My Lady Chef { La Vita Series } - Volume 1

Chapter 16: Snacks for the Knights

Linda's POV:

That beast!

The duke must have been rough with my lady judging from the slow way she was mincing her steps as she rubbed her hip while we worked in the main kitchen.

But despite her discomfort; she managed to make three kinds of pasta using only what we have here.

We left the pasta to dry as she started teaching me different ways to cut vegetables and fruit. I always thought cutting up ingredients mean just roughly chopping them and throwing them into a pot.

" Different cutting techniques will affect how your dish will come out. It also affects the cooking time of an ingredient. This is why learning how to properly cut and prep your vegetables and fruits are crucial." She showed me that mincing garlic helps give a pasta dish a great garlicky flavor without any bitterness if the heat was controlled right and how rough cut vegetables take a longer time to cook but it gives stew some robust flavors.

"Milady. Have you cooked for a long time?" I asked in awe of her passion for food.

"Actually. It was a new hobby I picked up not too long before I married the duke. But it seems like I might just have a gift for it because I want to make lot more types of food..even the foreign cuisine from the Exotic Lands." she said as we continued to cut more veggies for the surprise my lady has for the duke and his knights.

Amongst the nobility. A few could boast that they have their own knights but the Duke is said to have his own separate order which is stationed here at his manor and some were sent to his other lands for training.

But I heard that the ones here are the best of the best and I have seen a few of the maids at the main mansion develop crushes on a few good-looking ones.

"Milady. May I be honest?" I looked at how she sat down slowly as if the thought of it was painful. "Are you feeling unwell? I could call the family doctor if you wish."

The duchess then turned a shade of pink at my words as she laughed nervously before shaking her head.

"It is fine. Thank you for caring Linda but this discomfort will soon pass in a...day or two." the last words were an octave higher as she avoided my gaze.

The duke has been rough with her! My lady is just too nice to object to his lustful advances. The nerve! Oh, my poor lady!

But as a servant and a woman, even I am aware that we must suffer for our duties at times. Oh, the trials of being a female are very trying indeed.

I sighed and finished all the cutting as my lady instructed and left them to chill in the icebox for half an hour.

"Linda. What do the knights usually eat as snacks for the summer?" The duchess asked me as I started slicing the ham and soft boiled eggs.

"They usually go for some cold beer by the end of the day and I have seen some of the ones with a fondness for sweets eating buns filled with jam and milk."

"I see. Hmmm...I think I know what we will make for our third salad. " she was wearing that sparkle in her eyes and even I found myself getting excited.

Usually, salads are just sliced vegetables seasoned with salt, oil, and vinegar. But the salads the duchess makes are very special. They are full of freshness and flavor!

When I saw the list of ingredients, my face split into an excited grin as we went back to work.