Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Letter

Cooking is a comprehensive gift set of the senses.

Shape, texture, aroma, taste, even the sound when chewing, it stimulates all senses with just one meal.

And sometimes, these stimuli even touch the deep places of human memory and emotion.

The reverse scale of emotion. An extremely sensitive and delicate area that everyone has if they are human.

As a chef, I too was once curious.

What kind of mechanism of gastronomy particularly stimulates people's emotions, why people show particularly awkward reactions to specific foods.

Whether it's because I cook while reflecting customers' emotions in real time through the status window, among the people who tasted my cooking there were often those who showed unexpected reactions such as suddenly crying or rejoicing.

Someone said Mom's taste came to mind, someone said a forgotten memory was revived.

So if I uncovered that secret, I thought I would become an awesome chef who controls people's emotions with one food. Well, in the end it ended in failure with no results.

But what is certain is that whenever the reverse scale of emotion is touched like that, an immediate reaction appears in my status window.

[ George Frederick Ernest Albert: What on earth is this sadness? This memory... / Emotion: Great Confusion / Satisfaction: ★★★★★ ]

It's the 'Great Confusion' state.

It seems my food touched deep into the Duke's heart for some unknown reason.

No, Your Highness, but what are you going to do if you cry here? In this scenario, weren't you supposed to show intense emotion?!

"Seize him! This guy must have put something in the Duke's food!"

"This bastard!"

I'm really screwed. In an instant I was seized by the arms by the enraged guards.

Damn, really! It hurts! It hurts! But the chicken was made by Edith, not me!

"Your Highness! Are you all right?!"

No, you guys! What are you doing calling him Your Highness here! You have to use the alias Edward Richard!

"I, I...!"

The Duke's hands trembled.

"Let, let go! Release him! This person has done nothing wrong! There's no problem with the cooking!"

"But, Your Highness...!"

"It's an order!"

"...Understood. Excuse me."

Whoosh.

As soon as my arms were released, I glared at the man who had seized me. A face I'm seeing for the first time today. I needed to definitely remember it. Because I have to put him on the blacklist of our restaurant.

"Phew..."

Only a heavy silence lingered around.

While everyone couldn't continue speaking, the Duke was seen slowly trying to compose his emotions. Then suddenly, the emotion floating in the Duke's status window changed from 'Great Confusion' to 'Calm.'

Honestly I was surprised. I've never seen someone who controls emotions this quickly from a Great Confusion state even in my previous life. As expected of royalty?

The Duke slowly opened the eyes he had closed. His eyes are red from tears.

"...Your Highness."

"Chef, Jean-Paul Durand."

"Yes."

"I'm sorry. I've caused great trouble."

Bow.

"Ah, no! It's fine!"

The prince of the British Empire lowered his head. To me.

But if I don't say it's fine here, the escorts glaring from behind seem like they'll stab with a knife.

"Phew... It's strange. Really strange. Jean-Paul Durand, come sit here for a moment. Everyone withdraw. I have something to talk about with this young man for a while."

Everyone stepped far away, and only the cozy lighting illuminated the Duke and me sitting in the center of the hall.

And just then, another lyrical melody of Nocturne Op. 27 No. 2 resounding from the phonograph.

"Honestly I don't know well either."

"Yes?"

"In fact, when I first ate your Chicken and Chips it was really delicious. I could tell just by looking. That this is not inferior to any royal cooking."

That's of course because Edith did the decoration. Moreover, it wasn't even me who fried it.

But I didn't bother to correct his misconception. Anyway, the popular Chicken and Chips in London right now is the recipe I made.

"It was clearly just delicious food, but it was strange. It felt like some faint memory I had forgotten would come to mind. It was a memory so sad that my eyes would sting. But no matter how much I thought, I couldn't recall it at all. So I thought something would change if I came here."

Ah, the 'first' wasn't the dish he just ate. Only then did I realize that the Duke's gaze was directed further into the past.

Probably, the moment he first tasted my Chicken and Chips while hiding in the hideout.

"I don't think there's a need to force yourself to recall the memory. I understand."

"Thank you."

An awkward silence flowed for a moment. It seems the answer I carelessly blurted out was not the answer he wanted.

"One more thing to confess just came to mind."

"Yes, please speak."

"Didn't you think it strange? Why I called you and came all the way here in a situation where I should be hiding to avoid assassination."

"Uh..."

Suddenly a difficult question flew in. Even I who am skilled at improvisation couldn't particularly think of anything to say in this situation.

Honestly it is strange. I'm just an ordinary working-class chef, yet I can't understand at all why the prince is making even this kind of confession to me.

But the status window knew the answer. Because sometimes it even reads human unconsciousness and shows it to me.

[ George Frederick Ernest Albert: I've finally recalled it. Marie... / Emotion: Sadness / Satisfaction: ★★★★★ ]

The single name he had been repeating secretly in his heart, 'Marie.'

And the various clues he just spilled to me.

Suddenly I realized the full picture of this incident. My Chicken and Chips didn't just touch the reverse scale of his emotion just now.

Even earlier than that, probably the moment the Earl of Derby proudly held out Chicken and Chips to the Duke.

