Chapter 22: Heat and Meat
"Wait, you are telling me you have a danger sense for when there are chores to be done?" he knew he had fucked it up, Frey was alarmingly raising her voice, 'Why do I still enchanted with her, even though she is about the yell at me' "You fought Sir Belmont, talked with a witch in the middle of the market and grabbed a thief as if it was something you would normally do, but you are worried because there is some cleaning to do?" Danielle was laughing, and he thanked it was as discreetly as possible, Pan had his best dragon card face, why did he find Frey's nose so lovely even though it reflected her rage, she was red, but it was not embarrassed. How could someone so small, occupied so much space. He felt as Frey was trying to top him over, he backed unconsciously, then, she laughed wholeheartedly, he breathed again,
"My family needs help with setting the dinner for our guest, the royal duke and his wife are coming for dinner, something must have gone wrong, are you not going to help?" Frey said after she managed to stop laughing. He would face the entire world for her smile. He breathed deeply and nodded.
"I am sorry Frey, we will, it's just, I can't help it, I just sensed it, but we will help. Of course, we will, right Pan?" Aedrik turned to his cousin, who had just been laughing at him and now, his smile stopped as he noted how intense was Aedrik looking at him, he had used his best 'You better help me, cousin, look' and it seemed to have been enough.
"We are at your service, my lady" Pan managed to pull a fabulous bow, Danielle and Frey laughed again. 'Good, thank you Pan'.
"Now let's see what is going on" Frey said and they marched inside house Lunebleau.
They entered by the side entrance near the study, and from there they could hear several voices coming from the dining room. Like the bravest soldier he had ever seen, Frey lead them all into the chores waiting for them. Aedrik tensed up, but he would soldier on, wherever she would lead him. They entered the dining room and found lady Lunebleau discussing with the main cook. They both turned surprised at them.
"What is going on, mother?" Frey asked.
"We are late, and everything is wrong" lady Lunebleau always kept her cool, from what Aedrik had seen, even now, she was clearly upset, but she handled it like old general Kern when he spoke about sending his report while his tower was falling on him "Something happened at the market today, all our deliveries were delayed, and when they arrived, they were wrong" lady Lunebleau sighed "Everyone is helping at the kitchen, but I don't know if it will be enough, in a few hours the royal duke and his wife will come for dinner, I did not want to have to buy from some place else, but there is a dead cow in the middle of the kitchen, I guess we should cut our losses and retreat"
Aedrik felt for lady Lunebleau, she was placing every troop at hand, but she recognized when to retreat, he felt they might have something to do with the wrong deliveries.
"We asked for several pieces of beef, as lady Lunebleau mentioned the young lady fiancé likes it, but with the delays they mistook our order, and send us the whole animal. I am not that good a butcher, we have already sent for one, but I do not know if I can have the meal ready in time" the cook explained, he was a middle age bald and chubby man, with a soft smile.
'Oh shit' he was definitely part responsible for this mess. They were trying to please him. Frey was looking at her mother with a sadness. They all knew their visit at the market was responsible.
"I can handle the butchering, lady Margaux but ay, may I suggest we roast the meat, it will take less time, but we could do it, as I advance on my task. It will not be a complicated dish, but it is very traditional in the north" everyone turned with surprised looks towards him, especially lady Lunebleau, who had for a moment forgotten she already had him and Pan as guest.
"That will not do Aedrik. You and Pan are our guests, we will not have you butchering a cow, I don't care if it's the King who would come, that would not do. We'll send word to Le Chat Ivre, they owe me a favor, and I will collect it. I am sorry, Aedrik, you have to come and see this, but everything went wrong at the last moment" Lady Margaux had calmed down in a moment.
"You told me, we were about to become family, lady Margaux, please allow me to help you and I truly dislike cleaning" lady Margaux and the cook were flagger blasted by his comment, but Frey, Danielle and Pan smiled "Cooking meat, is something I enjoy, and I think I am rather good at it, and I don't think the royal duke would say anything about it" he saw confusion in lady Margaux, but Frey smile was radiant, if he had known he would have offered to cook sooner.
