NOVEL NEXT Chapter 359
Haggis.
When it comes to mentioning bizarre dishes, this one is a must.
However, to be precise, this is a misunderstanding filled with prejudice.
In the old days when food itself was scarce, consuming animal offal and innards was common, and this was similar in both the East and the West.
Dishes like haggis can easily be found in Europe or Europa. It’s just that England has been particularly harsh without the concept of home cooking, continuously burned and trampled.
While it’s true that the perception of it being tasteless mostly stems from the counties of England…
But in Iceland, where resources were even scarcer, it was unthinkable to throw away an animal’s stomach. Without such things, one would starve to death before anything else, way before any love for meat could come into play.
Haggis, being the most representative innard dish of Iceland, ironically found fewer seekers in the present day.
The Kingdom of Adobice demanded a bounty, claiming they would provide money or food, just give us that tree that serves as a natural air conditioner. For Iceland, it was like turning stones picked from the ground into bread.
As a result, people found fewer reasons to eat haggis. Due to various circumstances, they ultimately ended up stuffing themselves with juicy meat and wheat bread.
Why would one seek out innards that had become overly tedious to consume?
But for those rare times when Icelanders do seek haggis… it’s during those moments.
Moments that aren’t grand enough to call a celebration.
But still deserving of a little celebration due to the events.
And it just so happens that haggis was placed before Karem at this very moment.
“So, is it tasty?” asked Mary, who was attending to Catherine’s meal.
“Of course it is,” came Karem’s reply.
In most cases, people would throw away the outer portion of haggis.
That’s because the stomach is tough and chewy.
However, perhaps it was due to being wrapped in bacon and fried in its fat, the flavor of the bacon complemented the crispy and chewy texture of the haggis skin, reminiscent of well-grilled pork belly.
The contents looked horrific, as the rumors suggested.
The taste and smell were completely disproportionate, though.
The inner mixture had a notable grainy texture. With every chew, the salty and nutty essence of the innards seeped out relentlessly.
Surprisingly, there was none of the peculiar scent often associated with innards.
Instead, an intense array of aromatic spices filled the air. Even so, they couldn’t entirely mask the scent of lamb. But it was still not bothersome at all.
‘Is it comparable to lamb skewers in a way?’
The pleasantly subdued unique scent added a twist to the flavor.
Due to the oats mixed in, it had a rough texture, but the crunchiness kept it interesting.
Moreover, perhaps because the oats absorbed the fat, juices, and spices so thoroughly, Karem felt an involuntary craving for beer.
Just as Karem was about to reach for his mug, he paused.
“…What should I say, but it does feel like a lot of eyes are on me.”
It felt as if his appetite was dwindling. Of course, when Karem commented, he didn’t stop poking at his food, so Mary sneakily looked around the common and royal seats.
“Why not consider it a misperception?”
“It feels like my skin is crawling.”
“Well, that’s because everyone in the Great Hall is staring at you, Karem.”
“That’s a truth I didn’t want to know.”
Knowing that, Karem felt the pricking stares even more distinctly.
“Why are they acting like this…?”
“Well…”
Mary almost revealed the truth but promptly shut her mouth at Catherine’s warning gaze. The house fairy had learned a thing or two about timing.
“Well, Karem. You did go on an adventure with Kitty, after all.”
Of course, Olivier didn’t care for Catherine’s unspoken signals at all.
“…Um… er…”
“Oh my, watching this beside you, the pace is so agonizingly slow!”
“Wait, I didn’t say anything.”
“Karem. Karem. Silly boy. The most delicious and amusing thing in the world is to gossip about someone else’s romantic affairs. So you really kept this as a secret, did you?”
“I didn’t intend to…”
“That’s a relief. I can assure you as a wise woman, by tomorrow around this time, there’ll be no one in Coldon who doesn’t know about it! Congratulations on becoming the highlight of the Coldon drinking party.”
Mary closed her eyes, seeing the rising fury next to her.
Countless eyes from the common seats and the prominent figures among the Felwinter family and Elder Iona lamented in their own ways at this reckless remark.
Of course, they certainly wouldn’t refrain from spreading this amusing story.
After all, it’s not every day you hear that the greatest Chief Magic Consultant finally devoured his exclusive chef. Even Alfred’s special orders would struggle to contain this.
Yet they all had their own understanding.
