She Became The Devil’s Stepmother Who’s About To Be Killed - Chapter 41

Chapter 41 – A Flavorful Paradise

Shlezen Orphanage. The orphanage sat on a hill by the sea. The orange roof on top of the white two-story building harmonized with the blue sea sky like a Mediterranean Sea villa. All children, big and small, were present. They came with flowers and delivered the flowers to us.

“Welcome.”

I was astonished to see Catherine, the Shlezen Orphanage’s director; she resembled the vice-principal I worked with before. Since it was a boys’ school, it didn’t suit a female as vice-principal. Walking around the school, her nickname was Isadora. A charismatic teacher who quietly took the problematic students to the counseling room and asked them to write poems.

“Thank you for such a welcome.”

I could act recklessly, but I had no choice but to be respectful. As soon as I finished my greeting, Theodor greeted them politely, too. As the archduke, he was informal.

“Theodod thanx az well.”

Director Catherine readily knelt and greeted him,

“It is an honor for us to receive the Grand Prince visiting here.”

The children behind clapped as if they were moved. Theodor shrugged for a moment as if startled but then raised his chin elegantly and clapped also. As expected.

“Director Catherine, we’re not here for the reception today.”

“Yes, I heard.” Catherine immediately looked at Ariel with a warm smile. I also looked at Ariel.

“This place is my home, I will wholeheartedly guide you, Madam. I made a schedule to visit the children’s bedrooms and study rooms, the drill hall, and the vocational training rooms before finally having lunch.”

“I’m counting on you, Ariel.”

At Catherine’s comment, Ariel bowed to her. I bowed slightly to her, too, and then raised my voice to say goodbye, thinking I should greet the children as well.

“Thank you all for coming out and welcoming me. As the hostess of Shlezen Castle, I will do my best to help you all grow up healthy and happy.” I bowed, and the children clapped.

The Grand Prince decided to take lessons together with the 5 to 6 year old class. Although at first, Theodor insisted on not going, saying he had to escort me. However, when he saw the carriage’s wheel shown by the 5-6 class teacher, his eyes widened into two big circles, and then went inside with a very dignified expression.

“Ariel. Make shuwe to ezcot stepmodew well in my ztead. Gwand Dushez I wiw obsewv and repowt the situation with the smaww chiwdwen.”

Theodor bowed politely to me like a knight and entered the class. Such posturing was so cute that I felt like snorting while patting his little butt.

[tl/n: I found the funniest expression here that could be roughly translated as ‘farting through the mouth’ lmao]

At last, Theodor’s outdoor activities started.

The Shlezen Orphanage was like any academy.

‘It shows how much the late emperor Julius cared, right?’

As the inspection began, Ariel calmly guided me and explained: A lot of children orphaned in the war against the demon realm were raised in Shlezen Castle, and after the war, an orphanage was established to raise the children of the empire with nowhere to go. And when they turned seventeen, they left the orphanage to get a job. Usually, the boys trained to become knights, but they often ended up becoming mercenaries because they couldn’t afford it. As for the girls, they dreamed of becoming maids for a wealthy noble family or working in a dress shop. She said some people think it’s an honor to work in Shlezen Castle, and a bit of pride shone in Ariel’s eyes while speaking.

Fortunately, when the children get a job, they will be provided with lodging and meals. Basically, the most trusted workers in the Empire were the children of the Shlezen Orphanage.

And finally, lunchtime.

Ariel tried to escort Theodor and me to the VIP room, but I declined, saying I would eat with the children. That way I could eat food made from garbage to my heart’s content!

Ariel sent the knights to bring a tray with Theodor’s food; however, Theodor insisted that he could do it himself. It was because the children of the same age who took the class with him were holding their plates by themselves.

‘I’m glad.’

The knights were escorting us from a distance so the children would not feel uncomfortable.

“Have you all eaten?” When I asked Ariel, she told me they would eat in turns. “That’s good. You should never starve yourself just because you’re busy. Starving makes me angry.”

Ariel chuckled at my declaration. I waited my turn with Ariel to receive my portion.

‘My, my. It’s a soup full of familiar seaweed floating on the bowl!’

Then they gave me a vegetable salad and mashed potatoes.

‘I’m looking forward to it.’

As soon as I sat down, I quickly tasted the seaweed soup.

