Chapter 43 - 『Masks』

The three kitchen slaves watched as Eve strode into the kitchen with quick haste, mumbling inaudibly. Slamming the piece of parchment given by the Emperor upon the counter, with her hand spread out.

She didn't speak. Her eyes quickly scanned the room before she started to move again! She grabbed a wooden steam basket for making dumplings and put it on the countertop beside the magic stove. She continued to gather equipment

When she was finished gathering all of that she needed. She would run around getting the ingredients from around the kitchen. Onions, garlic, seasonings, ground beef and pork. She even gathered soy sauce and tofu along with so much more.

Slapping down at a cutting board upon the counter and a stepping stool before it, she'd grab the onions. She'd peal the layered skin of the vegetables with her fingers, like a cat clawing away at a catnip filled ball. The juices and flesh would get stuck beneath her perfectly rounded nails.

Throwing the skin to the ground, she banished a knife, sniffling slightly. Her eyes narrowed on the white onions and then began to rapidly cut at the onions, dicing them with blurry movements.

The three others present in the room began to walk up behind her. Whispering to one another as they could see she didn't seem all that happy. As she was breathing through her nose, they could see the tears and the redness in her eyes.

Though they contributed it to actual crying.

Despite this, they couldn't deny her skill.

"Eve-sama, are you alr--"

Eve quickly turned to Rhome, for the first time giving someone an actually stern expression. "Preparatory work!" She pointed the onion gut covered knife towards the piece of paper she had put down on the counter earlier.

She didn't seem at all in the mood for being comforted. At least not for the time being.

Rhome and Driskel looked at one another with furrowed brows of concern. Neither of them could read. Then the two turned their eyes to the elf who was looking up at them.

"Oh, of course. The token elf has to do everything!" Cici sarcastically threw her arms in the air.

Eve looked over towards Cici, almost laughing, only to turn away before going back to work.

A small grin formed over Cici's lips before she confidently waltzed over towards the counter and pulled the sheet of paper off of it. Looking over the items, she nodded to herself. "Alright boys! Lets get started on the custard filled red bean buns!"

With the four of them at work they were quick to prepare everything. This would definitely cut the time needed to prepare the sample work. Which was nice since they only had to prepare for eight people rather than over a hundred. It was good practice considering.

Considering how assorted the foods were that were chosen to be sampled, and likely be the same dishes being served at the ball. It was definitely going to give them culinary practice of various fields.

Since there were no miniature sesame buns in this New World, they had to be made from scratch. They couldn't wait hours for the food either. It was the Emperor they were cooking for. Thankfully they had plenty of magical instruments which would help them cook things in a much quicker manner than normal. Mostly thanks to Eve's expertise in production skills.

Sweat, tears. At least there was no blood being spilled to get this all done and over with.

As the three were already particularly skilled in the cooking, they hardly got burned.

Eight miniature mixed meat burgers on sesame buns, cream cheese crepes with lemon meringue, custard filled red bean buns, taco pizza, batches of curly fries, breaded chicken tenders, fried tofu, cabbage stuffed with rice and meat, green peppers stuffed with meat loaf and bowls red bean ice cream.

Once everything was plated and ready, Eve effortlessly picked up two tries, each consisting of eight foods. She then turned the head to look at the others.

It had only been about forty five minutes, having cooked everything at relatively the same time and jumping from food to food. Consistency was met, and it was time to serve.

The three could definitely tell now that she had blown off some steam, and was slowly returning to her normal self. Which was evident as she went skipping out the door, almost galloping at her side, directly into a swirling portal which had been waiting for them.

"Oniisama!" Eve shouted as she emerged from the portal into the room which smelled potently of black tea, the Platinum Pekoe.

Blinking at her arrival, Jack looked over to Eve, seeing a wide smile across her lips. She had tear stains on her face, which caused him to smile softly, sympathetically. "Welcome back, Eve." He greeted her with a muted tone though loud enough of a volume for her to hear.

She nodded, figuring that him saying she was made, was a slip of his tongue. He was a supreme being after all, but she also knew that she was different from the rest of the NPCs. She knew she was a surrogate for his real sister, the one that he was now entirely separated from even after death.

Jack was trapped here, but he was trapped here with her, so he'll be alright… Right? Her gaze remained on her brother as she brought the trays over to those seated on the couches.

They'd put their tea drinking bowls onto the table as she would then place the items on the table one by one. Soon after she finished, the three others came walking in with two trays each, though unsteadily.

They continued their way into the study and placed all the items down they could carry on to the table.

The three slaves bowed to those present before rushing back in through the portal, excitedly jumping through it. A few delayed seconds later there sounded like there was a crash in the kitchen.

Eve and the others just stared at the portal before it dissipated into the scenery of the room.

"I recommend eating the ice cream first," She gestured towards the bowls with the sterling silver spoons sticking out of each one of them. "Otherwise they'll melt."