The common seats buzzed once more with chatter and the sound of dining.
Nevertheless, it was inevitable that their eyes drifted towards the royal seats, especially towards Catherine and Karem.
Thud-
“Hmm? Sir Zigmeser?”
While still eating haggis, Karem felt Zigmeser pat his shoulder with a pleased smile, alternating his gaze between the haggis and Karem.
“Well… it is the haggis I prepared, after all.”
“What does that have to do with the current situation?”
“Unlike the old days, haggis is somewhat, well, how should I put it, a first-time delicacy that—ow! The stares are piercing!”
Zigmeser, who’d been patting Karem’s shoulder, flinched in shock.
“Then I should really get going. I still have plenty of dishes to present!”
“Sir Zigmeser?”
“By the way, don’t share that haggis with anyone; you must eat it all by yourself! Though you may share with Sir Atanitas!”
With that, Zigmeser hurriedly retreated, and Catherine’s gaze followed him, promptly averting when their eyes met.
‘Honestly, this is quite infuriating.’
Of course, her frustrations were directed at Olivier, who had breaches of awkward silence openly, but Catherine couldn’t just unleash magic in a place filled with spectators.
But once someone broke the ice…
Someone would naturally take action.
“Ahem. Ahem.”
A maid dispatched by the Duchess, Elizabeth Felwinter, belonging to Winterhome’s Romantic Observation Club, whispered into Catherine’s ear.
“The Duchess has a keen interest in how you found the book she lent you…”
“The Duchess?”
While the words were secretive and quiet, they were crystal clear to Richard, seated beside them, and the two accompanying maidservants.
“She wishes to invite you for tea.”
“…Is that to be said here?”
“Well, the Duchess almost came to the restaurant herself; I barely managed to stop her. So, please…”
“…Hah. Just the two of us?”
“Of course.”
Mary and Elder Iona, who had been eavesdropping, quickly focused on eating when Catherine turned her head.
*
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*
Catherine couldn’t refuse the tea invitation.
No one could suppress the fervent enthusiasm bubbling in Elizabeth’s girlhood spirit, wanting to know in detail what transpired at the estate.
Of course, as the maid mentioned, only Elizabeth and Catherine would partake in the tea.
The loyal maidservants kept their lips sealed about what had happened, but news about the romantic novel lent by Elizabeth had begun to spread.
While Karem found himself the target of countless wandering gazes, he remained holed up in his tower.
However, there were those who would inconspicuously intrude.
“Karem, I heard you’ve returned.”
“Lady Alicia?”
“Ehe, it’s me, Alicia!”
Karem was taken aback but relieved that, unlike Elizabeth, who was relentlessly pestering Catherine, Alicia’s purpose was unchanged.
Thus, Karem sighed, pulling out souvenirs from his trip.
Clink-
“This is the Divine Nectar from the Snow White Ice Bee.”
“Oooh…? Oh…”
“Your reaction is rather different from what I expected.”
“Um… um…”
The anticipation faded from her eyes. With a skeptical frown, she bumped the jar, causing the light green nectar inside to sway.
Sticky marks lingered as traces.
Alicia concluded, “Hmm… it doesn’t look very appetizing.”
“Well, it is light green, after all.”
“And it seems sticky and gooey. It looks like slime.”
“I can’t argue with that.”
Unconvinced, Alicia carefully tilted the transparent glass jar, watching the nectar sway in sync with her movements.
Every time she gasped, a thick trace was left behind on the inner wall of the jar.
“Let’s just try a little, shall we?”
“Mm…”
Alicia eyed the spoon carefully held above the dark green liquid, suspending in the air as if it would drop at any moment.
Despite her general fondness for snacks, Alicia definitely had her preferences, and at the moment, nectar wasn’t one of them.
If it at least smelled appetizing! But this honey-like substance held no aroma to speak of, leaving her imagination blank.
Unlike honey, which is a tempting golden hue, this was a dull green that deeply diminished her appetite.
What even is this?
Slurp.
Her thoughts flipped immediately upon tasting the nectar.
“Um?!”
The time the nectar remained in Alicia’s mouth was brief, yet she fully experienced its taste, aroma, and texture.
An overwhelming explosion of sweetness unlike anything she’d ever encountered!
The euphoria of consuming an entirely sweet cake, laden with sugar, could be felt in just one spoon of nectar.
