Translator: Cinder Translations
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At exactly 8 o'clock in the morning, Eileen arrived at the Lord's castle.
Because she had been researching military signals for the army, she had been staying in the courtyard of the staff headquarters or running to the military camp for discussions with the officers.
After the military signals were initially developed, Paul ordered her to relocate her office inside the castle.
A servant led her to her "office," a small room containing only a desk, a few chairs, and a bookshelf with a few cooking books.
Eileen sighed and thought to herself, "What an employer who knows nothing about the finer things in life!"
She didn't complain that Paul was too stingy because she had seen Paul's own office, which was just as monotonous and no better than this one.
"Well, I'll just slowly decorate it myself in the future."
She looked around the room, pondering decoration plans.
At that moment, she heard the sound of the door next door opening.
Suddenly remembering that the servant had mentioned there was another advisor in the Lord's mansion, with an office adjacent to hers, Eileen felt it was appropriate to establish a good relationship as colleagues. After all, she was no longer the dazzling princess everyone sought to impress.
Eileen walked out and gently knocked on the door of the adjacent room. A pleasant voice from inside responded, "Please come in."
"She sounds like a lovely girl. I hope the Earl isn't a lecher."
With these thoughts in mind, Eileen opened the door and was stunned.
Standing before her was the lady scholar and adventurer who had rescued her from the tiger's jaws several months ago — Miss Ladia.
Clearly, Miss Scholar was just as surprised by Eileen's presence.
Eileen quickly regained her composure and said graciously, "Oh my, I didn't expect this. So Miss Ladia is the new advisor recruited by the Lord's mansion. Hello!"
Ladia smiled back and replied, "Hello, Miss D'Arshi. Lord Grayman mentioned you to me several days ago, but I haven't had the chance to visit you. I apologize."
Eileen waved her hand, saying, "You wouldn't have found me in the past few days. I've been at the military headquarters, where it's not easy to come and go."
"Don't be so formal with me in the future. First, you saved me, and now we're colleagues. Perhaps it's fate."
Ladia nodded with a smile, relieved that her earlier slight worry had disappeared.
The day she rescued Miss D'Arshi from the leopard, although the other party thanked her, for some reason she always felt that Miss D'Arshi was a proud person. Now it seemed that they wouldn't have difficulty getting along.
"So, have you given up your career as an adventurer?"
"Yes, after traveling and adventuring for these years, it's time to rest."
"Haha, I'm sure you've accumulated a lot of knowledge in your adventurous career. I'll have to ask you for advice."
"Likewise. As fellow scholars, please guide me as well."
The two women engaged in lively conversation, bonding over their shared identities as female scholars.
About half an hour later, a servant knocked on the door and respectfully announced, "The Earl requests the two advisors to meet him in the dining hall."
Eileen asked in puzzlement, "Why the dining hall? Is Earl Grayman inviting us for a meal? But it's still early for lunch."
The servant replied, "I'm not sure myself. The Earl simply asked me to invite you both."
Eileen pouted, "Really, Ladia and I were having such a nice chat."
The servant broke out in a cold sweat. He had never seen anyone openly complain about Earl Grayman before, but he pretended not to hear.
Ladia tugged at Eileen's sleeve and said, "Betty, let's go over quickly. It's not good to keep Earl Grayman waiting."
In just half an hour, they had become close enough to address each other by their first names.
---
Eileen and Ladia arrived at the dining hall to find several people already there.
In addition to Earl Grayman, there was Chief Minister Old Ford from the Council, several supervisors including Hansel, and high-ranking military officers such as Schroder and Bryce.
"Oh, the two beauties have arrived. Welcome, welcome."
Earl Grayman seemed very cheerful, warmly welcoming them.
Eileen couldn't help but think, "Really, with a war about to break out, he can still maintain such a good mood."
After the two female advisors took their seats, Paul addressed everyone, "I've gathered everyone here today to taste a special food."
He turned to the servant and instructed, "Bring them in."
Soon, strange glass jars were placed in front of each person.
Eileen carefully examined the peculiar jars in front of her. They were wide-mouthed jars made of thick glass, sealed tightly with cork stoppers and covered with wax.
But the most intriguing part was what was inside the jars — chopped apples, it seemed.
She glanced at the jar in front of Ladia, which appeared to contain chopped pears.
Looking around, each person's jar held something different — some contained vegetables, others meat. Most people eyed the glass jars with suspicion.
Except for a few from the Council, who had heard about these things from Paul a long time ago, Chief Minister Ford and Hansel had personally overseen the establishment of the factory that produced these.
Paul announced cheerfully, "Everyone, this is 'canned food,' a method of food processing that can preserve food for a long time. Now, open them up and taste the food inside."
"Here, follow me."
Paul first scraped off the wax seal with a small knife, then picked up a "can opener" — a spiral-shaped metal hook — and forcefully twisted it into the cork stopper. With a strong pull upwards, the stopper came out.
He took a fork and scooped out a piece of beef, slowly chewing it.
"Mm! It tastes good. Feel free to eat, the food inside is all cooked."
Everyone followed the Earl's lead, opening their wide-mouthed jars and tasting the food inside with their forks.
"The taste is decent!"
"The broth inside is also delicious."
"Although it's not as good as freshly made, if it can be preserved for a long time, this invention is truly excellent."
People ate and discussed, especially the military personnel. Schroder and Bryce began quietly discussing the importance of canned food for military supplies.
Eileen tried a piece of apple. "Hmm... the taste of this apple is a bit strange, but not bad. Ladia, how's yours?"
Ladia nodded, "The pear chunks inside mine are very sweet, the taste is quite good."
Paul turned to the two female advisors and asked, "Both of you come from prosperous places. Do you think this kind of thing would sell well where you're from?"
Ladia said, "If it can indeed be preserved for a long time as you say, it will definitely sell well, especially among those who travel long distances. It will be greatly welcomed."
As a former adventurer, she knew exactly what the invention of canned food meant for travelers.
Eileen also nodded repeatedly. Though she had been raised in luxury since childhood, her recent travels to the northwest had taught her the hardship of having perishable food like meat and vegetables go bad quickly, leaving her with only dry and hard black bread when far from any village or store.
"Haha! Excellent. We're already producing canned food in large quantities and will soon start selling it to the south."
Paul happily announced to everyone.
(End of the Chapter)