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Chapter 35
Inside the kitchen, the fight was between the head chef Mayo and the maid Chili.
“It’s not even mealtime, so why are you making me cook?”
Mayo shouted, throwing a spatula to the floor.
“What does that matter? Madam is hungry now!”
“Well, I don’t want to. You cook.”
Chili rolled up her sleeves in frustration and muttered,
“This bastard’s completely lost it and forgotten his place.”
“Since when do people get to be head chef just because they’re good at chopping?”
Originally a medical student, Mayo had changed career paths and become part of the mafia. Because of his background in anatomy, he was known within the family for his clean and precise cutting skills.
“Don’t you know that the boss’s word is law? You’ve got some nerve.”
At Chili’s words, Mayo puffed out his stomach and stood his ground.
“Go ahead and hit me, hit me!”
“Gladly. I’ll beat you so bad you’ll never hold a knife again.”
Just as Chili rolled up her sleeves, ready to make good on her threat, Emily opened the door and entered.
“Ma-Madam.”
“No need to make a fuss over me. I’ll just take care of my own food.”
Emily had instinctively turned to apologize to Mayo, but then she noticed Cézanne standing in the kitchen.
With a sharp gaze, Cézanne was silently watching how Emily would handle the situation.
“I’ll take care of it myself….”
‘Ugh, this is really hard to say.’
Emily frowned slightly in discomfort and said,
“Everyone, get out.”
A cold gust of air seemed to pass through the kitchen.
“How could you say something like that…?”
Mayo, who had only ever seen kind-hearted Emily, staggered in shock.
“You brought it on yourself. You’re the one who said you wouldn’t prepare madam’s meal.”
Even Chili, sneaking glances at Emily, criticized him.
“Well, that’s because—!”
Mayo, almost blurting out his true feelings in agitation, barely managed to clamp his mouth shut and stormed out of the kitchen.
Having watched the whole situation unfold, Cézanne clicked her tongue and muttered to herself.
“Trying to get the girl’s attention like some immature brat. Pathetic.”
Cézanne walked up to Emily.
“Still, well done. That’s how you should act.”
“Is this really the right way to do it?”
Emily felt more like she was being trained to be a villain than receiving mafia training.
“In any case, I’ll prepare your meal.”
Cézanne could do everything. More than anything, her calm demeanor in any situation made Emily respect her deeply.
Thanks to her, Emily finished a delicious meal and was waiting for dessert when the butler, Alvin, approached with a stiff expression.
“What’s the matter?”
“Madam, the Crown Prince has come to visit. What should I do?”
At the mention of the Crown Prince, Emily immediately recalled her past nightmare.
“Did he say why he came?”
“He said he heard you were injured and came to check on you.”
There hadn’t been any article about her getting hurt, so how did he find out? Emily sighed and spoke.
“Bring him to the drawing room.”
“But His Grace won’t be pleased.”
Alvin clearly remembered how thoroughly Killian had worked to suppress any article about the Crown Prince appearing in the media.
For some reason, the Crown Prince had suddenly transformed into the model royal. Killian, afraid that Emily might take an interest in this changed man, had gone to great lengths to suppress everything.
“But the Marquisate of Star doesn’t have enough standing to turn him away. There will definitely be gossip if I refuse.”
“Still, Madam…”
“I won’t let him wander around. I’ll just exchange a few words in the drawing room and send him off.”
Alvin checked the time. Fortunately, Killian wouldn’t be home for a while yet.
“Then I’ll have tea brought up.”
“Thank you, Alvin.”
As he left, Alvin silently prayed Killian would get into a minor accident on the way home.
Not long after Lucius was escorted into the drawing room, Emily entered.
“It’s been a while, Madam Star.”
As the rumors said, Lucius looked neat and dignified, both in appearance and attire.
“I heard you were injured…”
“I look pretty fine, don’t I?”
Lucius gave an awkward nod to Emily’s words.
“The doctor said it was just a muscle spasm. I rested for a day and got better. Seems I made Your Highness come all this way for nothing.”
“It’s not for nothing. I’m glad to see you healthy.”
