The Viscountess is Clever [Romance/Kingdom Building]

Chef Henry smiled warmly as he watched her expression shift, a thoroughly smug and satisfied look plastered across his wrinkled face. “Did our local flavors manage to captivate your refined palate, my Lady?”

“Heh... You really wanted to show off, didn’t you, Mister Henry?” Francesca joked, her skeptical expression morphing into a genuine smirk.

The old man chuckled warmly, bowing his head. “Of course, my Lady! I have absolute confidence in my cooking, after all!”

Miller chuckled along with them as Chef Henry brought out a small iron firebox filled with glowing charcoal. After letting the coals ignite fully, he placed a thick, polished stone slab directly on top of the box, adjusting the vents to lower the flames to a steady, radiating simmer.

“This is Stone Plate Cooking, a time-honored traditional method unique to the Ironwood territory,” Henry explained proudly.

The chef then placed thick cuts of seasoned meat and fresh mountain vegetables directly onto the hot stone slab. The moment they touched the surface, a rich, mouth-watering aroma, elevated by a drizzle of native Moringa root oil, bloomed and filled the entire room.

“The volcanic rock harvested from our caldera walls retains and distributes heat extraordinarily evenly when warmed,” Henry continued, expertly turning the ingredients. “Meats and vegetables cooked directly on this stone get a distinctive, mineral-touched sear that you simply cannot replicate on a standard iron pan. The capital nobles could never experience this, because they lack access to this specific volcanic stone.”

Francesca caught herself drooling slightly at the scent.

Henry then placed a side dish alongside the searing meat. “And these are Moringa Flower Fritters, made from a simple batter of ground native grain and fresh eggs.”

Using her fork, Francesca picked up one of the crispy, golden fritters and took a bite. As the rich, savory flavor bloomed across her palate, her brain instantly began analyzing it.

This stone slab is essentially their alternative to a modern stainless-steel frying pan, she realized. Since high-quality steel is incredibly expensive and difficult to manufacture in this world, they've adapted. It utilizes the exact same thermodynamic principle as the Julian Coop.

The exquisite flavors traveled through her entire body, delivering a sensory rush so profound it felt like dining at a five-star restaurant back on Earth. Not that she had ever actually afforded a five-star meal in her past life as Kim Hanna, but she was absolutely certain this was exactly how it would feel.

“This is insanity!” Francesca exclaimed, completely dropping her noble facade for a moment. “How can simple mountain food be this good?!”

“You haven’t even seen the rest of our native menu yet, Francesca,” Miller replied with a bright smile. He popped a fritter into his own mouth, clearly deeply enjoying her enthusiastic reactions. “Oh, that’s right... Now that the construction on the ramp is fully completed, why don’t you officially move into the Lady of the House’s chambers on the second floor?”

Francesca smirked, her mischievous side taking over. She pierced a perfectly seared piece of chicken with her fork, lifting it up and bringing it right to Miller's lips to playfully feed him.

“This particular request is the real reason you had that ramp built so quickly, isn't it?” she teased, waiting for him to get flustered like he usually did.

But instead of blushing, Miller leaned forward, smoothly ate the piece of chicken right off her fork, and locked his eyes onto hers. A confident, warm smile touched his lips. “Of course it is. What is so wrong with wanting my wife to move into the bedroom right next door to mine?”

The sudden counter-attack completely turned the tides. Francesca’s eyes widened, and a sudden, fierce blush rushed to her cheeks instead.

“N-nothing,” she muttered, quickly looking away and taking another hurried bite of her food to hide her bright red face.

“And this is the main course for today,” Chef Henry interjected smoothly, saving her from her embarrassment as he placed a steaming ceramic vessel on the table. “Moringa Pod Curry. We simmer the long pods in a heavily spiced stew. To eat them, you split them open and scrape the soft interior flesh and seeds out with your teeth. It is a very specific, hands-on eating experience, something the capital nobles would never dare serve at a proper noble table.”

Francesca nodded and watched Miller closely, copying his movements. She picked up a piece of the stewed pod, opened it up, and pulled the soft, boiled seeds free. The texture was unlike anything she had ever experienced before, and the moment she bit down, a vibrant explosion of rich, spicy flavors flooded her mouth.

“Hmm~, I think I completely understand why it is called the 'Miracle Plant' now,” she remarked, finally placing her fork and spoon down on the table. She looked over at Stella, who was standing nearby, and added, “Practically every single part of the plant is edible, isn't it?”

“Wow, she really figured it out immediately,” Miller said with a proud smile, taking another bite of his curry.

Chef Henry nodded “The roots and seeds can be pressed into high-quality oil. You can use the leaves for nutritious broths, the flowers to make crispy fritters, the fruits for hearty curries, and so much more.”

“It is just a shame that it's highly seasonal,” Chef Henry finished with a sigh, a touch of regret in his voice. “They only bloom and yield fruit around this specific time of the year near the volcanic caldera walls. Only those specific thermal areas provide the perfect, mineral-rich environment for them to grow. That is why the other territories fail to cultivate them in large amounts but even us can only rely on whether.”

“I see... that really is unfortunate,” Francesca nodded thoughtfully.

Despite the plant's seasonal limitations, her modern mind was already quietly spinning with future trade and preservation ideas. But for now, she pushed the logistics aside, choosing instead to simply enjoy the food and the company. The issues and tension of the past weeks seemed to melt away as their peaceful dinner continued late into the warm, comfortable night.

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