Chapter 120: THIRD POV.
On it was the exact dish he’d made, covered by a polished metal lid that he pulled off with a dramatic flourish once he reached the center of the crowd.
The meal actually looked sublime, like a dish fit for a high-ranking aristocrat in a grand palace.
One had to admit that while Flounder did look incredibly arrogant standing there with his chin held high, right now he deserved it. He had taken his single catch and turned it into a true work of art.
The green-finned tuna was prepared in such a way that it was eye-catching and beautiful to look at.
The meat had been lightly seared on the outside, leaving the center tender and juicy, and it was arranged in the shape of a blooming flower on the plate.
A rich, golden sauce was drizzled over the top, mixed with green herbs that made the colors pop.
While not all the parts of the fish were used, since he had thrown away the tail, head, and edges to keep only the absolute best cuts,
it sure was divine.
"Your meal, your highness," Flounder said, bowing deeply from the waist.
He smiled warmly as he presented the elegant tray to Rebecca, who was currently sitting on a small wooden crate near Rudwig.
The little princess was staring at the plate with shimmering, wide eyes, her mouth opening slightly as the wonderful scent hit her face. She looked like she hadn’t seen real food in years.
"Damn, that sure looks incredible," one of the sailors muttered from the back of the crowd, leaning over his friend’s shoulder to get a glimpse of the luxury meal.
Before she could take a silver spoon and have a single bite, though, a figure appeared out of nowhere.
Jacob emerged directly behind Flounder without him realizing it before hand.
"And what do you want?" Flounder said, his tone instantly sounding unhappy as he snapped his head around.
His smile vanished, replaced by a cold glare the moment he recognized Jacob’s face.
He moved the tray slightly to the side, as if he were worried the first mate might try to steal a piece or ruin his hard work.
"No need for that attitude. I just wanted to see the dish you prepared," Jacob said casually.
He leaned forward a bit, glancing at the wondrous fish dish with an appreciative nod.
He didn’t look angry or jealous at all, which only seemed to annoy Flounder even more.
"Hmph, I guess it’s to be expected since you’ve lost the wager and all," Flounder said, his voice full of pride. He stood up straight, looking down his nose at the older man. "A regular sailor could never match the training of the royal kitchens. You should have stuck to your ropes."
"Flounder..." Rudwig said in a low, warning tone, stepping forward to pull on the boy’s sleeve.
The old attendant’s face was full of embarrassment. To think this young man was trying to start a petty fight even now, Rudwig gave Jacob a look that begged for forgiveness.
Rather than reacting with anger or drawing a weapon, Jacob simply chuckled.
He bypassed Flounder entirely and squatted down directly in front of little Rebecca, keeping his movements gentle so he wouldn’t scare her.
He looked at her with a kind, friendly smile.
"My, my, your highness, I must say, you’re one lucky girl to have such a skilled cook by your side," Jacob said, pointing a finger toward the beautifully arranged plate.
"Uh-huh! Big brother Flounder is a really good cook. He always makes the best things when we are at home," little Rebecca said with a happy, bright smile, her previous shyness fading away as she talked about her favorite food.
She picked up her spoon, looking eagerly at the seared tuna.
"Don’t I know it," Jacob merely chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "But princess... don’t you think it’d be a real shame to eat all on your own like this? On a big ship like this one, food always tastes better when it’s shared. Don’t you think?"
"W-What?" The little one blinked her large eyes, her hand freezing with the spoon halfway to the plate.
She looked up at Jacob, completely confused by his words.
"What are you talking about now?" Flounder said, forcing a tight, angry smile onto his face.
He stepped between Jacob and the princess, his chest tightening with worry.
’ What’s this man up to now,’ he said to himself, his mind racing as he tried to figure out what kind of trick the first mate was playing.
He had won the competition fairly, so why was Jacob still acting so confident?
"Wouldn’t it be better if everyone ate together?" Jacob continued, completely ignoring Flounder’s glare as he spoke directly to the little girl.
"I’m sure those three maidservants over there, and your good old uncle Rudwig, are incredibly hungry too after standing outside for so long."
" They haven’t had a proper meal either, you know. You wouldn’t want to eat everything all on your own without them, now would you?"
"N-No," Rebecca said softly, shaking her head as a look of sadness crossed her small face.
She lowered her spoon, looking back at Rudwig and the three young women who were standing near the back of the crowd.
The women looked tired and thin, their faces pale from hunger. Rebecca loved them dearly, and the thought of stuffing her own face while they watched from the sidelines made her feel terrible.
"But... the food is too small..." she said, her voice dropping into a small whisper as she looked at the single plate on the tray.
It was enough for one child, but if they split it between five people, everyone would only get a single bite.
"Well, luckily for us, I have more than enough ingredients right here on deck," Jacob said, standing back up and gesturing toward the three large barrels filled with clean, pink tuna meat. "But I’m afraid I can’t prep it all on my own in time before the sun goes down."