Quinn
When I stirred awake, it was to the feeling of a pair of arms wrapped tightly around my middle and gentle, feathery stroking of my head. I knew who the arms belonged to. Maria! She had snuggled next to me in bed last night after I had finished with hers and Liam's health checks. As for the hand that was stroking my head...
I fluttered my eyes open to see Elizabeth sitting on the side of the bed, a soft smile on her face as she gazed at me.
"Mother," I said.
"Good morning," she said and then leaned down to kiss me on the forehead.
Wow! That was... nice. I hadn't had that sort of kiss for so long, since I had been in my early teens, in fact. It brought memories, pleasant ones, for sure.
"Morning," I said.
Maria stirred then and muttered, "Morning, Aunty Beth. Morning, Quinn."
Morning," I said as I removed her arms from me. "I'm hungry."
Elizabeth stood, and turning on her heel, she headed toward the kitchen area. She said, "Liam should be back with freshly baked bread soon. And I'm about to—"
"Don't!" I said quickly.
Elizabeth shifted her gaze to me, looking perplexed.
"Please... don't make any soup," I said. After all, I've had it with rock-hard rye bread and bland soup. "Let me cook."
Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Maria said, "You can cook, Quinn?"
I chuckled. "I'm considered quite a good one, you know. Mom and Dad taught me since I was small. I've always had an interest in food because it's part of science, and cooking is food science."
Not to mention I had worked part-time in a fancy family-run buffet restaurant during my university years as both a kitchen assistant and waitress, not at the same time of course. As a kitchen assistant, I'd pitch in to cook, mostly the Asian dishes, when they were short on staff. I especially liked the pho station. It was so easy since everything was already prepared, and I simply had to add the rice noodles, soup, meat, and herbs for them before handing them the bowl of goodness and deliciousness.
Thinking about that made me crave a bowl of pho. Not just that, in fact, but every type of food that came in a buffet. Ah, the seafood, the meats, the international dishes—Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Italian, Mexican, and more—and the desserts. My mouth started watering, and it was so damn early in the morning.
For now, however, I'd just have to settle for something simpler. We'd do a buffet when we had a better house to live in. Eating something so luxurious in a dilapidated cottage just didn't feel right.
Out of bed, I did a bit of a stretch, and it was then Liam opened the door and walked in. He headed straight to the kitchen area and placed the loaf of bread on the table. "Should I get the cheese?" he asked.
Elizabeth said, "Quinn is cooking us breakfast today."
Liam turned to me with raised brows. "You can cook, Quinn? And what will you make?"
"She said she's quite an excellent one," Maria supplied.
Good. I had said good, not excellent.
I winked at him. "You wait and see." I came over and cleared the table. "Now then," I said.
Maria must be interested because she came toddling over, and before long, all three people waited expectantly for me to begin.
Smirking, I gathered the utensils—a wooden cutting board, a jug made of tin, and two small wooden bowls we used for soup. Then I summoned my magic circle and started creating the ingredients I needed. Of course, I could always create the already cooked food, but that'd be no fun. I loved cooking, and the smell during the process made it even better, especially when one was hungry.
Materializing within the magic circle was a loaf of soft white bread, eggs, and butter on the cutting board, milk in the jug, and salt and honey maple syrup in the bowls. Done, Elizabeth, Liam, and Maria stared in amazement at the ingredients I had conjured.
"What is that?" Maria asked.
"Why, it's bread, Maria," I said.
"But it's so white," she said as she gently pressed on it. "And so soft, nothing like our bread. Even the Bedfords don't eat bread that's this white or this soft."
I chuckled. "Bread is usually soft where I came from." I grabbed the wooden bowl and started pouring in the milk and then adding the eggs. After sprinkling in a little salt, I whisked it with a fork. I grabbed the iron frying pan and laid it over the fire. While I waited for that to be hot, I carefully sliced the bread, ensuring that each was thick enough. Then I dipped six slices into the milk and egg mixture. I returned my attention to the pan. Noting that it was hot enough, I ladled a bit of butter in, and after, I placed the soaked bread in.
Instantly, a delicious aroma filled the cottage, and Maria looked like she was ready to snatch the French toast from the pan even before it was done.
"It smells so good," she said.
"You can't eat until it's all done," I said as I flipped the bread over. "Mother, can you grab me the trencher." Elizabeth didn't reply as her attention was fixed on the French toast. She just handed me the wooden trencher we usually used as a plate.
I grabbed it and then slid the French toast onto it. I ladled more butter onto the hot pan and then placed another slice of soaked bread in. Fifteen minutes later, it was all done, and as Elizabeth took the trencher piled with slices of French toast toward the table, I summoned my storage magic circle and retrieved a box of berries I had picked yesterday afternoon in the woods. Grabbing the bowl of honey maple syrup, I headed toward the table, too.
