I’ve Become a S*ave Bride - Chapter 69
The Markal scanned her breakfast table, which looked no different from any other day.
However, there was a white mass that caught her eye. When she asked about it, she was told it was something called ‘Dambaekdan’, made by Lenette.
“Dambaekdan? This is the food that child made?”
“Yes. They say she came out at dawn to prepare it personally.”
“Oho.”
Lenette did not enter the room, even though she must have been curious about the Markal’s reaction.
‘Is this her own way of being considerate?’
After all, it is difficult to show a completely honest reaction when the person who prepared the meal is standing right in front of you.
‘What a clever child.’
If only she weren’t from a slave background. Or, at the very least, if she weren’t Kazen’s wife.
It was a pity.
Clicking her tongue for a moment, the Markal pushed aside her idle thoughts and focused on the food.
“Very well, let us have a taste.”
In the dining culture of the Tazetra Empire, both bare hands and utensils were used. However, the Markal was not fond of eating with her hands, so she usually used a spoon or a trident-shaped tool.
“It is soft.”
When she scooped the white mass with her spoon, it came away without any resistance.
“They say it pairs well with the sauce served alongside it.”
“I shall taste it in its natural state first.”
The Markal put a small piece of the white mass into her mouth.
“Hm?”
Her eyes widened slightly.
It was soft. The moment it entered her mouth, it crumbled and scattered gently across her palate.
However, it wasn’t crumbly or sticky at all. It was soft yet moist, and while it felt fluffy, there was still a distinct texture to chew.
‘What on earth is this mysterious texture?’
She scooped up another portion and put it in her mouth—a larger spoonful this time. Even so, it wasn’t overwhelming.
“Oho.”
Since she often lost sleep due to poor digestion, the Markal fundamentally disliked tough or coarse foods. Perhaps that was why? The fact that it was soft and easy to eat earned it high marks right away.
But this Dambaekdan had more to offer than just a pleasant texture.
“It is savory.”
The snow-white food possessed a subtle, mild flavor that matched its color. Yet, rather than feeling bland, it had a strange charm that made her sweep her tongue across her palate to chase the taste. As she slowly savored it, a rich nuttiness soon bloomed in her mouth.
‘It’s warm and soft, yet there is a joy in chewing it; it is mild, yet deeply savory.’
It was a fascinating dish.
The Markal’s spoon moved toward the Dambaekdan again and again. The portion on the plate vanished in no time.
“Is there no more?”
“There is, Your Majesty.”
The Markal, who hadn’t even spared a glance at the other dishes, told her maid, “Go and bring more.”
Had she anticipated this? A fresh serving of Dambaekdan was brought to the table immediately. And it didn’t take long for the second portion to disappear as well.
“This is quite the wicked thing.”
Was she referring to Lenette, who created the dish, or the Dambaekdan itself?
—
“You ate more than usual. Are you feeling all right?”
“Yes. That is precisely what is so strange. My stomach does not feel burdened at all.”
She had eaten about twenty percent more than her usual intake. Yet, for some reason, she did not feel bloated or heavy.
“Entertaining. Quite entertaining.”
Perhaps because she had been eating nothing but unsatisfactory greens, she usually felt unpleasant and irritated after meals, as if she hadn’t really eaten at all. However, her stomach couldn’t handle hearty food, so she had been forced to stick to a vegetarian diet.
But this gave her a definite sense of fullness, and above all, it was delicious.
“Is there enough of this food left?”
“There is.”
“Then serve it again for lunch.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As the maid bowed and prepared to leave, the Markal stopped her.
“Ah, and where is that child now?”
“I believe she is currently teaching the kitchen maids how to prepare the Dambaekdan.”
“Oho.”
Just as expected. She was taking action on her own without even being told. That was why it was such a pity.
She had finally found the kind of granddaughter-in-law she had always wanted, and yet…
“Hmm.”
She tapped the table lightly with her fingertips.
But what could be done? Bloodline was a factor that could never be ignored. In reality, a noble bloodline didn’t necessarily make a person good, but there was no better tool than a prestigious lineage to suppress and command the ministers.
Savoring a lingering sense of regret, the Markal waved her hand toward the maid.
“I understand. You may leave.”
—
‘She isn’t calling for me right away.’
Lenette quickly scanned the breakfast tray where only the plate that had held the Dambaekdan was licked clean.
‘It seems to suit her palate.’
After all, while she was teaching the maids the recipe, they had come back to take a second helping of the dish.
‘Does this mean she’s decided not to make a fuss about it?’
As she was inwardly speculating on the Markal’s intentions, the head maid calmly delivered the news.
“There has been an order to prepare the lunch menu centered around Dambaekdan today.”
