My Lady Chef
Chapter 65: Swiss Roll Cake and Jam Bread

Ely's POV:

"How is it, Your Grace?" Jorge asked me as I ate his latest creation which was a steak and mushroom pot pie with pea mash and buttered corn and carrots.

"This is...Oh, you added the crushed pepper to it. It enhances the flavors more. The Mash is nice and creamy. No lumps at all and the vegetables were steamed perfectly." I enjoyed the meals he prepares more and more. "Hmmm, the pie has been baked for about 2 minutes too long so watch out for that if you are serving this to a critic."

The chef's black eyes glimmered with respect and blushed a bit before nodding.

"You caught that mistake very well. I am amazed that you were self-taught and possess a perceptive taste bud." He looked at me sheepishly. "The culinary professors at my school would have loved to have you learn there."

"You mean the Culinary Institute at Kalderos," I asked and he nodded.

"You have talent, Your Grace. I am learning a lot from you whenever we bounce ideas off each other. I think you would blossom more as a chef if you study there but...that is if you want to." He said respectfully.....

That is something to think about.

As Jorge left me to go back to the main kitchen, I smiled to myself as the thought of studying again with fellow cooks from this world would be very different than on Earth.

The food culture here is still young and innovations of food are just waiting to be discovered.

It was an enticing idea. Something to discuss with my husband when he gets back.

I stopped eating and wondered if the letter I sent found its way to him.

Is he eating well? Sleeping as much as he can? Is he injured or tired all the time?

I have only known him for a week but what is this weird feeling I am having? It was like a longing....a yearning to know if he is doing okay and the urge to see him.

Sigh...this is why I do not like resting or stopping to relax. I always manage to think of him when my guard was down and I stole his pillow and replaced it with mine so that I can hug it. His scent was still on it when I first hugged it but now it was fading.

Stop it Ely! You are a strong woman! Take him out of your mind. Finish your lunch and go back to work.

Neo's POV:

I watched my master use a more friendly version of a piping bag and stuck it into the hole she just did and filled the bread with jam until she stopped and took it out.

"This is the reason why we need airy bread. Try it." she gave me the first bread roll.

The bread we made using yeast was plumper and better looking than the smaller hard rolls we usually get from the bakers. I licked my lips as I bit it and my mouth was soon filled with fluffy soft bread that just melts in my mouth followed by a burst of rich sweet strawberry jam and then a pop of creamy saltiness that balances the sweet tartness of the strawberry.

I also felt like my fatigue recover instantly as I chewed more and felt a bit tingly.

What....was that small pop of flavor? It was subtle and it mixed with the jam so easily.

"You taste the surprise I piped into my jam bread?" The mischievous look on the duchess' lovely face made me blush as she showed me the piping bag.

My word...two small bags into one piping bag?

The other one was strawberry jam and the other was...cream cheese!

"Sweet and Salty flavors go really well and for people who find strawberry jam too sweet. This is another alternative for them. What do you think? You will be making this at the shop soon. I would live the feedback."

"This will absolutely sell! It is a new taste! I could eat 2 of these every day." I finished the roll I was given and liked my lips to catch any crumbs. "We should get Mr. Pierce's approval on this." My reactionnpelased my master as she resumed piping.

"He will arrive soon. Sir Pierce always comes immediately when I have food to give away. Help me make these now." She handed me another piping bag and I immediately emulated her technique. Like how she keeps pushing the cream until there was no resistance and does a small twirl with the nozzle to avoid spilling and how gentle she holds the roll in a gentle grip to avoid deforming them. We managed to finish 20 rolls and 2 swiss roll cakes before the serious looking secretary and another man came.

My master introduced the energetic man as Hubert the Duke's bookkeeper and I made my introductions before they sampled the cake and jam bread.

"How long is the shelf life of this bread and cake." Sir Pierce asked after he finished half of the desserts before setting it on the table.

"2-3 days for the jam bread. The cake can last for 2 weeks at the most if kept in a cool environment." She answered confidantly as Sir Hubert ate the desserts with zeal.

"The bread will need more exposure then. Maybe the top counter on the cafe would be the best position."

"Great idea. This bread also goes well with coffee so we could advertise a combo price for it to help it sell." The duchess' suggestion was met with approval by Mr. Pierce. "Excellent idea. Most workers who leave for work late at night usually crave hot and sweet things before going home during fall. We can do a promo on it during the opening...." "We can also do one for the cake. This gives them more variety for a slightly higher price but not too much."

I watched my master bounce ideas with the secretary as he wrote them down with such speed that I fear his notebook might catch on fire. Meanwhile, I saw the bookkeeper leaning towards the table and tried to take Mr. Pierce's plate which still had half of the cake and roll.

"Hue... Take your grubby paws off my cake." A chill went through me when the secretary said those words.

"But...it is just so good. Can I have another, Your Grace? I cannot seem to stop craving your food ever since." Sir Hubert whined as the secretary glared at him.

"Please forgive his manners, Milady. I will reprimand him." Pierce sigh as he took his plate and gobbled up the remaining sweets.

The duchess laughed as Mr. Hubert looked dejected while the secretary gave me his plate to wash.

A few more minutes of talking was done by them until the two men bowed to my master who nodded regally.

She then turned to me just as I was finished washing the dishes.

"Neo. Kindly pack some rolls and cake slices for these two gents and clean up the kitchen before going for your supper okay?"

I nodded and we all became quiet as she left the culinary house kitchen and went towards the main house with her maid Linda behind her.

Remembering how to pack things was the first thing my master taught me so I grabbed one of the cake boxes that just came in and placed the slices neatly as she told me to. I wrapped the bread in paper and placed it in the box as well before giving them to the two gentlemen.

"I can not wait to eat these with my missus. She has been eager to try one Her Grace's food." The book keeper held on to the box as if it was filled with gold.

"Good work. You are as talented as Her Grace says. I hope you would do a good job of cooking for the cafe." Sir Pierce acknowledged my box wrapping skills as acceptable with a nod before he dragged his friend outside.

I sent them off with a smile and once the kitchen was quiet. I started cleaning up and storing the left over bread and cake in the ice box.

Phew.

I feel much invigorated for some reason and not tired at all. In fact...I feel as light as air.

Took them long enough to leave.

I whirled around in alarm and grabbed a nearby weapon which was a rolling pin and looked for the intruder before an amused chuckle sounded off..in my head.

Sorry about that human. I forget that your kind are skittish when it comes to hearing voices.

"Who...what are you?" The tingling sensation pulsed inside me and my eyes widen in comprehension. "Mana..."

Oh..I was right to choose you. I am Sylph, a Wind Mana Spirit and I have awakened thanks to you consuming mana enriched cuisine.

I was shocked and overwhelmed. A Mana Spirit is rare gift and to possess one meant power and opportunity. For a budding chef like me; it meant that I can cook even better food even if I do not practice a lot.

But that was the type of chef I never wanted to be. Someone who relies on their mana spirits and not on their skills...

As I close the culinary house and locked it, I made small talk with the spirit inside me and made a promise to myself to ask my master my suspicions.

Because Mana Spirits can only be manifested when they consume enough mana enriched food.

Then that means, Her Grace is aware of the mana spirit sleeping inside me way before I did.

Was this why she welcomed me easily? Most nobles would never tolerate being with me unless it was necessary...

Did that mean something? Or am I just overthinking it?☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐

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