How the Villainous Consort Avoids His Death Ending - Chapter 57.2
“Do you see that green seaweed? Take a bit of it and bring it here.”
“Yes, Grand Consort.”
One of the sailors carefully sifted through the sargassum and pulled out a piece of green seaweed. I took it and spread it lightly between my fingers.
It had thin, elongated stems and a slightly crumbly texture. Even the slippery feel, which would be familiar to a Korean, was present.
“This is miyeok!”
“Yes? Mi… miyeok?”
The cook looked baffled at the green seaweed. Tristan, watching with his arms crossed, raised one eyebrow in curiosity. I had not expected much given our distance from land, so it was lucky to find some. My face brightened and I smiled.
“Grand Consort, this is a type of seaweed that grows mainly near the coast. It is very nutritious, and when boiled into a soup, it tastes excellent. I have cooked it countless times since I was a child.”
“Since you were a child… you mean something like this?”
“Of course. I must have done it hundreds of times.”
For some reason, Tristan’s expression darkened. I, however, felt as if I were taking a little trip down memory lane. After my parents passed away early, I lived alone for many years. Miyeok soup was a staple for a single person like me. You just need miyeok with meat or seafood, boiled well, and it is almost impossible to fail.
I rolled up my sleeves and smiled brightly.
“I will cook the miyeok soup. You handle the ingredient preparation.”
The cook looked even paler, glancing between Tristan and me. His voice trembled as he spoke.
“Y-Your Highness… Grand Consort… you are… going to cook… yourself…?”
Tristan glanced at me with an uneasy expression, then rubbed his forehead and asked with a resigned sigh.
“You do not have to do it yourself. Could you not simply give the orders?”
“But everyone looks so horrified. I will show them a delicious dish.”
“There is no need for that…”
“I have nothing else to do anyway.”
Tristan squeezed his eyes shut and pressed his fingers to his forehead. After a moment, he quietly looked up at the cook.
“It is an emergency. Grand Consort seems able to make something edible, so follow the instructions.”
“Yes… yes. Understood, Your Highness…”
Though he responded, the cook’s voice sounded completely drained. Tristan hesitated for a moment, then spoke again.
“I will help here as well.”
This time, the cook’s face went completely pale.
Suddenly, he had to cook under the eyes of the very high-ranking superiors—the master of the Grand Palace and the Grand Consort. I quickly stepped to the center of the kitchen and inspected the miyeok.
“The condition is good. Wash this, and bring a pot of water to boil. Ah, where did you put the salted meat?”
“It is in the storage… I will bring it.”
The cook flustered, scrambling to find the pot while also tearing the miyeok. Tristan, quietly observing, stepped in.
“I will bring it.”
“No! Please, do not, Your Highness…”
The cook pleaded desperately with Tristan.
❖ ❖ ❖
A few chunks of salted meat plunged into the large pot. Tristan had insisted on bringing them himself. Once the meat went in, a rich broth with a slight oily sheen began to form. I piled the prepared sargassum and miyeok on top. The smell was not exactly appetizing, but it was tolerable.
Tristan silently leaned against the wall, watching the process, while the cook stirred the pot beside me. His eyes seemed to have lost all life. The cook could not handle the situation of the Grand Consort cooking while the Grand Duke ran errands.
After some time, the broth thickened. The miyeok and sargassum softened, and I ladled a bit of the soup to taste.
“Mm…”
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“Grand Consort, this is a type of seaweed that grows mainly near the coast. It is very nutritious, and when boiled into a soup, it tastes excellent. I have cooked it countless times since I was a child.” = Grand Duke? MC is talking to ML not the other way around