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Chapter : 06
“So, what’s for lunch today? Amelie said I could look forward to it. I’m sure it’ll be delicious.”
When she pulled back the curtains, Amelie and Chloe were just coming in, pushing a trolley.
“Oh, you were in the bedroom.”
“Good afternoon, Your Grace. Did you sleep well?”
“Uh, uuh.”
While the meal was being set on the table, Marianne quickly wiped Cedric’s eyes and hands.
Since it was the crown princess doing what a maid normally would, Amelie’s expression stiffened slightly.
However, before Amelie could say anything, Marianne quickly moved to the chair across from her.
“Let me explain today’s menu.”
“Waa.”
Chloe, quick to read the room, deftly changed the subject, so Marianne pretended not to notice and picked up her fork and knife in response.
“First, the main dish is a beef tenderloin steak.”
In the end, Amelie gave up on voicing her concern disguised as nagging and instead introduced each dish while lifting the covers.
“Oh.” Marianne let out a small exclamation.
“There’s also pasta and grilled salmon. And we’ve prepared dessert for after the meal.”
“Everything looks amazing.”
With only slight exaggeration, it was on a completely different level from yesterday’s food.
Starting with the tenderloin steak generously garnished, there was a salad piled high with sauce and fruit—far more than yesterday—oil pasta with bacon, and perfectly grilled salmon. It was an abundant spread.
“I hope you don’t mind, but the steak has already been cut for you.”
“Oh, that’s fine. It’s easier to eat that way.”
Marianne answered cheerfully and moistened her mouth with water.
In addition to what Amelie explained, the table was filled with small plates of appetizing food: bread with butter and jam, soup, and more.
“This is a chopped steak just for our young duke. Doesn’t it look tasty?”
“Uh!”
Whether he understood the words or was simply happy to see meat, Cedric’s eyes sparkled.
“You must all have been busy since morning. Thank you. I’ll enjoy the meal.”
Marianne greeted Amelie and Chloe and picked up her fork. The thinly sliced steak was incredibly tender and delicious.
“Uh, uh!”
Cedric, who had been watching Marianne, quickly grabbed his fork and stabbed his chopped steak before putting it into his mouth.
His cheeks puffed out as he chewed, looking like a squirrel—it was so cute that Marianne smiled like a proud older sister.
In truth, he spilled more than he actually got into his mouth, but still, the fact that he was using utensils instead of his hands was admirable.
“My goodness. The young duke is using a fork…!”
Chloe, who had stepped back to wait, murmured in admiration. Hearing that, Marianne felt oddly proud.
“Chloe.”
“Ah, I’m sorry. I was just so surprised. It’s touching.”
At Amelie’s stern call, Chloe apologized in a much quieter voice.
Listening to her still gush about her impressions, Marianne quickly turned her attention to the pasta to keep from laughing out loud.
“Mmm, the pasta’s good too.”
Even though it was topped with plenty of grated cheese, it wasn’t heavy at all.
“…Whew.”
After the enjoyable meal, both for mouth and heart, Marianne put down her fork with a sad expression.
There was still so much food left, but her stomach was simply too small. Perhaps she was born with a small appetite—if she ate just a little too much, she felt uncomfortably full.
‘I want to eat more.’
Seeing the neatly arranged dishes she hadn’t even touched made her want to pick up her fork again immediately.
But the memory of the first day she woke up in the imperial palace—when she overate despite being full because the food looked so good and ended up with an upset stomach—made her hesitate.
“Is there anything lacking?”
“Oh, no. I’m just full.”
Seeing her hesitant hand, Amelie stepped forward slightly. Marianne shook her head at the concerned question.
Then she cast a regretful glance at her plate.
“It’s just a shame because everything’s so delicious.”
“I’m glad it suited your taste.”
“Hehe. Julia made all the food. She’s such an amazing cook that she could open a restaurant in the capital!”
As Chloe refilled Marianne’s glass, she eagerly chimed in, then quickly scurried back to her place before Amelie could scold her again.
“So Julia’s the cook. Please tell her I really enjoyed the meal, Chloe.”
“Yes! Ah, would you like dessert?”
“I would.”
“Hehe, I helped with the dessert too.”
Today’s dessert, which Chloe brought with small spoons, was strawberry sorbet and cute cream puffs.
“Uh!”
Cedric, who had been diligently eating his steak, reacted to the sweet treats.
As expected, for a child, meat and sweets were the best.
“Cedric, you can eat it once you finish your plate.”
“Uh?”
Cedric blinked.
Marianne lifted her own clean plate to show him, then pointed at the dessert plate.
She picked up a cream puff that fit perfectly in one hand and put it in her mouth.
“Got it?”
“Uh, ah!”
Following Marianne’s fingertip with his head, Cedric answered bravely.
Then he tried to lift his plate with the vegetables left on it, just like Marianne had done.
“No, not that. Cedric.”
“Uh….”
Judging by his sulky expression, he clearly didn’t like vegetables. But he had to eat them to grow up healthy.
