Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Master of Disguise

The prince was as dejected as a recruit whose hundred-day leave was canceled.

Wow, I saw an expression of the sky collapsing for the first time in my life. What on earth is that chicken to despair that much?

But what can't be done can't be done. Of course with the know-how of a Korean cuisine master it seems possible if mixed well somehow, but that my pride doesn't permit.

Even if I'm a cheating cook, my pride in my cooking is strong. At our restaurant or Baker Street I could freely use modern seasonings to produce the best taste, but here if I get caught taking out the bottom, my wrist could really fly off.

Moreover, that Duke says he's suffering from assassination threats. Then of course he'd be careful with food too. Probably the reason Lord Ashford prepared few ingredients was also for that reason.

The royal family's direct cooks or attendants would all have been attached to the overseas double, and the food that can be eaten here is only what the escort agents make or buy.

Even if the thrifty Duke of Cornwall usually, the basic taste as a royal who has lived wouldn't be the same as that of the working class.

Various dissatisfactions gradually accumulated, and in that situation he suddenly tasted my Chicken and Chips and it burst with a bang.

In fact even I think I couldn't endure it. Isn't it like eating only military dumplings for ten years and then tearing into chicken.

Is that why my heart weakened without me knowing.

"Your Highness the Duke, by any chance how about something like this."

"Hm? What?"

"Tomorrow night at 8:30, under the pretext of repairs I'll finish the restaurant business a bit early. If you come around 9 o'clock, you'll be able to taste the best Chicken and Chips. This way, even if Your Highness the Duke visits my restaurant, no one will notice."

"Ah, can you do that? This makes me feel sorry for no reason."

It's a stretch. High-end restaurants in London of this era had longer break times than modern ones, and dinner started later. All because of Afternoon Tea.

Usually the upper class's Afternoon Tea is general between 4 and 6 in the afternoon. Gentry who filled their bellies with heavy desserts like cake and tea wouldn't eat dinner from 6 like modern Koreans. So the dinner business hours of London restaurants usually referred to between 7 and 9.

And the customers who come to the restaurant, most make reservations in advance to receive the best service. In an era when telephones weren't widely distributed yet, reservations were mainly by direct visit or submitting an application through a servant.

If the restaurant closes 30 minutes early, the schedules of customers reserved in ambiguous time slots have to be adjusted or turned to other dates. It might take a bit of a hit to reputation.

But it was worth it. No, it's the prince. The person who will become the king of the British Empire someday, a few years later I don't know, of course isn't it right to look good when there's an opportunity?

It's not completely skipping dinner time, just kicking customers out 30 minutes early, is there a problem?

"Excuse me. Lord Blackwood, Lord Ashford. See young Jean off to the restaurant. Young Jean, then I'll look forward to tomorrow night."

"You may look forward to it. I'll reserve the best time."

"Truly nice words to hear. I'll remember your devotion."

Ting.

I quickly snatched the one gold coin the Duke flicked again.

What... At this rate I won't really get my nose hooked by the prince, right? Surely not, I believe.

A little later, I enjoyed a truly awkward carriage trip with the two knight gentlemen.

###

Late at night.

When I returned to the restaurant, the Earl of Derby, Mr. Henry, and Edith were occupying my office. Seeing that Emily wasn't visible, it seemed she had gone back.

And our Earl of Derby was making a suspicious expression that was obvious at a glance. I glared at this nuisance Derbyshire person.

"Ahem, the moon is quite bright. Tomorrow morning the fog will be less."

"Your Lordship the Earl, fog is already full all around."

Even in the Holmes series someone always gets stabbed with a knife on days like this, is there a law that it's not today?

Anyway, I postponed suspicion of the Earl and looked at Edith. She was humming a tune while organizing the sales table with Mr. Henry.

Wait, wasn't that originally my job?! Now you're even eyeing my position as co-president? A young lady full of ambition.

But I had business with her right now.

"Lady Edith, I have a request."

"Oh my, a request? For Mr. Jean to request me, it's amazing."

I sighed. To handle the work I was planning, she was absolutely necessary.

"Tomorrow night my teacher is coming. I want to serve delicious food, by any chance can I receive help? I'll compensate sufficiently."

"I don't mind, but shouldn't Grandfather permit it? Grandfather?"

"To privately utilize the precious granddaughter of the Derby earldom, you have to pay a corresponding price. Even you are no exception."

"There's a bit of a circumstance. He's someone who came a long way, so I really have to give the best treatment. By the way, Your Lordship, by any chance didn't you see my letter from 'York'? I put it in front of the door, but it's not visible."

Pause.

"Hmm, a letter? I didn't see such a thing... But thinking carefully again, aren't you Edith's cooking teacher? Exceptions are meant to be made. Consider it training and help for a day without compensation, Edith."

"Yes, Grandfather."

I caught the culprit. No, from the start if you show too many tells, what are you going to do? I'm worried about national security.

