My Lady Chef
Chapter 40: Igneus and Undine

Ely's POV:

I had Neo quickly tell me where the cookwares are and other things I needed for making the cakes I have in mind.

They are different from the western style cheesecakes with their rich dense cream cheese flavor because they were popular in Asia.

The Jiggly Fluffy Cheesecake from Japan and The Pillowy Chiffon Cheesecake from the Philippines.

Both have lighter airy cakes than their Western counterpart but there is a difference in finishing but I have to gauge Neo's ability first before I could put my plan in motion.

Time is of the essence and to make sure I do not leave things to chance. I have to use every ounce of my mana. Both Fire and Water.

We have names, little miss....

That we do.....

If I were not in another world and was reincarnated, I might think that these voices are hallucinations or a product of overworking myself. But I can also feel two dual pulses inside me that only seems to grow whenever I used my mana to infuse my dishes with them.

I guess I can not ignore them any longer.

Will you two help me out? I asked them since only the purest manifestation of mana called Mana Spirits are able to communicate with its bearer.

Hahaha... You do not have to ask. the male voice laughed, amused

We would be happy to assist. I am Undine; The Water Spirit. the female said

Igneus the Fire Spirit is mine. We will show ourselves when the time is right but for now. Just use us as you have always done.

Now that we are stronger. Your fatigue will lessen now that you have awakened us completely. We could not speak to you before but now; We will help you out. Undine told me.

I felt my body becoming lighter and my mind became much clearer as I had Neo gather the pieces of equipment needed and set them up while I took the basket to grab what ingredients I need.

Plus a few fruits for the final touches.

As we both set to work. I was surprised at this young man's intuition to assist me and how I seem to be able to read what he needed as well. Because of that; the prep work, the baking and the layering of the buttercream were flawless and took lesser time than I thought.

He was talented and careful with his ingredients and knives; There is no way he was that clumsy and drop a cheesecake.

Once again, that fat lazy Royal Chef was being suspicious when he immediately singled out a talented man like him to get fired.

"For now, I had better concentrate." I used a timer for the water bath where the Fluffy cheesecake is currently baking in one oven while Neo had taken out the two batches of the chiffon cake sponge.

"Milady, I'll be cooling these down now," he said before I could tell him and instructed him to place it in a cooler place while we got ready to slice fruits and grate the cheese.

Fortunately, the cooking equipment and utensils used here at the royal kitchen are similar to the kitchens in my old world in a way so I had no time adapting.

"Is this okay milady?" Neo showed me the bowl of cream from the mixer.

"Hmm...3 more minutes, it should be fluffier," I said after a momentary look. "And when we are in the kitchen, I would rather be called chef. Do I make myself clear?"

His eyes widened but his lips twisted into a smile as he shouted.

"Yes chef!" he looked energized as he went back to whipping the cream into the consistency I needed for the fluffy cheesecake.

I looked at the huge clock that was on the wall and I smiled.

Time for a little surprise.

I had been subtly infusing a mix of both mana to heighten and enrich the flavors of the cakes that were being baked as we were making them but I just used a small amount of water mana into the third cake I was making...

This type of cheesecake was made popular at banquets and is popular amongst cafes and bakeries.

A mini cheesecake topped with pureed berries.

If my strategy goes this well then...

I will be able to awaken Neo's sleeping Mana Spirit.

Neo's POV:

In all my years of apprenticing and cooking. I have never encountered anyone like this lady.

When she stood up for me when I thought I would be kicked out. She defended me with such clear and honest eyes.

The challenge to bake two cheesecakes to replaced the one that was ruined would have me thinking that it was impossible. Chef Pepin took 4 fours to make just that one single Aubergine style cheesecake.

Initially, I was worried that the lady duchess would see how different a professional kitchen was to a regular one and cry uncle.

But to my surprise; she memorized the workspaces and had me gathering equipment to be used. By the time I was done; she was already back with the ingredient we need and started giving me orders like a skilled and trained head chef would.

I was always a quick study and I have this uncanny ability to read other people and anticipate what they need based on what they are doing now.

She seems to have noticed how I had prepped what she needed before she asked for it and was elated. Chef Pepin would often curse and punch me because I was too fast and he would accuse me of showing off.

But my level of speed at multitasking seems to fit the lady's speed at baking two desserts at one time. I was actually having fun with cooking!

She was incredible; her movements were that of a trained chef and the way she would communicate with me loudly instead of in soft barely heard commands was much more preferable.

Just as the cakes were all done and cooled down. I watched her take a smaller cake from the third over and place it near the other cakes for cooling but I cannot make out what it was as it was covered with a dark cloth.

I felt a boring stare aimed at me and I turned to see Chef Pepin and his lackeys staring at us.

They would be insulting me to hell and back by now but with the duchess near me; I am sure they are waiting for the opportunity to humiliate me again.

"Neo! Get ready to garnish!" her voice made me move fast.

As I assisted the duchess with the decorations of the cakes. The luncheon bell rang and the whole room was suddenly abuzz with activity as all of the staff started bringing out dish after dish.

"Mi-milady?" I saw her expression as she observed how Chef Pepin shouted and harassed several chefs and female servers while the food was being plated.

But her lovely face looked....frozen with disgust at how the food was handled.

I wondered what was it that made her expression like that?

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