Chapter – 03
Detox with Onion Skins
“L–Lady Olivia! What brings you to a place like this…?”
When I arrived at the kitchen with Ann in tow, the servants inside all jumped to their feet in a panic.
They must have been on break — I felt bad for interrupting them.
“I’m sorry for coming here unannounced. Don’t mind me — please, continue your break.”
“We couldn’t possibly—”
“It’s fine. More importantly, Head Chef, may I take a look at the ingredients?”
The burly chef, built more like a mercenary than a cook, stiffly guided us to the pantry.
The kitchen was located in the main mansion, while I lived in the detached house, so I rarely had any contact with them.
A supposedly frail, reclusive young lady suddenly showing up here — it was no wonder they were flustered.
(I’m not really a recluse — my stepmother simply forbade me from leaving the annex.)
Thanks to my Poison Resistance skill and Ann’s testimony, I finally realized that my stepmother had been poisoning me all along.
I’d thought I was just sickly, but all that fatigue and constant malaise were actually symptoms of poisoning.
The skill had granted me some resistance, but my body was still in a weakened state.
I needed to rebuild my health as soon as possible.
That’s why I’d come to the kitchen — to personally choose my ingredients.
A healthy body starts with what you eat.
And now it was finally time to put my knowledge from my previous life to good use.
(The serious detox life begins now!)
The cool air of the pantry was filled with rows of wooden crates brimming with ingredients.
Everything looked familiar — just like in my past life.
The seasonings, too, were the same.
There must be foods unique to this world somewhere, but none were here.
“Did you find what you were looking for, my lady?”
Ann asked with a bright smile.
I tapped my chin in thought — then my eyes landed on a crate full of onions.
Inside, alongside the onions themselves, were heaps of papery brown onion skins.
“…All right. Let’s make cleanse soup.”
“Clean… what soup, my lady?”
Smiling at Ann’s puzzled look, I began selecting other ingredients.
Cleanse soup — as the name suggested — was meant to cleanse the body.
It combined detoxifying vegetables into a liquid form — a kind of detox soup.
It was even a popular diet fad back in my previous life.
“Chef, lately I’ve had no appetite. My stomach hurts, and my digestion isn’t good.
So for a while, I’d like to avoid meat — actually, any solid foods. Is that all right?”
“That sounds serious, my lady! You should have a doctor examine you—”
“No need. I’ve been like this for quite some time.
That’s why I’d like my meals to consist only of soup for now. Would that be possible?”
“Well… if that’s your wish, but just soup? You’ll collapse, my lady!”
“Don’t worry. I’ll gradually return to normal meals once I recover.”
How long it would take for my poisoned organs to heal, I couldn’t know — I’d just have to monitor my condition carefully.
“Then, first, please wash these thoroughly.”
“Th–these? Aren’t these… onion skins!?”
Both the chef and Ann gaped at me, their eyes wide as saucers, as I held out a handful of onion peels.
Their shock made sense — even in my previous life, before studying detox, I never would’ve guessed that onion skins could be used as a health food.
“Yes, onion skins. I’ll use them to make soup stock.”
“Stock? From skins? You can get flavor outta that?”
“Oh yes. Onion skins are rich in vitamins and minerals.
They also contain antioxidants — thirty times more than the onion itself! Amazing, isn’t it?
Throwing away the skins would be unthinkable!”
I clenched my fist passionately — but the chef and Ann only exchanged bewildered looks.
“Vitamee…?”
“Poli… what now?”
Oops.
Of course, those words didn’t exist in this world.
In my former life, I’d studied detoxing quite seriously — so seriously that I often lectured my friends about it.
They found my enthusiasm a bit much and never really shared my excitement.
I’d been hoping to find a kindred spirit in this world, but… maybe that was too much to ask.
“Er, well — it helps with blood circulation and reduces swelling. Onion skins have all sorts of benefits.”
“Huh. Never knew that about onions.”
“After you make the broth from the skins, please add almond milk, the onion itself, and some broccoli.
Simmer it until it’s all soft and creamy.”
