My Lady Chef novel Chapter 20

Ely's POV:

" Milady. You have a few invitations for this week." Linda came to me carrying a tray that had a few invites in it.

"Thank you. Can you please bring the snacks I have prepared for us?"

"Right away Milady." she bowed as I read through a few invites.

A few days ago, word of my marriage to the duke was published in the local newspaper and it seems like the invitations for various summer parties and soirees have started pouring in.

Just yesterday, I walked in on my husband telling Milford to burn all the invitations sent to me.

Apparently, Linda must have taken them before the head butler could see it.

The heat was more bearable today because of the breeze so I decided to read by the shaded pavilion by the back garden where there is more shade.

I was very interested in how one's mana element can affect a person's mana growth and it seems to highlight a certain flavor profile.

According to the latest book I have read. Fire mana boosts food with spicy and salty flavors while Water boosts sweet and creamy flavors

Wind deals with sour and sweet flavors and Earth deals with rich, umami, and bitter flavors.

The rule of thumb in mana cooking is to use only one mana to heighten one flavor profile only but from my experience as a chef; dishes that have at least two different flavor contrasts and added texture usually teases the palate more.

The purpose of this method was used to heighten one's mana for a short time and it also delivers an indescribable rush to one's taste buds since mana greatly increases the deliciousness of food.

But my method of infusing a small stream of mana into every preparation was so subtle but I noticed that Linda and the other culinary house servants who were recipients of my cooking are unusually more energetic and healthy.

Could it be that my way of using mana was more of a long term effect than just the momentary increase of mana in one's body?

Maybe it is still not a mainstream idea yet judging from the food I have tasted in the last months that I lived here.

After finishing and marking the book with a magick book seal, I opened the three invitations which were three pretty colored paper.

One was a small garden party by Lady Grant. The dress code is blue and I could even bring one servant I trust with me.

The second was a picnic from the third Princess Ophelia who was a very beloved songstress in the capital.

The last one is from Lady Lorax, whose husband died last year so her father took over the title on the condition that she retains her title as the lady of the house.

I remembered our first meeting yesterday when she came to visit me for the first time.

The servants knew her but for some reason, they remain uncomfortable and won't tell me more details about the so-called "Belle of the Ton."

That particular visit left a sour taste on my tongue as I remembered it.

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(Flashback)

"Uhmm...Lady Alaina. The Lady Margaret Lorax is here for her visit."

One of the maids came to the culinary house to report this while I was making a new batch of broth cubes. My last batch is mostly well-received and even the new chef has begun using them to cut his cooking time by half.

"Very well. Serve her some tea. Tell Chef Raime to give her some of the new desserts. I'll be there after I clean up."