It’s his dish!
Irina’s eyes immediately lit up at the sight of the female servants making their way gracefully into the palace, wondering what kind of dish Mag was going to serve to everyone.
If Mag only knew how to make roast beef, then he wasn’t a good chef in her eyes. She didn’t want to eat roast beef every day for the rest of her life.
Josh smiled as he said, “Looks like you asked just in time, Brother. I invited this chef from Chaos City specifically for this occasion, and his cooking skills are the best I’ve ever seen. I hope Father will also be pleased with his cooking.”
Josh’s words sent a slight stir running through the palace. They didn’t think that the second prince would extend such glowing praise toward a chef.The best chef he’s ever seen? Has Josh really found a good chef? Moreover, he found him in Chaos City? Abraham was rather perplexed. He counted the number of female servants, only to find that he was sitting too far back to be able to taste the dish—an observation that was very disheartening to him.
During normal palace banquets, he naturally sat right up near the very front. However, all of the representatives of the different races were more esteemed than him on this occasion, so he could only sit behind Krassu.
“I appreciate the thought, Josh.” The king nodded in acknowledgment, but his steely expression remained unchanged.
Sean’s pupils contracted minutely, but he still maintained his smile as he said, “So you’re saying that chef has better cooking skills than even Bellmann? I really am looking forward to seeing what dish he’s prepared now.”
Even though Sean appeared to be praising Josh, this was actually a masked threat. By placing Mag on a pedestal above Bellmann, both he and Josh would be held accountable if his cooking wasn’t to the king’s taste. In the face of Sean’s barbed compliment, Josh also smiled as he replied, “I can’t comment on whether his cooking skills are superior to Bellmann’s; I’ll let Father be the judge.”
“Father’s cooking skills are the best in the world.” Amy nibbled on a chicken wing as she nodded confidently to herself.
Sean nodded as he aimed a meaningful glance at Josh. I’ll know whether that man is Alex or not after tasting his cooking. However, if he really is Alex, then what’s Josh doing bringing him into the palace? What is he trying to do?The conflict between the first and second prince was no secret to the officials of the Roth Empire. All of the representatives of the different races were also aware of their strained relationship, but none of them said anything as they turned their eyes toward the platters being carried by the female servants.
There were already rumors spreading, stating that King Andre was most likely going to choose an heir following the conclusion of his birthday banquet. No one knew who he was going to chose between the first prince, who ruled over the empire’s military forces and was hailed as a hero by the general public, or the second prince, who had the Magus Tower as a powerful backer of his.
As such, the presents offered to the king by the two princes could perhaps sway Andre’s final decision.
If the chef invited by Josh really could offer a dish that could please the king, then perhaps he would be a tiny step closer to the throne.
However, this was obviously a double-edged sword: if the chef’s dish wasn’t to the king’s liking, then he would be shooting his own foot, and tilting the scale in Sean’s favor.
The entire palace gradually fell silent as everyone stared intently at the platters in the female servants’ hands, wondering what kind of dish could earn such a glowing praise from the second prince.
The attendant took a platter from one of the female servants and carried it to the king’s table before removing the lid. He then extended a respectful bow, and informed, “Your Majesty, this dish is known as braised chicken and rice.”
The remaining nine female servants also removed the lids from their platters at the same time, and placed the portions of braised chicken and rice onto the tables of the princes and the esteemed guests.
The rich aromas of chicken and shiitake mushroom slowly wafted through the air, instantly overwhelming the aromas of all of the other dishes in the palace.
The king’s steely facade finally cracked as he looked down at the braised chicken and rice dish before him with a hint of surprise on his face.
Irina took a whiff of her own portion, and her eyes immediately lit up. It smells so good! I can smell chicken and shiitake mushroom, but why is it so alluring? It’s completely different from the chicken and shiitake mushroom I’ve had in the past! This rice is also so beautiful; it looks like there are miniature little moons inside. Could it be that he really did transform into a chef during these past three years? I can’t believe he can make such an alluring dish! Even the best chefs of the elven race can’t make chicken and shiitake mushroom appear so appealing. No! It looks like he’s been plotting to take over from me as the family chef for a long time! How dares he try it replace me? I won’t allow that to happen! Amy must have my cooking in the future! I can’t let my prodigious cooking aptitude go to waste.
All of the representatives of the other races were already completely entranced by the aroma of the braised chicken and rice dish. The dishes they had tasted had already opened their eyes to the brilliance of human cooking, yet this dish made everything else pale in comparison.
The delectable aroma coursed through the palace rapidly, and all of the guests and officials who wouldn’t get a chance to taste the dish were gulping involuntarily with envious looks on their faces.
This aroma is incredible! Shiitake mushroom is quite a rarely used ingredient, but I didn’t think it could combine with chicken to create such an alluring aroma. This is a stroke of genius! Abraham wore a stunned expression as he craned his neck to stare at the braised chicken and rice dish on Krassu’s table. I can’t believe I won’t get to taste something so delicious! This is an outrage!
Meanwhile, Sean had already slowly clenched his fists beneath his table. He had seen the chef that Josh had invited the day before, and it appeared that his cooking skills really were quite exceptional. If Josh was able to appease Andre through this birthday present, that would be very bad news to him.
Josh took a glance at Sean, and the smile on his face became even more pronounced.
“The chef said that this dish is best eaten by pouring the chicken broth over the rice,” the attendant said in a respectful manner before departing from the palace with the female servants.
The king picked up his chopsticks and looked down at the dish before him. The cubes of chicken in the dish were all completely flawless and of identical size. The potatoes were soft yet still maintained their structural integrity, while the green asparagus and bell peppers of different colors embellished the dish to great effect. Meanwhile, the golden chicken broth was faintly glistening, but didn’t appear to be greasy in the slightest.
The rich aromas of chicken and shiitake mushroom wafted toward him, completely captivating his appetite, even though had had thought that he wasn’t hungry just a moment ago. He picked up a piece of chicken with his chopsticks before placing it into his mouth, upon which his wrinkled face immediately lit up.
The delectable broth encapsulating the chicken released an incredible flavor, making Andre feel as if his taste buds had been completely awakened. Imagery of gentle spring rain falling on a set of lush plains was evoked within his mind, and his entire body was suddenly filled with a burst of youthful energy.
The chicken was tender yet not mushy, and the flavor of the condiments and shiitake mushroom had completely seeped into the meat, making it incredibly delicious. Even after swallowing the mouthful of chicken, its residual aftertaste continued to linger in his mouth, making him close his eyes involuntarily.
He couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment in his life when eating ceased to be an enjoyable activity for him. Before he knew it, he was eating every day solely for sustenance, and all of his nutrient and energy intake was being dictated solely by his chefs. Even Bellmann’s dishes no longer sparked a sense of joy and wonder in him as they once had.
However, this braised chicken struck him with a sense of bliss and elation that he hadn’t experienced from any dish for a very long time.
After swallowing the piece of chicken, he immediately placed a piece of shiitake mushroom into his mouth.
The unrivaled flavor had completely enchanted him, and his blissful silence was a better indication of how much he was enjoying the dish than any verbal praise he could extend.
The king had barely eaten anything thus far, but he was quickly working his way through the braised chicken and rice, and this observation had created a slight stir among the guests present.
Let me see what this tastes like. Irina also picked up a piece of chicken with her chopsticks.
Amy looked at Irina, and murmured to herself, “After eating that piece of chicken, Big Sister Irina is probably going to fall in love with Father.”