Liam and Maria were already sitting and waiting eagerly to dig in. I placed the berries and maple syrup on the table, and as I was pulling out a chair, Maria said, "That's those fruits in the woods."
"Berries, you mean?" I said.
"Are we going to eat those?" Liam asked. "They'll give you a stomachache."
Maria nodded.
I widened my eyes. "Really? But I had them yesterday, and I'm fine. I've already checked with my appraisal skill; it's safe to eat."
Elizabeth tilted her head to one side. "It's been passed down that they're inedible."
Ah, so that explained why no one had ever touched them. What also got me curious was that these berries grew during autumn. Weren't they summer fruits back on Earth?
I asked, "Do these berries only grow during autumn?"
Elizabeth shook her head. "They grow and ripen all seasons except for winter."
Wow! What convenience, and yet, no one ate them. It was indeed a waste.
I sprinkled the berries on the French toast and then poured honey maple syrup on top. I said, "You don't have to eat the berries with the French toast, but I guarantee you they're delicious."
"French toast," Maria said. "So that's the name of the dish."
"Let's eat," I said and picked up my knife and fork. I started cutting the French toast into smaller chunks, and Maria quickly took a piece with her fork and then popped it into her mouth.
The moment the piece hit her tongue, she widened her eyes and her whole body literally shivered. She chewed and then groaned. "I've never eaten anything so soft and sweet and this delicious before." She quickly had more, this time with a raspberry. She sang out this time, and I swore she looked like she had an orgasm.
I chuckled and said, "Calm down, it's only French toast with berries."
Liam and Elizabeth were obviously enjoying their breakfast tremendously, too, though they were less showy about it.
Our morning meal ended with cups of tea, and as I took sips, I glanced around the table, noting how dazed everyone looked. I bet they thought that just now was out of this world, which it was because the recipe was from Earth.
Feeling the need to talk, I said, "Mother, are you going back to work at the manor?"
I wasn't sure what she was going to do after last night. Sure, she was now free of her duties, since there was no more debt, but...
Elizabeth turned to me and said, "Until Lord Norsewood arrives and we depart, I want to ensure the maids working under me are doing fine and that Mrs. Ross has enough help." She leaned forward and took my hand. "I want to be clear that we are going to Norsewood together."
I smiled as I nodded. "Of course, Mother."
"However, for today, I'll take a day's rest," she said. "Last night was... a lot to handle."
I nodded in understanding. Besides, returning to Bedford Manor so soon with her face completely healed would only raise questions.
"I will not return to that manor unless I have to," Maria said. "Besides, we'll need to start packing, not that there's much to pack. Also, wouldn't we be needing a carriage? Will Lord Bedford provide one for us?"
"I'll make sure he does," I said. "I did make it abundantly clear to provide me with a dowry, after all. I'm sure a carriage and horses for travel come with that."
Although I could always create one myself, with all the comfort that came with it, like soft seating, cushions, and storage space.
"Like Aunty Beth, I'll return to the manor until we depart," Liam said. "I'll request Mr. Wilson to teach me how to drive a carriage. I'll be the driver, since I doubt Lord Bedford will offer any of his staff, besides the fact that none of them would want to travel to Norsewood."
"That's true," I said as I stood. "Well, it looks like everyone has things to do, but for now, I desperately need a soak in a hot tub. And proper underwear and clothing."
"Underwear?" Liam asked, looking at me, his face flushing hotly. Maria and Elizabeth, too.
I chuckled. Why did they need to look so embarrassed at the mention of undergarments? Or was that taboo here?
Whatever the case, I'd need to normalize it fast. I didn't want to have to mention the word, and everyone looked as though I said something I shouldn't have.
I said, "Proper undergarments from where I came from. And undergarments are very normal. There's no need to feel embarrassed about it." I tilted my head to one side. "We'll need new sets of clothing, too, I suppose. Something that looks familiar in this world but easier to wear..."
While I thought about underwear and clothing and such, Elizabeth and Maria cleaned up, and Liam left, heading out toward the manor. By the time Elizabeth and Maria were finished and the cottage was as tidy as it could be, I was done gathering my thought creations, too.
I summoned a creation magic circle and, voila, materializing on the table were garments, all in this world's style though mixed with a little of Earthly modernism and comfort. There were gowns, pants, shirts, sweaters, jackets, stockings, socks, boots, and of course, bras and underpants. Maria came rushing over, her eyes wide. She was clearly very excited.
"You created all these?" she asked.
"Indeed, I did," I said, feeling damn proud.
Elizabeth came around, too, and gently touched the material of one. "It's so soft."