At those words, Lenette inwardly cheered.
‘Success. She likes it.’
The health benefits of Dambaekdan were already a proven fact. Therefore, the only remaining hurdle was whether it suited the consumer’s preference—and she had cleared it.
‘Her energy will return in no time.’
The meat deficiency would also improve quickly. Once that happened, the Markal would have no choice but to acknowledge Lenette’s methods.
“Food is also a form of medicine?”
“Yes. In Ecaron, we pay more attention to diet than to medicinal herbs.”
“Hmm.”
The Markal hadn’t looked particularly convinced at the time, but since she had decided to lend Lenette her support for now, she had provided the resources to make the Dambaekdan.
‘But now that she’s experienced both the taste and the effect, she won’t be able to deny it.’
A victorious smile almost brushed across her lips.
‘But it’s not over yet.’
A person who lives in constant hunger can be satisfied eating the same thing every day. Regardless of taste, they live with gratitude just for the fact that there is food at all. However, those who eat for the purpose of pleasure rather than mere survival are different. To them, being told to live on just one type of food is nothing short of torture.
‘Since she has just been introduced to Dambaekdan, she likely won’t feel any aversion even if she eats it for a few meals in a row.’
However, it wouldn’t be long before she grew tired of it and refused to touch it.
‘If that happens, she’ll revert to her unbalanced diet.’
She couldn’t allow that. Therefore, her plan was to gradually introduce a variety of Dambaekdan dishes from now on so that the Markal would always find something new.
“Did she eat it without any accompanying sauces?”
“That is correct.”
“Does she generally dislike foods with strong seasoning?”
“Yes, she does.”
Lenette now had a rough idea of the Markal’s preferences.
“Understood. I will discuss it with the kitchen maids and have the meal served.”
Once the head maid left, Lenette immediately turned to the kitchen staff.
“For lunch, we will use the state of the Dambaekdan before it reaches its final form—what I’ll call ‘Dambaek-un.’”
Dambaek-un. Like the previous name, this wasn’t an official Ecaron term but one Lenette had coined on the spot. Because the soft, lumpy shapes before being pressed into the mold looked like clouds (un), she named it Dambaek-un (Pure White Cloud).
“How should we prepare it?”
“I plan to season the Dambaek-un and the milky water left over from scooping it out with just a bit of salt.”
“Understood.”
The kitchen maids’ faces were already brimming with curiosity. Since a cook must know the taste of their food well, they had been eating that precious Dambaekdan all morning. Every one of them was captivated by the light yet savory flavor and the soft, fluffy texture; thus, their eyes sparkled at the prospect of Lenette’s new attempt.
“Ah, that’s right. Do people in the Tazetra Empire happen to eat small shrimp?”
“They eat them near the rivers or the sea.”
“Ah… then I suppose it would be difficult to obtain them here?”
“Is that so? What exactly are you looking for?”
“Small shrimp preserved in salt. The kind made to last a long time.”
“Ah! If it’s that, we have it!”
A petite maid rushed off and quickly returned with a small jar. When she opened the lid, there it was—the salted tiny shrimp Lenette had been searching for.
“Is this used in the food the Markal eats?”
“It is used from time to time.”
“Perfect. Then I’ll use this instead of salt.”
Doing this would provide a much richer flavor than simply boiling it with salt.
“So we just add the Dambaek-un, the water, and the salted shrimp?”
“That’s right. However, it’s best when eaten warm. Shall we try making a small batch first?”
One of the maids brought over a small cast-iron pot. Lenette ladled three or four scoops of the Dambaek-un into it, added an appropriate amount of the salted shrimp, and let it boil. Though they were called shrimp, they were smaller than a bean and nearly invisible in the mixture.
“Alright, it’s done.”
Lenette scooped up some of the broth and Dambaek-un with a wooden ladle and took a bite.
‘Oh?’
This was much more delicious than the flavor she remembered!
‘Is it because the variety of salted shrimp is different?’
The depth of the flavor was on another level. The milky broth was so full of savory umami that it almost tricked the senses into thinking it was a rich, nutritious meat soup.
‘This might be better suited for the dinner table.’
Desert nights are cold. The desert is a place of climatic duality, where the heat of the day vanishes into a chill that makes you forget it ever existed.
‘Should I serve something light for lunch and save this for dinner?’
As she was pondering this, she suddenly felt an intense gaze. It was the maids.
“Ah, would you all like to try a taste first?”
“Yes!”
The moment she asked, the maids lined up in front of Lenette with concave bowls in hand. Lenette couldn’t help but laugh at the sight—they looked just like baby birds waiting for their mother to distribute food.
“Here, it’s hot, so make sure to blow on it before you eat.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
