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The kitchen of the temporary encampment was initially busy preparing and cooking, but later it became occupied with the task of refilling empty dishes.

At least I could find solace in the fact that it was less hectic than before.

The kitchen was still bustling, but there was a sense of ease compared to the previous chaos. This was due to the team becoming accustomed to the awkward kitchen layout and starting to work well together.

However, Karem had nothing to do.

Correction: He did have something to do.

Alberto had asked him for an unexpectedly important task.

William’s individual support.

“Seems like it suddenly went from busy to relaxed.”

William scratched his head with an awkward expression.

To be frank, William had been dismissed from the kitchen.

Of course, no one had told him to leave, but it wasn’t busy enough to warrant even a cat’s paw, and his very presence was more of a bother for the chefs, who hoped he would just step outside.

If this frustration was bottled up and mistakes were made, that would be an even bigger problem, leaving Alberto with no choice.

Unlike the chefs at Winterhome, who were immune thanks to the Felwinter siblings, many other chefs trembled at the mere thought of the Felwinter family, let alone their own noble families.

In other words, it was essentially shocking.

“Well, isn’t it just that the primary purpose is socializing rather than snacks?”

“Is that so?”

“Nope. It’s just that Your Highness feels uncomfortable.”

“What? Are you blaming me for this?”

“Yep. But still, the social aspect does allow for some relaxation.”

Karem nodded at William with conviction.

“You’ll be super busy preparing and serving for the dinner banquet later.”

“Hmm, that’s true.”

In Iceland, there was a culture of gathering the whole family for a grand meal in the evening.

The reason for inviting people for a hunt was actually to celebrate Elizabeth. Naturally, a dinner banquet would take place. The kitchen of the encampment would have to prepare dishes to be sent out just as people left for the hunt.

William nodded as if he understood.

“By the way, Sir Zigmeser said it would be good for you to experience this, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then it seems you’re leaning towards cooking for the future after all.”

“I realized it suits me better than I thought as I learned.”

William looked at him with a posture that suggested he had nothing but respect.

“Someone said they’d teach you, but you ended up learning from Zigmeser while wandering around.”

“Yeah, but he taught well. I was just too scared initially.”

Karem flinched a bit, having silently listened to the conversation.

Honestly, he felt a little guilty.

“I’m sorry. But to be honest, it was out of my control.”

“I know.”

It was shortly after someone volunteered to teach him that he got invited to Bendleig, and upon returning, it got canceled due to his training at handling strength.

Then he suddenly took off for vacation with Catherine and returned busy conducting research for a special meal for Elizabeth.

William knew that and chuckled it off.

“So that’s why you brushed it aside.”

“However, you’ve certainly improved since that time when your dishes had no flavor at all?”

“Well, that was just because I couldn’t get the seasoning right then. Now I can at least follow a recipe.”

It’s surprising how many people mess it up when they can’t follow a recipe.

It felt like just yesterday that he had tasted William’s shockingly flavorless dish.

But already his skills had improved this much?

Karem couldn’t help but feel a bit impressed.

“Hey, how long has it been since that time?”

“What did I say?”

“You’re trying to hide your expression, huh? It’s obvious what you’re saying.”

At that penetrating comment, he absentmindedly rubbed his face with his hand.

Was his inner self that transparent?

“Huh? Wait a moment. What’s that?”

“What is it?”

“Look over there.”

Karem turned his head in the direction William pointed with his finger.

In the center of the encampment, people were bustling about.

Tables arranged buffet-style surrounded the periphery.

Between tents and tables, out of sight from the crowds, a small hand suddenly popped out from the dessert corner.

Tap tap tap—swish!

The small hand swept cookies under the table.

Each time it did, the identity of the head barely visible became strikingly familiar.

Golden hair in a familiar tone, a face emerging to stuff cookies into its cheeks. It was Alicia.

Alicia was gathering cookies of various types from the dessert corner.

In the meantime, the fleeing wind of Winterhome slipped silently between the tents. The bulbous pouch visible was stuffed like a hamster’s cheeks with cookies. In the background, Mrs. Poppins appeared to be passing by with a discontented expression.

“What is that little chubby doing this time?”

William shook his head in disbelief.

“Well, maybe she’s trying to share cookies with her cuddly giant dungeon hamster.”

“What? That pet giant dungeon hamster?”

“I’ve seen her sharing cookies with it before.”

Karem’s guess was correct.

Having received the fluffy cloud from her grandfather, Alicia often shared snacks with it.

Once again, she was trying to drag her fluffy cloud along only to be stopped.

But Alicia wasn’t about to give up.

If she couldn’t take it there, her plan was to gather as many snacks as possible and bring them back here to share.

It was a simple, cute, and commendable act born from her desire to share food with an eating-loving pet.

“Looks like she has no intention of reflecting on her actions.”

Suddenly, Catherine approached, standing with her staff at the ready. Mary received it politely with a fiery gaze.

They both understood what reflecting meant.

“I deeply regret my actions.”

Karem spoke sincerely.