"Only the very wealthy could afford these kinds of fabrics," Maria said. "The likes of us can only afford coarse ones. These are so beautiful and luxurious."
"From now on, you don't have to worry about clothing," I said as I picked up the undergarments. I needed to show them how to wear these, I supposed.
"Ho..." Maria eyed the lacy bra and undies. "They're beautiful, but is that supposed to..." She glanced at her chest.
I chuckled. "Yes, this goes there," I said. "And this goes down there."
Maria nodded.
After inspecting the clothing, it was time for a hot bath. I created a wooden tub that was big enough to fit three to four people in, which was easy enough. Maria and Elizabeth poured cold water, which they retrieved from the well at the back of the cottage. Meanwhile, I boiled some that was brought in earlier to add to the mix. I admit it took time and my mind started wandering.
Wouldn't it be more convenient to magically warm up the water with fire magic or something? Or even better yet, create a tub that'd heat up the water itself like a hot tub back on Earth?
I poured the last league of the hot water into the tub, and then it was done and filled to the brim.
"Mother, Maria," I said. "You two strip and jump in." While they both did eagerly strip down to their smocks—this world's female undergarment that looked very much like an old lady's sleeping gown—I conjured the bathing essentials such as shampoo, conditioner, body gel, and body sponges. I didn't forget to create skincare products as well such as facewash, moisturizer, lip balms with tinted rouge, eye cream, and the ever so popular, at least to me, BB cream with high SPF.
Already in the tub, if Maria's eyes were wide before, they were even wider now because she couldn't stop staring at the array of beauty products. I was surprised she didn't even ask what they were, but I supposed as a woman, she instinctively knew, and she was fidgeting and looking as excited as could be.
I pulled a chair over and put it next to the bathtub. Then I placed the bathing essentials on it. I handed Maria a body sponge and a bottle of body gel. I said, "Why don't you start cleaning your body with these? And you need to take off your smock. There's no need to be shy, we're all girls here."
Elizabeth chuckled at my comment.
Blushing, Maria pulled her wet smock off and then turned her attention to the body sponge and gel. She managed to squeeze the gel onto the sponge and instantly, she sniffed. "Oh, my, this smells divine."
"It does, doesn't it? It has frangipani fragrant, one of my favorites." Turning to Elizabeth, I said, "I'm going to wash your hair for you."
Elizabeth nodded, and I got started. Soon, Elizabeth closed her eyes and relaxed as I massaged her head which was covered in bubbles. Meanwhile, Maria continued to clean herself, her section of the tub now covered in bubbles, too, and she was playing with it like a little kid. Once I was done with Elizabeth's long hair and leaving the conditioner on, I turned my attention to Maria, who looked so damn pleased.
By the time I was done with both of them, I eagerly stripped myself and hopped into the tub as well. Though the water was a little less warm, I still sighed in pleasure, and then started very thoroughly cleaning myself.
An hour later, both Elizabeth and Maria were adorned in gowns—simple, flowy that accentuated their slender figures. Their long curls were soft and silky, their face moisturized and glowingly beautiful with the applied BB cream, and their lips were supple and soft with the rouge lip balms.
Since I had created a full-length mirror, Maria couldn't stop looking at herself. She said, "I've seen myself in mirrors before at Bedford Manor, but I certainly didn't look like this."
"A good moisturizer and BB cream can do wonders on your looks," I said. "And you look pretty, Maria."
Indeed, both Elizabeth and Maria looked radiant, and it wasn't just because of the moisturizer and BB cream. Those personalized pills packed with essential vitamins and minerals their bodies needed play an even bigger role, and they had only taken one so far. Imagine the result after they had finished the course.
Her cheeks crimson, Maria smiled and said, "Thank you, Quinn, and you look so damn stunning yourself."
Stunning, eh? Even dressed in boy's garments of formfitting trousers, shirt, and sweater, I couldn't believe I was indeed stunning. In fact, I couldn't believe how beautiful I was with short silvery-blond hair in the messy bob style, emerald-green eyes, a straight nose, and ruby-red lips. No wonder Elizabeth disguised Quinn—who had the exact same face as I did—as a boy, because as a girl, well, it was simply not safe for her.
Once again, I couldn't believe Quinn and I had the same face, except for the hair and eye color, which were dark brown in my previous life. What were the odds? Then I wondered if that was why I had reincarnated into her body in the first place. It was because we were connected somehow.
We cleaned our mess, and I put away the bathtub in my magic storage. Afterward, I made some sandwiches from the leftover bread. It'd be for lunches, and after packing two for myself and leaving the rest, six of them, for Elizabeth, Maria, and Liam, I headed out to the woods in the west. I intended to experiment and practice my magic as much as I could before Lord Norsewood's arrival.