Chapter 78: Taking over the Soup Kitchen
*(Update to my lovely readers. I''ll be using the term mana spirits or sprites whenever the FL is
interacting with Undine or Igneus. Pls note the both terms mean the same thing. Thanks!)
Ely''s POV:
I took inventory of what little foodstuff survived in therders and storage rooms.
A perishable food items were recycled as slop or feed for the animals while flour, salt, sugar and other
none perishable foods were noted and kept.
The people the duke left to help us were young and eager. Lorelei and I discussed how to stock the
food and decided to keep all perishables in therder since they have a cool temperature while the
none perishables are kept at the storage.
Because I was decisive and knew how to categorize supplies properly, we finished organizing
everything around afternoon.
"Phew. I am in need for a nice cup of tea or even water for that matter." My friend used a dainty
handkerchief to wipe the moisture from her brow as Kain gave me my own cloth to wipe my sweat.
"Mdies, the duke has tasked me to show you to your rooms." A huge knight with a kind yet
weathered face bowed to us. His eyes saw our set of neatly stocked rooms and nodded. "It seems like
we will be in good hands. You did a good job organizing. Please. Follow me."
After we bid farewell to the men who helped out. We passed by the other storage area which was more
spacious and easy to store food.
Lady Lorax had demanded to use the best storage room for her food so she took this ce.
From the sounds of her yelling and constant men shuffling in and out of the ce.
It seems like she was a handful and very loud, her shrill words of irritation and outrage at a few broken
bottle of wine made us giggle softly as we passed by it.
"As your person is given to the duke''s care. We prepared and had the room cleaned that is at the end
of the first floor. The duke is the only one remaining here but his room is on the other end of this hall."
He opened the door that was guarded by two warriors.
The room was pristine. Our trunks and luggage were being brought out by two maids and hung in the
closets opposite of the two beds with feather stuffed covers.
There was a nice table where we can take tea, a window and cushion seat where we can look at the
activity happening in the outer court yard.
The floor was polished and bare of any carpets or rungs but this was rather nice.
"I''ll leave you twodies to get settled in. If you need anything; ask for me. My name is Sir Oswald and
it is a pleasure to meet you two."
N?velDrama.Org content.
We bowed to the older knight and seems pleased with our manners as he let himself out.
I asked Kain to stand guard by the door while Lorelei rxed and threw herself at the left side bed.
"The duke must have had this cleaned in haste. Pretty simple but the room is quite big for 2dies."
sheid her head against the pillow and sighed. "Finally! A soft bed!"
"Why don''t you take a nap? Dinner service is five hours away." I went over and helped my friend into
bed and stroked her brow until she fell asleep.
Now then, time to investigate the kitchens and see what will be served to the army for dinner.
Hopefully it is something edible. I saw the devastated buildings and the cracked streets.
I even saw the crumbled walls. And more than one person who looked hungry.
These people must have nearly starved so I may look into setting up a soup kitchen for them.
"Mdy?" Kain was perplexed to see that I was going out again so he followed me out.
"I just want to check the kitchens and see what will be served for dinner. Let''s have Lady Lorelei rest up
for now. Come."
"Yes, mydy." he nodded as we made our way down the stairway and towards the the building near
the storage andrder structure.
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The entire field near the kitchen building that was being used for a soup kitchen was a mess. There
were a few people but none of them knew what to do.
I saw a few people just tossing water and vegetables of all kinds into the pots, hoping that this mix will
be called soup. My eye twitched when a young girl threw in rotting plums and fruits in on of the huge
stew pots.
"Kain. Where is the chef supervising the soup kitchen? Pls ask around."
He nodded and went to gather information.
In the mean time, I observed how these people work and cringed at how disorderly everyone was.
There was no one as signing tasks, setting up a prep station or properly seasoning the soup.
I can not stand it anymore.
"Wait! Mi-miss!" One of the soldiers keeping a eye on the stew pots eximed as I took thedle near a
table and went near the pot and scooped some of the soup that had been boiling the most.
What I tasted was a horrible nd mix of dirt and mashed rotted vegetables that made me spit it out
promptly.
That.....was offensive.
"Miss Elena." Main came backs and whispered to me about what she found out. "No one is manning
the soup kitchen as they are about short staffed preparing food for the nobles and senior warriors who
eat at the mess hall."
"What about the citizens and the lower tier warriorsing over to have a nice bowl of stew?"
"They have notined much ording to the talks around here but the response to the soup
kitchens were not positive at all, Miss."
I frowned and decided what I should do.
Raising thedle, I banged it against the stew pot and the loud ringing sound caused everyone to stop
what they were doing.
"Listen up! I am the Duchess ina''s protege, Elena and I will be taken over what we cook for the soup
kitchen! " I yelled loudly. "Listen up! This is what we are going to do!"
Once Kain had fetched a drowsy Lorelei from her bed just as I grouped assigned people to certain
stations. I had men throw out the disgusting slop that was boiling on the pots.
"Alright! Let''s cook everyone!"