"I Apologize!" The redhead screams while kneeling on the floor, head against the ground, both hands resting on a wooden tile.

Maria stands calmly beside her, hands by her side, piercing the redhead with her gaze.

"Seriously! Very much!" The redhead continues to shout.

"Aaaa! Be quiet!" Alfonse yells at her, silencing her.

After a moment of silence, he releases an annoyed sigh.

"Firstly... I didn't call you here to scream at me."

"I apologize," she whispers.

"Secondly..." He pauses for a moment before continuing. "I didn't also call you here to scold you for the meal you made."

"Why call Min then?" She asks without raising her head.

"You know... Your food is unbelievably oversalted and over-spiced; I nearly burned my mouth just having breakfast. Honestly, I don't understand how someone can make a broth so spicy."

"Min, apologize. I can't taste food like you humans do."

"And that's why I called you here!" He says and claps his hands together.

He can't be serious about what I think he's planning… Maria thinks to herself wishing she is wrong.

Alfonse looks at Maria, and she returns his gaze. She shakes her head slightly to express her disagreement, but he just smiles and winks at her.

"I want to ask you to be my personal chef!" He exclaims excitedly.

Maria only shakes her head and rubs her eyes with an exhaled sigh.

The redhead looks up at Alfonse, confusion in her eyes, waiting for him to say it's just a joke.

When his smile deepens, and she finally realizes it's not a jest, all she can muster in that moment is a bewildered, "What?"

"I take that as a yes," he says, offering her his hand. "My name is Alfonse, which you probably already know. But I seem to have missed your name amidst all the yelling." He didn't hear it, given all the noise. She was too distraught to introduce herself.

"Min," she introduces herself, accepting his gesture. When she stands up and straightens herself, as if finally regaining her composure, she adds, "Min Shee Shyu Kwei."

"Judging by your name, you're from a completely different continent," Maria comments. Min nods.

"Min is not from Aashile, Min is from Yaa Dzo. Specifically, from the city of Chongwo."

"That explains why you don't wear a necklace, even though you work here," Alfonse says thoughtfully.

In the mansion, it is customary to wear a necklace that reveals the race of the owner. This rule mostly applies to wealthier districts of the city, as a precaution against the black market trade of necklaces. However, it doesn't apply to the entire Aashile, as most large cities and villages are adapted to the living conditions of a particular species.

"How long have you been here?" Maria asks.

"Two months."

"For someone from Yaa Dzo, you speak our language very well." She gives her a somewhat skeptical look, and Min notices.

"Min have been learning your language since Min was little. Min always dreamed of coming here." She smiles slightly and adds, "Many traders from your lands visit us, and one of them told me fantastic stories. He even brought me a book about Krystoph. One side was in your language, and the other in Min’s. Over time, I learned your way of speaking."

Alfonse looks at Maria with a triumphant look.

"All right, we're done here. Lunch will be ready soon, so you should go back. And from today on, you'll be cooking only for me," Alfonse declares and sits on the bed.

Min enthusiastically nods, saying, "Min won't disappoint Alfonse!"

"Polite!" Maria hisses.

"I apologize." Min’s ears fall down quickly as she is surprised at the sudden remark.

"It's fine, Maria tends to take everything too seriously. Pay her no mind." He grins at her and waves his hand, signaling her to leave.

She bows slightly in farewell to each of them and exits the room with sparks in her eyes.

"Sir, don't you think she—" Maria starts, but he cuts her off.

"Just be quiet. She probably has a different reason for coming here and attempting to cook, despite not having taste buds like humans." He lies back on the bed. "Give her a chance. You gave me one."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“Yes, but with you it was different.” Maria opposes.

Alfonse sights and sits. “Maria,” he starts and pauses for a moment. “I know you are suspicious. She is a foreigner and probably a changer at that. Maybe even something totally else. With her cooking skills Min would be kicked out immediately, I guess the chef let her just peel the potatoes and stuff and didn’t even know she was that bad.”

Maria confusedly stares at Alfonse. “Why did you take her in then…?” She asks curiously.

Alfonse just lays back on the bad. “Everybody deserves a chance.”

“Everybody?” Maria repeats.

“Yes, everybody.” Alfonse answers without hesitation.”Just, stop being overly suspicious, it’s not like someone would waste their money on killing me. I’m the seventh heir, unless all my brothers get killed or my father magically does not decide I would be the best heir, it’s not happening.”

He's right; she does tend to overthink things. Min doesn't seem like a bad person, and her master is likely correct. She should try giving her a chance.

"Now, go, I want to lie down for a while."

He nods for her to leave, so she exits the room with a lighter bow. Hopefully, neither of them will regret this decision.

***********************************************

Maria enters the kitchen. In the hour she wasn't there, the place came alive. The entire room is filled with the aroma of dishes currently being prepared. Various commands echo from all sides, and with dinner time approaching, every minute, if not every second, is crucial.

