My Servant System

Perusing the herbs that Leone had procured for me, I picked up a few of them and browsed my mental notes on what they were and how to cook with them, something that I had picked up from our delves into Zhu'Rong Caverns since herbs were in high supply and one of the only ways to make food taste good without lugging down my own seasonings, so I needed to know what I could use and how to use it.

There were a few here that were quite excellent, and they would do well inside the alfredo not only to give it some color, but also to enhance the creamy taste and give me what I wanted; a meal that would help relax the body and make everyone a bit drowsy.

When I paired it with the heavy meal and the fact that there was going to be a nice, special tea for the two older Elves concocted with other herbs to amplify those effects, I was hoping this would knock the two stubborn Elves out and make them sleep properly for at least a few hours.

Not even because I wanted to be able to collect my thoughts and speak to my lovers without needing to worry about them, or because I wanted to have a few quickies to relieve my urges - though I wouldn't deny that that was a part of it - but instead, it was because it just seemed egregious and foreign to me.

Food was excellent and it was one of the reasons that made life worth living, whilst sleep was something incredible and another part of life that was almost flawless in how it could just help reset your mind and give you a fresh, clean slate to work with whenever you woke up.

Not having either of those would honestly drive me crazy, and I was curious to know if the reason that Grandma seemed so grumpy was because her body was screaming at her for proper care that she refused to give it.

So that was why I was adamant about cooking something up for them to eat, as well as ensuring that they were going to actually enjoy their time here and not just sit idly whenever we needed rest; all of us could go without sleep, yes, but like I've said multiple times before, if there was no need to skip sleep, I wasn't going to skip it.

It just wasn't a good idea, and I loved that blissful state of unconsciousness too much to let it go.

"Since we have you here and not doing anything, why don't you help Jahi with her ideas for investing Gramps?"

"Hm? Oh, I gave her three fiancees a couple of ideas on what they could do to earn a lot of coin, and each of them seemed to take it into consideration. All they would need really is a store to operate out of and staff to work for them; otherwise, I think they could make a quick profit no matter where they go."

I listened idly from afar as he began to go over the specifics again, letting everyone hear the ideas and how they could be implemented easily so long as we had some time to spend on getting them started up and properly set up... which we didn't have at all currently, at least not in consecutive days, weeks and maybe even months that would be needed to ensure everything could operate without us.

Of course there was always the option of having it under partial ownership of someone else and earning a portion of the profits with a business partner, but that wasn't something any of us found thrilling, so we just ignored it and instead chatted about whatever came to mind.

Well, they chatted about it; I was focused on the kitchenette and the meal that I was preparing, which required most of my attention if I wanted to make it properly and up to my standards.

Alfredo was something that could be ruined really easily with how the cream and cheese interacted, the temperature it was at, and so much more; the cheese was the part that required the most attention, since it needed to be mixed in at the end and leaving it in for too long on too high of a heat could cause the proteins in the cheese to separate from the fats, creating small clumps of disgusting 'cheese' that ruined the entire dish.

Then there was the herbs that I needed to worry about too, alongside the fact that I was giving the chicken an herbal crust as well that would infuse it with flavor and pair well with the sauce, though that was being left to Bessie as the Cowkin stood by the stove and carefully looked over the dozens of breasts, flipping them over regularly and ensuring the herbs didn't burn up.

"Bessie, did you know how to cook before this, or..? I don't think any of us really asked about what you did before this... and if you did tell us, I can't remember. Sorry."

She just smiled wryly at that, shaking her head and replying in the same low tone as we conversed quietly, separate from everyone else.

"I knew the basics well enough that I could make some more complex dishes, like pasta and pastries without messing them up too badly. Learned to grill primarily, but my favorite - and what I was best at - was sautéing vegetables. I can eat meat, but I don't really like it too much..."

I nodded at that, even though I could personally never understand that mentality - I understood that it was preference, and that it had something to do with the texture, taste, or worries about the animal or something, but just like with chocolate it was just something that seemed odd to not like.

To each their own, I guess; that just meant more meat for the rest of us today.

"Were you self taught then, or learned from a parent..? Friend or lover, perhaps?"

Chuckling, Bessie shook her head at that last part as she answered "Do you remember the last person I had as a lover? They weren't really... a homebody. As for friends, I had few; kept to myself. I never was the strongest, nor the brightest, but I can kinda read people enough to know that most people didn't want to be friends... without some benefits, anyways. But it was my Mom who taught me to grill, and my Mother who taught me how to do everything else."

I glanced at the Cowkin for a moment before nodding again, understanding her plight; she was extremely curvy and pretty, and she had that slight ditzy charm that just made her all the more irresistible to 'carnivores', so of course she had to deal with that sort of thing a lot...

I know I did too, back in my old world... how else would I have ended up with the [Nymphomaniac (MAX)] skill?

"And you've been enjoying this so far? Or still scared and worried about what might happen?"

"Um... not scared so much as anxious... I mean, I can hear everything that happens..? So obviously..."

She gestured to herself, and I didn't miss the blush as she peeked over her shoulder to stare into the living area, where there were a LOT of high profile, amazing futanari's sitting around chatting; my eyes narrowed when she looked back, but she looked mainly at Mom and Mother Ria.

Mainly; she still peeked at Jahi, Anput and Leone, but she turned back when she heard the ladle slap against the side of the pot, the ding pulling her eyes back to me and causing her to shiver as I stared at her.

"A-And I don't want to be the one who's blamed! S-Since that would mean... w-well... a-also, I've read enough romance books to know how perilous the role of a maid can be! I don't want that to happen, but..!"

Her cheeks darkened as she imagined something, and my eyes narrowed again before I sighed as I asked "Would you like some coin to head to the red light district, Bessie?", surprising the woman greatly and making her entire head go red as she stared at me blankly.

"Don't let the chicken burn."

Scrambling back to her position, she flipped the meat over and lowered the temperature before sputtering "R-R-R-Red light?! L-Lady Katherine, w-w-what?!"

I chuckled softly at her, before saying "Y'know, the place where you can pay for some service. Help get that edge rolled out... and a few other things. Quench your thirst, so to say. Make you forget about those hopes of yours..."

Her blush only continued to darken as she shook her head and tried to come up with something to say, but it seemed that her mind had reached its boiling point as she envisioned what I was suggesting... and then some.

It was amusing, and it certainly made the meal all the better as we finished up a few minutes later; the wonders of a magical kitchen and magical ingredients~!

And a hungry woman who wanted some chicken alfredo...