After leaving my room, I go to the kitchen once again to make a final inspection, ensure everything is alright, then continue to inspecting to the surrounding rampart of the castle to inspect the security before heading to the great hall where the banquet will hold. I'm checking the placement of the tables and chair, decorations, the stage where my maids will make performance, etc. I satisfied with all were arranged well like what I've planned before. Mr. Nicholas also already standby near the hall entrance to receive the guest. The maids and servants who have the duty to welcome the guest also already standby at the front yard
Although the banquet will start the afternoon, our guests are already coming one by one before noontime, especially people from Castle town which nearest from here. Mayor of Lumon town, Rudolf, is one of the early guests, beside Castle town mayor, Mr. Hubert. Mr. Rudolf also brings his wife and his sons too in this banquet. Well, of course, their arrival brings a bright atmosphere to the castle. Even my father, who still inside the hall also comes out to greet his old friend.
"Rudolf! I'm glad you're coming"
"Haha! Sir Harvard, how come I would miss this joyful event. Today I bring my son, Gandolf, for this happy occasion, I believe you already meet him a couple of days ago?"
"Yes! Your son already grows into a splendid young man. You're doing a good job in raising him, Rudolf"
"Ah, my son still nothing compared to your son. I already know his valor in combat, but to know he's also a great chef, I just know it recently. My son praises his cooking a lot when he returns from here, you know? Is that Henry? He also grows into a handsome young man"
Mr. Rudolf's addressing me who stand beside my father.
"Hello, uncle Rudolf, hello auntie"
I greet Mr. Rudolf and his wife politely.
"Haha...what a polite young man. I must say congratulation for your engagement first"
"Thank you, Uncle Rudolf, but today is not only my engagement will be announced but my sister too"
"Ooohh...that's wonderful. Congratulation to have your daughter having engaged too, Sir Harvard"
"Thank you for your coming, Rudolf…Today's food also Henry creation too, you know?"
"That would be quite a feast then…but is that really okay? With the salt problem that currently this territory had"
"No no…This is not the right time to discuss that matter, keep the official business for later, let's come inside and enjoy this banquet"
My father and Gandolf's father walk inside together while chat happily and left me and Gandolf on the entrance. Since our father already left, there's no more restraint for us to talk freely.
"Brother Henry, we meet again"
"Brother Gandolf, you're coming early"
"Hahaha…I want to have time to talk with you while there are not many guests"
"Hahaha…I always have time for my brother. So what do you want to talk about?"
"Ah, nothing special…I just want to know how our cooks doing in here. Did they help with this banquet?"
"Oh, they're really a great help for us. Want to see them work in the kitchen?"
"If not trouble you, please show me the kitchen then, I really want to see their work. Maybe they will be more motivated in their work if I visit them"
"No, no trouble at all. I also want to see the banquet preparation myself"
We both go to the kitchen together after I ask Mr. Nicholas to attend incoming guest without me. And when we arrive at the castle kitchen,
"Here is our kitchen, brother Gandolf, I suggest you not to stand near the stove because the smoke leaves a bad smell on your clothes"
"Oh, It's larger than our kitchen and so bustling. I can see everyone is busy here. Where are our cooks working?"
"They're working over there"
I'm pointing at the direction where the cooks from Lumon town working while taking Gandolf to get closer to them. But when we arrive there,
"Sarah?"
"Gandolf?"
Huh? Why he surprised when seeing Sarah here…also why Sarah call him casually like that? That's not how an employee addressed her boss, right? At least she should be calling Gandolf, young master Gandolf or Sir Gandolf. But casually called him by the name only?
"Why are you here, Sarah?"
Eeh? Didn't you send her to learn to cook here, Gandolf? Why did you ask her like that? And you also speak so casually with her...
"Young master Henry!"
Mr. Coles, who see that we're in in the kitchen, is coming to greet us.
"Young master Gandolf, why are you here?"
"Ah, you come at the right time, Mr. Coles. Care to give me an explanation about this?"
Gandolf asks Mr. Coles while pointing at Sarah
The atmosphere becomes awkward for a moment. I also confused about this situation. Why Gandolf asks why Sarah is here? Is that mean she's not actually part of cooks sent from Lumon town before? I need explanation too for this situation. But the explanation should not take place in the kitchen. Some cooks already start distracted from their work when they hear our conversation.
"Guys, let's speak outside. If we talk in here, it would disturb the work of other cooks here. Mr. Coles, miss Sarah, please follow me, we talk about this outside"
Since the kitchen is bustling with cooking activities, people who not doing work there and instead just talk surely disturbs the cooks work. I take them outside the kitchen to speak freely there. And after we moved to outside the kitchen, we can talk without disturbing the cooks.