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Chapter 3
When working in an unfamiliar kitchen, there’s something you must do first.
Check the locations of the cooking tools and ingredients.
I took out a ladle, a thin wooden stick, sugar, and baking soda.
I didn’t forget the round press and the star-shaped cookie cutter either.
It would’ve been much easier if I had my usual tools, but since I’d been kidnapped, I couldn’t exactly bring them along. Besides, for ten million penta, this level of inconvenience was nothing.
“Is that all?”
“Yes.”
Kailos looked surprised.
“I expected something far more complicated…”
“Did you think it would include nutmeg or cinnamon?”
I listed off spices that the nobles here were obsessed with.
“Something like that.”
I had to hold back a laugh.
If he had ever tasted dalgona, he’d know it was nothing but pure sugar.
Of course, when I heard “ten million penta,” the thought of adding special ingredients briefly crossed my mind.
But in the end, I decided against it.
‘Safety comes first.’
Kailos kidnapped me and offered that enormous sum for ordinary dalgona.
Not some experimental, fancy variation.
There was no reason to take risks.
As the sugar heated, a sweet aroma began to fill the kitchen.
I skillfully stirred it with the wooden stick, not forgetting to add a bit of baking soda.
Soon, the mixture became thick and fluffy.
I poured it onto a marble board lightly coated with sugar, and a deliciously sweet scent rose up.
Even I—who had made this countless times—felt my mouth water.
After pressing it flat, I stamped it with the star-shaped cutter.
Once it hardened completely, I lifted it off the board and placed it on a pretty plate.
“It’s done.”
“….”
Kailos said nothing.
Instead, he alternated his gaze between me and the dalgona, his eyes full of suspicion.
Then—
Crack.
A corner of the dalgona broke off.
What had been a smooth, round shape now looked oddly misshapen.
“Eat it.”
“…Pardon?”
I blinked in confusion.
What did he want?
Surely he didn’t mean “you worked hard, so you should eat it.”
“Eat.”
He insisted again.
Though puzzled, there was no reason not to, so I popped the piece into my mouth.
‘It’s good!’
The rich, caramelized sweetness spread across my tongue.
It was a familiar taste—but familiar things are often the best.
I looked at Kailos with wide eyes.
“It’s delicious.”
But he still looked wary.
Crack.
Another piece broke off.
Now it looked less like a circle and more like a jagged shape.
‘Is he going to make me eat that too?’
For a moment, I wondered if Kailos was some kind of weirdo who enjoyed watching candy sellers eat their own goods.
But contrary to my expectations, he placed the next piece into his own mouth.
I watched him expectantly.
He had kidnapped me just to make dalgona—surely he’d react enthusiastically.
“…?”
I frowned.
My expectation was completely wrong.
He didn’t savor it at all.
With an expressionless face, he simply swallowed it.
As if it were something barely edible.
‘But it tasted good to me… does he just not like it?’
Then what about my ten million penta?!
Worried sick, I carefully watched his reaction.
“There’s no poison.”
Only then did I understand.
Why he had made me eat it.
And why he ate it himself despite not liking it.
“You used me as a tester.”
“I did the same.”
Kailos corrected me.
“I put myself at risk as well, so I assume you have no complaints.”
I scoffed.
“You thought I might have taken an antidote beforehand, didn’t you?”
I had read enough novels.
I knew all about royal paranoia.
“You’re smarter than the rumors suggest.”
Kailos smiled faintly.
Considering he had never met Adelheid before, he must have done quite a thorough investigation.
Or perhaps rumors about how foolish she was had spread even further than expected.
“Then you must also know who will be eating this.”
“Ah…”
A groan slipped out.
If a prince personally tested food, the recipient could only be the Emperor or Empress.
But in the story, the Empress was already dead.
That left only one answer.
I inhaled sharply.
“…His Majesty the Emperor.”
Kailos’s golden eyes gleamed.
Rather than sinister, they seemed lively—almost playful.
“Excuse me.”
Without warning, he suddenly lifted me into his arms.
My body was effortlessly raised, his arms supporting my shoulders and legs.
It was a stable position—but highly unwelcome.
“Your Highness, I do have perfectly functional legs.”
I muttered in disbelief.
Being held by a strange man was incredibly uncomfortable.
Even if that man was someone as handsome as Kailos Obern.
Objectively speaking, his arms weren’t exactly “comfortable” either.
His muscles felt as hard as stone, as if he trained relentlessly.
But it didn’t seem like he had any intention of putting me down.
“You might try something.”
I frowned.
“Something”?
I had already proven there was no poison.
What more could I possibly do?
Maybe life in the treacherous imperial court had made him this suspicious.
Kailos Obern was far more cautious than I expected.
“Is that really the only reason?”
“Ten million penta.”
He quietly reminded me of the deal.
It seemed that the money didn’t just cover making dalgona—it also meant obeying his orders, no matter how strange they seemed.
So, did I hate it?
No.
Just recently, I had been scraping by on a few hundred penta a day.
For ten million, I’d do anything.
“Yes, I’ll stay still. I won’t move a finger.”
The answer slipped out automatically the moment he mentioned the payment.
Naturally, I ended up holding the plate of dalgona.
Even Kailos couldn’t carry both me and the plate.
I swallowed a sigh.
A prince carrying a woman… who was holding dalgona.
I could already imagine how ridiculous we must look.
Thankfully, we didn’t encounter many people as we walked through the long corridors.
But once we reached our destination, that would surely change.
After all, it was the Emperor’s audience chamber.
About ten minutes later—
“…Huh?”
I blinked.
Would the Emperor’s audience chamber really be in such an empty corridor?
The hallway was lavish enough, but aside from us, it was eerily silent.
All sorts of dreadful thoughts crossed my mind.
What if bringing dalgona to the Emperor was a lie—and he was actually taking me to a torture chamber?
He wouldn’t need a reason.
The one holding me captive right now was the hidden villain of this story.
Finally, the strange procession came to a stop.
Kailos halted in front of a door guarded by two knights and set me down.
“Open the door.”
Kailos commanded.
“That is not permitted, Your Highness.”
The knight on the left replied stiffly.
“His Majesty is resting. We have orders not to let anyone disturb him.”
I stretched my limbs slightly, letting out a quiet sigh of relief.
At least it wasn’t a torture chamber.
Kailos’s voice turned cold.
“I will not repeat myself. Open the door.”
