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Chapter 13
Even though it was still early, Paul had summoned her as well and urged her to come down quickly. Cassea had assumed Jester must have been unusually hungry, but she soon realized she had been mistaken. It seemed her husband had interrupted her reunion simply because he wanted to serve a lavish meal as soon as possible.
“My goodness.”
Slowly taking in the dishes spread across the long wooden dining table, Cassea looked at Lucas, the cook of Greze Castle standing beside Jester, and gave him a grateful nod.
Lucas was an exceptionally skilled cook. He had gone to great lengths to help Cassea, who had grown accustomed to rich meat dishes, adapt to Greze’s cuisine, where vegetables such as potatoes formed the staple diet.
He constantly experimented by adding various herbs and seasonings to the otherwise plain menu, and he would secretly discuss matters with the butler, Paul, to make sure that meat dishes appeared on the table at least once a month, even if it meant stretching their limited resources. The reason Cassea had managed to adapt so quickly to a diet completely different from Ruberno’s was entirely thanks to him.
Remaining in the dining room at Paul’s instruction, Lucas beamed proudly at Cassea’s touched expression before speaking.
“Today’s main course is roasted chicken stuffed with Potanium—a traditional Greze dish made from mashed potatoes mixed with cheese and flavored with basil. We’ve also put a great deal of care into the side dishes, so please enjoy them at your leisure. Oh, and my lady, today I asked Paul to prepare some honey and sugar. I heard you always mixed them into your milk when you lived in Ruberno.”
Lucas gave her a playful wink, and Cassea was deeply moved. Honestly, she had never expected them to go to such lengths. Since the castle’s table was always modest because of the territory’s poverty, she had felt guilty even thinking of asking them to prepare something special simply because her friend was visiting. Yet without being asked, they had arranged such a feast.
With a satisfied smile, Lucas added,
“Both Paul and the master instructed me to prepare wholeheartedly to welcome Viscount Habelrn.”
At Lucas’s words, Cassea looked at Jester in surprise. Seeing her moved expression, Jester, who had been nervously watching her reaction, awkwardly cleared his throat as his face reddened.
Cassea turned her gaze back to the magnificent spread.
Roasted chicken stuffed with Potanium, sandwiches layered with grilled chicken breast, scones spread with marmalade, fish tart, pudding, and even a cake made from barley bread…
Beside the half-filled glass of milk sat a small handful of sugar so she could sweeten it herself.
Sugar was incredibly expensive, far beyond what Greze could freely afford. During the ten years she had spent as the baroness, she could count on one hand the number of times she had even seen sugar.
There were also very few dairy farms raising cows, so even milk and cheese were rare luxuries. It was undeniably an extravagant table by Greze’s standards.
“You’ve truly worked hard. This is so…”
“Is there something particularly unsuitable about the meal, Viscount?”
Interrupted by Jester’s anxious voice, Cassea looked up.
He was watching Drayan, seated across from him, with obvious tension. Drayan, his expression stiff, carefully inspected each dish on the table before speaking.
“So… this is the meal that astonished Lady Baroness so much?”
Cassea immediately realized the problem.
By Drayan’s standards, this table was far too humble.
Both wealthy Ruberno and Habelrn lived almost entirely on meat-based cuisine. Even the commoners there were accustomed to rich meals. Potatoes were never considered a staple.
The roasted chicken, proudly served as the main course, was no exception. Chicken was among the cheapest and most common meats. For Drayan, who regularly dined on salted pork and roast beef, Cassea’s obvious delight over such a meal must have seemed incomprehensible.
“I-Ian, well…”
“Baron, has your wife been eating meals like this ever since she came here? These must all have been foods she’d never even tasted before.”
It was true that in her previous life, Cassea had struggled greatly to adapt to Greze’s food.
But after awakening again, she had already lived through those ten years once. She had long since adjusted, so there had been no reason to complain about the meals.
