Witch – Chapter 107 – The Witch and the Black Knight (18)

Re​ad on K​atReadingC​afe

The first thing Estelle did upon arriving in the kitchen wasn’t cooking—it was cleaning. Splattered oil everywhere, charred vegetables that had escaped the frying pan, and grains of rice blackened beyond recognition.

The stench was so pungent that she opened the windows to air the place out. She soaked the pan, now crusted with oil and burnt residue, in water before fetching a new one.

Meanwhile, Edel hovered awkwardly, glancing at Estelle as if searching for something to help with.

“Edel. Your job right now is to stand beside me and learn how to cook.”

Estelle had considered giving him a task but ultimately shook her head. For now, simply staying put was help enough.

If Edel’s confidence was as uncharacteristically low as it seemed, assigning him anything might just double her workload.

It didn’t take long to retrieve ingredients from the pantry, prep them, and restore the kitchen to its pre-onion-induced state.

“Alright, all set. Ready to learn?”

“…Begin.”

Edel’s tone was somber but resolute as he stepped closer to Estelle. He needed to understand his mistakes—how his cooking differed from hers.

They stood so close their sleeves brushed.

Feeling it was a bit too intimate, Estelle shifted sideways—only for Edel to follow suit.

“Uh… isn’t this a little too close?”

“I merely wish to observe the cooking process more closely.”

If it was just enthusiasm for cooking, she couldn’t argue. But being too close would make it hard to move her arms, so she nudged his shoulder to create some distance.

“Any closer, and I can’t teach properly. Stay here..”

“…Understood.”

Lately, the distance between them had been shrinking… and if their chests accidentally touched, she’d probably lose all focus on cooking.

Edel’s slumped shoulders looked pitiful, but she couldn’t give in.

“You only need enough oil to coat the pan. Medium heat means exactly that—the middle setting.”

If she kept looking at Edel’s puppy-dog eyes, she might cave, so she hurriedly began the lesson.

Estelle poured just enough oil to cover the pan, then turned the heat until flames licked its base.

“Potatoes need to be soaked first to remove excess starch. And make sure to pat them dry—that way, the oil won’t splatter.”

For someone just starting, the more detailed the instructions, the better.

For beginners, specifics were vital. Vague instructions like “some” or “a while” only bred disaster—something Edel had proven spectacularly.

“Once the pan’s hot enough, add the potatoes first. The reason? They take longer to cook than other vegetables. If you don’t, the ingredients won’t harmonize.”

Estelle tossed the diced potatoes into the pan and began stir-frying them with a wooden spatula.

Sizzle—

The delicious sound teased Edel’s ears.

Unlike Edel, who had incinerated everything on high heat, Estelle’s deft movements made the potatoes dance, each side browning evenly.

In under two minutes, the potatoes turned a rich, golden hue, their slight orange tint making them look mouthwateringly crisp.

“Now we add the other veggies. They don’t need to cook all the way—just two minutes is enough. Once the color changes like this, toss in the rest.”

Carrots, onions, zucchini, and scallions—each followed Estelle’s small hands into the pan, releasing an aroma far more appetizing than Edel’s attempt.

“Here’s a tip: If you ever have a kid someday, chop the veggies finer. Big pieces are harder to chew, so they might just swallow them whole.”

It was useless advice for now, but Estelle imagined a future where Edel, as a doting father, would make stir-fried rice for his child.

Edel didn’t quite grasp what love had to do with this, but he listened intently, absorbing every word. He even memorized how she held the spatula and the number of stirs.

“Hmm hmm hmm~ You can’t overdo the seasoning. Moderation is key—whether it’s sesame oil, salt, or sugar.”

Humming, Estelle explained step by step, slowly and clearly, ensuring Edel understood.

Soy sauce—two spoonfuls.

Sugar—just a third at first, then adjust after tasting.

Salt—add last, fine-tuning the flavor.

“Oh! And the most important seasonings in cooking are effort and love. If it’s made with love, it’s the best.”

As if remembering something, Estelle’s eyes widened slightly before she winked at Edel.

She hadn’t always been a good cook, either. Back when she lived alone, she’d relied on magic or quick meals.

But after taking Josie in, year after year, she honed her skills—all so her daughter would enjoy her meals.

“Can love be added to cooking?”

“The more love the cook puts in, the tastier the dish becomes.”

“Difficult. A demonstration is required.”

‘D-Demonstration?!’

Did she have to teach him to whisper “Become tasty~” like in those maid cafes…?

With someone as cute and sweet as Josie, maybe. But imagining Edel doing that was…

She briefly considered joking about it but decided love deserved a more serious approach.

Besides, demonstrating in front of Edel…

Would be suicidal.

“Just think of someone you love while cooking. That’s enough.”

“…Is that so?”

Time passed, and soon, a stir-fried rice dish—worlds apart from Edel’s—was complete.

Gulp.

Unlike the blackened monstrosity Edel had created, this one had evenly cooked rice and vibrant vegetables scattered throughout.

Though lunch had been just a few hours ago, Edel’s appetite surged, and he swallowed hard.

Love-infused cooking.

All of Estelle’s dishes were like this, but knowing she’d added love as a seasoning made it feel… different.

“Here, try it.”

Sitting across the table, Estelle slid the plate toward him with a bright smile. Edel stared at the stir-fried rice intently before speaking.

“May I truly eat this?”

‘May I truly eat Estelle’s love?’

‘Or rather… Is love something you can eat?’

He was curious.

What did stir-fried rice taste like?

What did Estelle’s love taste like?

“Of course. I made it for you. This is the destination you need to reach. Eat up, then tell me what you think.”

Unlike Edel’s brooding, Estelle’s tone was light and carefree.

A dish made solely for Edel.

Every possible flavor and aroma stir-fried rice could offer was packed into this.

She’d expected him to devour it immediately, sparing his tongue another encounter with his “cooking.”

But Edel hesitated, then lifted a careful spoonful.

“I shall partake with gratitude.”

Contrary to Estelle’s expectations, Edel gazed at the dish with a different meaning in mind before slowly picking up his spoon.

He scooped up as much as he could, inhaled the aroma, then carefully brought it to his mouth.

The harmony of rice and vegetables.

The moment it touched his tongue, it was so delicious he thought it might melt. Not just the taste—the scent. The stir-fried rice even carried a sweet fragrance, like Estelle’s own warmth.

‘How could such flavor exist without any special ingredients?’

Is this love?

Edel still didn’t fully understand what love was.

But the taste of love on his palate was overwhelmingly sweet.

In all his pursuit of strength, he had never known such sweetness. The more he learned of love, the more it shook his foundation.

Strength had always come after pain.

Sometimes, it required bloodshed. Sometimes, it demanded lives.

But love was different.

It needed no sacrifice. No suffering.

For a moment, he wondered if knowing love would truly make him stronger.

But he didn’t dislike this sweetness.

“The most delicious thing in the world.”

That was the only review he could give.

No other words were necessary.

“Ehehe~ Right? The best, isn’t it? You can make it too. The most delicious stir-fried rice in the world.”

Estelle propped her chin on her hand and grinned.

The most delicious thing in the world.

She wanted to see Edel’s face when someone praised his cooking like that.

“Can I really make this?”

“Of course you can. I’ll make sure of it, so don’t worry.”

If Estelle, who’s stronger than him said so, then it must be true.

Edel took another bite, savoring it slowly.

Even if he learned to cook, right now, he wanted to linger on the taste of this dish—made with Estelle’s love, just for him.

Lucent