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Chapter : 29
Even Extras Refuse Death Routes (29)
“Your Highness, I’ve brought dessert.”
As always, I stepped into Iart’s office.
At my words, Iart’s hand, which had been busy with paperwork, paused as usual.
I carefully placed the dessert plate on the desk.
“What is this?”
I smiled brightly at Iart, who was looking at the dessert, and replied.
“It’s called crème brûlée. You just tap the top with a teaspoon and then enjoy it.”
After I finished speaking, Iart reached for the teaspoon.
Then, he paused and looked at me, asking,
“You said you know various desserts, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Are these recipes you created yourself?”
“…To some extent. Not all of them.”
I hesitated, unable to answer confidently.
Iart, staring at me suspiciously for a moment, asked another question.
“If you make tools and create new desserts, what do you plan to do?”
“I’d like to have Your Highness taste them first, and beyond that, I hope to share them widely.”
“Why?”
There wasn’t really a convincing reason to give.
“I feel very happy when I eat desserts. I hope not only nobles but many citizens of the Empire can feel that happiness together.”
“Hmmm.”
I answered without thinking, then suddenly realized that maybe this wasn’t something I should say in front of a royal like Iart.
I glanced sideways, checking his reaction.
Seeing Iart deep in thought, I felt relieved that he didn’t comment on it.
“So you want to commercialize desserts, I suppose. You’d know since you’ve tried making them yourself.”
“Huh?”
“Judging by the cost of the ingredients, it wouldn’t be affordable for commoners.”
“W-well, yes.”
It wasn’t exactly wrong.
The fact that ingredients were abundant just showed that desserts weren’t yet commercialized.
The more desserts appeared, the more their ingredients’ prices would rise.
Especially since many ingredients weren’t produced in the Carton Empire.
“You didn’t think that far, I see.”
“Rather than not thinking about it, I thought it wasn’t my place.”
Having become familiar with the work, I was aware of such variables to some extent.
But from the start, I wasn’t in a position to take action.
So, until now, it had remained just a distant dream.
“I understand your intentions. I’ll take note for review.”
Iart withdrew his gaze from me and quickly scribbled something on his files.
Watching him, I silently lamented the lack of a phone.
How I wished I could capture this moment.
A man at work—it really was the best.
“Your Highness.”
“Yes?”
“I feel a wall from you.”
“…What?”
Iart slowly lifted his head, frowning slightly.
Not wanting to miss the moment, I hurriedly clasped my hands together and raised them near my face.
“A w-wall.”
At my antics, Iart paused for a long moment.
Then, he snorted and said,
“Are you trying to flatter me?”
Though spoken curtly, his expression didn’t seem bad.
“I can’t lie.”
I stared at him with sparkling eyes.
“If you’re going to say nonsense, just leave.”
“Yes, sir.”
At Iart’s suddenly stern words, I pouted a little and started speaking again.
Seeing his frown deepen, I quickly left the room.
“Ireneah.”
As I exited, Edwin, standing by the door, called out to me.
“It’s almost my shift change—can you wait a bit?”
“Why?”
“I thought we could take a walk together.”
“Hmm, sure.”
I also had something to discuss with Edwin, so it was perfect timing.
Soon, we were in the garden together.
The air felt slightly chilly, hinting at the coming cold.
I instinctively brushed my arms against the cool air.
“Cold?”
“A little.”
Edwin stopped and draped his jacket over my shoulders.
“Hey, it’s fine.”
“I’m not sensitive to cold. Since I suggested the walk, keep it on.”
“…Alright.”
The gesture made my fingers tingle.
I wasn’t used to such consideration—it felt strangely unfamiliar.
“…Ugh.”
“Ireneah?”
“Something got in my eye… ouch.”
One eye stung so much I couldn’t open it properly.
Edwin, anxious, leaned closer and said,
“Move your hand—I’ll blow on it.”
“Ugh…”
I groaned, letting go of my eye.
As soon as I heard his breath, the strong wind hit my eye.
“How’s that?”
“Ah, I think it’s okay now. Thanks, brother.”
After a few tears fell, my blurred vision cleared.
“…You can step back now.”
“Ah, sorry.”
Still close to me, Edwin stepped back slightly.
When I spoke, he adjusted his posture and resumed walking.
“I—um, brother.”
“Yes?”
“Have you heard anything about the princess?”
Edwin looked puzzled.
“Like what?”
“Nothing… like something happened, or she’s planning something?”
It sounded suspicious, like I was investigating.
Though technically not wrong.
“I haven’t heard anything. Why, did something happen?”
“Hmm…”
Should I tell him about yesterday? He seems on my side, so maybe it’s okay.
