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Chapter 34
“Have you known each other for a long time?”
“I saved them once when they were attacked by a monster. We’ve been in touch ever since.”
“Oh, I see.”
A moment later, food she had never seen before arrived. Alexis kindly explained. “This is ratatouille, this is parmentier, croque monsieur, and farfalou.”
Ratatouille was a vegetable stew with eggplant, tomatoes, zucchini, and onions, slowly cooked in oil. Parmentier was a dish layered with mashed potatoes and minced meat. Croque monsieur was a grilled sandwich with ham and cheese, and farfalou was an omelet dish with bread dough baked with vegetables and fruits.
“My mom’s cooking is so delicious. You should try it, Your Grace.”
Alexis served the food onto Elia’s plate. Elia picked up a piece of ratatouille with her fork and ate it. It was truly delicious. The harmony of the oil and herbs was a work of art. The texture was moist and soft, preserving the natural moisture of the vegetables.
“It’s really good.”
When I gave him a thumbs up, Bran’s shoulders went up. Bran nonchalantly wiped his nose with his index finger. “I told you, my mom’s cooking is out of this world!”
“Elie, try this, too.”
Next, Alexis gave her parmentier and croque monsieur. Elia ate the parmentier and then the croque monsieur. The parmentier was a perfect blend of crispiness and softness, and the flavor was excellent, as if it had butter and milk added to it. The ingredients for the croque monsieur were simple, but the crispy bread, salty ham, and rich cheese filled her mouth. It was so, so delicious.
A smile formed on Alexis’s face as he watched Elia eat so happily. “Elie, eat a lot.”
“You should eat, too, My Lord.”
Eating delicious food made Elia feel as if she were flying.
[You’re eating so ravenously.] Ga-ji sounded like he was being annoying out of jealousy.
Then Stella said, [I’m just glad my Master is eating well. Why are you so jealous?]
[When did I ever get jealous?]
[If you wanted to eat, you should have just said so honestly. Tsk, tsk.]
[Why are you clucking your tongue?]
[Because I feel sorry for you.]
[You feel sorry for me?]
Stella didn’t say anything more.
[Why did you stop talking, you snake!]
Ga-ji felt offended that Stella was ignoring him. But then, Elia also clucked her tongue at him.
[You too, why?]
‘I’ve known for a while, but you’re so childish, seriously.’
[What?]
Elia smiled, poked a piece of food with her fork, showed it to Ga-ji as if to tease him, and then popped it into her mouth.
[Ugh, really!]
Incensed, Ga-ji moved from her shoulder to the top of her head and messed up her hair spitefully. Seeing that, Alexis chuckled. Elia’s neatly styled hair was now a mess, sticking out everywhere as if she had been struck by lightning.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Your hair…”
“I know… It’s embarrassing…”
Alexis smirked, got up, and stood behind Elia.
“What are you doing?”
“Just be still.”
Alexis untied the ribbon holding her hair, undid her braids, and then started styling her hair again.
“I don’t have a comb, so I’ll just do it roughly.”
He gathered her hair with his hands and tied it up in a single ponytail.
“Done.”
Elia felt her hair. It was neatly done without any stray pieces.
“My Lord, have you tied hair before?” I asked, since it didn’t look like he had only done it once or twice.
“I have. When I was little.”
“Here, this drink is on the house.”
Bran brought an orange juice and handed it to Elia.
“Thank you.”
Then, in a serious tone that was unlike him, he said, “Your Grace.”
“Yes?”
Gulp, gulp, gulp.
Elia drank her orange juice and looked at Bran.
“I’m working hard on my sword training, you know?”
Elia blinked.
“When I pass the Grand Duke’s knight exam later, I want to protect you, Your Grace.”
Hearing that he wanted to protect her, Elia nearly spit out her juice.
Ga-ji rolled around on top of her head, laughing. [That kid has a crush on you, lol.]
‘Don’t laugh.’
Elia looked at Bran’s face. His face was flushed red.
Alexis answered for her. “Bran? Did you get your mom’s permission before you decided to take the exam?”
“Th-that’s…”
“You should probably get your mom’s permission first.”
Just then, his mother shouted from the kitchen. “Bran, what are you doing! We have customers to serve!”
“Yes, yes. I’m coming.”
Bran looked at the Grand Duke and Elia with fiery eyes. “Anyway, I’ve made up my mind! Your Grace, I’ll see you later.”
Elia shook her head as she watched Bran’s hurried departure.
‘Kids these days.’
[You’re a kid, too.]
‘I know.’
“Elie, let’s get going.”
Elia nodded and left the restaurant with Alexis. They headed straight back to the ducal castle. They hadn’t brought the Iron Eagle Knights today. It was because Alexis was with her. Who would dare to mess with a Sword Master?
“Elie, what do you want to do with the money you earned?”
“I want to renovate the houses in the outer castle.”
“The houses in the outer castle?”
“Yes, the houses are too old. They look like they need a lot of work. Mary lives there, and so does Butler Norman’s family, and the Iron Eagle Knights, too.”
“Renovating those houses would be a major construction project, you know?”
“It is said that a house must be sturdy. I want everyone in the ducal family to live in sturdy and nice houses.”
“Everyone will be very happy.”
Elia smiled brightly. She truly wanted them to be happy.
“Shall we get in?”
“Yes.”
Alexis got into the carriage and then lifted Elia up to sit her on his lap. “Elie, don’t overdo it. For now, just think about growing taller. You can do everything you want when you are healthy and strong.”
Alexis’s thick hand gently stroked the top of Elia’s head. “Let’s do this slowly, one step at a time, Elie.”
Elia liked those words very much.
“Okay, My Lord.”
She loved hearing that she didn’t have to rush.
Spring had arrived at the Cartelani Grand Ducal Castle. Elia had started renovations on the castle. First, she renovated the houses in the outer castle. Through the Black Pearl Merchant Guild, she hired a large number of workers and carefully selected only good materials. She repaired the holes in the roofs and reinforced the walls. The doors that were old and creaky were replaced with new ones. She also replaced the old furniture with new ones and repainted the houses. The entire area was becoming bright and cheerful.
It took a full two months to renovate the houses in the outer castle.
“It’s so nice that my house is so bright now, thanks to you, Your Grace.”
Mary said her house was much cleaner and brighter, and thanked Elia every time she saw her.
“A house is a reflection of its owner.” A person could be seen by the state of their house.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I want you to be happy, Mary.”
“I’m happy because of you, Your Grace.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
Elia was happy that Mary was so pleased.
“You are so lovely, Your Grace.”
“I love you too, Mary.”
“Oh, I’m so touched, Your Grace.”
Since her adoption, Elia had been called “Your Grace.” It meant that everyone in the household accepted her as a duchess. It was amazing. A stranger, not related by blood, had become a duchess, and the people of the ducal family called her “Your Grace” without any hesitation. They were truly kind people.
“What will you do next?”
“I’ll fix up the garden.”
“The garden?”
“Yes, I’m going to redecorate the garden of the ducal residence.”
She had already designed the new garden in her head. She had decided to change it because the current garden was too grim and wasn’t pleasant to walk in.
“Elie!”
Alexis, who had finished his work in his office, walked toward Elia. While she was at it, she had thrown away all of Alexis’s old clothes in his dressing room and filled it with new ones. Alexis looked even more handsome in his new clothes. Clothes really do make the man.
“Let’s go to lunch.”
“Is it that late already?”
“Yep.”
Alexis took out his pocket watch and showed her the time. The hands were pointing to exactly 12 o’clock.
