Chapter 25

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“Thank you.”

As if he noticed Kathleen’s choked up voice, he waved his hand lightly.

“It’s been three years, so stop saying thanks.”

Joseph crinkled his eyes kindly, held out a spoon and offered it to her.

“Can you check if the liver stew tastes right?”

“Yes I can.”

There was sincerity on his face. Kathleen carefully accepted the favor requested by her friend.

But within a second, the smile on Kathleen’s face vanished.

“Joseph, what did you make?”

Kathleen, who had been a maid in the Duke’s kitchen for at least six years, could not turn a blind eye to the taste of her friend’s cooking, no matter how grateful she was.

“Get out of the way. I’ll make it again. Go and watch Luci.”

“Yep. All right.”

Having been kicked out of the kitchen and losing his rights to the ladle and the pot, Joseph looked gloomy for a moment, but then became noisy again as he fought Peter over Luci.

“It’s great to see a young couple. After all, the child must be raised by his father.”

Mrs. Anderson mumbled contentedly as she turned to look at Kathleen and Joseph. After she eats breakfast, she vows to quickly inform the villagers that the baby daddy is back.

***

Despite being specially trained by Kathleen for several months, Joseph’s cooking skills did not improve much.

“You’re trying to help me, aren’t you, Joseph?”

“Yes. Absolutely.”

“Aren’t you just teasing me?”

“Is that even possible?”

Joseph, who had flour on his face, answered brazenly. Kathleen was speechless and looked at the pie she had just taken out of the oven. The filling made with only thick, shiny apples disappeared without a trace, and the half-ripe pastry dough had a burnt smell.

“I’m really serious, please don’t come into the kitchen unless you want to starve me and Luci to death.”

“Is it that much of a mess?”

“Yes.”

Kathleen straightforwardly said and then threw away the ruined pie. She then took out five apples that she had hidden in the cupboard. She skillfully turned the apples into pie filling, took out a large bowl and skillfully mixed the eggs, butter and flour to make the pie crust.

Joseph’s mouth fell open. Whenever Kathleen’s hands moved busily, so did his eyes. As Kathleen finished the pie crust, she said as she stirred the apples with a long wooden spoon.

“Don’t go doing something else, go and watch Luci.”

“Luci is sleeping. I’m proud to say, he hasn’t woken up yet.”

She thought he only had healing powers, but he also had other abilities. Joseph looked at the baby affectionately.

Thanks to this, Kathleen was able to relax while Joseph moved about. At first, it was comfortable and good, but as the boring time continued, she thought about what she should do in the future and decided to try what she was good at. Cooking.

She baked cakes and cookies to try out and gave them out to her neighbours, and they became very popular. Then she boiled soup and even baked bread for dinner, which received even greater applause. In a small town far away from the capital, Kathleen’s aristocratic food felt different.

So Kathleen opened up a small bakery. Sometimes she would make tea and hold tea parties which the villagers liked very much. Fascinated by the warmth rather than the money, Kathleen fell in love with the town sooner than expected.

“It’s done. Try it.”

Kathleen cut the sweet-smelling pie into small pieces and handed a slice to Joseph. After taking a bite, Joseph’s eyes widened happily.

“It’s delicious. People from all over town might come if they find out that today’s dessert is apple pie.”

“Don’t even think about making rumors like last time.”

“Why? Everyone likes Kelly’s food.”

Sitting while holding a plate of apple pie, he looked up at Kathleen and smiled slyly.

“It’s a headache when there are too many customers.”

“Is there anything I can help with?”

“Priests should stay in the Temple, what will happen if you keep staying outside?”

“Let’s just say I was dispatched. Anyway, the high priest has given up on me now.”

“Joseph.”

Kathleen’s expression became complicated and she looked at him.

During her pregnancy, he came once a month to check on her condition.

Then after Luci was born, he almost lived in this house.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity amongst commoners to become an official priest of the Temple of Delafos. Moreover, his healing powers were very rarely seen. He aroused guilt in Kathleen. A talented person who could become a future high priest refused to receive training and stayed in a small town.

