Valentine’s Day at the Research Institute

Valentine’s Day at the Research Institute

 

I ADDED BUTTER, sugar, eggs, flour—and last, the most important ingredient—then mixed them together. Not all at once, mind you. I followed the steps in the recipe exactly, at least as far as I remembered it. You’re bound to mess up sweets if you don’t use the right quantities or if you get creative with the directions.

When I first got to Salutania, I had surprised everyone by using herbs in cooking. But one ingredient I used in these confections had originally been medicine itself. Where I came from, it was said to preserve youth and increase longevity. In other words, cacao: one of the ingredients for making chocolate.

They already sold chocolate here in the royal capital. When I saw it, I had been delighted. I knew that since they had chocolate, they had to have cocoa, too.

Thus, today I was using cocoa to make brownies.

Several seasons had come and gone since my summoning, but I was pretty sure it was now February back in Japan. That made me remember a certain event that took place every year, and I suddenly craved chocolate.

I had to make something.

While I’d never had a boyfriend as a student, I had made chocolates every year to give to friends. I knew how to pour the mixture into a mold, stick it in the oven, and wait.

I passed the time by leisurely reading a book. I became immersed in its world for a lovely little while, until a sweet fragrance began to tickle my nose.

Maybe it’ll be ready soon? I opened the door to the oven to find the treats looking nicely baked. I took them out and placed them on the oven to cool.

“What are you making today?” Jude asked; he had been drawn in by the smell. He peered curiously at the brownies. “Are they burned?”

It must have been his first time seeing such a cocoa-rich confection.

“Nope,” I said. “This is what they’re supposed to look like.”

“Huh.”

I guess they might look burned if you don’t know better—but come on, do they smell burned to you?

“I guess you just messed up the look, then,” Jude continued.

“Say that again and you can’t have any.”

“I was just kidding, okay? I’m sorry,” Jude apologized quickly. He actually had quite the sweet tooth, so much so that he was always first in line to taste test my new cookies and other treats.

Although, he always came after my taste testing with the other cooks.

I thought the brownies would taste better cooled, but Jude didn’t look willing to wait, so I cut a piece from the edge. I mean sure, it smelled good, but how did it taste? I popped the piece into my mouth. Would it be as delicious as I remembered?

“Want to try it?” I had baked this by myself, so I had none of my usual assistants. I wanted someone else’s opinion, too. Lucky for Jude!

He nodded happily. I looked for a plate to give him a slice, but he just opened his mouth.

Huh? What, does he want me to feed him? I chuckled nervously, resigned to his enthusiasm, and popped the piece in his mouth.

After a moment of chewing, a smile spread across his face.

“Do you like it?” I asked, and he nodded rapidly.

Thank goodness!

Not long after, Johan showed up. “Cooking again today, I see.”

“It’s not done yet, but would you tell me what you think, too?”

“Sure.” Johan was another regular taste tester of mine. He let me put a piece on a plate for him, but when I went to hand it to him, he grinned. “What? You’re not going to feed me, too?”

“What? You saw that?!” My face flushed with embarrassment.

He had walked into the kitchen just as I popped the piece into Jude’s mouth. He hadn’t wanted to interrupt, so he’d just waited in silence to pounce.

I wish you had just walked away! I glared at him. He laughed as he patted me on the head.