greatly. How did you manage to capture his taste?”
“Because… everyone has the same heart when it comes to loving food.”
The mood of the drinking party grew livelier.
Delphina’s face was also red.
Issian, the most sober of the group, asked carefully:
“Lady Delphina, your face is flushed. Are you drunk?”
“Eh? No, I’m fine.”
Her reply was so calm that everyone believed her.
But God Frad kept sending warnings.
<You are in a drunken state. If you drink more, rational judgment may no longer be possible.>
Delphina just shrugged. What need was there for rational judgment at a time like this?
She looked across at Elcayan. Without realizing it, she spoke her thoughts aloud.
“Wow… you’re really handsome.”
“Delphina?”
“You’re so handsome, I just want to squeeze your cheeks over and over again.”