“I believe that in order to keep my calling, I need to help real people, not just read about people in the scriptures. That first person was Kelly.”

Joseph said firmly.

“So don’t try to drive me away. I’m going to stick with you very persistently. Even if you kick me out, I’ll come back. Actually, Luci can’t go anywhere because he has already caught my eye.”

“Whoever sees you will think you’re Joseph’s mom.”

He was speechless and laughed. Kathleen sat across from him and carefully cut the baked pie.

“Are you going to sell that pie in the bakery too?”

“Yes. I remember Mr. Browning had been hinting for days that he wanted apple pie.”

“Ha, I can already imagine how the old man would come running with a tearful face carrying a basket.”

She placed the apple pie in the basket and put a handkerchief over it. More than the money, Kathleen needed someone to share the warmth with. Joseph knew that better than anyone, so he cheered her on.

“Don’t worry about Luci and have fun. I’ll take good care of him.”

“Okay! Do not touch the kitchen.”

Kathleen waved her hand and walked leisurely down the small hill. The house she got with Peter’s help was comfortable, but it was a bit far from the other houses.

“Kelly! Are you opening the bakery today?”

So the people who worked on their farms would quickly move whenever she came down with a basket in her arms. Because from then on they had to run to get a seat.

“Yes. Today is apple pie!”

“Apple pie? I’ll be there soon!”

As soon as he spoke, Mr. Browning threw his pitchfork to the ground and began to sprint. He seemed to be bringing his friends along.

Kathleen arrived at her old shop and opened the door. She took the pie from the basket and put it into the oven and took out a plate and a glass.

‘Ah. I didn’t make cream.’

The milk had run out. When she gets home, Joseph would probably tag along with her again.

‘I should go to Emma’s and get it from here.’

Emma’s shop at the entrance of the village was crowded, so there must have been fresh milk. She moved faster because she wanted to go quickly before Mr. Browning arrives and becomes disappointed.

“Ma’am, I’m here. I’m going to get some milk.”

“Aww, I’m glad you came, Kelly. I was going to go find you.”

“Me? Why?”

“Well, a customer came a few days ago, and he said he was looking for someone who could make whipped cream well. But when he saw us making cream in our store, he asked if there was anyone else.

“Really?”

Are they looking to open a new bakery?

She became interested as he was so serious about cream.

But the woman looked very tired.

“What the hell were they trying to make? He heard rumors and asked if there was anyone in our town who makes amazingly good cold cream. I think he must have been given Kelly’s custard pie as a gift the other day and fell in love with it.”

“That much?”

“Oh yes. That was how good it was. No words are enough! I sent him back, but if he comes again today, I’ll tell him to go to your bakery since it’s open today.”

“Alright. Oh, can I take this much milk?”

“Yes, yes.”

Delighted to be able to dump the troublesome guest, Emma provided a generous amount of milk.

Kathleen came back to the bakery feeling proud of her own skills, enough to have rumors going around. She took out a large bowl, poured water on it and froze it.

This was why she could make delicious cream. Unlike three years ago, she could now handle her ice crystals much more easily, and she can make cream whenever she wants while keeping the bowl cold.

Kathleen was the only one who could make fresh cream out of ice that didn’t melt, no matter how hot it was. So, the custard pie or whipped cream cake she made was of excellent quality, not inferior at all to the bakeries in the capital.

The freshly warmed pie was taken out of the oven and decorated with cream. It was perfect.

– Chime.

The small bell hanging on the door rang. Thinking that Mr. Browning had come sooner than she had expected, Kathleen hurriedly poured milk into the glass. She turned around, supporting the pie and glass on a wooden tray.

“Mr. Browning, you came earlier than I thought……”

But it was not Mr. Browning who entered the bakery.

The glass tipped over and the cold milk spilled and ran down her hands.

“I’m looking for someone who makes cold cream.”

A man who looked exactly like Luci walked in.

He was someone she never wanted to see again.

It was Alexis Walten.

“Are you the owner of the bakery?”

His golden eyes looked straight at her as he spoke.

The wooden tray slipped from Kathleen’s hand.

***