The busy kitchen suddenly stopped when the maids brought in trays of seasoned raw monster at. The sll was enticing, but the sight of the unusual cuts raised so eyebrows.
"Where is this at from?" one of the sous-chefs asked, looking at a particularly marbled piece that shone faintly in the light.
"It's from young master Javier," the maid replied, placing the last tray on the counter.
The Chief Cook, a stout, gray-haired man with a commanding presence, stepped forward and picked up a piece of at. His eyes widened in recognition. "This… this is Orc General at!" he exclaid, his voice echoing through the kitchen. "And over here… this is King Boar at. By the gods…" He lifted another piece and inspected it closely. "This one—this is Drakespine at! Do you know how rare this is?"
The team gasped, and murmurs began.
"Isn't this stuff worth a fortune?"
"Where did the young master even get it?"
"Does he just have these lying around?"
"Enough chatter!" the Chief Cook barked, silencing the whispers. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "I'll handle the rarest cuts myself. The rest of you—get to work! We're serving a feast tonight, and it better be perfect."
"Yes, Chef!" the cooking team replied in unison, quickly getting to work.
The kitchen turned into a whirlwind of activity. Pots clanged, knives chopped against cutting boards, and the air filled with the scents of searing at, sizzling herbs, and bubbling sauces.
One of the younger cooks nervously approached the Chief Cook. "Uh, Chef, what's the plan for the Drakespine?"
The Chief Cook smirked, a rare look of pride on his face. "We'll pan-sear it with a glaze of honey and citrus, then finish it with a light herb crust. Drakespine natural flavor is already amazing; we just need to enhance it."
The team watched in awe as the Chief Cook worked with skill, turning the kitchen into a showcase of culinary art.
anwhile, the maids stood at the doorway, exchanging glances.
"Miss Liana really has her hands full with young master Javier," one whispered.
Another chuckled. "At least he's making the most of his talents."
By the ti the sun began to set, the kitchen was filled with a feast fit for royalty. Plates of perfectly cooked at, accompanied by roasted vegetables, fresh bread, and fragrant sauces. The scent wafted through the estate, drawing curious looks from the maids and workers.
As the Chief Cook surveyed the completed dishes, he allowed himself a small nod of satisfaction.
In the grand dining room, the usual evening al had been replaced with a big feast. The table was full of dishes—perfectly cooked steaks, tasty roasts, and tender pieces of at with colorful vegetables and delicious sauces. The sll was so good that even Lady Francesca, who was usually calm, looked surprised.
"Since when do we have this expensive at?" Francesca asked, her voice calm but curious. She glanced at Stella, her loyal maid, who stood by her side.
"I'm not sure, madam," Stella replied, bowing slightly. "Maybe we should ask the cooks?"
Francesca tapped her fingers on the armrest of her chair and looked toward the kitchen door. "Get the Chief Cook. I want to know what's going on before we eat."
"Yes, madam." Stella curtsied and quickly left the room.
As Francesca waited, she looked over the table again. The presentation was perfect. She recognized so of the rare ats—King Boar and Orc General cuts among them. This was not a normal al, and it definitely wasn't from their usual supplies.
A mont later, Stella returned with the Chief Cook. He stood straight, wearing a clean apron, and had a little sweat on his forehead from the heat of the kitchen.
"You called for , madam?"
"Yes, I did," Francesca said, her voice calm but firm. "I want to know where all this food ca from. I don't rember saying we could have such an expensive al."
The Chief Cook cleared his throat, a nervous smile on his face. "Ah, madam, this is from young master Javier."
Francesca blinked, surprised and unsure. "Javier? Are you saying my youngest son provided all of this?"
The Chief Cook nodded. "Yes, madam. The young master brought us a lot of monster at earlier today. He asked Miss Liana to make sure it was used for tonight's dinner."
"Monster at?" Francesca frowned and leaned forward. "What kind of monsters?"
"Orc General, King Boar, and Drakespine, among others," the Chief Cook answered.
Francesca put her hand to her forehead and sighed. "What am I going to do with that boy?"
Stella, standing quietly next to her, tried not to smile. "It seems the young master has been very clever, madam."
"Clever isn't the word I would use," Francesca muttered. "Reckless is more like it."
After a mont of silence, Francesca straightened up and regained her composure. "Well, we shouldn't waste it. Let everyone in the household enjoy this al, from the maids to the workers. And make sure Javier knows he will explain himself after I finish my dinner."
"Yes, madam," Stella and the Chief Cook said together before bowing and going back to their tasks.
Francesca sat back, a small smile appearing on her lips despite herself. "That boy really knows how to surprise ."
The dining room buzzed with the sound of cutlery and happy chatter. Lord Garius leaned back in his chair, a rare softness on his usually stern face as he enjoyed another bite of the perfectly grilled King Boar steak.
"This is excellent," he said, nodding at the Chief Cook, who stood nearby with a humble bow. "You've done a great job tonight."
"Thank you for your kind words, my lord," the Chief Cook replied, keeping his head low.
Marcellus and Cedric, sitting beside Lord Garius, were deeply engaged in the al. Cedric, the more talkative brother, held up a forkful of at, his eyes wide with excitent. "I don't know where this ca from, but it's the best thing we've had in weeks!"
Marcellus nodded, although he was more reserved than his younger brother. "Yes, it's not often we get such high-quality at. Where did this co from, Father?"
Lord Garius looked at Francesca, who was unusually quiet during dinner. Her posture was perfect, but her lips were pressed together, and her erald eyes briefly glanced at the Chief Cook.
"It's from our reserves," Francesca said smoothly, her tone calm. "The kitchen staff found so cuts we hadn't used yet. I thought it would be nice to serve them."
Cedric raised an eyebrow. "Reserves? We've had this in storage all this ti?"
"Yes," Francesca replied quickly, her gaze steady. "I asked the staff to prepare sothing special tonight. Is that a problem, Cedric?"
"N-No, Mother," Cedric stuttered, looking down at his plate.
Lord Garius chuckled softly as he cut another piece of at. "Well, it was a good choice. This is an excellent al. Make sure to thank the kitchen staff again."
The Chief Cook bowed deeply. "Of course, my lord."
Francesca took a small sip of wine, feeling relieved. She had warned the Chief Cook and all the maids not to ntion Javier was the one bringing the at. If people knew, it would raise too many questions about where he got such rare ingredients and why he was the one supplying them. She trusted her family, but she understood Javier well.
He wasn't soone who liked to brag or share his successes. He kept his secrets close and only told those he trusted most—her and Liana. If they revealed his part in this feast, it would just bring unwanted attention, and Francesca wanted to protect her son's privacy.
As the family enjoyed the al, Francesca eyes briefly t Liana's, who stood quietly behind Javier chair. Liana gave a small nod, understanding the thankfulness in Francesca's look.
Javier, busy eating with his usual enthusiasm, wore a playful smile. He hadn't said much during dinner, happy to let the others enjoy the results of his efforts without drawing attention to himself.
As the al progressed, Javier caught his mother eye and offered her a bright grin, oblivious to the undercurrents of concern. He savored each bite, relishing the praise his family lavished on the expertly cooked feast.
Francesca smiled softly, her heart warming as she watched her youngest son. He might be a handful at tis, but monts like this reminded her how much she loved him.
After all, nights like this, filled with good food and family, were what made every mont worth it. The kitchen had outdone itself, and her heart swelled with affection for her clever, reckless son—who never failed to bring a little fun into their lives.
(End of Chapter)
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