“Of course, I understand that this kind of food is ordinary for Greze. But Lady Baroness isn’t one of the common villagers. At the very least, shouldn’t she be served proper meals made with valuable ingredients inside the castle? Just because the people of Greze eat this way doesn’t mean the mistress of the castle should have to become accustomed to it as well.”
Jester parted his lips in bewilderment.
It wasn’t as though he had never worried.
He had asked Paul several times whether the meals suited Cassea’s tastes. Since he’d been told she always ate well, he had finally relaxed. But hearing Drayan’s words now, he wondered if perhaps she had simply forced herself to adapt.
Jester’s expression darkened in misery.
“Naturally, I understand that this is the normal cuisine here, Baron. But Lady Baroness came from Ruberno. Surely you know what kind of place it is.”
Drayan’s sharp criticism left Jester looking thoroughly ashamed.
Seeing that expression, Lucas hurriedly stepped in.
“I sincerely apologize. It wasn’t so much that the master was inattentive—it is far more my fault, as the one responsible for preparing Lady Baroness’s meals. I should naturally have taken Viscount’s concerns into account when planning the menu…”
“Enough.”
Watching Lucas shut his eyes tightly and bow his head, Cassea finally interrupted in a dry voice.
“Viscount Habelrn.”
Her trembling voice clearly carried anger.
Drayan flinched.
Even so, he had no intention of taking back what he had said. He cherished Cassea deeply, and by his standards, everything he had pointed out was perfectly reasonable.
Cassea understood that better than anyone.
Still, she had no desire to embarrass either Jester or Lucas when it was obvious they had sincerely done their best.
Her voice grew noticeably sharper.
“You’re the one who seems to have forgotten Greze’s circumstances, Viscount. The land is narrow and barren, and most of the people cannot even dream of eating rich meals. Certainly, if they wished, the lord and lady of the castle alone could enjoy luxurious food every day. But what kind of leader would knowingly indulge in lavish feasts while fully aware of the hardships their people endure? If Baron Jester had actually insisted on eating like that every single day, I would have been deeply disappointed. Even if he had tried to spoil me that way, I would have refused.”
…
“And Lucas, you’ve done absolutely nothing wrong. There’s no reason for you to bow your head like that. I was genuinely touched by the care you put into today’s meal for my dear friend. And I still remember the meal you prepared the day after I arrived. You served fish tart, didn’t you?”
“Y-Yes, my lady!”
“I know fish is expensive to bring here. It only appears on the Baron’s table about once a month. Didn’t you go out of your way just to suit my tastes?”
“W-Well…”
Lucas swallowed the rest of his words.
How did she know?
He blushed brightly.
He had spent several days carefully planning those menus solely for his new mistress. He had never expected her to notice. Simply seeing her enjoy the food had been enough for him.
“If it hadn’t been for you, I might never have adapted to the food here. You’re such a talented cook that even the potato dishes and barley bread cake suit my taste perfectly. These days, I find myself looking forward to every meal.”
“M-My lady…”
Lucas’s eyes reddened with emotion.
“So don’t ever think you’ve fallen short. I’ve always been grateful to you.”
“It is my greatest honor, my lady! But…”
“Yes?”
“How did you even know my name? Ah, no, no, what a foolish thing to ask…”
Flustered, Lucas lightly slapped his own mouth.
Cassea hesitated.
Come to think of it, no one had ever formally introduced him to her.
“How could I not know the name of the person who faithfully prepares my meals every day? I simply asked around. In any case, I’ve always been grateful. So don’t trouble yourself over this.”
“Yes, my lady!”
Lucas answered loudly, completely moved.
Meanwhile, Jester had completely forgotten his embarrassment from Drayan’s criticism.
He had become utterly captivated by Cassea’s effortless defense of him.
He stared blankly at her angelic face until their eyes met, then quickly jerked his gaze away in panic.
“And Baron, thank you as well. I know you made all these preparations with great care. Viscount Habelrn only spoke because he was concerned for me, so I hope you won’t be too upset with him.”