Wait, then the words last time 'I've already made moves in advance so don't worry'... wasn't it about the police on Baker Street?

Thinking about it, there's no reason for the knights busy escorting the prince to go around investigating my background.

There's a person around me who knows the most about me.

I glared at the spy in front of me and ground my teeth inwardly.

"Ahem! Cough cough. Young Henry, how strong a perfume are you spraying? It's to the point of suffocating!"

"Yes? This is 4711 Cologne (*Eau de Cologne, top-grade men's perfume), last time Your Lordship recommended it at Harrods (*Harrods, high-end department store exclusive to the upper class)..."

"That's enough, there's an important story about the Canadian gold mine matter! Lend me your ear for a moment!"

"Uh uh...?"

When the Earl dragged Mr. Henry out, only Lady Edith and I were left awkwardly.

"It's strange, why is Grandfather suddenly like that...? Anyway, how exactly should I help?"

"Tomorrow evening I plan to advance the restaurant closing by about 30 minutes and end at 8:30. The customer is scheduled to arrive around 9, but ideas for appetizers and desserts that suit the main dish I prepared aren't coming to mind. By any chance can you help?"

"Hmm, it's not a difficult request? I thought something big had happened."

It is a big matter. It's just that she doesn't know yet.

Anyway, Your Highness the Duke will come expecting Chicken and Chips, but then there would be no meaning in delaying business and serving.

Didn't he already taste Chicken and Chips several times. It's also unclear whether I can receive additional bonus points.

Originally human emotions flutter with curiosity when experiencing something completely unfamiliar and strange. I wanted to gift the Duke a memory worth recalling for a lifetime. That way when this cooking comes to mind later, he'll throw me one more crumb.

If I work hard and it ends at a mere 5 points, my mood would be a bit, you know?

Moreover, this still floating in one side of my vision.

【 General Quest: Impress celebrities with special food (1/99th cycle)】

Is there another figure as famous as the prince in Britain of this era? Overseas tour articles go up and down in the newspapers every day.

This was an opportunity for me too. A golden opportunity to complete the quest.

I don't know if it will work or not, but for now I'll do my best. That was my way of life so far.

"Wouldn't it be better to choose the appetizer considering the main dish? By any chance can you give a hint? I'll think together too."

"Hmm... For now I'm thinking of starting with Chicken and Chips. However, I'll reduce the amount a bit. And I plan to prepare three main dishes."

At this point you would have noticed.

Yes, what I planned is tasting team part 2!

The 'Korean Cuisine Great Demon King 3-piece set' bundling Chicken and Chips, gyeongyang-style donkatsu, and beef galbijjim!

I've never seen a foreigner who didn't collapse with this combination. Even a native Korean would have no choice but to raise their hands in front of this menu.

But I'm not a Western cuisine chef but a Korean cuisine chef. In Korean food set out full on a table, there's no concept of course cooking eaten in order.

So I intended to receive help from Edith for the appetizer and dessert. A noble young lady who grew up in a noble family all her life, and she herself is a 10-year veteran of baking. The only one I can rely on right now is this person.

"Are they all meat types? Then it might be burdensome, so how about putting out a Waldorf Salad before the meal?"

"Waldorf Salad?"

"Ah, it's a salad mixing apples and nuts and dressing... It's a dish not yet common in London so it might be unfamiliar. Wait a moment, since there are ingredients I'll show you once."

She left her seat briefly, then immediately returned holding a salad bowl emitting a refreshing scent.

Crisply sliced apple pieces, light cream dressing, finely chopped walnuts and grape berries, and celery.

Ah, this? I also have a memory of seeing it a few times at buffets. I didn't know the name, but they were eating it even in this era. Well.

"How is the taste?"

It was good without needing to say twice. As expected, skill worthy of the Earl's boast.

"Hmm, it seems harmonious. It's sufficient. It will be able to soothe the stomach well before the meal."

"For dessert, rather than something unfamiliar, a dessert of familiar taste would be good. It needs to be able to gently finish the aftertaste of the main dish. How about a Trifle?"

"Trifle! That's a good idea too."

As expected of a veteran baker, it's helpful. If there's a similar matter next time, I'll have her do it again.

Like this the golden combination of Waldorf Salad, Chicken and Chips, gyeongyang-style donkatsu, beef galbijjim, and Trifle was completed.

This will definitely work.

If this doesn't work, you have to suspect that person's sense of taste. They must have caught ageusia, so they should be immediately hospitalized in a mental hospital.

Why a mental hospital? Because if they don't marvel after eating my cooking, psychiatric treatment would also be needed. Why? What? Anyway that's it.

###

The next day, when the promised time came, a pitch-black dark-colored carriage stopped in front of my restaurant.

And from inside, a middle-aged gentleman with a stylish Kaiser mustache appeared swinging the cape of an Inverness coat (*Inverness coat, clothes Holmes mainly wore) stylishly.

It was the disguised prince. He read the Holmes series too much.