"Oh?" The Emperor reached forward and grasped the freezing cold bowl, which almost gave him chills the moment he grasped it. Bringing it close to his face, he sniffed it.

Sweet, the ice cream had a very stumble and sweet fragrance. As he blew air over it, he could see his own breath. A playful grin formed over his lips before he gestured for the rest of his bodyguards to dig in. Chuckling silently to himself as he watched them each take a bowl and taste it.

Seeing the smiles on the faces of his closest servants, along with Fluder, he would take a spoonful into his mouth. The flavor from the treat exploded in his mouth as he got a few chunks of red bean paste.

Hardly did they take their time in eating the ice cream. Within at least five minutes half of them had completed it and were looking at the piping hot foods present. Along with the crepes.

"Crepes can be served hot, warm or chilled," Jack stated as he leaned forward, "I prefer warm." Jack would gesture for them to try the delicate looking crepes which had been powdered in a thin layer of sugar.

The flavor, the crispness. It was hard to describe, or let alone compare to the non-flamboyant foods of this world. The crepes were thin, but they had a fluffiness to them and before they knew it… They were holding an empty plate and craving for more. Hardly did the crepes hit the spot.

Eve sat down beside her brother and watched as the group ate the food, her own stomach rumbling.

Arche was still eating the bean paste ice cream, leaning back into Jack's chest. She was taking itty bitty pieces of it and just putting it into her mouth.

Jack glanced over at his sister and smiled lightly, gesturing towards the food. "Eat, I'm not hungry at the moment." While it was genuinely a lie, he didn't want to eat this food, not at the moment. Instead he continued to hold onto Arche as he kept her in his lap.

She didn't seem at all to mind, looking up at him as she rested the spoon in her mouth.

Eve giggled wildly as she was told to eat his share, and almost immediately she was chowing down. It made most of the guests laugh at how quick she was to eat to food.

In the following hour, the food was either nearly all eaten, or at least nibbled on.

The Emperor was wiping his face and hands with a warm damp cloth. "This was a pleasant display and demonstration," Jircniv was being charismatic as ever as he held a hand out towards the table. His violet eyes gleamed brightly after the meal was through, "I look forward to having you as a host for this ball." He'd lean forward, his smile turning into a smirk. "How would three months sound?" His eyes trailed over towards Arche, scheming was present in his mind. "Perhaps to act as a publicly declared engagement?"

The man had already seen his power, and wished to tie him to the Empire itself, even though he had little to no knowledge of what or who exactly he was.

Arche slowly put the bowl down on the table as he made the question, her face turning red as she remained silent however. Engagement, marriage. Wasn't it too soon? Arranged marriages were common, sometimes the people only meet once briefly before it happens. Now the Emperor wanted to put them on a pedestal.

Jack nestled his lips onto the back of Arche's head for a moment, taking in the scent of her hair. She smelled like the soaps from the bathing room. "Perhaps… It would give us time to prepare."

Jack didn't decline the idea, he didn't mind being tied to Arche and he knew that it was unlikely Arche herself really cared for remaining in the Empire. She was a worker, she could go or travel anywhere she pleased. They'd just have to put her sisters somewhere safe.

Placing her hands on his legs as she leaned back into him, she rested the side of her face against his chest. Arche didn't feel the need to say anything at the moment, just closed her eyes.

The Emperor tilted his head slightly seeing her response, before looking to the others in the room. "So three months from today, we will have a Masked Ball!" Jircniv declared as he stood, his hands on his hips as his word was law, set in stone.

"Now, I must return to the Palace, there are other matters which need attending," Jircniv seemed to calm down rather quickly after the declaration, as Jack didn't seem to disagree with him.

He believed he could make a pawn out of Jack. Little did he know, Jack was thinking the same.

Turning his head to Nimble, Jack gestured towards the box of Matcha Tea which they hadn't tried as of yet. "There are written directions for the preparation of the tea, as well as the traditional tea ceremony. You may have the box."

The Imperial Knight couldn't help but chuckle, "I thank you..." Reaching forward, he slowly picked the box up from the table, sliding the lid shut as he did so.

"Not a problem, I may not be versed in proper etiquette, but a casual gift between friends may come in order." His eyes shifted towards the Emperor, a bow of his head slightly.

Jack would stand with Arche's hand in his own, guiding her to the door and leading their guests out of the study. He was making a good pace toward the stairs when Fluder came rushing up beside Jack as they were about to reach the stairwell.

"Ah, forgive me… But I must ask, do you have a speci--"

"Do you have a job for Foresight?"

Jircniv suppressed a laugh in the back of his throat seeing the old man being shot down almost immediately before he could finish his question.

"Ye-yes I do. It's a important job..." He looked to be a man of culture, though he wasn't interested in women at all, but only magic knowledge. The abyss of magic itself!

After a brief silence, "What would it be then?" Jack asked, his head lulling to the side as his thumb caressed the back of Arche's hand which he held.

Subtly, Arche began rhythmically rocked side to side, giving her former headmaster a dull look of her own.