She looks around the kitchen, but there's no sign of Min. Given the chaotic scene that resembles a battlefield more than a kitchen, Maria wouldn't be surprised if Min tucked herself away somewhere, considering her cooking skills.

Assured that Min is truly not here, Maria decides to check the back part of the kitchen. However, as soon as she takes a step, she collides with one of the dwarves.

"Watch where you're go—" the woman starts to shout. When she realizes who she's talking to, she immediately falls silent and merely bows slightly before rushing off to the other side of the room with a pot in hand.

I could have asked her about Min… Maria thinks to herself.

Maria shakes her head to dispel that thought. Even though her position is almost on the same level as the owner's sons in this establishment, interrupting the chefs is never a good thing. Once a cook lost his head for overcooking meat. Perhaps, if the head of the house hadn't been in a bad mood that day, the chef would still be alive.

She continues to the other side, being more careful this time not to collide with anyone.

After maneuvering through the dwarves jumping into her path from all sides, she takes the handle and opens the door. She was right; Min has indeed been tidied away.

The redhead stands over a massive pot emitting a bubbling sound.

Is she cooking soup?

"Min, what is this?" Maria asks and slowly makes her way toward her. However, Min is so engrossed in her mess that she still hasn't registered Maria's presence.

Min takes a bottle of pepper, but instead of sprinkling a pinch, she pours the entire contents into the pot.

Maria stops right behind her, and Min freezes as if turned to stone. "What are you doing?" Maria repeats.

"S-soup," she replies with a slightly nervous voice.

"Whatever it is, it looks more like an attempted murder."

Maria looks around. Based on the scattered ingredients and open bottles, it seems like Min added not just a pinch, but quite a lot of everything. She leans in to smell the purple concoction but quickly recoils.

"You really can't serve this to the master."

Min, without saying anything, just lowers her gaze. She stares at the pot for a while. Suddenly, she tilts it on its side, and its entire content flows into the sink.

"I guess I'm really not cut out for this." Tears well up in her eyes. She turns to Maria, seemingly expecting something encouraging. "I... I don't understand; I followed the recipe exactly!" She cries out, pointing to the book on the stand as if it were her fault.

"Miss..." Maria sighs. She doesn't need to examine the book to realize that Min is definitely not a cook based on what she's created. "Did you receive this book from the dwarves next door?"

"H-How do you know?"

"It's not a cookbook; you might have figured that out from what you've created."

Min gives her a bewildered look. Maria frowns slightly and turns to the pot. She examines it for a while, and when she finally realizes, she turns back to Min, who is waiting for something encouraging. Maria nods.

"It's a joke from the chefs. You shouldn't be so naive."

"I-I apologize," Min stammers while wiping away her tears.

Normally, Maria would scold her or at least reprimand her in some way, but she feels sorry for Min. She doesn't know the culture of Aashile, let alone the foods prepared here. Just as food from her country might seem strange to them, Min has the same experience with what she eats and cooks here.

Maria can't muster more than a sigh.

"I'll help you," she finally says with a determined voice.

Min's mood immediately lifts, and she looks up at Maria. In her eyes, where clear sadness and frustration were visible a moment ago, now joyful sparks have replaced them.

"Firstly... For breakfast, light meals are served here. Soup is usually before the main course. Fortunately for you, Mr. Alfonse eats everything, so his menu doesn't have to be overly complicated. In the morning, something like pastry with jam and some vegetables on the side is enough. Since it's cold in the morning, and the walls are more for defense than living, heated water with herbs will be more than sufficient." Maria explains and opens a cabinet with herbs. She takes out a box and opens it. Inside are dried strawberries mixed with birch leaves, chamomile, and dried honey. "This one is the only one Mr. Alfonse drinks." She returns the box.

"I can handle making tea! It's a very popular drink in my country." Min cheers.

"Well, that's one less thing for me to worry about." Maria says and smiles slightly.

"You smiled!" Min exclaims in disbelief.

Maria looks at her with confusion. It's true that she doesn't smile much, but for someone to be so surprised...

"Uh-huh." She coughs and continues, "As I said, breakfast can be lighter. Mr. Alfonse often skips it since he almost has lunch by the time he gets out of bed. So when you bring it to him, don't be afraid to wake him up. Any form of violence is allowed if it gets him out of bed."

"And what if he gets angry and fires me?" Min asks with a slightly sad voice.

"That won't happen. Mr. Alfonse can be grumpy, but it always passes quickly. He gives people a chance, even those who don't deserve a second one."

"Since dinner is approaching, I'll explain lunch tomorrow and help you with it."

"Thank you so much! I'm in your hands!" Min exclaims, clasping her hands together in the air.

Maria pauses at her gesture. It must be something from her homeland.

"Um." She clears her throat and continues, "Since dinner isn't my favorite when the master eats sweet dishes. But since your current task is to win him over and probably thank him, we'll make Curd Porridge."

"Curd Porridge?" Min asks, confused.