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chapter 32
As the dazzling light faded, the interior of the castle before me looked completely different from before.
Crystal chandeliers sparkled with aurora-like light.
Massive marble pillars. Golden ornaments and ebony furniture.
Even the comfortable temperature was maintained by magic. This place was so luxurious that even the grand emperor’s palace would have to take notes.
Zerodines, having remodeled it in an instant, lifted his chin proudly, a triumphant smile on his face.
—Didn’t I tell you it’s nothing?
Ah, I’m glad.
I am glad, but… isn’t this a bit much?
It’s one thing if the value of a house doubles, but if it multiplies a hundredfold, surprise comes first.
The prince of the palace tried to suppress his astonishment and forced a smile.
“The castle has become quite magnificent. Will it return to its original state after a while?”
—No.
“No.”
Rocinante nodded after parroting Zerodines’ words.
“Though it’s not my place to say as your guide, I think we should take another look around the castle.”
“That seems necessary, indeed.”
We retraced our steps. Looking at the lavishly transformed rooms, I found it hard to recall their former shabby state.
The cozy room had once been a storage space, and the beautiful indoor garden had been a neglected one with brittle, dry leaves.
We laughed and marveled at the astonishing transformation for a while.
Then suddenly, my joy turned into panic:
‘W-what is this monstrosity?!’
Back in the bedroom, I froze like a statue before the king-sized bed suitable for newlyweds.
Rocinante, oblivious to my predicament, pointed at the bed with an innocent smile.
“The bed is big enough for two people. Did you also enlarge it with magic, Your Highness?”
No!!!!
…But I couldn’t yell that.
“Yes, well… I thought your sleeping habits might be… rough.”
“In that case, I have nothing to say. But is the canopy also related to my troublesome sleeping habits?”
“….”
I was the one without a word.
I could only smile awkwardly, while the true culprit of this predicament smirked, poking fun at me.
—Do it well. I’ll help.
Help, my foot…
No, we’re just pretending to be married until the main male lead returns. There’s no intention of taking things further.
The only kind of “progress” ten-year-olds can make is finishing a fairy tale.
“Yes, having a canopy will make the bed feel much cozier. You’ll sleep more soundly, and it’ll prevent any sleep-talking trouble.”
“Indeed. A wise suggestion.”
“I’ll sleep in the adjacent bedroom, so it won’t matter, but I’ve set up a signaling cord, so calling the personal attendant will be easier. I’ll be fine in the side room, though.”
Repeating the same thing to emphasize it, my desperation was palpable.
Amused, Zerodines chirped from the side with unsolicited advice.
—After coming all this way, you still want separate rooms? You say you like the prince. If you want to get closer, drop the unnecessary pretenses.
Mind your own business. A ghost should stay in its corner. There are plenty of ways to get closer without resorting to the blatant method of sharing a bed.
“Since we’ve seen the bedrooms, let’s finally check the dining hall.”
“The dining hall?”
He glanced out the window.
“Time has passed so quickly. Since this is our first lunch together, it should be a luxurious one… but I don’t see my attendant anywhere.”
“In that case, let’s check their cooking another time. Today, I’ll host.”
Rocinante’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You can cook?”
“Haha. Of course not.”
I’m only good at eating.
When I gave him a look that clearly said, You’re gonna feed me, right?, Zerodines made a face showing displeasure.
—Don’t make me do this! I’ll lose face!
As mana gathered in my left hand, a delicious aroma began wafting from the dining hall.
The dining hall had grown considerably compared to before. Previously, it had been a cramped space barely accommodating the family, but now it could easily host a victory banquet.
Though the hall was larger, the exterior of the castle looked unchanged.
According to Zerodines, the great archmage’s genius magic allowed the interior and exterior to exist independently, defying physical laws.
In any case, the grand dining table was filled with food, and Rocinante was rightfully astonished.
Both the real Rocinante and his spy counterpart often skipped meals. When they did eat, it was usually dry bread or watery soup with no substance.
‘The great archmage even has a knack for cooking!’
A large roasted peacock decorated the center of the table, surrounded by dishes made from the finest ingredients, all served on silverware.
The fruit, heaped luxuriously on silver trays, looked so fresh that biting into it would surely release a burst of juice.
Faced with this table, deciding where to start eating was a happy dilemma.
“Would you like to try this first?”
I scooped a piece of meat from the stew and handed it to Rocinante, who received it cautiously.
One bite, and his eyes widened as the rich juices spread through his mouth.
“How is it? Do you like it?”
He nodded, and his cute expression made me chuckle softly.
“Good. Eat as much as you like.”
“You should eat too, Your Highness. It must have been tiring coming all this way.”
“I’ll manage just fine. Don’t worry about me and enjoy your meal.”
After demonstrating a few plate-swapping tricks, Rocinante stopped interfering with my meal.
Instead, he paused to quietly watch me eat.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I just… can’t help it.”
Flustered, I twirled some pasta around my fork and swallowed it in one bite. The more I ate, the heavier his gaze felt—was it just my imagination?
“Don’t tell me you’re already full.”
“I’m not a big eater… Watching you eat is more satisfying than eating myself.”
If this were a live broadcast, I would have gotten likes, subscriptions, and donations for that comment.
I may eat well, but as a possessed person, it’s not exactly a useful skill.
“Wait, hold still.”
He reached out.
I obediently tilted my face as his gentle hand wiped my mouth.
Frozen in place, I could hear Zerodines’ playful voice from beside me.
—Oh, the mood is right. Will it end in a kiss?
No, it won’t…
Perhaps because of our cooperative arrangement, Zerodines actively encouraged the relationship between Rocinante and me.
When Zerodines used his magic, a symphony began to play.
It was a romantic melody that felt like a drama OST when the male and female leads finally kiss.
“There’s no musician… why music all of a sudden?”
“I did it. Music is essential for dining!”
I forced a laugh to smooth over the situation. Somehow, I felt like I was being cheered on by a demon rather than Cupid.
Albert, the attendant sent by the empress to monitor the situation, almost got lost in the delicious smells wafting from the 13th Prince’s palace.
‘What is this mouth-watering aroma?’
Food smells rarely drift strongly from the 13th Prince’s palace. The empress’ budget for this palace is ridiculously low for a lavish lunch.
Eating is a matter of survival.
Without directly intervening, the empress could cut budgets to weaken the royal family politically, letting those in her disfavor slowly starve.
Poor food, in a shabby setting, forced to beg from attendants—that’s the fate awaiting them, leading to slow ruin under hunger and humiliation.
But then…
‘What?! This is a feast?!’
Peeking through the window, Albert covered his mouth in shock.
Rocinante and Levietta had prepared a table full of nutritious, plentiful food.
Albert had to quickly report this to the empress.
Clutching his cumbersome clothing, he dashed back to the empress’ palace.
