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Chapter 2
“Ah… there is exactly one lunatic who would do something like that.”
A creeping sense of unease rose within me.
Now that I looked at him more closely—despite the darkness—it was clear he was quite handsome.
I frowned.
As my eyes adjusted, his features became clearer.
A sharp, sculpted nose. A well-defined forehead. Disheveled black hair. And above all, those striking golden eyes glowing in the dark…
“…!”
A scream escaped me.
I had finally realized who he was.
Kailos Obern, the Empire’s Second Prince.
The final hidden villain of this novel!
“Do I look that frightening?”
Kailos frowned slightly.
I shook my head vigorously.
There was nothing to gain from getting on his bad side.
“N-no! You’re very handsome. I was just surprised, Your Highness Prince Kailos.”
“…Kailos?”
Oops.
I nearly bit my tongue.
“You know me? This is my first time seeing you.”
Kailos rarely attended social events due to being constantly on the battlefield.
Naturally, he would have never met Adelheid Seaton before.
“O-of course I know you! I saw you on a poster…”
The princes of the Empire were so handsome that posters made by commoners sold like wildfire.
Technically illegal, but tolerated since they helped promote the royal family—a kind of gray area.
Kailos clicked his tongue.
“To think you’ve seen something only frivolous young ladies collect… Still, I suppose it’s not entirely ineffective.”
“Y-yes. I was foolish and immature.”
I swallowed dryly.
How could I not recognize him?
The hidden villain of this novel.
Many readers had thought he was just a stoic, handsome supporting character, only to be completely blindsided later.
There were so many furious reviews that even I—who hadn’t finished the novel—knew he was the final villain.
“Then this makes things easier. No need for further explanation.”
Kailos dropped the formal tone and smiled brightly.
The book had described him as handsome but gloomy, but in reality, he looked refreshingly attractive—completely my type.
“I will hire you as my chef.”
“I’m just a humble dalgona vendor, Your Highness.”
I declined politely.
From a street vendor to a prince’s personal chef? Instead of excitement, I felt overwhelming suspicion.
There was no mention in the novel that Adelheid Seaton could cook.
So Kailos must have kidnapped me based solely on my dalgona skills.
Everything about this was suspicious.
‘And why is a prince personally recruiting a chef?’
If he really wanted me, he could’ve just sent a subordinate.
As questions piled up—
“Dalgona?”
One of Kailos’s eyebrows arched.
“That’s what it’s called?”
“…?”
I blinked.
What else would you call dalgona?
“If it has a name, then it must already exist.”
His golden eyes narrowed, as if measuring how much I knew.
Only then did I realize my mistake.
“Th-that… I came up with the name! A one-of-a-kind magical sweet in the whole world—dalgona!”
At this point, I wasn’t even sure what I was saying.
“….”
I expected a sarcastic remark, but silence followed.
Kailos frowned, deep in thought.
I cautiously observed him while thinking quickly.
‘Good thing I read all those spoilers.’
Kailos Obern was the only younger brother of the crown prince—the novel’s male lead.
When the terminally ill emperor died, Kailos’s life would be in danger.
Because the male lead wasn’t exactly kind.
He was warm only to the woman he loved, but ruthless to everyone else—a classic tyrant.
Even his only brother was no exception.
The moment he ascended the throne, he framed Kailos and exiled him from the Empire.
Not killing him was considered mercy.
And after that—it was obvious.
Everyone thought Kailos had fallen completely.
But instead, he turned fully into a villain.
Upon returning to the Empire, he began by killing the heroine’s loyal ally—the second male lead—and went on to commit countless atrocities.
Reviews flooded my mind, calling him a madman who lacked even basic respect for human life.
‘Endure. I have to grovel no matter what.’
Finally, Kailos spoke.
“Then you’re saying you invented this… dalgona yourself?”
“Yes!”
I nodded rapidly.
“I see.”
All emotion vanished from his face in an instant.
As if he had put on a mask.
He stepped back and ordered his subordinates:
“Take Lady Seaton to the kitchen.”
“…?”
Wait—what? The kitchen?
Kailos spoke coldly to my stunned self.
“If you’re so skilled, show me.”
“Y-you mean dalgona?”
“Yes.”
That was it.
I was led down a long corridor by his men.
At least this time, it felt more like an escort than a kidnapping.
I hoped Kailos wouldn’t follow—but unfortunately, he walked ahead with the gait of a trained soldier.
After some time—
A vast kitchen unfolded before my eyes.
Yes—vast.
“…!”
My eyes widened.
It had been a long time since I’d seen a kitchen of this scale.
If I hadn’t once worked at a hotel, I might have been overwhelmed.
And then there were the chefs, lined up and bowing toward me.
I took a deep breath.
‘Does he even know what dalgona is?’
But I couldn’t openly question him.
Remembering that Kailos was rumored to casually crush people’s heads out of boredom, I spoke carefully.
“Please, everyone, leave the kitchen.”
“But—!”
One of the chefs began to protest.
“Do as she says.”
Fortunately, Kailos sided with me—for once.
Well, he knew I had been making dalgona alone, so he must have realized I didn’t need assistants.
The chefs shot me resentful looks as they filed out.
Soon, only Kailos and I remained.
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
The hardest part was yet to come.
“Your Highness… the method for making dalgona is a trade secret. It’s difficult if someone is watching.”
“A trade secret?”
Kailos repeated, amused.
“Yes. If others learn it, anyone could make it, and my business would collapse.”
Thankfully, he didn’t seem offended.
He even nodded slightly.
Encouraged, I added nervously:
“If you want the recipe, you’ll have to pay separately.”
That was my real goal.
I didn’t plan to sell dalgona forever, so it wasn’t a big loss if the recipe spread.
But maximizing profit was basic business sense.
Even if the customer was a ruthless final villain.
“…Pfft!”
Kailos let out an unexpected chuckle.
I blinked.
He didn’t seem angry—but not particularly agreeable either.
“I have no interest in your recipe. I know nothing about cooking, so even if I watched, I couldn’t replicate it. Besides…”
His golden eyes gleamed sharply.
“You might poison the dalgona. I need to observe you.”
I stared at him, dumbfounded.
Excuse me? I didn’t even have time to prepare poison!
“Why would I poison it?”
“It doesn’t hurt to be cautious.”
He replied calmly, as if stating an obvious truth.
“I have many enemies. I cannot be certain you’re not one of them.”
“…So you’re going to watch me?”
“Yes.”
He shrugged.
“But if you insist, I’ll pay for the recipe. How much?”
My irritation at being suspected vanished instantly.
“How much?”
As much as possible…!
I thought quickly.
Asking for too much might offend him.
So I settled on an amount that could cover a year’s living expenses.
“One million penta…”
Before I could finish—
“I’ll give you ten times that.”
I was speechless.
Ten million penta?!
That was enough to open a small shop in a town, even if not in the capital.
All my lingering resentment melted away instantly.
“How many do you need?”
“One is enough.”
I immediately rolled up my sleeves.
Time to make the best dalgona of my life.
