My Lady Chef
Chapter 78: Taking over the Soup Kitchen

*(Update to my lovely readers. I'll be using the term mana spirits or sprites whenever the FL is interacting with Undine or Igneus. Pls note the both terms mean the same thing. Thanks!) Ely's POV:

I took inventory of what little foodstuff survived in the larders and storage rooms.

A perishable food items were recycled as slop or feed for the animals while flour, salt, sugar and other none perishable foods were noted and kept.

The people the duke left to help us were young and eager. Lorelei and I discussed how to stock the food and decided to keep all perishables in the larder since they have a cool temperature while the none perishables are kept at the storage.

Because I was decisive and knew how to categorize supplies properly, we finished organizing everything around afternoon.

"Phew. I am in need for a nice cup of tea or even water for that matter." My friend used a dainty handkerchief to wipe the moisture from her brow as Kain gave me my own cloth to wipe my sweat. "Miladies, the duke has tasked me to show you to your rooms." A huge knight with a kind yet weathered face bowed to us. His eyes saw our set of neatly stocked rooms and nodded. "It seems like we will be in good hands. You did a good job organizing. Please. Follow me."

After we bid farewell to the men who helped out. We passed by the other storage area which was more spacious and easy to store food.

Lady Lorax had demanded to use the best storage room for her food so she took this place.

From the sounds of her yelling and constant men shuffling in and out of the place.

It seems like she was a handful and very loud, her shrill words of irritation and outrage at a few broken bottle of wine made us giggle softly as we passed by it.

"As your person is given to the duke's care. We prepared and had the room cleaned that is at the end of the first floor. The duke is the only one remaining here but his room is on the other end of this hall." He opened the door that was guarded by two warriors.

The room was pristine. Our trunks and luggage were being brought out by two maids and hung in the closets opposite of the two beds with feather stuffed covers.

There was a nice table where we can take tea, a window and cushion seat where we can look at the activity happening in the outer court yard.

The floor was polished and bare of any carpets or rungs but this was rather nice.

"I'll leave you two ladies to get settled in. If you need anything; ask for me. My name is Sir Oswald and it is a pleasure to meet you two."

We bowed to the older knight and seems pleased with our manners as he let himself out.

I asked Kain to stand guard by the door while Lorelei relaxed and threw herself at the left side bed.

"The duke must have had this cleaned in haste. Pretty simple but the room is quite big for 2 ladies." she laid her head against the pillow and sighed. "Finally! A soft bed!"

"Why don't you take a nap? Dinner service is five hours away." I went over and helped my friend into bed and stroked her brow until she fell asleep.

Now then, time to investigate the kitchens and see what will be served to the army for dinner.

Hopefully it is something edible. I saw the devastated buildings and the cracked streets.

I even saw the crumbled walls. And more than one person who looked hungry.

These people must have nearly starved so I may look into setting up a soup kitchen for them.

"Milady?" Kain was perplexed to see that I was going out again so he followed me out.

"I just want to check the kitchens and see what will be served for dinner. Let's have Lady Lorelei rest up for now. Come."

"Yes, my lady." he nodded as we made our way down the stairway and towards the the building near the storage and larder structure.

The entire field near the kitchen building that was being used for a soup kitchen was a mess. There were a few people but none of them knew what to do.

I saw a few people just tossing water and vegetables of all kinds into the pots, hoping that this mix will be called soup. My eye twitched when a young girl threw in rotting plums and fruits in on of the huge stew pots.

"Kain. Where is the chef supervising the soup kitchen? Pls ask around."

He nodded and went to gather information.

In the mean time, I observed how these people work and cringed at how disorderly everyone was. There was no one as signing tasks, setting up a prep station or properly seasoning the soup. I can not stand it anymore.

"Wait! Mi-miss!" One of the soldiers keeping a eye on the stew pots exclaimed as I took the ladle near a table and went near the pot and scooped some of the soup that had been boiling the most. What I tasted was a horrible bland mix of dirt and mashed rotted vegetables that made me spit it out promptly.

That.....was offensive.

"Miss Elena." Main came backs and whispered to me about what she found out. "No one is manning the soup kitchen as they are about short staffed preparing food for the nobles and senior warriors who eat at the mess hall."

"What about the citizens and the lower tier warriors coming over to have a nice bowl of stew?"

"They have not complained much according to the talks around here but the response to the soup kitchens were not positive at all, Miss."

I frowned and decided what I should do.

Raising the ladle, I banged it against the stew pot and the loud ringing sound caused everyone to stop what they were doing.

"Listen up! I am the Duchess Alaina's protege, Elena and I will be taken over what we cook for the soup kitchen!" I yelled loudly. "Listen up! This is what we are going to do!"

Once Kain had fetched a drowsy Lorelei from her bed just as I grouped assigned people to certain stations. I had men throw out the disgusting slop that was boiling on the pots. "Alright! Let's cook everyone!"☐☐☐☐☐☐

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