Carlos looked puzzled by my words. I wonder if that looked because he never tasted spiciness before.
I folded both my sleeves, and tied my hair and the ponytail swing pleasantly behind my head.
"Can you help me clean the fish?"
"All of this? By myself?"
Carlos' eyes widened, thinking about touching the fish alone horrifying him enough.
"Of course I'm gonna help you too."
Carlos belittled me with his eyebrows arch.
"You with your small hand and fragile fingers?"
My left eyebrow arch and my lips curve, giving him a cold smile.
"Should I ask my dear father to accompany you then?"
Carlos immediately took the basket full of fish and moved to the corner.
"I will help Prince Carlos"
Sean who already finished his breakfast took the other basket and Freddie naturally followed Sean.
I took out all the ingredients I needed into the big table in the middle of the kitchen.
With Carlos as an addition for this lunch, and the guest that already stayed from last night, I need to prepare for 18 people probably extra since they may eat more food as usual.
"Why are you crying over there?"
At the corner of the kitchen, Carlos was in tears while helping me to clean up the fish.
He was really good with the fish, it must come from the experience after handling thousands of fish he caught when he was training.
"I'm not crying."
'He was definitely crying'.
'He remember the hardship'
The fairies around me are still talking about him.
"Don't worry, I'll definitely make something that can help you forget about your sad and traumatic past"
He looked gloom and pale. I am not sure why he is still helping me to prepare the fish.
Sean looked at Carlos in a sympathetic way. He took a glance in silence everytime the proud strong beastman was grumbling.
"You will get yourself cut Sean. Keep your eyes on the knife"
I pat his head. Sean nodded and he continued to focus on chopping the tomatoes.
Did the rice cook nicely?'
'princess should we cook more than usual?'
'could you do it without me? '
The fairies were nodded proudly.
"So what will you make today?"
"huhuhu…"
I clapped my hand twice and made simple stretch movement and the clean fish were now in front of me.
I make 3- to 4 vertical cuts on the fish firstly. And then turn over the cuts and make 2 smaller cuts on the chunk.
"We are doing this for better flavoring and more crispy shells."
Sean was nodding at me as his eyes glued to my hand. I keep him near me as he can learn and practice at the same time.
Spread salt lightly on the fish both on the surface and inside. Then place scallion and ginger shreds inside the fish cuts.
I continue the step to 30 fish and marinate for 30 minutes.
While waiting for the fish, I asked Sean to check all the ingredients. And started looking for work to fry the fish and I felt like being slapped as I realised that wok didn't exist here.
"oh no"
My sudden shocked and heavy sigh caught the attention of everyone in the kitchen.
"Are you alright? Are you hurt somewhere?"
Carlos was standing beside me, so close that when I turned to answer him my nose was at his chest.
"Viera I brought you…"
Father's voice stopped in the middle and he was on the verge of exploding.
Carlos jumped to get away as far as he can from me with both his hands raised in the air.
I saw a mark on Carlos' shoulder. It resembled a round shield carved in his leather shoulder pad.