Rosarin and chefs.
Weddings and delicious food go hand in hand. Should we go with a course meal or a buffet-style party?
To decide, I turned to Dan, our family’s head chef and a long-time companion. My brother? Oh, he’s out with Mitchell-san and the others.
“Ojousama.”
“Yes?”
“The food served at a wedding is a reflection of the chef’s skills. I want to create the ultimate full-course meal for your big day!”
“Dan…!”
What incredible enthusiasm! I couldn’t help but feel motivated myself.
“Ojousama! I want to craft the world’s first and finest full-course meal centered around rice! If it’s with you, I know we can do it! This is my chance to make your wedding meal the crowning achievement of my career!”
“Dan!! Alright, let’s do it!”
Who knew he’d even been thinking about rice! Moved by his passion, I got on board.
When we put out the call for sous chefs and additional staff for the big day…
“Dan, what’s with this lineup?!”
“Oh, their skills are top-notch.”
“Why are most of them top-tier palace chefs?! Sure, they’re talented, but come on!”
“They’re old colleagues of mine. They don’t care much about pay; they just want a chance to sample the food we’ll be making together.”
I see. They’re intrigued by the idea of tasting dishes made by me, the cheat-wielding otherworldly cooking enthusiast, alongside a master like Dan. Understandable.
“Alright then, let’s get their input for the menu.”
With this level of talent, designing a menu should be easy.
After much discussion, we decided on a full-course meal. Buffets tend to run the risk of certain dishes running out too quickly, and with a crowd this size, it wasn’t a safe option.
Their idea of a full course wasn’t all that different from what I knew from my world. The only real differences were the lack of a palate-cleansing sorbet and coffee after the meal, as tea remains the main beverage here. Mentioning this sparked Dan’s curiosity about food from my world.
Naturally, the palace chefs wanted in on the action too. Who wouldn’t want to taste authentic, otherworldly cuisine?
“Give me some time to think about it. Also, for safety reasons, I can only bring one other person.”
Of course, I’d have to get permission from the gods first.
“Sure, go ahead!”
The ever-casual god, as always, was light and breezy about it.
“Hmm… I have no objection.”
Even Heavenly Fox, a.k.a. Tenko-sama, approved easily. In fact, he decided to tag along, saying it had been a while since he’d had a truly good meal.
Surrounded by dashing older gentlemen with sharp features, my morally ambiguous face stood out like a sore thumb. When his son, Ten-chan, added his two cents…
“You look like a boss lady, Rosarin-san… or should I say, Big sis?”
“I’m not leading anyone!”
To blend in as a foreigner, I changed my black hair and eyes to brown hair and blue eyes. My original features didn’t match my "Western" face at all.
By Tenko-sama’s suggestion, we dined at a three-star restaurant. Every dish was beautiful and delicious, and Dan, along with the head chef from the palace (who had somehow joined the party), discussed and sampled each dish thoroughly.
At one point, Dan suddenly said:
“Could we call out the chef?”
“Dan?”
“It’s fine, Ojousama.”
Though unsure what he was up to, I followed his lead.
“What seems to be the matter?”
The chef was a kind-looking older man.
“I’ve been too arrogant. Ojousama’s ingredients are exquisite, and I relied on their inherent quality to shine. But this… This is something else. These dishes extract the maximum potential from ordinary ingredients, crafting masterpieces individually and as a cohesive whole. I’ve never encountered such extraordinary cuisine before.”
“Thank you. That’s high praise.”
The chef smiled warmly, though Dan looked deeply conflicted.
“Please take me as your apprentice!!”
......... What?
“......... What?”
The kind-looking chef was just as stunned as I was. We must have been thinking the same thing.
“I’ll do anything, even handle menial tasks! Please let me learn under you!”
“Ehhh…?”
The poor chef looked utterly bewildered. I don’t blame him—I was just as flustered.
“I get how you feel… Dan, leave things to me!”
“Stop egging him on!”
Even as I scolded the palace head chef for his reckless encouragement, Dan wouldn’t back down.
“Hmm, Rin.”
“Huh? Yes?”
Tenko-sama spoke up unexpectedly, tilting his head slightly.
“If you desire it, I can arrange for him to train here.”
“No, that’s too much…”
“Consider it a wedding gift. Or an apology for the trouble my foolish son caused in the past. What do you say?”
Dan had done so much for me, and if this was his dream, I wanted to make it happen.
“Please, make it so.”
“Heh… You truly are selfless when it comes to others.”
With a wave of his hand, Tenko-sama convinced the chef to accept Dan. Smiling, he said he’d take responsibility and bring Dan back when he was ready.
“Thank you, Tenko-sama.”
A week later…
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Ojousama! Japanese, French, Chinese, Indian… you name it, I can cook it all now!”
Dan returned looking like a man 20 years younger. And not just with French cuisine under his belt?
“... Tenko-sama?”
"I couldn’t help it, I made him younger little by little so it wouldn’t be too obvious... sorry!"
Tenko-sama is definitely Tenko-sama’s father. He’s indulgent and kind to those he’s taken in.
"I understand. I’ll tell Obaasama."
"Rin!!? Please don’t! Her lectures last forever!"
"I know."
Grandma’s lectures are endless and she loves to bring up old stories. She’s not a bad person at her core, but she has a lot of quirks, and Rinka really disliked her. Her relationship with Koto Neechan was also the worst. As for Koto Neechan, it's probably because they're stepdaughter and stepmother.
"Rin!??"
It’s because you kept making him younger! But there’s no ill intent, so I’ll let it slide this time.
Just kidding.
If things could be solved by saying sorry, there would be no need for the police! I made sure Grandma heard about it through Minato-san and he received a thorough lecture.
Then, I got a message back from Grandma: "Come visit me once to show your face." When I have business in Japan next time, I think I’ll take Rinka with me to say hello.
What do you think about this chapter?
