Chapter 12
1152 Words
After that scene in the garden with the Crown Prince, Kana really felt his knees wobbled, so he went back to his chambers and rest.
He took time to plan on what he will cook for the cooking competition but he don't have any idea on what to cook.
He don't want to ask Sheen or Lili or even his black angels for ideas. He wanted to do this alone without anyone's help.
Kana is leisurely lying on the couch beside the window when Seok appeared.
"Seok? What's wrong?" He abruptly get up and ask, Seok is the most calm amongst his shadow guards but now he look disturb and unease.
"They move the competition now at 11 o'clock my Lady, and they will start complete or incomplete. You have only 15 minutes to reach the Imperial kitchen."
Then he disappeared.
Kana get up immediately, how does this happen? Who move the schedule? But it doesn't matter who, the real reason is they wanted him to lose this round. He rush to the door, Sheen was outside waiting for them.
"Where's Lili?!"
"You asked her to go back to the Imperial Kitchen again but she didn't came back, My Lady." Sheen felt alarm, is something the matter?
"We don't have enough time to find her, they move the competition today! I'm already 15 minutes late."
Side by side, Kana and Sheen goes to the kitchen only to find out that they already use all the ingredients for cooking.
From 30 ladies 10 of them was sent home after losing the 1st round, and now the 19 ladies started and some of them are already done. They really aim to sent Kana home.
"Oh, no one inform Lady Han that they moved the competition? You're late... What you will cook now?" Lady Park said in a mocking voice but Kana didn't mind her.
He look around and observe what the other ladies had prepared.
Sheen look at her master with pity, but Kana didn't even look bothered.
"How much time do we have Sheen?" Kana said while looking at the only ingredient left at the pantry.
RICE!
"10 minutes my lady."
Kana nodded and smiled, he work his ass off with a smile.
No one can say no to an aromatic delicious rice. Come on, we are Asians!
Lady Park along with the other ladies mocks him but he didn't care.
Kana sinks the rice first for 3 minutes with hot water, before he cut onions, garlic, crushed cinnamon and cardamom.
He sauté all the ingredients in olive oil before putting the rice he sank along with salt, a little bit of black pepper, cardamom and cinnamon powder, and lastly the estimated amount of water.
Then he leave it to boil and cook alone.
He then cut fresh green onions, and fried crushed garlic into golden brown then put it on top of the cooked rice.
Sheen came after he finished to help him clean himself and his clothes.
"You really don't know how to give up, huh." Lady Park mocks him again but Kana just crease his nose and didn't even retaliate.
He's worried on Lili and Lady Park's servant wasn't here as well.
Kana thought that she might hurt Lili when she had the chance!
The Imperial messenger said that they should take the food they cook to the Imperial courtyard, the Emperor, Empress and Consorts will taste it for judgements.
Kana wanted to opposed on this sucks competition, in kdramas that he had watch, there's no such thing! An Emperor will just get a concubine and all done!
After all there are servants who do the errands for them in the future.
Kana happily hold the covered plate, he is satisfied in his food and if he failed today, well then, he will accept defeat.
But of course, losing is not in his vocabulary, so... They will see what's behind this rice.
One by one, the Emperor and Empress came along with their chopsticks to taste each of their entries, along with the Consorts.
Kana didn't missed on how Consort Mia look at him with disdain.
He know that this old hag had pulled some strings for this competition to be done today.
"What do you prepare, Lady Han?" Kana was awaken by the voice of the Emperor.
"Your Majesty... I know I am to be blame for I was not informed that the competition was held today, so when I came to the kitchen, They already finished all the ingredients so I opted to make the king of the tables... Rice." Kana lift up the lid of the plate and the wonderful delicious smell wafted the air.
"Woah, this smells good." The Emperor said and scooped a little bit of rice using his chopsticks and tasted it.
He look astonished, the Empress due to what she saw in her husband, followed suit, and again, she's too stunned to say a word.
"My, This rice didn't need any side dish, I can live with this one," The Empress said after recovering her poise and stop herself from scooping the rice again.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Kana smiled.
"Still, the instructions was cook a food that you wanted to feed the future Emperor, not just plain rice."
Consort Mia snorted.
"Pardon me Your Grace, but Any viand will taste bland without rice, may it be fish or livestock. Along with any other food, rice is essential, you can produce any types of food with it, and even wine. If you fermented rice, it can be use as alcoholic beverage as well."
Consort Mia didn't said anything, she didn't even taste his entry but Kana didn't mind at all.
'Be glad that I am still respectful for older ladies because If I lost my respect, I'll bring you down first, old hag.' Kana whispered in his mind.
The Emperor, Empress and Second Imperial Consort Pleng approves Kana's entry base on his explanation, Rice is indeed essential.
Hence, instead of being defeated, Gulf rank second on this round.
Another set of 10 girls were sent at home and they are all ready for the last part of the Consort selection for tomorrow, the talent show.
And because it's the last, ministers are allowed to watch and right after that, they will be name according to their ranks.
Kana felt tired the whole day but all his body pain flew away when he saw Lili unconscious in front of his chamber.
He nervously flick his fingers and seven men came to help them.
They put Lili inside and RM examined her.
"She's not poisoned My Lady, but she's badly beaten."
Kana clinch his fists, he already knew who did this, hence he ordered V to do the same to Lady Park's servant.
The very next morning, Lady Park wakes up alone, she looked for her servant and she found her outside her chambers, unconscious.
- Writer
