PRLZAR 27

Chapter : 27

We separated the small fish and put them into a different bucket. After that, Amanda and I went down to the lakeside and released the small fish back into the water. As she watched them swim away into the lake, she spoke weakly.

“Thank you, Lady Vanessa. I’m always indebted to you.”

“Oh, not at all. I’m the one who gains strength thanks to you, Amanda, and everyone else.”

“If it weren’t for you, Lady Vanessa, we would have starved to death. Or been killed by the undead that chased us all the way here.”

“Don’t say such scary things.”

“No, really. Those undead were truly horrific…”

She shuddered as if recalling the terrible scenes from the kingdom.

“What matters is that we’re alive now, Amanda. I’ll make sure you’re happy here.”

“Lady Vanessa…”

She stopped while reinstalling the empty fish trap by the lakeside and looked at me with teary eyes.

“You really are an angel, Lady Vanessa.”

Seeing how moved she looked, I laughed and said,

“Is there an angel that makes people work this much?”

“I actually like working a lot. If I just sit still, there’s nothing to do. And it feels rewarding knowing that my work helps feed others.”

“Then you’re the angel, Amanda.”

She tucked her short crimson hair behind her ear and smiled shyly.

“Oh, and Lady Vanessa too.”

“Then shall we go make some delicious grilled fish and braised fish today?”

“Yes!”

Carrying buckets full of fish in both hands, we cheerfully headed back home.

After simmering tasty braised fish and grilling fish, we realized it was already well past noon.

‘Should I try making starch today?’

Layla had said she’d tilled the empty land and planted more potatoes, so we had plenty.

I planned to make starch, coat the fish with it, and make sweet-and-sour fried fish for dinner. Dipping it in soy sauce mixed with chopped chili peppers would be amazing.

‘Alright, let’s get the potatoes first.’

I went to the potato field and harvested forty potatoes into a basket. It looked like a lot, but since each plant had nearly ten large, healthy potatoes, it wasn’t actually that much.

Next, I washed the potatoes at the well and peeled them clean.

‘Now let’s slice them.’

I chopped the potatoes and put them into a large basin. Cutting forty potatoes was more tiring than I expected, so I had to straighten my back frequently.

“Done!”

I wiped my hands on a dishcloth and stretched. If I waited about ten minutes like this, white sediment would settle at the bottom of the water. Drying that sediment would turn it into starch.

Ten minutes later, when I removed the soaked potatoes, the basin was filled with white sediment just as expected.

I poured out the water and set the basin aside in the kitchen to dry. Once dried and sifted, it would become fine starch.

‘With the remaining potatoes, I should make fries today.’

I placed a tray on the long table, spread a white cloth over it, and laid the sliced potatoes on top. These would be deep-fried later. For now, it was time to hurry to the storage shed.

I remembered the monster beast’s hind legs hanging in the smoking facility from yesterday.

‘I should’ve salted them first.’

Climbing a small ladder, I began the curing process. I placed the hind legs into a basin and poured salt over them until they were completely covered, like draping them in a white cloth.

After about a week, they would be properly cured and completely drained. Then I could hang them back from the ceiling.

After finishing salting the last leg, I sprawled flat on my back in the storage shed.

At dawn, I’d sown onion and garlic seeds. In the morning, I’d pressed grapes. In the afternoon, I’d collected fish from the traps and cooked grilled and braised fish.

That wasn’t all.

I harvested potatoes, made starch, and even cured meat to make jamon. Even though I’d adapted to farm work by now, working this hard was rare, and all my energy had drained away.

The sun was setting, and I still had to make dinner… but I had no strength left.

‘Just one hour. Just one hour.’

And so, in the cool, dry storage shed, I fell asleep.

‘Gasp! What time is it?!’

I jumped up and looked out the window—it was already pitch-dark. I rushed to the kitchen.

“Has everyone eaten dinner?!”

People were sitting around the table or on the floor, eating bread and eggs.

Layla approached with a bright smile.

“Ah, Vanessa, did you sleep well? His Highness moved you from the storage shed to your room. And I cooked today.”

‘The Crown Prince carried me?!’

Oh no… I must be heavy. Still, he’s strong, so it was probably fine. Thinking about him holding me made my heart flutter, but I forced the thought away and said,

“Really?! Layla, you worked so hard.”

“No, no. You usually do everything. Today’s food was simple—we used up the leftover rye bread. Oh, and I fried eggs! That’s about all I can cook.”

Feeling touched, I hugged Layla.

“Our Layla, you did great.”