At yet another overly sweet comment, Emily scratched the back of her neck awkwardly and gestured to the tea.
“You’d better drink it before it gets cold.”
“Right.”
As Lucius drank the tea, he got to the point.
“There’s another reason I came today.”
“What is it?”
Emily asked casually.
“I saw the articles. You’ve experienced things a normal noble lady shouldn’t. I’m glad you’re safe, but there’s no guarantee such things won’t happen again.”
His tone deepened as he continued.
“Most of all, your husband—at least from what I’ve seen—is incredibly violent and dangerous.”
“Hmm. In what way?”
She wanted to explain just how dangerous Killian truly was, but that would mean revealing that she’d been blackmailed—a humiliating story.
“Well, he’s a mafia member, after all.”
So Lucius just summed it all up in a single sentence.
“I want to help you.”
As Lucius tried to play the role of the prince on a white horse, Emily was suddenly reminded of Charles.
“My marriage isn’t as miserable as Your Highness thinks.”
Emily didn’t really know Lucius. Even if she were in danger, she wasn’t foolish enough to seek help from someone she barely knew.
Lucius was flustered by how the conversation wasn’t going the way he expected. He had worked so hard to build up this image for her! Now it felt like all that effort was crumbling.
“Then I suppose you’ve said all you wanted?”
Emily checked the time and stood up.
“I have an appointment, so I’ll have to ask you to leave now.”
“I’ll escort you.”
Emily irritably opened the door and said,
“No, just leave. Please!”
Outside the door, Cézanne wore a proud smile once again. The training was clearly paying off.
Lucius, still in a daze, climbed into the carriage. He couldn’t believe it.
Sweet Emily had just yelled at him? Even after seeing it with his own eyes, it felt unreal.
She must’ve changed after living with that monster of a marquis. Lucius ground his teeth.
“Still, why did she have to look so pretty even when she was angry?”
He had lived his whole life as a noble prince and had never had to cling to anyone.
So how humiliating must this rejection have been? But strangely, thinking about Emily getting mad at him made his heart flutter.
“I was such a fool. That’s not how I should’ve talked to her.”
Lucius called for his aide.
“You called, Your Highness?”
“From now on, report to me all of Madam Star’s outside schedules.”
Lucius didn’t believe Emily would ever speak honestly with so many Star people around.
That meant he’d have to catch her outside and talk to her again.
“Pardon? Madam Star?”
“Just do as I say. Why are you staring at me like that?”
“Apologies. I’ll look into it.”
The aide clicked his tongue internally and left. This obsession with Madam Star was getting out of hand.
‘I’d better report this to Her Majesty right away.’
The aide ran to the Empress without delay. As expected, the moment she heard the story, the Empress clutched her neck and collapsed behind the sofa.
“Your Majesty! Please get a hold of yourself!”
The Empress, lying flat on the floor, blinked and slowly opened her eyes.
“Haa, I didn’t faint. Help me up.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
A maid helped her sit up with difficulty.
“It seems His Highness’s infatuation is deeper than we thought.”
“I thought he had given up, but it’s only getting worse.”
The Empress frowned with concern.
“We need to get Lucius engaged quickly.”
“Do you have any candidates in mind?”
“Well…”
The Empress recalled the young ladies who attended the last ball. Many of them had excellent families, good looks, and refined manners.
“But she needs to be sharp and strong-willed enough to rein Lucius in…”
“What about Lady Marlène of the Wiffer family?”
The maid brought up Marlène.
“She’s currently the queen of the social scene. From what I’ve heard, she’s quick-witted and sensible.”
“Marlène Wiffer? She’s not a bad choice.”
The Empress pictured Lucius standing next to Marlène.
“That would make quite a striking pair.”
Finally, a satisfied smile appeared on her face.
“We need to show Lucius that the world is wide and full of women.”
“Yes, if he meets her a few times, I’m sure his heart will sway. She’s honest and refreshingly charming.”
“Good. Contact her immediately. I’ll meet her myself first.”
The Empress was growing desperate in the face of Crown Prince Lucius’s deepening obsession.