"Let him do it mother, I doubt anyone would dare criticize his cuisine" Frey was dazzling, enchanting "Let him" lady Margaux saw the excited look on her daughter, she was enjoying it, she felt right with her fiancée, she was offering, her prince to cook dinner for her family.
"I can't believe I am having a guest butchering a cow and cooking" lady Margaux was slowly considering the idea "I can't believe I am having my daughter fiancé, a foreign prince helping at the kitchen… what do you need Aedrik?" lady Margaux paled as she said those words.
"Give me an open space where I can built a fire, let me see your knifes, I need firwood if you had some stones of bricks, a pair of extra hands, everything else I think I have it in my bag" he pointed at his bag of holding, and after a moment he turned to Pan "I will also need Pan assistance" Pan sighed, he knew he going to drag him along, but he was the only one who knew what he was going to do.
"See that he gets everything he needs" lady Margaux said to the cook who was still processing what was going on but nodded without hesitation at the lady's command.
"Will do my lady. Please come to the kitchen with me, if you are going to make a fire, I think I know, where you could make one" make a fire, I think, I know where you could make one" the cook went for the kitchen, Aedrik took at last look at Frey, her small frame and enchanting smile, he knew he had been forgiven, he smiled at her, and winked, earning a roll from her eyes, behind came Pan.
"Is this for real?" Aedrik heard Danielle's voice as the kitchen door closed behind them.
The kitchen was incredibly large, the kitchen staff assistants were ordering the deliveries they had just received. Lady Lea and Anne were helping them distribute them properly, Lea gave them a vague nod, as they entered the kitchen.
René was discussing with another cook, about some pastries, possible dessert, he hoped. They did not bother with the newcomers, as they were making space for them, because at the main table, and robbing the kitchen a lot of space, was a cow carcass, ready to be butchered. The cook sighed.
"Henri, Vere, come here" he called, and two of the kitchen assistants came. The young man was short, be he seemed to be used to hard work. The other one was a young girl, her dark brown hair was done in a ponytail, and a face full of freckles, it reminded him of Frey's "This is lady Frey's fiancé, and his companion, you will assist him in everything he asks, understood?" They both looked at him and Pan with incredulity, the young girl was specially confused with what the master cook had said, but the young man managed a simple nod.
"Come, my lord, I think you can make the fire just outside the kitchen, if I understand what you intend, you are going to need space" the master cook made took them through the kitchen to a door that led to an outside cellar, and next to it the main garden.
"You think this space is enough?" the master cooked asked as he pointed a space that shared the east wall, and the space between the kitchen and the back of the small warehouse.
"This space will do" the space was more than enough. He looked around, and saw a couple of bricks and stone slabs "May I use those?" he pointed at the bricks and stones.
"Whatever you need my lord, I have more people help you carry them.
"I'll take care of it, don't worry. May I see your knives?" the master cook, hesitated but nodded in the end.
"Henri, show him our knives. I'll talk with lady Lunebleau, to see what else we can do, are you sure you… have everything you need" He could see the wariness in the cook's face. It was understandable.
"I'll take care of everything, don't worry. I'll start with the butchering to clear space as quickly as possible" he tried to calm down the man, but until he started working, his words were doing little work. The cook, was going to say something but reconsidered, bowed, and left inside the kitchen.
"Well as you know, my name is Aedrik, and this here is Pan" he said happily to his two assistants "We have very little time to butcher a cow, and cook it. We are going to do this in the most simple manner, I'll set the grill, Pan will prepare the fire, bring him firewood, Henri please" The young man looked at his companion for a second, then nodded, and went for firewood.
"Miss Vere, would you be so kind as to fetch containers were we can place and prepare the meat, they just have to be cleaned. We will also need, salt, pepper and lime, after I am done setting the grill, I'll go and start the butchering"
The young girl snapped after she heard him call her name, nodded and went inside the kitchen.