“Hehe, it feels good to be praised by you. Oh! I asked His Highness to move the potatoes from the table up to the second floor. I’ll show you where later.”

“Thanks. You really are the best, Layla.”

“You’re the only one for me too. And do you want to eat? I saved a portion for you.”

“Can I take it to my room today?”

“Of course. Here!”

I placed rye bread and a fried egg on a plate and went upstairs to my room. It had been a while since I planned to eat while writing down future tasks.

“Beep?”

“Donggeul, there you are! Did you eat?”

“Beep…”

“So you didn’t. Here, have some of my bread.”

“Pip! Pip!”

I tore off a corner of the rye bread and gave it to Donggeul. It hopped around happily, then pecked at the bread and took a bite.

“Beep!”

“Looks tasty, Donggeul. Did you eat anything today?”

“Beep? Beep!”

“You caught bugs in the field?”

“Pip!”

“That’s an excellent protein source. Good job, Donggeul.”

When I sat at my desk and took out my notebook, Donggeul tilted its head and sat right on top of it.

“Donggeul, don’t bother Mom.”

“Beep!”

“I’m organizing what I need to do next.”

After moving Donggeul aside, I took out a pen and started writing.

[Things To Do]

Make the sweet-and-sour fried fish originally planned for tonight → Tomorrow’s lunch
Make fries to go with the fried fish → Also tomorrow’s lunch
Remove salt and hang the hind leg after a week → Ask Eric
Make a whipped cream strawberry cake for Layla’s upcoming birthday → Need to make cream first… and cake layers
Make gochujang → Ugh, soon
Make doenjang → Also soon…
Make turnip kimchi and cabbage kimchi → Ask others and make a large batch
Get flour from Oliver and make milk bread

While I was still writing, Donggeul pecked my finger lightly—apparently done eating.

“Donggeul, there’s really a lot to do.”

“Beep?”

“Yes… Mom really has a lot to do…”

“Beep?”

“If you’re asking whether I have to do all of it—yes… I’ll do it all…”

“Beep”

Donggeul spread its tiny, precious wings wide and hugged my hand, as if silently cheering me on.

After gently stroking Donggeul, I devoured the rye bread and fried egg, then lay diagonally across the bed.

‘Now I understand why grandmothers who worked the fields had bent backs.’

There were too many things I needed and wanted to do—days felt far too short. Still, I was grateful to eat and drink from crops I’d farmed myself.

‘And more than anything, I’ve always loved cooking.’

I was someone who naturally enjoyed feeding and clothing others, so I was deeply satisfied with my current life.

‘For tomorrow’s sake, maybe I should sleep early tonight…’

After eating, drowsiness set in. Noticing this, Donggeul fluttered over from the desk and settled beside me.

“Good night, Donggeul.”

“Beep Beep!”

Today, I’d been busy since morning making the sweet-and-sour fried fish I’d planned yesterday. I sifted the dried starch sediment into fine white starch, then cleaned the fish I’d caught yesterday—removing the guts and fins and scoring the flesh.

‘Now to coat them evenly with starch…’

“Phew.”

After coating five large fish, I straightened my back and stretched. Stretching had to be done consciously; otherwise, I’d keep working nonstop and ruin my posture.

I brushed fine starch over both sides of the fish and poured plenty of oil into the cauldron—more than usual.

Once the oil began bubbling, I placed the snow-white, starch-coated fish into it.

Chiiii—like the sound of rain.

‘So healing.’

When they were cooked enough, I flipped them at just the right time, and they turned golden brown. After frying all five, I placed them on a large platter on the table. They were so big it was hard to lift with one hand.

Next was the dipping sauce.

I scooped soy sauce from a jar into a small bowl and added finely chopped chili peppers straight from the field. The salty aroma mixed with a spicy fragrance.

“Wow, Lady Vanessa. Lunch today is on another level.”

Eric said in amazement as he stared at the fried fish. Drawn by the savory scent, people began gathering in the kitchen one by one.

“It’s not over yet. I’m making fries too.”

I dropped the sliced potatoes into the hot oil all at once. The rain-like sizzling sound returned as they fried.

After shaking off the oil with a strainer, I poured the fries onto plates lined with kitchen towels. Sprinkle salt, and they were done.

“That looks so good…”

Seeing the children below gulping and drooling, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“You can eat, Luna.”

Luna, wearing her twin braids neatly as always, widened her eyes.

“Really?!”

“Of course.”

I looked up at the Crown Prince, who had come to stand beside me.