“All right, but… why that combo, exactly?”
“They’re all rich in dietary fiber.
Since toxins are excreted mainly through stool and urine, I want to focus on foods that aid digestion and have diuretic effects — like potassium-rich vegetables.
Almond milk is high in vitamin E, which improves circulation and skin health.
Onions have oligosaccharides that promote good gut bacteria, plus plenty of potassium.
And here’s the key — broccoli contains sulforaphane, a compound with detoxifying power!
It’s also full of vitamin C, so it’s great for the skin too.
Isn’t that incredible?!”
I was practically glowing with enthusiasm, but the chef just grimaced awkwardly.
“Uh, my lady… I didn’t catch half those words, but did you just say something about poison and detox?”
I froze — exchanging a quick glance with Ann.
Oh no. I’d gotten carried away again and said too much.
I cleared my throat delicately, assuming my best noblewoman demeanor.
“Chef, you see, all of us unknowingly accumulate toxins in our bodies.”
“Toxins? You mean… even me?”
“Of course. Trace amounts of toxins are present in food and water, and the body also produces waste substances.
But don’t worry — the body naturally flushes them out.
I’m just consciously aiding the process for health and beauty reasons — that’s what I mean by detox.”
The chef seemed convinced and looked at me with newfound admiration.
“Well, I’ll be… detox, you say. Astonishing! Even as a cook, I’ve never heard of such a thing.
Where did you learn all this, my lady?”
“Well… since I spend much of my time resting, I read a lot of books.”
That was, of course, a lie — but he seemed moved by pity instead.
At some point, a small crowd of servants had gathered at the pantry entrance.
They were whispering:
“The young lady’s gotten so thin…”
“She didn’t use to look that frail…”
“Is she ill?”
Others murmured with awe,
“She’s studying nutrition on her own?”
“I should eat more broccoli too…”
Their words made me blush a little.
“And Ann — from now on, I’ll be drinking plenty of hot water.”
“Eh? H–hot water, my lady?”
“Yes. Please add ginger and honey to it.
It promotes blood circulation and strengthens the liver.
Since my blood flow is poor and my organs are weak, it’ll help.
Along with regular water, prepare about two large jugs a day.”
“That much!? You’ll be sloshing when you walk!”
“It’s fine. The human body naturally uses up that much water in a day.”
Which was exactly why I needed to drink plenty — to flush out every trace of poison.
The Saint of Salvation Olivia had been an antagonist in the story — but she was also breathtakingly beautiful.
Slender, yes, but not this frail and bony.
I had to reclaim that beauty!
The ex–beauty consultant in me was roaring with determination.
“Ginger and honey… You really do know everything, my lady!”
Ann’s eyes sparkled — probably thinking of how to turn all this into profit — just as a sharp voice rang out from outside.
“What is this commotion!?”
The servants quickly stepped aside — and in walked—
“Head Maid…”
Deep wrinkles furrowed the head maid’s brow as she glared first at Ann, then at me.
“What are you doing in a place like this, my lady?”
“…I only came to request a change to my meals.”
“To request a meal? You came all this way for that?
Have you forgotten the Madam’s order not to leave the annex?”
“My fever has subsided. I was simply taking a little walk and stopped by.
Why? Is my stepmother forbidding me even a walk now?
That would make it seem as though she’s keeping me imprisoned, wouldn’t it?”
I said it deliberately loud — and sure enough, the servants began whispering again:
“Imprisoned?” “Surely not…”
The head maid’s face twisted, as if she’d bitten into something sour.
“Don’t be ridiculous. The Madam is only concerned for your wellbeing.”
“Then there’s no problem, is there?
I’ll return to the annex now. Chef — I’m counting on you.”
“Yes, my lady! Leave it to me!”
The chef thumped his chest proudly, and I smiled back before leaving with Ann.
As we passed the head maid, she leaned close and whispered,
“I shall report this to the Madam.”
That meant my stepmother would surely make her move soon.
(She’s probably going to try poisoning me again…)
I sighed deeply.
If only I could be reincarnated as a village girl instead.