"How come I am not surprised we are cooking on the second time you are invited to your fiancée house for dinner" Pan said rolling his eyes, he smiled at his cousin.
"Lets get to work" he placed his bag of holdings, and carefully looked around for the grill he carried inside. It was one of the few things he had spent too much, it was made with ashen steel. He took out the grill and placed it on the wall.
"We'll do it simple, you carry the bricks"
"We should have a minion do this" Pan said but went to bring the bricks. He went for the stone slabs. They placed them apart with enough distance and height, to fill the floor with the firewood. Henri understood what they were doing, helped Pan, with the bricks, and started placing the firewood at the center.
"You take care of it"
"Yeah, you take to much time making a fire, handle the dead thing. Take Henri with you" Pan said, and he nodded. Henri was looking with fascination at the simplicity of the grill they had made.
"Come Henri, show me your knives please" the young man nodded, and made Aedrik follow him inside the kitchen. Vere was already, cleaning several large plates, and some creates. Good she understood, and she had already brought the salt, pepper and lime.
"Here, my lord, our knives" Henri pointed to were the kitchen tools were. He inspected a few of them, and took four "Sharpen these two, I have to work quickly, they need to be sharp, I'll start with this two then we will change" Henri nodded, and they went to stand next to the dead cow at the table.
"Well, Vere, I will start chopping down this incredible animal, and you will have to season the meat" the young girl nodded "There is not much to it, I'll start slicing it, and you will slap each part with a enough salt and pepper, once a place or crate is almost filled, you'll pour some limes and oranges if you have any on them, that is all" the young girl was nervous but nodded at him.
"One last thing, this is going to be bloody, so pardon me if you are splattered" He was wondering on how to handle that last detail. He did not want to stain his clothes, but it would happen, and he did not take he could fit in lord Damian's or Luka's shirts. Well, time to adapt.
Lady Margaux and the master cook Armand were discussing the menu for the night, how were their preparations and what else they could do. They had trusted Aedrik to cook the main dish for the evening, from what the cook reported he had already started, but he had said he would be serving his dish, once the guest arrived, as it needed to be served at the moment, lady Margaux, said nothing of it.
Lady René was baking some pies, Noelle and lady Liliane had needed to head to market to buy flowers to adorn the dining room, as the ones they had asked for did not arrive. Lea and Anne were assisting at the kitchen as well, they were helping with some of the other dishes.
Frey had helped arrange part of the deliveries and was setting the grand table. Every able hand at house Lunebleau was helping. Frey had been wanting to head to kitchen and see how Aedrik was doing, but she did not want to disturb him.
"Go on, have a look at how he is doing, I am as curious as yourself" Lady Margaux told her daughter "I can't believe we have an imperial prince, butchering a cow and cooking for us Frey" her mother was embarrassed and nervous "I like him, Frey" that is all that was needed to say.
"I'll go have a quick look" Frey said and went for the kitchen. When she entered, she noticed many of the girls working in the kitchen were blushing and were distracted. She turned went red in a second.
Aedrik had somehow almost finished butchering the cow, he was displaying a fine technique and speed, he cut meat and bone with clean strikes, as if he was cutting butter. The young cook apprentice Vere was taking the meat he sliced and seasoning it on another table, but the young girl was as red as a tomato, and Frey could not blame her.
Aedrik was shirtless, it was obvious why, he was trying to spill as few blood as possible, and looking at how clean he was, he was outstanding, but still his shirt would have been ruined if he had kept it on. The problem was, he very tall, broad, and muscular, his upper body appeared to have been chiseled from rock, she had just entered the kitchen and she felt, her face flushing, it was hot inside kitchen.
Frey how sweat was dripping down from the biggest pectoral muscles she had ever seen, and she had seen knights bragging about them amongst each other. His broad shoulders and wide arms were more impressive as he was, his loose clothes did him no justice. He was entranced, cutting down what was left, in powerful accurate strokes.