“Ah… N-No. He was right to feel uncomfortable. I’ll pay closer attention from now on.”
“You’re already doing more than enough. Thank you.”
A man as oblivious as Jester had gone to this much trouble.
There was no reason to criticize him further.
After reassuring Jester, Cassea turned toward Drayan.
Apologize properly.
The message was clear in her eyes.
Drayan quietly sighed before giving a small nod.
“It seems I overstepped my place. Chef, you’ve worked hard, yet my words were far too harsh.”
“N-Not at all!”
“No. Rather, you’ve made me realize how thoughtless I’ve been. Thank you for that. The food may not suit your tastes, Viscount, but I sincerely hope you’ll enjoy it.”
“Thank you.”
Watching Drayan pick up his utensils with a subdued expression, Jester felt as though he could float into the sky.
For some reason, it truly felt as though Cassea had openly taken his side.
Why is she so beautiful?
Standing in his room, Jester secretly watched Cassea and Drayan strolling through the castle garden below.
“[A leader who knows perfectly well that the people are suffering shouldn’t be setting the example by enjoying lavish meals every single day.]”
Just moments ago she had been pouting like an immature seventeen-year-old noblewoman, complaining that the duties of a lady of the house were awkward and tiresome.
Yet today she had spoken with the confidence and composure of an experienced noblewoman.
It was impossible to imagine that she had been born as the pampered daughter of a prestigious family who had never known hardship.
And when she had defended him, describing him as the kind of leader who cared for his people…
“Ha…”
Jester ran a hand down his face with a conflicted expression.
He should have been satisfied simply by having such a kind and beautiful wife.
Yet her words had made his heart race so fiercely that it genuinely worried him.
What if I start wanting her to cherish me even more… to think about me even more?
“Have I completely lost my mind…?”
He was utterly flustered by the unfamiliar thoughts constantly surfacing in his mind.
“More importantly… are those really the only clothes she has? Every time I see her, she’s dressed as though she’s barely wearing anything.”
Jester muttered in dissatisfaction as he stared at Cassea’s thin leather coat.
Standing beside him and looking down at the garden as well, Paul replied.
“The winters in Ruberno and Greze are very different. Ruberno is a warm region, so everyone gets through winter with coats about that thick. Greze is much colder, so even I can’t help feeling sorry for her.”
“Then have someone buy her a proper thick sheepskin coat. Winter is still far from over. She can’t keep enduring this weather dressed like that.”
“Yes, I’ll see to it.”
“Tell her it’s because I was worried about the cold… and deliver it for me.”
Paul frowned.
“Why should I be the one to say that? Wouldn’t it be simpler to tell her yourself that it was your order, Master?”
Jester blinked blankly.
“Well…”
“My lord, perhaps it’s presumptuous of me to say this, but why not stop being embarrassed about these things and simply express yourself honestly? It’s unfortunate that I’m the only one who knows how much you care for and worry about my lady. I think you need to be more honest. And besides…”
Paul paused.
After a moment’s thought, he gave a firm nod before continuing.
“Since the first night, you haven’t shared meals together, nor have you slept in the same room. Is that really normal for a married couple? I know there was a misunderstanding because of Miss Vita, but you can’t simply leave things unresolved forever. You must make an effort to become close to my lady again. Tonight, you should definitely sleep in her room.”
“W-What?”
Jester’s face instantly turned crimson.
“I-I haven’t learned properly yet, so that’s impossible. If I went now, Cassea would only scold me again. No… not yet.”
He swallowed hard.
His Adam’s apple bobbed nervously.
Paul frowned.
He looked at Jester as though he were staring at some strange beast.
“I’m not telling you to sleep with my lady in that sense…”
“…Then what do you mean?”
“A husband and wife naturally sleep in the same bed. That doesn’t mean they have marital relations every night. Stop imagining such things and simply lie beside her. Have an honest conversation.”
Jester stared at Paul.
His heart pounded violently.
How could I possibly walk into Cassea’s room so boldly?!
