I arrive at the kitchen again to make final preparation. I let Mrs. Martina dealing with pushcarts that Charles and Joe deliver while I inspecting the cooking process. I pay special attention to the consommé soup preparation because this dish is the first food which served for lunch. I don't' want they already get a bad impression on the first dish.
I come closer to the cooks who prepared the soup, watching how they're doing and give some reminders about the cooking process
"Don't stir the soup too fast, just do it slowly and occasionally…just make sure the soup will not get too thick because not stirred. Also, watch the fire, simmering is cooking with small fire, using big fire will ruin the soup"
"Understand, young master"
After inspecting the soup making process, I go the cooks from Lumon town. I want to see if they can keep up with the cooking's pace in our kitchen and if they can blend with other cooks as well. When I arrive there, the only girl there, Sarah, still gaze me with the looks like the previous one. If Mr. Coles did not nudge her, maybe she still staring me that way
"Hello, do you find any trouble in our kitchen?"
Mr. Coles as their representative replies my question politely
"Thank you, young master, with your arrangement we don't find any trouble at all"
"Glad to hear that, Mr. Coles. I admit we really lack personnel, with you all here, the burden can be lifted significantly"
"Young master Henry, can I ask a question?"
Suddenly, the only girl, Sarah, speak up her mind. I wonder what kind of question she wants to ask me
"Sure..miss Sarah, right? What do you want to ask?"
"We peeled these potatoes since we arrived, I heard these potatoes will be processed as potato chips, what is that?"
"Ah yes, sorry we can't give you any real job yet and only can ask you to do the minor job like peeling potatoes. But later when you already know about our recipes, your job will be not as simple as right now. And this potato chip is a snack that my sister loves very much. I also want to serve this potato chip to our important guest"
"This potato served as a snack?"
"Correct. Miss Sarah, you're pastry maker, maybe you think this job not suit you? Alright, after you finish peel the potato, you can join the bread maker section there, you know how to knead the dough, right?"
"Yes, thank you, young master"
"Okay, please continue, I still have other things to take care"
I go to Mrs. Martina to ask her to prepare something else for the lunch today
"Mrs. Martina, I need you to prepare something for me"
"Sure, what can I do to help, young master?"
"Well, you see…I don't know what Earl Stamfort food preferences and also his companion. We already prepare Chai tea as beverages, but just in case they don't like tea, I want you to prepare other beverages"
"Sure young master"
"For Earl Stamfort, we surely serve him with the best wine we had if he asked that, but if we also give his guards the same wine, that will be depleted our wine stock. So buy some cheap wine that sold at bars in town for those guards. If they don't like tea or wine and only ask for water, prepare boiled water right now, and put on the pot. When water in the pot no longer hot anymore, put the sliced lemon, cucumber, and strawberries into the pot. Two pots for each fruit and one pot for combination fruits. Put the lid on the pot and store in the cold place"
"Understand, young master. I will prepare that immediately"
What I prepared is something called infused water. It's easy to make and give better taste than ordinary water. After finish my business in the kitchen, I return to my room to get the dressing. It's about time for our guest to arrive in our castle, so I also must get prepared myself. After washing my face and clean it with soap to remove the smells from the kitchen in the bathroom, I enter my bedroom. Clara and Claire are already waiting for me there, they already wear their best maid uniform.
"Hello girls, are you waiting for me for long?"
"Not really Henry…You will dress up now?"
"Yes, I guess it's about time our guest will arrive"
"We will prepare it for you, just take off your current dress and we will dress you up"
I do as they told me to do, remove my clothes with only my pants left. Clara and Claire take the suit that kept in the wardrobe and helps me dress. This formal suit is also including gloves, hats and decorative short sword to hang in my waist. But before I put the hat, Clara and Claire do my hair first, then carefully comb my hair and arrange it neatly. After they finish doing my hair, it's my turn to do their hairdo as I promise before. I made the braids on their hair like the first time I do their hairstyle. Ugh, this surely brings good memories back.
After I'm done with their hairdo, we all fixing each other dress before leaving the room. I look myself reflection in the mirror for the last time before leaving the room
"How do I look, girls?"
"Awesome, Henry! You look more handsome in that suit"
"You look sturdy, firm and strong with that suit, like a general commanding his army"
"Thanks, girls, shall we leave now? I still need to pick my sister too"
"We're right behind you Henry"
We leave the room after I take the flower bouquet with me. I decide to carry that flower bucket with me since Clara and Claire both want to carry that flower bouquet. To prevent any unnecessary quarrel over the flower bouquet, I decide to carry it myself.