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Chapter 27
I never imagined I’d run into him again at the Valen estate. And on top of that, he looked completely different from head to toe compared to that day.
Could it really be the same person who, with just a small gesture, had subdued the goons back then?
“……Viviante?”
“Ah, ah, hello. I-I’m Minos Viviante.”
Now, even just standing up made him stagger, and he ended up kneeling on the table. He couldn’t even make proper eye contact with Fleur as he bobbed his head awkwardly in greeting.
He was a perfect nerd.
Caught off guard, she stared at his face, and as his glasses and messy hair partially hid his face, it slowly turned red. He then bowed his head deeply.
“Is, is there something… on my face…?”
As he nervously touched his face in various places, she shook her head.
“Oh, no. Would you like to sit down first?”
“Y-yes…!”
Fleur guided him to the sofa behind them. Even though it was only three steps away, Minos bumped around before finally managing to sit.
“Are you alright?”
“Ha ha, h. Don’t worry about it. I’m just clumsy like this….”
He scratched the back of his head sheepishly as they faced each other.
If it weren’t for the status window, she might not have recognized them as the same person.
“I heard you thought the party started in the morning.”
“Even though I checked multiple times, I keep making this mistake… there’s no way the party would be held so early….”
Minos tapped his head in self-reproach.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m just happy to see you like this.”
When she reassured him, he scratched his head in relief.
“Thank you for being so understanding….”
A bright smile spread across his face, and dimples appeared on both sides of his mouth.
“Darling, are you surprised even though you see me every day?”
Despite everything being different, his smile was exactly the same as the stranger who had saved her that day.
Fleur hesitated for a moment, then spoke cautiously.
“Did we… meet a few days ago?”
“Eh?”
“At the market in the city recently. That day… you definitely saved me, right?”
At her question, Minos blinked slowly, then burst into laughter.
“Ha ha, I get mistaken for that a lot because I look so ordinary. Sometimes even my own servant claims to have seen me on the streets, even though I hadn’t left the mansion for days.”
He scratched his head as if this kind of thing was normal.
But for some reason, it felt like he was deliberately laughing off the truth, so she couldn’t bring herself to laugh along.
“…You really weren’t that person back then?”
“No. Even if I’m ordinary, why would I, a noble, go to a market commoners visit? Ha ha.”
He meant that there was no reason for him, as a noble, to be there.
“…I see. I must have been mistaken. Sorry.”
“No, it’s just that I lack distinguishing features.”
Minos adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose.
But she still didn’t understand. The status window had indicated that he was the person who had sprayed perfume.
So why was he lying?
As she pondered, one thought suddenly struck her:
Could he… be the Emperor’s shadow?
In the game, encountering the Emperor often happened by being abducted by a secret knight who acted like his shadow.
Disguised as someone not from the palace, they would hover around Fleur, then suddenly whisk her away.
Even if she risked her life to escape near the Emperor, they were always attached, and she would inevitably get caught.
“Did you think you hid well this time?”
“Y-Your Majesty….”
“Have fun while it lasts. You’ve had a few days off, so staying up a few nights won’t hurt, right?”
The Emperor enjoyed waiting until Fleur felt safe, only to crush that hope.
So that’s why he’s pretending not to notice me on the streets… because he’s watching me?
She had been trying to avoid him, but she realized she had already been playing right into the Emperor’s hands.
The pieces of the situation fell into place, sending shivers down her spine.
Suddenly, she felt afraid to look directly into the innocent expression of Minos’ eyes.
“Ahem, since you arrived early, you’ll have to wait a while until the party starts. If you don’t mind, would you like to try the desserts we’ll serve at the party first?”
“Gasp… may I?”
“Of course. You came all the way to my mansion, so I want to treat you properly.”
Though her insides trembled, she put on a friendly front. Even knowing he might be the Emperor’s shadow, she couldn’t just expose him.
She had to hide that she had realized, act as kindly as possible, and quietly send him away. She never knew when he might suddenly change his attitude and abduct her.
Recalling how ruthless the Emperor’s shadows could be, she tried to remain calm.
“I love desserts, so I’m delighted to try them first.”
“Please wait just a moment.”
Fleur rang the small bell on the table.
Shortly after, the servants entered the room with trays and placed the desserts on the table.
Minos’ eyes widened as he looked at the banana brownies, tiramisu made with beans and almond flour, and a pudding cake set with lemon and beans.
“Did you really make these desserts yourself, Ms. Valen?”
“Yes. I planned everything from conception to plating.”
“You can tell each one was made with care.”
“Please enjoy them. All these desserts are made with ingredients that don’t cause much weight gain.”
Fleur handed him a small teaspoon. He smiled and accepted it with both hands.
His overly polite demeanor seemed as practiced as if he were addressing the Emperor himself.
“I love desserts, but my father always scolded me for enjoying what women ate… So I couldn’t eat much in public.”
“Everyone should be equal in front of something delicious. Don’t worry here.”
“Thank you so much.”
Minos quickly took a large bite of the pudding cake.
“Mmm, this dessert is cold?”
“Yes. Since it doesn’t contain flour or eggs, it has to be chilled to keep its shape.”
Without refrigerators in that era, most cakes and desserts were baked in ovens or over fire.
This lemon-bean pudding was designed specifically to overcome that limitation.
He studied the remaining desserts as if he were a culinary judge, arms crossed, chin in hand.
He truly loved desserts, finishing each plate cleanly in a short time.
“Really, no flour at all?”
“None at all.”
“Amazing. The texture is great, the flavor lingers, and each ingredient is noticeable yet harmonious. I wouldn’t guess there’s no flour if you didn’t tell me.”
“I paid close attention to that part. Replacing ingredients is important, but the dessert must taste good in the end.”
“I can feel that care. This is the best dessert I’ve had this year.”
Minos smiled like a full cat.
“That’s a relief. I was worried it might have a beany taste.”
“You were worried even though it tastes this good?”
“My staff and I ate so much that we can’t tell anymore. We’ve made so many, I can measure them blindfolded now.”
“You didn’t just leave it to the chef and made it yourself?”
His eyes widened in disbelief.
“When I put my name on it, of course I make it myself.”
“…You really made it with sincerity.”
“Ha ha, having made so many, I’ve become half a chef.”
“That wouldn’t have been easy to do alone.”
“I wasn’t alone. Colin from the Martin family helped me.”
At the mention of Colin, the gentle smile on Minos’ face briefly hardened.
It was a fleeting moment, but Fleur, still suspicious, noticed the change.
The Emperor’s relationship with the Martin family was not exactly friendly.
Especially with Colin. Even though the ducal family was privileged enough, their growing wealth only increased their power.
For the Emperor, they were naturally someone to watch.
So, as expected, he reacts strongly when Colin is mentioned.
Fleur’s suspicion deepened.
“Are you two engaged?”
“No. We’re just business partners.”
“Not married either?”
“No. We only share profits.”
Minos adjusted his glasses as he pondered.
“May I make a suggestion?”
Her head tilted in curiosity at his sudden question.
“How about supplying this cake to the Imperial Palace?”
“…The Imperial Palace?”
“A friend of mine supplies desserts there, and they’re looking for new recipes. Selling this cake there could earn you a lot of money.”
“….”
“Of course, you’d have to end your partnership with Colin. How does that sound?”
As he mentioned the Imperial Palace, her suspicion solidified into certainty.