‘Hmmm, as expected, a refreshing anchovy broth. This sweet taste must be from kelp?’ The natural salty taste of the sea was excellent. It was the first time since I came to this world that I found food like that of my world, so I ate the whole bowl like a crab closing its eyes in front of the Maparam.

[tl/n: This slang means eating really fast. Maparam refers to the south wind blowing really strong inducing the crabs to hide]

As I was contemplating getting another ration, Theodor had already stood up for another round. Pfft. I barely held my laughter.

‘Delicious food is the bomb.’

“Can you help me meet the chef here?” I wiped my mouth with a napkin and spoke to Ariel with the most elegant expression possible.

After all, that was the most crucial purpose of my visit today.

Joseph! When I first heard of him from Ariel, I thought of him as a well-built man as he had to cook for the entire orphanage. But despite my imagination, he was young and, above all, in good shape like any knight. I couldn’t help but admire his brilliant skills moving the wok. Even the nobles who came as a sponsor fell in love with him.

But it wasn’t his hands or body that I coveted. I wanted his secret recipe. The seasoning used in that food! He looked perplexed but couldn’t refuse because the one asking was the grand duchess, the one with the highest standing in this territory.

He took me to the broad beach below the orphanage.

‘Ohmygod, Ohmygod!’ Seaweed, kelp, and anchovies laid out flat on branches just like the shoreline of Namhae, where I played in the past.

[tl/n: Namhae is a region in the south Gyeongsang South Province, South Korea]

‘You know the taste of the sea, young man.’ I grabbed Joseph’s hand.

“I’ll do it.”

“Yes?”

“Let’s do business together. Shouldn’t these healthy natural seasonings be enjoyed by the people of our estate and the people of the empire?”

Joseph looked at Ariel with a puzzled expression.

“Excuse me, Your Highness, as I said before, this is the devils’ food that people are reluctant to eat. We eat it just to reduce our budget.”

“That’s why Ariel! Did the children who grew up here become demons?”

“Pardon? Absolutely not. How could that be?”

“Exactly. Aren’t they living a life fulfilling their role more than anyone else? Believe me. By the way, are these Skinia, Evryon, and Saitan brought from the Fishing Guild?”

“Not at all. It wouldn’t be enough. We prepare the food ourselves.”

‘OMG! This guy!!’ I really liked Joseph.

“Let’s corner the market!!”

“What?”

“I heard that Joseph’s dream is to have his own restaurant. This definitely might be the stepping stone. I’m going to sell these to the nobles!”

“The nobles?” Joseph looked at me with a frightened expression.

‘So timid.’

“Mnn. It’s because nobles haven’t tasted it, but once they do, they’ll never be able to call it devil’s food again.”

I looked at the young man, hoping he would accept my sincere heart. Seeing him hesitate, I pressed him a bit.

“If you don’t have confidence, I’ll do it myself.”

I stared at the ingredients bathing in the clean sea breeze and kind sunlight.

‘5, 4, 3–’

“I’ll do it. I. Will.”

‘So, you have a certain level of pride.’

“Okay.”

I reached out to Joseph, and he looked at me, puzzled. I took his hand and shook it.

“Now we are partners!”

I kept shaking his hand, and his face turned red.

‘What are you so shy about?’

Fufufu!

“Oh right. Ariel, do you know if there is a system to patent manufactured products?”

Before coming here, I read the relevant law books in advance. However, I didn’t know who I should ask, so I inquired discreetly.

“You can discuss that with Mr. Schmidt,” Ariel answered my questions neatly.

“Ah, you mean the aide following the archduke?”

“He’s also the director of the Viatria Imperial Academy. He manages the academy.”

‘Aha. So you mean–Schmidt does not only manage the Shlezen Castle but also manages the academy’s finances?’

I thought I should call Schmidt first thing tomorrow.

I was getting ready to leave,

“Stepmodew!”

Grand Prince Theodor ran down to the seashore. In his hand was a light brown rod.

“What is this?”

“Theodod wvants stepmodew to eat it.”

I glanced at my round belly and then at the stick in Theodor’s outstretched hand.

‘Should I fix my habit of eating anything when I’m hungry?’

However, those cherry-like eyes were shining brightly, so I couldn’t resist. I took what Theodor offered and chewed it.

Gasp!!

This place is the paradise of taste?!

——