Chapter 12
“The princess is far too young… Cooking might be a bit too dangerous. I’ll just make it for you.”
“Oh my, that’s so kind of you… But it’s alright. This is something I want to do myself—it’s my way of expressing how I feel.”
“Then… at least let me handle the knife, alright? Just that much?”
‘I just need the credit anyway. I’m not quite used to this body yet, so having someone assist me isn’t a bad idea.’
Though her thoughts were thoroughly calculating, Cecile wore the purest, most charming smile imaginable as she replied.
“Thank you so much. I know you must be very busy.”
“Actually… I’m not that busy at the moment. You came by right during my break.”
The head chef led Cecile into the kitchen.
“Put on this hair scarf, tie this apron around you, and wash your hands at the sink.”
“Okay!”
The chef took out the smallest apron in the kitchen, but it was still much too large for Cecile. The waist ties wouldn’t hold, so they had to pin it in place.
When she returned from washing her hands, the chef had already donned his apron and hat. But then—
‘Is that… a teddy bear on his apron?’
Cecile squinted.
As a former dark mage, she had seen all manner of people.
But a burly man who looked like he could punch out a wild boar wearing a cute teddy bear apron? That was new even for her.
‘Stay calm. I’m the most powerful dark mage on the continent. I won’t be shaken by something like this…’
Her fluster lasted only a moment, but her wandering gaze landed on something else—knitting needles and yarn placed on the counter.
‘Judging by the size… dog clothes?’
Noticing her gaze, the chef quickly became flustered and swept the knitting aside.
“T-this is just… I thought our Fluffy was feeling cold, so I started knitting a bit during my breaks… It’s nothing special.”
Only then did Cecile realize the kind and gentle nature hiding beneath his rugged appearance.
‘He may look big and intimidating, but he’s actually quite delicate.’
The chef, embarrassed by Cecile’s curious look, asked,
“So, what did you want to make again?”
“I heard the duke is in a meeting right now. I thought I’d prepare some canapés and sandwiches—something light he can snack on during the meeting.”
Cecile handed over a list of ingredients she had prepared in advance.
“Great choice. The ingredient list looks good too… hmm?”
As he read down the list, the chef paused at a particular item.
Seeing Cecile tilt her head in question, he pointed to one part of the list with a thick finger.
“What is… mayonnaise?”
Cecile smiled meaningfully.
Mayonnaise—this was a secret weapon created by Cecile, the continent’s greatest potion maker.
She had stumbled upon the invention purely by chance.
While experimenting beside a boiling cauldron, combining various ingredients, she had accidentally created a number of new concoctions—mayonnaise among them.
‘To make a real impression on a duke who’s likely tasted every delicacy, I’ll need something like this.’
This was her ‘kick’—a surprise card prepared specifically for the duke.
‘You see now, Nibelung? I have my own trump cards too.’
Of course, she couldn’t explain to Hans the real story behind how she invented mayonnaise. So instead, she gave the answer she had prepared in advance.
“It’s a secret sauce passed down among the royal palace chefs. I learned how to make it from a chef I’m close to.”
Hans’s eyes immediately lit up at the mention of a royal recipe.
“If it’s a sauce used in the palace, would you be willing to teach me how to make it? I’d really love to learn.”
Perhaps it was true that not just anyone could be the duke’s head chef.
His face was earnest, full of enthusiasm to learn new dishes and ingredients.
Cecile, pleased by this expected reaction, smiled contentedly.
“Alright, I’ll teach you.”
‘Not for free, though.’
Cecile saw great potential gains in befriending Hans. She intended to trade this homemade recipe for other benefits.
Hiding her calculating thoughts behind a sweet smile, Cecile said,
“Let’s make a small batch and try it first! It’s really easy.”
“Alright. What do we need?”
“First, olive oil, eggs, lemon juice, and salt.”
Hans quickly fetched the ingredients she listed.
“Is… this really it?”
Hans looked skeptical. The ingredient list seemed far too simple for a ‘secret royal sauce.’
“Absolutely. You’ll be surprised at how something as simple as eggs and oil can become such a delicious sauce.”
Cecile cracked the eggs and separated the yolks from the whites. She placed only the yolks into a bowl, then added a bit of lemon juice and salt.
She handed the bowl and a whisk to Hans.
“I’ll drizzle in the olive oil little by little. Just keep whisking to make sure the eggs and oil blend properly.”
Hans followed her instructions exactly. His sturdy arms were perfect for this sort of task.
‘The oil has to go in very slowly—just a thin stream. If you add too much at once, it won’t emulsify and the whole thing will fall apart.’
For an adult, it wasn’t such a difficult task. But Cecile was only eight years old, with underdeveloped fine motor skills.
Still not fully adjusted to her young body, Cecile suddenly realized just how weak her arms were, and it flustered her slightly.
Noticing her struggle, Hans supported the cup she was holding with one hand while whisking with the other. That small gesture made things surprisingly easier for her, and Cecile let out a quiet sigh of relief.
And with that, the mayonnaise was complete.
‘It’s my first time revealing one of my inventions to the world.’
The soft ivory-colored sauce had a rich, nutty aroma and a smooth consistency.
Cecile scooped a spoonful and held it out to Hans.
“I’ll give you the honor of the first taste, Chef.”
Flustered and unsure how to react, Hans eventually accepted and bowed deeply before taking a bite.
Humans have a deep-rooted survival instinct that craves even a drop more fat—an instinct honed over countless generations to increase chances of survival.
‘And Hans is clearly no exception to that rule.’
The smooth texture melted over the tongue, and more than anything, the rich, creamy flavor of the fat spread through the mouth.
“Mmm… Mmmmm… Hmmmmmm…!”
Hans widened his eyes and chewed thoughtfully, letting out a series of impressed noises. Then, almost in a trance, he swallowed and exclaimed,
“This is amazing! It brings out the savory flavor of the fat perfectly, but the scent is mild enough that it can be used in many ways. And most of all, the recipe and ingredients are so simple! To think something like this could taste so good… Why has no one thought of this before?”
Cecile realized her heart was beating a little faster. Despite herself, the corners of her mouth kept twitching upward.
[You might not have shown it, but you were really looking forward to this reaction, weren’t you, Cecile?]
‘Shut up. That’s not it.’
Snapping at Nibelung, Cecile composed herself again and said calmly,
“As expected, the duke’s chef has a discerning palate. Mayonnaise is delicious on its own, but even better when used in cooking—it’s incredibly versatile.”
Maintaining impeccable manners and the elegance befitting a princess, Cecile smiled and added,
“Shall we try using it now?”
Hans nodded enthusiastically, eager to apply the newly learned special sauce.
‘Teaching someone isn’t such a bad feeling either.’
Though she had once been a great mage, Cecile had never taken on an apprentice. Now, with such a passionate student, she found herself unexpectedly intrigued.
“Let’s make those canapés and sandwiches. I’ll show you how to use the mayonnaise!”
