Chapter 20
It was natural to feel curious about this. After all, the stew sold at this shop was extraordinary.
Not just anyone could make it.
There had been several attempts to replicate this stew by opening similar shops, but all of them failed within a few months and eventually closed down.
Even Mark had struggled for years to master the recipe, hadn’t he?
With a look of mild disbelief, Skarl turned to Jay, who emphasized each word with a tone brimming with pride.
“Our lady is the one cooking.”
“Our lady?”
Just as Jay said, the person currently running the kitchen was none other than Ceres herself.
_
“Why close the shop?”
“Pardon? Mark isn’t in any condition to make stew…”
“As long as there’s someone to cook, that’s all that matters, right?”
“I suppose, but…”
“Don’t worry, there is someone.”
“Someone other than Mark who can cook? Who?”
“Me.”
“…Excuse me?”
Even Jay had been dumbfounded when Ceres first said she would cook.
Had she heard that right?
Instead of finding another chef, Ceres herself would prepare the food?
“Lady Ceres, another order’s up.”
Jay was still uneasy as they headed to the dining area together.
This was an established, traditional shop. What if the customers were disappointed and left?
“Here, we’d like another bowl too.”
“Yes, right away!”
But as if mocking Jay’s worries, the customers had no complaints about the stew Ceres prepared.
On the contrary, many claimed it tasted even better than usual and placed additional orders.
“Here’s the stew.”
Wearing an apron and holding a ladle, Ceres looked surprisingly natural in her role.
She skillfully ladled stew into bowls, and Jay quickly carried them out of the kitchen.
“Are all the orders out?”
After delivering the last round of additional orders, Ceres found a moment to breathe and peeked outside the kitchen.
Seeing the satisfied faces of customers enjoying her stew, she nodded.
“How strange.”
Ceres’ expression turned peculiar as she stared at the bubbling stew over low heat.
It was only natural. The first time she visited this shop, she had been startled to see customers happily enjoying the stew.
“This smell… it’s very familiar.”
Her curiosity piqued, she tasted it and was immediately certain.
“This is my stew.”
Back when she was Grace, she had developed this recipe.
Many of the patients who came to her required long-term care. Thus, they often stayed in a dedicated space for extended periods.
The stew had been designed for those long-term patients—restorative, flavorful, and free of side effects.
Ceres had put considerable thought into creating this recipe, which she now realized was being served here at the shop.
She didn’t know how this had happened, but fortunately, she was able to manage in Mark’s absence.
“I even added the missing ingredient.”
There was one difference between her original recipe and the stew served at the shop.
Ceres had always included seasonal herbs, unique to each time of year, in her stew. The shop’s version lacked this detail.
By adding these herbs, the flavor was elevated even further. It was also much healthier.
Ding-a-ling.
The doorbell rang as someone entered the shop.
Peeking out of the kitchen, Ceres clicked her tongue lightly.
“Yulia.”
Once again, Yulia had shown up at the shop.
Ignoring Jay’s greeting, Yulia looked around the shop before her eyes landed on Ceres.
“Big sis!”
The child dashed toward her sister but tripped on her own feet and fell flat on the ground.
The sound of her fall echoed loudly through the shop.
“Are you hurt?”
A gentle hand quickly helped her up—it was Ceres.
The child wiped her eyes and pointed to her knee.
“Here.”
Ceres let out a small sigh of relief.
Thankfully, it wasn’t a serious injury.
Seeing her slightly reddened knee, Ceres scolded her with a brief sigh.
“Didn’t I tell you not to come here?”
“Did you?”
“And?”
“I missed you, sister.”
“…”
What more could she say when those big, bright eyes said they were here just to see her?
“Let’s go sit over there.”
Nod.
As Yulia grabbed Ceres’ hand and headed toward a corner of the shop, a quiet smile spread across Colin’s face.
He had brought Yulia back from the academy, filling in for Jay, who was busy helping in the shop.
Still soft when it comes to Yulia, huh?
The moment Ceres noticed Yulia had fallen, she dashed out of the kitchen without a second thought, leaving Colin no chance to intervene.
It was remarkable, considering how Ceres, after losing her memory, had become so firm and decisive in everything she did.
But it seemed her affection for her little sister remained unchanged.
Despite scolding her, Yulia’s slight bit of charm was enough to make Ceres let things slide, time and again.
“…Did you see that?”
“See what?”
Meanwhile, someone else was watching Ceres move Yulia to her seat.
“You didn’t notice?”
“Notice what? All I can see is my miserable future, being drained dry by other guild leaders.”
Ignoring Vice Guild Leader Rot’s complaints, Skarl kept his gaze fixed on Ceres.
The way she had rushed out and swiftly lifted Yulia—it was extraordinary.
Her movements, from dashing out to tending to the child, were flawless and precise.
“Hey.”
“Yes, sir?”
At Skarl’s call, Jay quickly approached him again.
“Do you need anything else?”
Another bowl, maybe?
Though smiling, Jay couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
“Is that person the new chef?”
Following Skarl’s gaze, Jay realized he was referring to Ceres. She shook her head lightly.
“She’s not the chef. She’s the owner.”
“…The owner?”
The one who posted the new shop rules?
He’d heard the owner was a woman but hadn’t expected someone so young.
Skarl’s eyes were filled with surprise as he continued to observe Ceres.
_
“How’s your arm?”
“Much better. It’s all thanks to you, Miss.”
Mark, whose right arm was heavily bandaged with a splint, forced a bright smile despite the bruises and cuts scattered across his face.
“The medicine you gave me really worked wonders.”
The ointment and pills Ceres had provided significantly reduced the pain and swelling. Even the bruises that had covered his body were rapidly fading.
“That’s good to hear.”
Though her time manipulation ability could heal him instantly, Ceres couldn’t openly use that power, so she had only given him a prescription.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want the shop to suffer because of me.”
“Take this time to rest.”
Mark had told her that since her parents’ passing, the shop had never closed for even a single day. And he had managed it all on his own.
Taking a proper break for once wouldn’t hurt.
“So…”
“Yes?”
“Who hit you?”
“…Excuse me?”
Mark froze, his expression shaken like an earthquake had just hit.
“Didn’t i say i fell down the stairs?”
“I don’t like asking twice.”
Ceres clicked her tongue lightly.
Having worked as a healer for many years, she could easily distinguish between injuries from a fall and those inflicted by someone else.
The fractures and bruises on Mark were not consistent with falling down stairs.
“Who?”
“…”
Mark couldn’t meet her gaze and hung his head low, visibly anxious.
He remained silent for a long while, but Ceres didn’t rush him.
Still, she had no intention of letting it go.
If it meant preventing such incidents from happening again, finding the cause and a solution was necessary.
“…I’m sorry.”
Mark’s voice trembled as he bowed his head lower.
“I tried to handle it on my own…”
Eventually, he started to recount everything that had happened.
“It’s the loan sharks Miss Ceres borrowed from…”
“…Loan sharks?”
Ceres quickly pieced the situation together. She had suspected something was off.
The loan sharks.
Why had they left the shop alone, even while stripping away everything else through debt and interest?
—
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