Chapter 182: Cooking and Clashing
While Celia lowered her head gloomily, her heart filled with conflict.
The crackling of the hearth and the thickening aroma of food in the kitchen roused both women from their thoughts.
"Oh no!" Freya lifted her skirt and hurried toward the stove. "The beef I was stewing for Master Ansu... I hope it hasn't boiled dry!"
Freya carefully lifted the lid, and a cloud of steam carrying a rich blend of fruit and meat aromas billowed out.
Fortunately, she had reacted in time. The sauce in the pot had thickened perfectly without drying out, and the tender beef brisket shimmered with an enticing luster within the wine-red sauce.
Just as she breathed a sigh of relief, Celia's voice, devoid of any discernible emotion, came from behind her:
"What dish is this? It looks quite refined."
Freya paused and looked back to see Celia eyeing the meal she had prepared on the counter, a rare flicker of curiosity in her gaze.
"It's Vilanti Red Wine Beef Stew, a famous dish from the southern Empire," Freya explained softly. "I originally thought there wouldn't be many ingredients in your kitchen, but I didn't expect... to find such high-quality aged red wine. That's why I thought of this dish."