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~Chapter 21~
Evelina thought to herself,
‘The only reason a great knight like Sir Kalix would come to such a backwater place must be to carry out some noble mission.’
On the road to the Grand Duke’s castle, Evelina glanced around. As expected, the North was far more underdeveloped than the Empire.
‘Delphina will probably have to live in a place like this her whole life. Poor thing. And with a beast of a man, no less.’
That thought made Evelina chuckle. She was looking forward to the moment she’d meet Delphina.
‘What state is she in? I’m really curious.’
She could already imagine Delphina’s face—likely shriveled up in fear.
Surely the Northerners didn’t like Delphina either.
Just as people of the House of Rikeion never liked her.
As always.
Meanwhile…
Delphina looked to her side with an awkward expression.
Kalix, still disguised as a laborer, was following her.
Alex tried to stop him, but with little success.
“My lady, please hire me as your worker!”
“A worker?”
“Yes! I can do everything. I dare say I could become the greatest worker in the Empire!”
‘Why does the Empire’s strongest knight want to become a laborer…?’
Delphina swallowed those words.
“As long as I get food, I’ll do anything! Please, work me to the bone!”
Taking him on as a worker would be quite a gain.
Maybe he could even help Elkeian. Winter in the North was harsh.
Monsters grew more aggressive, and food was nearly impossible to secure.
That’s when a strong knight—no, a strong worker—could be valuable.
“Hey, that’s enough. Lady Delphina looks uncomfortable,” Alex said sharply.
For some reason, Alex showed clear hostility.
“Just so you know, I’m her first worker.”
“Doesn’t seem like she sees you as a worker yet.”
“What do you know! I was the first to truly enjoy her food here in the North!”
“Hmph. I bet I’ll be more useful than you!”
Delphina narrowed her eyes.
She couldn’t understand why two knights were arguing over this nonsense.
Besides, they weren’t even workers.
“What’s your name?”
“Call me Kal.”
“Alright, Kal. How about we hold off on you becoming my worker—for now?”
“…”
“We’ll be volunteering for a few more days. And you don’t really know me yet, do you?”
“That’s… true.”
Kal nodded. Delphina gave him a faint smile.
“I don’t understand why you want to be my worker so badly.”
Kalix replied with a serious expression.
“Because your food is delicious, my lady.”
And because eating her food made him feel stronger.
For Kalix, that was an incredibly important factor.
“There’s no guarantee my next dish will taste as good. If that happens, you’ll be the one in trouble. So how about waiting until then to decide?”
That was a strange experience for Kalix.
‘She’s… turning me down?’
Of course, he was just Kal, an ordinary laborer right now.
But most nobles would jump at the chance for free labor in exchange for a few meals.
Not to mention Kalix was objectively handsome.
His silver hair and blue eyes exuded elegance far beyond the role of a mere laborer.
And yet, the Rikeion lady before him had refused.
‘There’s no downside for her in accepting me…’
Kalix tilted his head.
Still, there was no reason not to respect Delphina’s words.
After all, there was no guarantee her next meal would also make him stronger.
‘The Rikeion lady… I like her more than I thought.’
With that thought, Kalix picked up his pickaxe and walked off into the sunset.
Watching him go, Alex clicked his tongue.
“Ugh. Why does he have to look so cool doing that?”
At that moment, Kalix had no idea…
…that one day, he would wish nothing more than to remain as Lady Rikeion’s worker forever.
Before returning to the Grand Duke’s castle, Delphina had been in a great mood.
She’d been acknowledged by the Empire’s strongest knight, Kalix, through her cooking, and even the Northern laborers had emptied their bowls of her soup.
‘Everyone liked my food.’
The system window even informed her that the quest had been completed.
<Linked Quest Success>
You’ve melted the frozen hearts of the Northern laborers.
The Northern workers are amazed after tasting your soup.
The fame of your soup is beginning to spread across the Empire.
“Have you ever tried Lady Delphina’s soup? I heard it’s absolutely fantastic.”
“Hmm… I’m thinking of traveling to the North. I heard there’s a dish called gukbap up there?”
<Success rate of the quest ‘Save Aris’ has increased!>
You’ve established rapport with Kalix Artman.
Will he really change professions to become a Northern laborer?
A special connection has been formed. Soon, pressure will mount on the Rikeion family.
All in all, it had been a very successful day for Delphina.
‘I wonder what it means by pressure on the Rikeion family…?’
Upon arriving at the Grand Duke’s castle, Delphina made her way toward the Great Madam’s room.
Many interesting things had happened today. As always, Delphina visited the Great Madam to report her day.
‘So many strange and new things happened today. I have so much to tell her. I want to share everything.’
In Delphina’s hands was a tray carrying a bowl of rice porridge.
She was practically walking on air.
‘Even the porridge I made today got a good grade.’
A blush rose to Delphina’s cheeks. Her grandmother had been right.
“When you cook with care for others, even impossible things can come true.”
Today’s porridge for the Great Madam was just such a result.
Day by day, the Great Madam and Delphina were growing closer.
‘It might just be my wishful thinking… but still.’
<Delphina’s Porridge for the Northern Great Madam>
A special beef porridge made with care. It contains heartfelt intentions for the recipient.
Eating it might awaken the energy of a tiger…?
Grade: C
Delphina had somehow managed to produce a Grade C porridge.
As usual, she entered the Great Madam’s chambers with a smile.
“Oh my, Delphina. It’s been a while.”
Delphina’s head turned slowly.
And then, a familiar face entered her view.
Blazing golden hair. Beautiful, sapphire-blue eyes.
The angelic face of Evelina Rikeion—was standing there.
Thud.
Delphina’s sky-high mood crashed violently to the ground.
* * *
When they had first set out for the North, Evelina had been in a foul mood.
“Evelina, I’ve heard that Delphina’s behavior has changed.”
The Duke of Rikeion said something to Evelina that she couldn’t quite understand.
“Delphina shouldn’t be able to defy us. That child wouldn’t do something like that.”
For once, the Duke of Rikeion appeared genuinely unsettled.
Strangely enough, Evelina couldn’t understand why her father looked so confused.
After all, Delphina was human too. Wasn’t it only natural that she might feel emotions like anger?
‘Though she’s being awfully arrogant for someone like her.’
If anything, Evelina thought it was strange that Delphina had obediently put up with the Duke and the rest of the family for so long.
As she watched the visibly anxious Duke with cool, emotionless eyes, Evelina finally voiced her irritation.
“We’re going to see Delphina and the Northern Grand Duke at the Autumn Banquet anyway.
Is there really a need to go see her now?”
“I want to confirm something before that banquet. What do you think will happen when Delphina meets the First Prince?”
“Tch. She’ll probably act like she always does—disgusted and disdainful.”
Upon hearing this, the Duke of Rikeion—uncharacteristically—snapped at Evelina.
“That’s exactly why I’m sending you!
Go and see if she’s still the same Delphina. Go on, now!”