“Eat at least this much, Cedric. Then I’ll give you dessert.”
Marianne leaned over and took hold of Cedric’s fork. She speared some well-grilled mushrooms, bell peppers, and onions, and held them out to him.
If she tried to force him, he might develop an even stronger aversion and become pickier.
“Uh.”
But instead of opening his mouth, Cedric puffed out his cheeks. His face was adorable, but Marianne had no intention of letting it slide.
“Come on. Eat it, and I’ll give you this.”
Holding vegetables in one hand and sorbet in the other, she showed him. After hesitating for a moment, Cedric finally opened his mouth.
“Uh?”
Squeezing his eyes shut, Cedric tasted the vegetables, then slowly opened them again, as if it wasn’t as bad as he’d expected.
They weren’t raw, but grilled, infused with delicious sauce and juices—there was no way they could taste bad.
Marianne smiled brightly.
“Good, right?”
“Uh.”
“See? From now on, you have to eat vegetables with your meat. Chloe, could you give Cedric his dessert too?”
“Yes. Here you go, young duke.”
With a satisfied smile, Chloe handed Cedric a cream puff and strawberry sorbet.
“Uh, ah!”
Excited, Cedric began nibbling carefully at the cream puff. It seemed so delicious that he wanted to savor it.
He didn’t have to be so careful. Seeing such a young child already instinctively trying to save things made Marianne’s chest ache.
“Your Highness.”
“Hm?”
“Have you finished your meal?”
“Yes. I’m too full to eat any more. It was wonderful. Honestly, today’s meal was better than what I had at the imperial palace.”
Marianne spoke calmly and sincerely.
The imperial palace was splendid, and the dishes were full of things she’d never seen before. Naturally, with the empire’s best chefs cooking, the food tasted good.
But that was only at first.
Compared to eating uncomfortably while surrounded by unfamiliar maids, this was far more relaxing, and she liked how she could feel Julia’s care in the food.
‘Is it because I saw them in the novel? It’s strange that even though it’s only been two days, it doesn’t feel that awkward.’
She had just thought she wanted to stay in this peaceful atmosphere for a long time when—
“Thank you for your kind words. Chloe, please serve Her Highness some tea.”
“Yes. It’s just finished steeping.”
“I’ll enjoy it…?”
Marianne turned her head, then froze when she saw not a teacup, but a rather thick stack of documents in front of her.
“Would you review the report while you have your tea?”
No—breaking my mood and lingering emotion like this, all at once?
But since Amelie was offering it politely with both hands, Marianne couldn’t exactly refuse.
As she slowly took the documents, Chloe pushed the trolley over and neatly cleared Marianne’s dishes.
Then she spread a long cloth over the table like a table runner, set down a teacup and cookies, and stepped back.
“It’s an herbal tea blended by Laurent. It’s sweet yet refreshing, perfect after a meal.”
She didn’t forget to explain the tea, either.
Marianne nodded and placed the report in the empty space beside her teacup.
On the very first page, written in elegant script, were the words: ‘Ducal Estate Budget and Financial Report.’
Bracing herself, Marianne turned the page. Knowing Amelie, she doubted it would be done halfheartedly.
But Amelie’s thoroughness far exceeded what Marianne had imagined. From the densely written details to the reasons each expense was necessary and the exact amounts, her head began to spin just looking at it.
“You didn’t have to organize it this thoroughly.”
“I must. Although Your Highness is not the one directly responsible for managing the estate, you entrusted me with a large budget, so you need to review a clearly written report.”
“Ugh…”
Amelie’s eyes gleamed as if she had no intention of compromising, so Marianne quietly turned her head away.
‘After working this hard on it, I can’t just skim through it.’
She took a sip of herbal tea and focused on the report.
‘Good heavens.’
Once again, she keenly realized that this enormous estate was a money-eating monster.
‘I knew there would be many things to fix when I first saw it, but…’
More than half of the money she’d squeezed out of—no, received as compensation from—Count Cromba was going to be spent on repairing the estate.
Compared to that amount, everyday expenses like food and clothing were almost cute.
After repairing the estate and buying necessities, the remaining money…
Honestly, it wasn’t much.
‘Can the remaining money support me, Cedric, the servants, and even Miel the knight—seven people in total—for a year?’
…Probably not.
“I’ve reviewed it, Amelie.”
“Thank you for your confirmation.”
Speaking in a subdued voice, Marianne rubbed her eyes.
“Uh…?”
Cedric tilted his head, then suddenly stood up and came over to Marianne, tilting his head again.
Did he think she was crying because her hand was near her eyes?
Forgetting her grim reality for a moment, Marianne let out a small laugh.
“I’m not crying, silly.”
As she patted the top of Cedric’s head, she sank into thought.
Should she raid Count Cromba’s warehouse?
If she persuaded Miel properly, it might be possible. But then she’d probably be summoned to the imperial palace immediately.
‘…Is there really only one way?’
Marianne’s eyes sharpened.
It was time to make use of the information that only she knew now.
