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Chapter 6
At the unexpected growl, Esiel’s round eyes widened even further, tears still clinging to their corners. Soon, her pale face flushed as red as her hair.
“Is this… right now…?”
Romford narrowed his eyes slightly and tilted his head.
“G-Grand Duke… I’m sorry… I was just hungry…”
Esiel squeezed her eyes shut. She thought he might punish her for daring to covet food in the Grand Duke’s mansion—perhaps even starve her. So she hurried to apologize, planning to cling to his pant leg if necessary. After all, there was a saying that one doesn’t spit on a smiling face.
But instead of anger, she heard a faint breath-like laugh.
“I won’t be providing your meals.”
“….”
“If you’re hungry, find food yourself. Dig the ground if you must, or go to the kitchen.”
Then her feet touched the ground again. When she cautiously opened her eyes, Romford was already walking away with long strides, his back growing distant.
“What…? He’s not going to kill me? Did he really say I can go to the kitchen?”
Relieved, Esiel scrubbed her eyes with the back of her hand.
* * *
When she finally made her way to the kitchen, she heard the light sound of chopping.
Fortunately, it didn’t seem busy.
Esiel looked around before knocking firmly on the door.
Bang—bang.
The steady chopping stopped.
“Hmm?”
A voice called out, and someone leaned forward to peek out.
“U-um! Hello! I was wondering if—”
Esiel waved her hand toward the voice, barely visible at the doorway.
“Eek?!”
Suddenly hurried footsteps approached, followed by a strange exclamation. Startled, Esiel began to step back—only for someone to grab her shoulder.
“Princess?! What brings you here?!”
“I-I’m hungry… I wanted bread…”
“Oh dear, how pitiful! Of course the master wouldn’t be feeding you properly!”
The man looked as though he might cry at any moment. Esiel quickly added in panic,
“Th-Grand Duke said I could use the kitchen… I think? Hehe…”
She fidgeted with her fingers awkwardly.
“Perfect timing! Ah, instead of bread, would you like this? I made it yesterday…”
“B-but how do you know who I am?”
The man quickly let go of her shoulder, rushed to the refrigerator, and returned with a plate and fork.
On it was a slice of cake topped with glossy fruit.
Esiel swallowed without realizing it.
“This is Chef Dophni. Even though it’s a bit old, it should still taste fine.”
“I’m Esiel!”
She smiled brightly and immediately took the plate, stabbing the cake with her fork.
The fluffy sponge and juicy grapes were heavenly. It was something she would never have been allowed to touch in the royal palace.
“It’s delicious! Chef! You made this?!”
Cream stuck to the corner of her mouth as she gave a thumbs-up, though her childish vocabulary barely kept up with her excitement.
But suddenly, Dophni turned away and wiped his tears.
“C-Chef Dophni?”
“S-sorry… it’s been so long since I’ve been treated like this…”
His voice trembled. Esiel, unsure what to do, froze mid-bite.
“Honestly… the young masters never say anything whether the food is good or bad. Every meal feels like walking on ice…”
He continued venting, clearly holding in a long accumulation of frustration. Even though his cooking was clearly excellent, his masters never commented at all.
“And the Grand Duke often doesn’t even eat…”
“I’ll compliment you a lot from now on!”
Esiel reached out and patted his arm awkwardly.
“Princess Esiel… while you stay here, I will make sure you eat well! And please—don’t use honorifics with me!”
“I’m just a hostage though…”
“A hostage? No, perhaps not…”
Dophni paused, thinking deeply.
“Maybe… the master is actually fond of you.”
“Pfft, no way. Anyway, if you don’t talk casually to me, I won’t either!”
Esiel puffed her cheeks in mock anger.
“Ugh… fine! I lose! I’ll speak casually!”
“Yay!”
Satisfied, Esiel happily continued eating the cake.
“Dophni, I want to learn this.”
“This…? You mean baking?”
“Yes! I’ll become your apprentice!”
Her emerald eyes sparkled.
“Of course you can!”
* * *
Moving silently like a cat, Esiel walked down the empty hallway.
Be careful.
She had only one goal—avoid meeting the Grand Duke.
After a few unexpected encounters, her fear of him had only grown. Even knowing the mansion was oddly empty in the mornings didn’t help.
She was heading to Ferudin’s room, one she had memorized earlier.
Then—
“Hey!”
“Eek!”
A voice suddenly echoed from the corner.
Startled, Esiel flailed her arms wildly.
“Pfft… success, success.”
“You—!”
“You’re a hostage and you’re still this dumb?”
Ferudin laughed loudly.
Esiel steadied her breathing, clutching her chest as her heart pounded wildly.
“Stop laughing!”
“Tch.”
After glancing around and confirming no one was there, Esiel let out a small sigh of relief.
At this point, leaving the mansion as quickly as possible seemed best.
“Hey, what were you doing pressed against the wall like that?”
Ferudin mimicked her earlier posture.
“That wasn’t funny!”
“Why were you coming to me?”
“I was looking for you.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?!”
“There’s somewhere I want to go with you.”
“Where?”
“To do something fun!”
She grabbed his sleeve and shook it eagerly.
Ferudin froze.
The warmth of her fingertips made his arm feel strangely hot.
“I-I’m not bored or anything…”
“But you have to come anyway. Hehe.”
“W-why?!”
“Because I’m going to use my wish!”