His body was covered in scar, Frey wondered, when she would had a chance to ask him about them. She had seen Percy bragging about his scars, and even heard other ladies fantasizing about asking a knight or lord about them, how had they gotten them, Frey could not understand the feeling, until now.
"Frey, I think, I can have the meat ready, tell lady Margaux not to worry" Aedrik was smiling from ear to ear, as he noticed her standing near the door, his enchanting smile made her feel too hot, she had to clear her throat before she could answer him.
"I'll tell her" Aedrik smiled and continued his labor, the young girl helping him, Vere, looked at Frey and somehow managed to get redder, Frey did not know how to feel about it. She gave Aedrik a last long look before she left the kitchen, that had not been easy. When she turned half the other girls in the kitchen had been staring as well, many returned to what they were doing as Frey looked at them, but one did not care. Frey cleared her throat once more, and the girl jumped where she stood and kept working, she left the kitchen.
She returned to the dining room still felt hot. She pinched her cheek to calm down and went for some plates to help her mother finish setting the table. Behind Frey, Lea had come from the kitchen she as well, she had gone to give René some berries to finish her pie.
"How is he doing?" lady Margaux asked
"Fine, he wants me to tell you he will have the meat ready" Frey managed to say.
"He is more than fine, lady Margaux, Frey has gotten herself in some trouble after the wedding ceremony" Lea said red to the ears. Frey almost choked at what Lea had said, and she wanted to toss the plate she had at her friend "I guess, the meat maybe ready, but the woman at the kitchen are performing poorly and I can't blame them"
Lady Margaux and Danielle frowned at Lea's words, Danielle noticed both women had come blushing from the kitchen, her curiosity peeked, and went to have a look for herself.
"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME"
Noelle and lady Lilian entered the dining rime in time to hear Danielle scream. They looked confused an wanted an explanation. Lady Margaux considered heading to the kitchen but settled to finish what they were doing.
"What is going on?" Noelle asked with curiosity.
"Aedrik's cooking is hot, that's what's happening" Lea said as she also helped finished setting the table, Frey almost choked at her words.
"Everyone is helping, and we are late. Come help me set those flowers, we all still need to change to receive our guest" Lady Margaux said, before anyone else decided to head inside the kitchen.
"A fine idea, lady Margaux, everyone needs to cool down, especially Frey I imagine" Anne said as she came from the kitchen with Danielle with her, both had pink cheeks. Noelle lifted one eyebrow.
"What is going on?" Noelle asked.
"I have to… go change" Danielle said in a low voice, she turned to look at Frey, and said nothing, she went straight out of the dining room.
"Mother?"
"Come, I'll tell you how we will arrange the flowers, Frey, Lea, Anne, you all go change" lady Margaux added, and took the curious Noelle, and her sister from the dining room.
As Frey went to change, she was thinking on how she had been worried in the morning that Aedrik might be offender, because they had not adorned the house as much when he had come to dine, but everything had happened too fast. Everyone had quickly felt comfortable with him, but there was just a tad formality, she felt she would not have to worry now that he had cooked shirtless, and half the estate had seen him.
He was almost done with his cooking; he had already dressed back. He was finishing the last steaks, everything needed to be served at the moment to truly enjoy the meal. They had already told him; the guest had arrived. The master cook Armand had finished everything else, and so had René. The master cook, and most of the kitchen assistants, were waiting for him to place the steaks, on platters, and head for the dining room.
"Seriously, you wanted to skip chores, and look at us now, cooking north style" Pan was arguing next to him "How come they all agreed to let you cook, you are an imperial prince, the husband to be, and the war of the Fey Danan delegation, but you offered and Frey..." Pan paused before he said anything, he had moved his attention from the grill and placed it entirely on his cousin "She is smart, intelligent, and now she will just see you, well, like I do"
"Like an equal, you say?"