“Yesterday, the princess came out of Your Highness’s office crying.”
“Yesterday?”
“Yes.”
“How did you see that?”
Here we go again—Edwin’s overprotective side.
I downplayed it, speaking as if it were nothing serious.
“She was called briefly for work.”
“What work?”
“Nothing, really, just work-related talk.”
“….”
Edwin still chewed his lip, looking serious.
“Anyway, what happened next is important.”
“…What?”
“The princess glared at me fiercely.”
I said this seriously, and Edwin froze.
Then he stared blankly, before bursting into a small laugh.
“She glared?”
“This isn’t funny. She really glared like this, like this!”
I vividly imitated Reella’s expression.
Maybe that made Edwin laugh even more, because he started laughing heartily.
“Ah, why are you laughing!”
“Because she’s cute, really cute.”
“Don’t.”
Edwin patted my head like I was a child, still laughing.
I swatted his hand away with a slap.
“Yeah, yeah.”
Rubbing the slightly reddened back of his hand, Edwin replied.
He tended to be serious about odd things, while ignoring what I said.
“Anyway, she was seriously terrifying.”
“Hmmm.”
After I repeated myself several times, Edwin finally looked like he was taking it seriously.
“Nothing comes to mind?”
“Nothing related except that she’s Your Highness’s ward. I thought maybe that’s it…”
“And?”
“So I’m asking you, brother, if you know anything.”
Edwin pressed his hands together tightly, a nervous habit, I guessed.
“I can’t really guess anything either. Sorry.”
“It’s okay, don’t apologize.”
“Anyway, it might be best not to get too involved with the princess.”
“Huh? Why?”
Edwin hesitated, glancing around before speaking.
“Because the Tenente Duke is very ambitious, people think the princess was forced into a political marriage, but I don’t think that’s entirely true.”
“…Why do you think so?”
“After the competition, I was invited to the Duke’s house several times and had meals with them.”
I held my breath, sensing something important.
“Even then and now, whenever we meet, we talk.”
“Mm.”
“Every time, I get this feeling.”
I was stunned by his ambiguous answer.
“What feeling? What kind of feeling?”
“Um… it’s hard to explain.”
I suspected Edwin was a master of teasing.
His drawn-out words even made me feel out of breath.
“It’s like… you really feel she’s the Tenente Duke’s daughter.”
“That’s obvious, she is the Tenente Duke’s daughter.”
“No, I mean sometimes the Duke himself is reflected in her.”
The Tenente Duke.
Not a prominent figure causing incidents in Evening Primrose, just the protagonist’s father with political ambition.
When Reella fell in love with Arjen, he disapproved, but he mainly helped eliminate Iart, who interfered.
“I don’t really know the Duke…”
“Um, well…”
As Edwin continued speaking, a voice called from afar.
“Edwin!”
Edwin saw the running man and approached him.
The man, panting, spoke to Edwin.
Then Edwin looked at me.
“Ireneah, I have to go now. We’ll talk later.”
“Okay.”
I nodded, and Edwin hurried off.
I could always find out about the Duke from someone else.
At least I seemed to have found a clue, so I had to follow it.
“Oh, right. The jacket.”
He had forgotten it in his rush; it was still on my shoulders.
I could return it later.
Feeling a bit hungry, I started heading back.
Near the entrance, I saw a familiar back.
“Oh, Serena?”
I quickened my pace.
“Where are you going?”
“Ah… Ireneah?”
Startled, Serena shivered.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“No.”
Our conversation, which would usually flow easily, was cut off coldly.
Serena’s behavior had been odd lately.
“Serena, shall we have dinner together?”
“…Okay.”
I nervously asked, worried she’d refuse. Fortunately, she agreed.
“What’s with the jacket?”
“Oh, this.”
Walking slightly apart, Serena asked in a low voice.
“During the walk earlier, your brother left it behind.”
“Brother… Edwin?”
“Yes.”
Serena looked at the jacket on my shoulder.
Then she abruptly turned and walked ahead.
The atmosphere still didn’t feel good.
‘Maybe if I deliver this for her, she’d like it.’
Since she liked Edwin, perhaps meeting him would make her happy.
“Serena.”
She paused at my call.
“Could you give this to him for me?”
“…What?”
Did I say something wrong?
Serena’s expression twisted instantly.
“Sorry, are you mad? I thought since I asked last time, it’d be okay…”
She clenched her fist and bowed her head deeply.
“…Are you having fun?”
“Huh?”
“You’re teasing me, are you having fun?”
“What do you mean? When did I—”
Her words left me baffled.
“Fine, you won’t explain. I’m leaving.”
“Serena! Wait, hey!”
What on earth was happening?
