Lord blessed by the elves

Chapter 60 Iron Pot
Upon returning to the castle in Lion's Tooth Territory, Elena, who had been waiting at the door, bounced up to greet him like a cheerful little deer, her face beaming with a bright smile.

"Big brother, you're back!" she said in a clear voice. "I have great news for you. Second brother did a fantastic job today! He hunted a really fat roe deer!"

Kruse smiled and ruffled Elena's long golden hair, and the brother and sister walked into the castle hall together.

Rezal was scratching his head and looking worried as he looked at the fat roe deer on the ground.

"Should we roast it or stew it?" Kruse stepped forward and asked with a smile.

"Sigh, I'm tired of eating it all. I want to try something new, but I can't think of anything." Rezal shook his head in distress, clearly feeling very conflicted about this "sweet burden."

Elena, on the other hand, wasn't picky at all. She excitedly raised her hand and shouted, "I'm fine with either! Big brother, how about we make a little bit of both?"

Just then, a flash of inspiration appeared in Kruse's eyes. He remembered the strangely shaped, thick iron pot with a round bottom that he had forged himself in the blacksmith shop a few days ago—it was originally an experiment he made out of nostalgia for the taste of his previous life.

“I know how to eat it.” Kruse’s lips curled into a mysterious smile. “Wait, tonight I’ll let you taste a delicacy you’ve never experienced before.”

He turned around and instructed the kitchen to finely slice the tenderest tenderloin and leg meat of the roe deer, while he quickly fetched the new iron pot.

Under the curious gaze of everyone, he placed an iron pot on the fireplace, put in a small piece of precious animal fat to render clear oil, and then added chopped scallions, garlic, and a few wild-picked aromatic plants with a special fragrance to sauté until fragrant.

In an instant, an unprecedentedly rich aroma, accompanied by a sizzling sound, filled the entire castle hall, intensely stimulating everyone's taste buds.

Rezael and Elena stared wide-eyed as Kruse poured thin slices of roe deer meat into the pan and quickly stir-fried them. The meat slices curled up and changed color rapidly under the high temperature, and the rich aroma of meat and the smoky flavor blended perfectly.

“This is called ‘stir-frying’,” Kruse explained to his astonished siblings as he skillfully tossed the wok. “It’s a method that locks in the juices and brings out the aroma.”

When the first plate of steaming hot and fragrant "stir-fried roe deer meat" was served, it was devoured in no time.

Rezael was so engrossed in his meal that he couldn't even speak, and could only frantically give Kruse a thumbs up.

Elena's eyes lit up as she ate, and she exclaimed that she wanted to eat like this every day from now on.

This unexpected culinary feast not only satisfied the family's appetite but also showed Kruse another fragrant path that might lead to wealth and influence.

Kruse's sudden action left Wilstone and Butler Buffett speechless.

In this territory, the three masters are the most noble beings and should stay away from the kitchen.

But what did they just see?
The esteemed young master was actually wearing an apron and personally standing in front of the stove to cook!

This completely overturned their understanding of aristocratic etiquette.

Suppressing his astonishment, Wilstone, with a hint of curiosity, carefully forked a piece of seemingly fragrant roe deer meat with his silver fork and put it in his mouth, trying to find fault with this "unconventional" dish.

However, the moment the slice of meat entered his mouth, his chewing motion abruptly stopped, and his eyes widened in disbelief, bursting with an astonishing light. It was a salty, savory, and tender flavor he had never experienced before, an intensely impactful taste. The rich meat juices exploded in his mouth, perfectly locking in the mellow richness of the game and the aroma of the spices.

He originally wanted to maintain his knightly composure, but seeing Rezal and Elena's unladylike, ravenous eating habits beside him, and comparing it to the irresistible deliciousness in his own mouth, he merely coughed twice politely before quickly joining the "foodie army".

Of course, even in the face of such temptation, his remaining sense of ritual made him insist on carefully slicing the meat with a knife and fork first, but the speed at which he cut and put the meat into his mouth was obviously several times faster.

Butler Buffet initially kept a straight face, trying to maintain the proper decorum expected of a nobleman.

Looking at the somewhat chaotic scene before him, he couldn't help but want to make a sarcastic remark: "No matter how delicious the food is, one should not forget the manners and etiquette expected of a nobleman..."

Before he could finish speaking, an even richer fragrance wafted into his nostrils.

He subconsciously chewed the remaining meat juice in his mouth, and the rest of his lecture was instantly cut off.

The amazing taste was like a powerful punch, easily shattering the barriers of etiquette he had been upholding.

After a brief, almost imperceptible struggle, the butler pulled out a chair with remarkable ease, smoothly took his plate and cutlery, and spoke in an incredibly gentle tone: "...Well, what I mean is, when enjoying such a masterpiece, perhaps one can...flexibly interpret the meaning of 'manners'."

After saying that, he completely gave up on lecturing and willingly immersed himself in the gourmet feast created by the young master himself.

The next morning, Butler Buffet, accompanied by Mrs. Patmore, the castle's cook, solemnly approached Kruse.

The old butler's face was filled with unwavering determination.

“My esteemed young master,” Butler Buffet bowed slightly, his tone respectful yet exceptionally firm, “please be sure to pass on that extraordinary skill in making iron pots to Mrs. Patmore. Your personal cooking last night was a commendable exception, but from this day forward, please never set foot in the kitchen again.”

He paused briefly, glanced at the somewhat flustered cook beside him, and continued earnestly, "This is not a questioning of your skills; on the contrary, it is precisely because they are so outstanding that you should not do them yourself. If this continues, it is truly... truly unbecoming of your noble status and demeanor as the heir to the territory."

Mrs. Patmore stood by, nervously twisting her apron, nodding with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension.

What else could Kruse say?

He had no choice but to nod in agreement, and then, in a guiding manner, taught the nervous and expectant Mrs. Patmore several key cooking techniques and a few simple dishes.

The essence of cooking often lies in mastering the heat and experience; the rest can only be understood and explored by the cook herself.

After finishing her instruction, Mrs. Patmore bowed respectfully and took her leave.

Butler Buffet accompanied her out of Kruse's room. As they descended the stairs, the old butler slowed his pace and added solemnly in a low voice:
“Mrs. Patmore, although the territory’s economy has improved recently, it is far from being able to afford to be extravagant. When you try these new dishes, you must be careful with your money and minimize unnecessary food waste.”

(End of this chapter)