“Then, could you quickly help me out of here before we start preparing for the dinner banquet?”

“Well, I’m contemplating that… Prince William. It’s been a while.”

William subtly raised his hand in greeting.

“Same goes for Atanitas. Well, I guess I should be on my way now.”

“Huh? You’re leaving?”

“Even though I’m uncomfortable, I can’t just sit here idly.”

That was none of Karem’s business; having rested enough, William jumped back into the busy kitchen still making snacks.

If he felt self-conscious about being visibly observed, he intended to work out of sight. Conveniently, the sink was in an inconspicuous spot.

“Anyway, I planned for today to work under my lord.”

Catherine muttered while pressing her philtrum.

“With that one chatterbox tagging along, it’s been quite noisy.”

“Contractor. It’s not noisy, it’s simply the right thing to say.”

No lengthy explanations were needed. Catherine shot a tired glance at Mary, who was radiating annoyance from the side.

“This is why.”

The fuel for her heated glance was clearly jealousy.

While she merely followed Catherine around assisting, someone was engrossed in the enjoyable kitchen tasks, sparking her envy.

Karem felt wronged.

“It’s no wonder I kept feeling those stares. You do understand this isn’t something I wanted to do, right?”

“It’s noisy. But still, didn’t you end up doing more work than I did? I could’ve handled everything alone.”

“This house fairy is really annoying.”

It was clear that her irritation stemmed from Karem doing more work than she did.

What a workaholic annoying to the core.

“Well, would it matter if you quit?”

Catherine, shaking her head at Mary, turned her gaze to Karem and asked.

“I heard the kitchen head here is you, Karem.”

“There are chefs from Winterhome, and the rest were busy talking to Prince William about handling things themselves.”

Moreover, although Karem had grown more accustomed due to preparing meals for Wales, managing more complex dishes for the banquet was quite a stretch.

“Clearly, it wouldn’t matter.”

“What then?”

“Well… Shall we let it slide here? Follow me. Looks like we’re about to head out shortly.”

With that affirmation from the involved party, Karem had no reason to hesitate.

Quickly removing his apron and handing it to Alberto, Karem explained the situation before following Catherine. He could trust that Catherine would explain to Alfred.

As Catherine had mentioned, people seemed adequately rested, as they dispersed to their tents in preparation for another hunt.

Those equipping their mounts, the stewards checking weapons, the nobles donning armor, and the servants moving their luggage.

Honestly, it looked more like preparing for a war than a hunt.

“So how many did you catch?”

“How many do you think we caught?”

“Excuse me?”

“Huh?”

Catherine blinked silently for a moment, then broke into a smile.

“What were you imagining?”

“So what then?”

“Does it make sense that I would move for something as trivial as horned rabbits?”

Now that he thought about it, it was obvious.

To a grand wizard capable of tanking a monster’s breath head-on, horned rabbits were indeed far too trivial.

“Karem, the contractor’s role is to guard the wagon and cart while the invited guests go hunting.”

At Mary’s words, Catherine clicked her tongue and scoffed.

“When you weren’t accepting invitations, you picked at every little thing, and now that you finally accepted, you look worried about monopolizing your lord’s attention with hunting. It’s quite hilarious.”

“Guards?”

Until going to the kitchen, the only things he had seen near Drywood were horned rabbits and the people hunting them. There was nothing threatening the attendants waiting for their masters to return from the hunt.

Then he recalled the ice worm that had been plaguing the area around Drywood just recently. Of course, that wouldn’t be the case. If it was still lurking, a subjugation team would have been formed by now.

So that meant…

“Other monsters or beasts that might latch onto the horned rabbits?”

For instance, spawning herrings, sardines.

The migration of tens of thousands of fish would naturally attract nearby predators. The same principle applied to horned rabbits on the ground.

“That’s right. It’s the true aim of this hunt as well. It’s to prevent their attempts at stealing from empty homes.”

Though it sounded a bit annoyed, her steps were rather light, and her expression was even showing a hint of freshness.

Soon after Catherine arrived, the nobles ready for the hunt started to arrive with their attendants and stewards.

Some of them looked this way and flinched, whispering amongst themselves, but with Catherine’s remark that it was nothing to worry about, they nodded in agreement.

The reason they flinched and whispered was singular.

Divine Power.

The overwhelming divine power felt from the front of the caravan.

Of course, not everyone could sense it.

However, at least one skilled person in each noble entourage could register this fact. Such individuals quickly informed their lords or subordinates.

The ones accompanying Alfred for the hunt were the closest associates of the invited nobles.

Unless they were spies or had malevolent intentions, there was no reason for them to lie.

“Now that I think of it, the steward from Winterfell said that the chef of the chief magic consultant has the deep interest of the Three Gods.”

“Has the divine power really increased that much in just a year? Did he get blessed by an envoy?”

“How could such a devout person be stuck with a dubious wizard? Even more so since they are lovers. While beautifully enticing…”

“Could it be that the chief magic consultant sensed this quality early and seduced her? That’s a rather credible theory.”

The misunderstandings surrounding Catherine were only deepening.

 

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