“Um, has your opinion shifted?”
“Wha- how can such a thing even exist?!”
Alicia, clutching the spoon tightly in both hands, slurped while stumbling over her words in awe.
“The sweetness of honey, compressed into one jar! A level of sweetness that makes one’s tongue tingle! And yet this invigorating aroma… what in the world…!”
“Excuse me? Invigorating aroma?”
“The scent of the forest that clears the heart… I can sense it distinctly…”
“…Hold on a second.”
Karem retrieved a new spoon to take a small sample, passing the jar entirely to Alicia while focusing on analyzing the taste.
Although the excessive sweetness rattled his taste buds, he didn’t merely swallow down the bitter and astringent flavors.
‘It definitely seems to resonate…’
The overwhelming sweetness didn’t last forever. As his palate began to adjust, the bitterness and astringent notes faded away one by one.
Only then could he perceive the invigorating aroma Alicia mentioned.
The scent of grass after rain, the refreshing forest aroma carried in the gentle breeze of sunny weather.
“Indeed… I can feel it a little.”
“Hmm. An intensity to the sweetness that stings the tongue! This is the first time I’ve tasted such sweetness in my life. It’s much sweeter than the syrup from a sand turtle’s date!”
Alicia’s expression, which had initially scrunched up in doubt, remained serene throughout after that first taste.
“Is your tongue alright after that?”
“Mm. Alicia’s tongue is fine. However, I’m a bit uneasy about this sticky, light green matter.”
“Well, that’s probably due to its diet.”
“Diet?”
With the jar in her hand, Alicia paused, tilting her head in confusion while drawing circles in her mind with the spoon.
“Was it a bee?”
“It’s a bug-like monster. Its staple diet isn’t flowers but rather leaves and grass.”
“…Leaves?”
Alicia’s big, astonished eyes remained glued to the light green jar, utterly bewildered.
“It’s hard for me to believe that.”
“I’ve heard the same, actually.”
Is that the reason why it looks so disturbing?
In disbelief, Alicia blinked, repeatedly tilting the jar with the nectar back and forth.
‘Well, does it matter that much?’
The bitter and powdery taste of leaves belonged to the Snow White Ice Bee, not to her.
Given the sweet flavors leaned in the opposite direction, she had nothing to fret about.
However, there was one problem.
“Hmm… I want to feed it to Henry.”
“Henry? Prince Henry?”
“Yeah. I think he’d really love this.”
Alicia, having spoken, regretfully took tiny spoonfuls of nectar with the end of her spoon.
It was a commendable display stemming from her desire to share with a close friend, but Karem discerned the truth.
“Is it too sweet to handle?”
“Alicia didn’t say that.”
“Shall I fry up some pancakes to go with it?”
“Mm!”
With the satisfied sound, Alicia nodded vigorously.
“Alicia loves the snacks Karem makes.”
“Figured it would be a bit much to just have the nectar, huh?”
Alicia seemed to bite her tongue in reluctance.
It didn’t matter.
Her answer was more than sufficient.
As Karem served the warm pancakes drizzled with all the remaining syrup, her sluggish movements perked right up.
Alicia joyfully shredded the syrupy pancakes soaked in the light green nectar, letting out sweet chirps of delight.
“Mm~♪ This has to be the taste! I want to share this with Henry!”
“Need any?”
“Really?!”
“I could give you a jar or two.”
Thinking about little Prince Henry, still just a child, he figured adjustments would be necessary, but that was something the prince’s maids and servants could take care of.
Gulp-
“Well, since we’re on this topic, let’s go share this joyous news!”
“Right now? Ah, the crystal!”
“Exactly.”
“Um… maybe it’s a bit… whatever.”
Surely no one would interrupt with Alicia around.
*
*
*
“Henry, Alicia wanted to give you a gift—”
[Waaah! Aaaah! Oh no! No!]
“Huh? Noodles? You haven’t eaten for two whole days, yet you’re worrying about gifts?”
[Noodles! Noodles! Daddy! No!]
Karem turned towards Henry, seeing the distressed look on the father’s face, Inamark, who was avoiding eye contact.
What kind of situation is this?
“Alicia?”
“He’s angry because he shared his noodles with others and ended up not getting any himself.”
“Oh.”
No wonder he has reason to be upset.
It’s not like a child would want their food taken away.