"Exactly"
"The problem being?" Pan was keen enough, to have heard the change on his tone
"That I am cooking with you" Pan said resigned, there was no more point in the discussion. His cousin knew he did not like formalities, as most northerners, Frey had already noticed it as well, and she had accepted that "At least I like your cooking, and these look great" the last steaks he had prepared were sizzling as the fire cooked them.
"I have to say, I am impressed and surprised, prince Aedrik" master Armand said to his side. The master cook, had come from time to time to look at his cooking, but now he had already tasted a piece of his grilled meat, what the north men called steaks "The idea of this grill is simple, but effective, I will ask lord Damian to allow me to make one for the estate"
"Thank you, master Armand, this what the people near the Boreal glades do, I learned it with them, but I think this really brings something simple but compelling about eating meat" he said smiling. His assistants, Henri and Vere, were covering the cooked meat, and slicing it. He had decided had some steaks a little longer on the fire, he did not know how they prefer their steak doneness.
"Everything is ready" one of the other cooks came from the kitchen.
"Excellent, this are the last ones" he took the last steaks that were on top of the grill, and placed them on the platters Henri and Vere had prepared for him.
Sitting at the Lunebleau estate dining room, were the Lunebleaus, lady René, lady Liliane, Ide and Lea. Percy and Cecile, had changed plans and left for the Beaumont dukedom already, Sir Remy had gone back to the Lunebleau dukedom as well. At the table were also sitting the royal duke of Poitiers and his wife, lady Fleur, Luka and René's guest for the evening,
Lord Damian was looking with concern at the kitchen door. He had already been informed by his wife about what had transpired. He had accompanied Luka, in escorting the royal duke and his wife. He had not found the courage to go have a look at the kitchen, but whenever someone went through the door, an extremely pleasant smell entered the dining room, and that had eased him up.
"Duke, you already know everyone from our family, we know is a bit different, but we hoped to surprise you…" Luka had been at a loss when their mother received them at the reception and had them all come straight for the dining room. He was about to protest, when René had given him a look, and he understood something had happened, even more alarming was that Aedrik was missing from the table.
"I am sorry again, for having you straight to the dining room, but as I said , is an honor having you for dinner with the family" lady Lunebleau interrupted Luka "but as Luka has said, tonight you are in for a treat"
"Thank you for having us come on such a short notice, lady Lunebleau" lady Fleur answered, she was always polite and quick thinking, Frey always liked that about her.
"Thank you, my lord and lady Lunebleau" the royal duke said, clearly as confused as Luka was, he had looked around the room, but focused on the empty chair next to Frey.
"Tonight, we are having a traditional dish from the Boreal glades, and it must be served as soon as it is ready"
Luka face was distorted, what the hell had happened. Most dishes were prepared that way, that is why they had a cook, he was about to say something but he froze in place. There was no sign of Aedrik at the table, her looked at Frey, and she smiled as best as she could.
"Prince Aedrik himself prepared the main dish of the evening, he will be joining us soon" with those words Luka, went completely pale.
The royal duke and his wife face also lost a bit of color, but a credit to his experience the duke recovered quickly, and smiled "It is truly and honor, we will be delighted to taste his cooking" the duke turned to look at Frey, she had been looking at the window that faced the garden, there were some traces of the smoke of Aedrik's grill. She did not have the courage to look at her brother or the duke.
"I'll go check on Aedrik" Frey said quickly and went for the kitchen. She had seen, her brother and the royal duke faces, she did not wish to remain at the table. When she entered the kitchen, Aedrik and Pan were ready, Pan had used a spell from the looks of it, and the entire kitchen were about to take everything to the table. She felt sad to see he had already dressed back.
"We are ready Frey" Aedrik said grinning "this may sound awkward, but would you care to smell me?" she understood what kind of spell Pan had probably casted, she went closer to Aedrik, she leaned on his chest and smelled him, and sensed, nothing.
"It worked, from your confused face, I can tell we are now odorless, as promised cousin" said Pan proudly.
"Well, after you my lady" Aedrik pointed back at the kitchen door, she was about to turn, when he kissed her cheek.
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