TALES OF A WITCHER - Season 3 Episode 39

After dinner, Anna carried a big bag of Bird Beak Mushrooms to the kitchen.

The white mushrooms had been picked from the Misty Forest by Maggie. Different from typical mushrooms, the Bird Beak Mushrooms usually grew at the top of huge trees and survived by absorbing the tree’s nutrition. It was also the favorite food of birds. Their thick stems were smooth like tender meat, they were delicious. It was difficult to find the Bird Beak Mushrooms due to their elevated location. There were not many people willing to climb up the huge tree to harvest the mushrooms.

Her mother had always picked some Bird Beak Mushrooms on her birthdays and they celebrated her birthday with a couple of mushroom dishes. Compared to the molded coarse bread and bland oatmeal, the delicate taste of these mushrooms was simply unforgettable. Although she no longer had to worry about starvation and the meals were much fancier, she still wanted to make these two special, regional dishes and share them with the busy Prince Roland.

The stove in the kitchen had already extinguished. However, this was not a problem for Anna. She summoned Blackfire and very soon flames rose in the hearth.

At that moment, Nightingale jumped through the wall. “Uhh? What are you doing?”

“I’m making some food for His Highness. He has been staying up very late recently. What about you?”

“Haha.” Nightingale scratched the back of her head. “I’m looking for a snack… I’m a bit hungry.” She paused and peered over in curiosity. “What are you planning to make?”

“Umm… honey roasted mushrooms and mushroom soup.” Anna opened her bag and showed Nightingale the Bird Beak Mushrooms. “These dishes are a specialty in Border Town. Do you want to try some?”

Nightingale nodded, and very soon asked, “Could you teach me this? I want to learn how to make these dishes.”

“Sure.” Anna smiled. “It’s pretty simple.”

Anna cut the mushrooms into slices and handed a large piece to Nightingale. “First you smear a layer of butter on both sides of the mushroom and roast it on the fire slowly and carefully until both sides of the mushroom are golden. Be careful not to caramelize the mushroom too long or it’ll be burnt.”

“Alright.” Nightingale took some slices of the Bird Beak Mushrooms, and imitated how Anna had spread the butter on both sides of the mushroom. “His Highness has been working very late recently?”

“Yes, to settle the refugees and also draw some new engineering drafts. He stays up until midnight almost every day. Many times, when I walk by his office, I can still see the light shining out the crack of the door.” Anna nodded. “You’ve been away for more than half a month. You miss His Highness a lot, right?”

Nightingale’s hand shook, and the mushroom almost fell into butter. “Umm… not that much…”

“Not only you. Lightening, Lily, Echo, and Wendy all missed His Highness very much. They said that there was not even a bathroom over there. They’ve wanted to come back for a long time.” Anna felt that Nightingale’s expression was a bit weird. “Umm? What’s wrong?”

“No.” She shook her head, and picked up the mushroom. She smiled with red-tinged cheeks. “I see, indeed… we missed him.”

“Right.” Anna pinched a mushroom that was covered in butter and put it near the stove fire. “If I left His Highness for more than half a month, no, maybe only for a few days, I could hardly wait to see him.”

The first time she’d met Roland Wimbledon in the dungeon had been the most incredible moment of her life. Anna still felt grateful when she thought about that day. If it was not for Prince Roland, even if she were able to survive, she would only live in bewilderment just like regular citizens.

Prince Roland had taught her the beauty of this world. Whether it was the sauced black pepper steak, or the book “Natural Science Theoretical Foundation”, his appearance filled something new into her life, and that made Anna feel like she was unique, different from anyone else.

The other sisters must have felt the same way. The longer that they spent time with Prince Roland, the more that they were attracted to his unique charisma and incredible ideas. Anna firmly believed that point.

“Ahh, did I roast it too long?” Nightingale lifted her iron fork, finding a side of the mushroom was burnt.

“Yeah, a little bit…” Anna could not help laughing. “The Bird Beak Mushroom is very tender, so you need to roast it for just the right amount of time. You’ll manage it once you’ve tried a few more times. I’ll prepare ingredients for the soup.”

Nightingale put honey and salt on the slightly burnt mushroom and popped it into her mouth. “Mmm, it’s pretty delicious.” Staring at Anna who was swiftly mixing the herbs into various sauces, Nightingale asked in curiosity, “Did you used to make these before?”

“Yes, pickling food, grinding flour, doing part-time jobs for nobles, washing and shaving the neighbor’s sheep,” Anna said. “Besides going to Professor Karl’s class, I spent most of my time doing those things.” She paused and said, “but after my mom passed away, my father didn’t allow me to go to school anymore, and even forbade me to leave the house.”

“Sorry…”

“Oh, it’s nothing. It’s all in the past.” Anna’s eyes were shiny like a blue lake under moonlight. “Compared to most witches, I’m very lucky, aren’t I?

The mushroom that was smeared in butter curled up slightly under the fire and made crackling noises. Anna spread some salt on the mushroom and roasted it again. She inhaled its pleasant, earthy scent. The creamy aroma of melted butter mixed with the savory taste of Bird Beak Mushroom. It aroused the appetite. Lastly, she swirled the mushroom in the honey jar and completed the process of roasting a mushroom. Both the Bird Beak Mushrooms and the honey could be gathered in the Misty Forest. To the locals, it was a lucky day if they encountered a tree that had both honeycomb and Bird Beak Mushrooms hidden in its crown.

When the crock that was used to make soup spouted white steam, Anna and Nightingale completed the roasting and saucing.

“All done! It looks pretty good.” Nightingale ate one more slice. “I’m pretty gifted regarding cooking… umm, this slice is a bit too salty.”

“It’s just on time too.” Anna stared at the night view through the window. “Let’s deliver these to His Highness.”

“Would you give the mushrooms I cooked to him for me?” Nightingale put her hands together and said, “Please.”

“Aren’t you coming with me?”

“No.” She smiled. “Because I don’t know what kind of expression I should have when I see him again.”

Anna was dazed for a moment. Nightingale disappeared into thin air without giving Anna time to inquire. Did the expression matter? Smile, despondent, or no expression at all would be fine. His Highness hadn’t even disliked her desperate appearance when she first got out of the dungeon. Why would Nightingale avoid him? Anna could not understand. She shook her head as she carried the dishes and soup to Roland’s office.