Already from then the Duke's emotions would have been swirling. He was just hiding it with a good-natured smile.

The keyword is 'Marie.'

This word that is deeply involved in the Duke's sadness in some way.

However, no matter how much he ate Chicken and Chips, the Duke only felt sadness, and couldn't recall the cause of that emotion. In the end he came all the way here seeking the last hope.

Could it be a first love forgotten a very long time ago? Or a deceased wife? No, the Duke is only in his late 30s now, that can't be.

Anyway, the Duke caused this series of commotion to find the reason for his sad emotion. To the point of forcibly breaking even the reclusive life that should be cautious. Now I understand why the escort agents showed such sharp reactions.

And the Duke came to this place, ate the finale Chicken and Chips, and seemed to have completely recalled the forgotten memory. His gaze briefly stared at the distant empty space.

But he seemed to have decided to finish this wonderful story in a different way after all.

"I can't recall the reason at all. It seems I was bewitched by the full moon. Young Jean-Paul Durand. Then, excuse me. Now, everyone there! I'll return now!"

A lie.

But I didn't ask what memory he had recalled. Because his expression was full of regret as if a person who had forcibly recalled something he should forget.

The Duke, in the same attire he came in, stylishly fluttering the cape of the Inverness coat with the awkward mustache dangling, turned back again.

And in the place he left, only ten Sovereign gold coins that it was unknown who they were meant for remained dangling.

"Jean-Paul Durand."

"Mr. Ashford."

Ah, there was one more person who looked back with an awkward expression before everyone left.

"I'll admit it. You are the best chef. Your Chicken and Chips was really delicious."

"...Yes?"

"Then farewell."

What kind of nonsense is this person eating alone?

Anyway, the Duke and his escorts, as they appeared like the wind, disappeared like the wind like that.

Another commotion ended like that. Damn, I won't even pay respects toward Buckingham Palace again. Just not getting involved with royalty is the best. It feels like my lifespan has been cut by a month!

'Well, whatever. Still, the purpose was achieved.'

【 General Quest: Impress celebrities with special food (2/99th cycle) - Success 】

【 Quest achievement additional points: 5,000 】

【 Quest achievement additional reward: Spin Spin Random Box x1 】

Of course I'll gratefully receive the reward.

###

A few days after that�

"Young Jean! Why can't it be done? Let me taste that galbijjim or whatever too!"

"Your Lordship the Earl, even if you beg like that it's useless."

"Ahem! Then I'll give you my checkbook instead..."

"I said no. I can't do it because there are no ingredients."

"Edith! Come here and help this old man! Catch this impudent fellow who doesn't know grace!"

What kind of situation is this now? The story gets a bit long.

After the midnight commotion that day, I had to sweat to calm Edith and Emily who were hiding far away.

Both were so surprised that they had crying faces.

Of course, the escorts shouted 'Your Highness!!' so loudly, how could it not be exposed.

The person they thought was just my acquaintance or teacher was actually an incredible person.

For the Duke's security, I had no choice but to shut their mouths with the remaining galbijjim. Honestly I had made a lot, but because it was only used as an amuse-bouche it remained as a disposal problem.

If there was a refrigerator I could store it somehow... The refrigerator of this era was limited to a low-quality icebox.

If it was ingredients it might be different, but if you put completed cooking in there it spoils because of the moisture generated when the ice melts. Unhygienic.

And as a bonus I woke up Mr. Henry who was sleeping soundly in the office and fed him a bite. The reaction was quite screaming?

But in this situation, the Earl of Derby who was the only one left out alone, hearing from somewhere, is tormenting me all day wanting to taste that great food once.

But I also stubbornly insisted. It's outrageous, who caused the Duke incident!

So I continued an endless defense with the excuse that the ingredients ran out.

But...

"Young Jean! My work isn't getting done right now!"

"Yes?!"

"Whenever I close my eyes that food keeps coming to mind! Please, can't it be done somehow?! Please even just one bite!"

Whether the Earl of Derby roasted and boiled him somehow, even Mr. Henry started earnestly begging me. So for now I covered my ears. If I listen to every one of these, it becomes a bad habit. Every every.

I had no choice but to decide to use the cheat key.

"Your Lordship the Earl of Derby."

�Ahem? Why? Has your mind finally changed?�

�York.�

�Ahem!�

�Cornwall.�

�Ahem!�

�Shall I say one more? Prin��

�Enough! Sufficient! Stop! I was wrong!�

The Earl finally became quiet. Operation successful.

But well, shall I stop the prank around here.

"Jean... I want to eat too! That galbijjim from then!"

�Mr. Jean, me too...�

It's not because my heart is weak. I'm cold-blooded. Not a joke! Really!

Clank.

At that moment, someone opened the office door and entered.

"Boss! A lot of letters have come for the boss!"

The person who entered the office was one of the newspaper boy kitchen assistants I hired, Joe. I don't know the surname, everyone just calls him Joe.

Anyway, Joe put down a full bundle of letters on my desk. What is this... Surely they're not all tax notices?

"Hm?"

At that moment my gaze stuck to one shabby envelope.

Somehow the sender's name is familiar.

"Edward... Richard...?"

It was the prince's alias.