ITHTJ 21

Chapter : 21

Somehow Suspicious People (6)

I approached with stiff, awkward movements and sat quietly in the chair.

“It’s an honor to dine with you, Your Highness.”

After offering a greeting I felt I’d heard somewhere before, I picked up my fork and knife with trembling hands. Then I dug up the faintly slumbering table manners buried somewhere in my memory.

“……”

He didn’t say a single word to me while I ate. Perhaps he was being considerate of a commoner like me; even at my clumsy movements, he simply maintained his silence. Grateful for that consideration, I focused on chewing diligently.

‘It’s delicious.’

The meals I’d eaten in the annex had been excellent, but even those couldn’t compare to this. Among everything, what caught my eye most was the beautifully roasted turkey.

‘A drumstick… I want to eat one.’

But this probably wasn’t food meant for me. I soothed my regret by glancing at the turkey once with every bite of salad, once with every spoonful of soup. Just then, the previously silent Eclipse opened his mouth.

“Come here for a moment.”

Fortunately, it seemed he was calling a servant who had been waiting behind me, not me. I relaxed a little and returned to my meal. Shortly after, the servant who had been speaking with Eclipse approached me.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

With practiced hands, the servant carved the turkey and placed two turkey legs onto my plate.

Two of them!

“Huh!”

At the sight of the pair of legs resting shyly on the pristine white plate, something hot welled up in my chest. My eyes even felt a little warm. After swallowing what was in my mouth, I spoke in a slightly choked voice.

“Is it really okay to give this to me?”

Please think again. They’re drumsticks—drumsticks! If I eat all of these by myself, I’ll be punished!
I’m not that uncouth, Your Grace!

‘Traditionally, drumsticks are shared one per person! That’s basic etiquette!’

Perhaps he sensed my inner turmoil. Eclipse replied calmly, as if it didn’t matter at all.

“There’s no need to refuse. And you certainly don’t need to worry about me.”
“But… is it really okay?”
“How could I pretend not to notice when you’re looking at it so longingly?”

Ah, he noticed my penny-pinching dining method.

I smiled awkwardly, a mix of embarrassment and gratitude, and bowed my head.

“Thank you for your consideration.”

If he himself said so, then there was no need to worry.

“Thank you for your generosity, Your Highness!”

But why was it that the look in Eclipse’s eyes as he watched me seemed somehow sorrowful?

‘Nah, that can’t be. It must be my imagination.’

I took a bite of the glossy, well-roasted turkey leg.

“…!”

Moist, tender white meat.
Golden-brown skin, perfectly crisp, enhancing the savory flavor.

It was a truly fantastic harmony.

‘This has to be heaven!’

To be able to eat meat this juicy to my heart’s content…

‘I’ve found yet another reason to bury my bones in the Grand Duke’s household!’

Having eaten my fill since morning, I smiled contentedly as I looked down at my rounded stomach.

‘Ah, that was really delicious.’

If I were a celebrity, I would’ve left a signed message saying, “The Ledeir Grand Ducal House—this place is a hidden gem!”
After finishing such a satisfying meal, I expressed my thanks to Eclipse, the owner of this “restaurant.”

“Thank you for treating me to such a wonderful meal, Your Grace. It was the most delicious food I’ve ever eaten.”

That was truly sincere.

Nineteen years in my past life, nineteen years in this one—thirty-eight years in total. I’d never eaten anything this good before. Honestly, a simple thank-you didn’t feel like enough.

‘How happy must life be if you can eat like this every day?’

No, really—how do Lynette and Eclipse maintain those figures with food this good around?
Have they grown so used to it that they’ve forgotten its value? How is that possible?

‘I just can’t understand it.’

If it were me, I’d gain five kilograms a week.

I gave thunderous applause in my heart to the overwhelming self-control of the Ledeir siblings.

‘Ah, I want to earn lots of money and live a life where I can hire a personal chef too.’

That would be true happiness.

Drunk on the bliss that came with being completely full, I let my idle fantasies run wild.

‘If I’m going to hire a personal chef, I’d need to buy a house first, right? Ideally, one with a small garden. If there’s a garden, I’d need a gardener too. I like baby’s breath, so I’d have them plant it in every flower bed.’

As I thought that far, I suddenly realized something.

‘Wait—if I’m going to sign a lifetime contract anyway, do I even need a house?’

Come to think of it, while I’m here, lodging, food, and money are all provided. There’s no reason to spend my own money buying a house.

‘Ah, I worried over nothing.’

Just then, as I was lost in pointless daydreams, Eclipse spoke to me.

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”
“Ah.”

I must have been too absorbed in my thoughts. I answered with a sheepish smile.

“I was thinking that I really should sign a lifetime contract. To me, this grand ducal house is practically para— I mean, the place where I should bury my bones.”

Since the opportunity presented itself, I figured I might as well bring it up. I straightened my posture and cleared my throat.

“Your Grace. I am prepared to take responsibility for educating your children—and even your grandchildren after them.”

At that moment, I was a bird-of-paradise performing a courtship dance.

“I will devote my entire life to serving the Ledeir Grand Ducal House. Please, just give the order!”

After finishing my impassioned display, I looked at Eclipse with tense eyes.

Is this how audition contestants feel when they stand before the judges?
My insides twisted, and my hands and feet felt stiff.

“……”

Just imagining what kind of answer might come from those tightly closed lips made my heart constrict.

‘Please, just say something!’

At last, Eclipse’s lips slowly parted, his judgment complete.

“Come to the study by noon.”

Huh? What kind of answer is that?

‘Is that a pass or a fail?’

Leaving me in my confusion, Eclipse stood up and left first. After a moment of thought, I came to a conclusion.

‘Thinking about it here won’t give me an answer. I’ll find out when I go to the study.’

I couldn’t linger long in a seat without its owner, so I headed straight back to my room in the annex.

When I entered, Penny, who was sweeping the floor with a broom, greeted me.

“Welcome back, Miss Bloomhire.”

I trotted over to Penny, who was diligently sweeping.

“Oh, Penny. You really don’t need to clean my room.”
“Is that so? Cleaning your room is one of my duties, Miss Bloomhire.”
“Really, it’s fine. You don’t have to.”

When I waved my hands insistently, Penny smiled gently.

“Miss Bloomhire, this is my job. So please don’t worry about me, and focus on your own work.”
“Ah… yes, I understand.”

Her tone was very polite, but somehow it sounded to me like she was saying, Mind your own business.

I sat on the sofa with my knees together and opened the book I’d brought from the study.

No—tried to read it, but…

‘Ugh, I can’t focus at all!’

What Penny had just said bothered me too much. Pretending to read, I kept stealing glances at Penny’s back as she continued sweeping.

‘Did I meddle too much?’

After all, Penny was an employee just like me. She had her own assigned duties, and of course it wouldn’t feel good to be interrupted.

‘Still, there’s a reason I told her not to clean.’

I turned my head and glanced at the broom standing by the window.

‘That thing does it all!’

Who was I? The great witch Elsie Bloomhire of Windleton’s Seventh Street.

With over ten years of living alone under my belt, I was a maxed-out witch in life skills, having mastered every household-related spell.

‘I’ve put an automatic cleaning spell on it, so it cleans regularly on its own… there’s really no need to sweep.’

Once activated, the enchanted broom would dash to any spot where trash appeared and keep sweeping until the area was spotless. It even had the very convenient function of automatically dumping the collected trash into the bin.

‘…I guess I should tell her, right?’