Volume 1 Chapter 35 The Sliminess Of The Octopus And Glasses
In the Kingdom of Bernard, the common Bernard octopus is about the size of my head, and each of its legs is as long as my arms.
However, the big octopus I got from Mr. Tsukuyomi is about twice that size.
Because of that, getting rid of the slime is quite a challenge.
"Ugh, it's so big... Being big is good, but..."
I use both hands to scrub the slimy surface of the octopus from top to bottom.
It's really important to thoroughly remove the slime from the octopus.
"...Lydia. Were you listening to me?"
I hear Sir Roxas's voice from behind.
I was listening, of course, but the octopus is important too.
Since I received it from Mr. Tsukuyomi, and since I caught it, I have to cook it well. It would be rude to the octopus otherwise.
I can't just leave such fresh octopus sitting around.
"Octopus... if you just boil it normally, it will be tough, especially at this size..."
"Lydia. You want to go home, don't you? ...My actions will only burden my brother. The more I do for him, the more he probably wants to go to the White Moon quickly. If that's the case..."
"...I feel like I wouldn't be unhappy to have something done for me."
I put the nicely cleaned octopus into a big bowl and wash it with saltwater.
I rinse it with clean water once, then soak it in saltwater again.
After that, I fill a large pot with water and start boiling it.
As expected from the Duke's kitchen, the equipment is great.
The stove has 4 burners lined up, and a large flame stone is set inside the stove.
"Sir Roxas cares about Sir Rail, so... you're trying your best, right?"
"...Of course. Because I want my brother to stay alive. Ever since I was young, my brother has been my admiration... my ideal."
"But the only thing I can do is cook... It's sad that he can't eat. Healing a disease is something special... I wish I could do that, but still."
I really don't think I have that kind of power.
But still.
"I want Sir Rail to eat something delicious, even just a little... Everyone likes octopus, and it's fresh right now... If I cook it a lot, it will be soft enough that he won't have to chew much."
"...Lydia."
"...I also want Sir Rail to eat."
If I could, I would want to heal his illness.
If I could do that.
But even if I can't, I want him to eat something, even just a little.
I want him to think it's delicious.
If he thinks he wants to eat more, maybe Sir Rail will feel a bit better.
Maybe he will think about not going to the White Moon.
"...Lydia. Is there anything I can help with?"
Sir Roxas, who seemed angry about something for a long time, asks in a calm tone.
Sir Roxas is the second son of the Duke family, and he probably has never cooked before.
But he surely wants to do something for Sir Rail, even just a little.
"Um, then please get some rice. I think porridge would be good..."
"Octopus and porridge...?"
"Here's a risotto full of delicious octopus flavor. It's really soft. Also, please bring white wine, onions, and dried parsley if you have them."
"...Rice, huh. Rice, rice, and... what else?"
"White wine, onions, and dried parsley. And since we're at it, I'll also make fried chicken, tender octopus stew, and one-legged grill, plus octopus soup... So, if you have potato starch, eggs, salt and pepper, tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and bay leaves, please bring those too."
"That's a lot...! Don't say it all at once."
"...Sir Roxas, you're wearing glasses. I thought you were the type of person who could remember everything that was said..."
"Don't think everyone with glasses is smart. Besides, these don't even have lenses. They're fake."
"Fashionable glasses... Sir Roxas, fashionable glasses..."
I stretch up and put the octopus, which I've salted and washed well, into the boiling water from its tiptoes.
The soft octopus legs curl up and turn red.
"Is that a problem? ...Now my brother's hair is completely white, but back then, he and I looked so much alike that you couldn't tell us apart. That's why our father told me, the unnecessary one, to wear glasses."
"Unnecessary...?"
"My brother was talented, but I'm just ordinary compared to him. That's all there is to it."
"But Sir Roxas can use magic."
"...That magic isn't anything good."
Sir Roxas said this briefly and went to the storage room to get what I asked for.
In the pot, a large octopus was simmering and turning bright red.
Boiled octopus.
"What a beautiful boiled octopus... What a wonderful boiled octopus...!"
Its legs curled up and turned bright red, just like the boiled octopus that everyone in the kingdom dreams of.
The octopus drawn on the sign of the octopus restaurant looks just like this.
I grabbed the pot handle with my mitt-covered hand and lifted the octopus into a big strainer.
The octopus shrinks when boiled, so the once huge octopus is now small and cute.
I stared at the adorable boiled octopus and smiled.
When I was brought here, I thought, "What a weirdo this Sir Roxas is."
Even now, I still think he's a special kind of weirdo with a hobby of dressing up the girl he brought in a maid outfit.
But I can't really get mad at him.
I want to somehow get this delicious octopus for Sir Rail to eat.
Because octopus is the soul food of the kingdom.
Oh, but that's for commoners. Nobles have a much more extravagant diet, so it's not the same for them.
"...Whoa!"
Behind me, I heard a silly voice as I was satisfied with the beautifully boiled octopus.
When I turned around to see what was happening, Sir Roxas was rolling onions all over the floor.
It seems he tried to carry a bag of rice, a lot of onions, and some seasonings all at once.
As he tried to pick up the onions, he dropped the bag of rice on the floor, and along with it, a container full of bay leaves fell, spilling dried bay leaves everywhere.
"Are you okay...?"
"No problem. I just need to pick it up."
"...Could it be that Sir Roxas is clumsy...?"
"......I told you, compared to my brother, I'm just average."
"Sir Roxas, um, I'm sorry... please just sit there and do nothing..."
It's okay if the onions and bay leaves fall, but if the rice spills on the floor, it would be a disaster.
When I politely declined his offer to help, Sir Roxas said, "I guess there's no helping it... then, I'll make you a drink or something."
I have a bad feeling about this.
I can only imagine spilling the tea leaves.
I pick up the onions and bay leaves and place them on the workbench.
"Sir Roxas... please stay here. That's all I need from you...!"
"...I can carry heavy things too."
"When that time comes, I'll ask you, but for now, please just watch me."
"...I can't help it."
Sir Roxas looks a bit sad.
But I really don't want him spilling the tea leaves.
I can't trust him with anything.
He might break the dishes too. After I got Sir Roxas to sit down, I faced the beautiful boiled octopus again.
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