Chapter 60
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A villainess locked away in a desolate tower—I had possessed her body. Chapter 60 "Sigh..."
How many times had I sighed now? Like someone who knew better but couldn't stop, I exhaled deeply.
"Miss, would you care for some cookies?"
"Oh, thank you, Bonita..."
As I nodded with my energy completely drained, a modest bowl of cookies soon descended onto the table. The moment the aroma reached my nose, I could tell. These were undoubtedly delicious chocolate chip cookies again. 'But somehow... it feels like they're getting closer to my tastes.' At the same time, a memory surfaced—I had casually mentioned to Bonita that I enjoyed cookies loaded with generous chunks of chocolate chips. But was it my imagination that the amount of chocolate chips in the cookies had been increasing lately?
"Delicious."
"I've also brought vanilla ice cream. Please try some."
Cold vapor rose gently from the ice cream, dotted with vanilla bean specks. As if enchanted, I took a spoonful, and the rich flavor bloomed across my palate. 'Her skills seem to be improving by leaps and bounds.' Even when I first arrived at the Grand Duke's Residence, I don't think I'd tasted desserts made this well. When did it start? It seemed like a dramatic change began after I praised the desserts I'd eaten in the Capital. Was the Grand Duke like this too—were all these people simply hardworking workaholics? But did they really need to go this far for a mere guest like me? 'It must be a coincidence.' Before long, the ice cream bowl was empty, and with reluctance, I set down my spoon and opened my mouth toward Bonita.
"Please tell the head chef I'm grateful."
"Oh, the head chef didn't make this."
"What? Then who?"
"When you visited the Imperial Palace last time, you gave high praise for the ice cream you had there, didn't you?"
"Oh... yes, I did."
What? Something felt ominous. Sure enough, Bonita's next words completely silenced me.
"So Liam recruited them. The head pastry chef from the dessert shop where you had those treats!"
"...Really?"
"Yes! Oh, and the Grand Duke instructed me to bring this to you as well."
After finishing her words, Bonita handed me something.
"This is..."
Even if I turned it upside down, it was a neatly folded memo. With trembling hands, I unfolded the memo, and inside was a brief sentence. 「Regarding the New Employment of Mr. Briol, Head Pastry Chef of 【Jean Bakery】 - Monthly Salary Supplement: 3,200,000 Tri ※Withdrawal possible within one week」 The moment I read it, I couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh.
"Ha, haha...."
At least it wasn't a yearly salary. Feeling moisture gathering in my eyes, I squeezed them shut and quickly crumpled the paper, shoving it into my pocket. Though it was written that withdrawal was possible—whether as a joke or in earnest—having already tasted that dessert, I couldn't bring myself to seriously consider backing out. 'I'll just pay him. And ask him to make dessert for me every day.' They say happiness can't be bought with money, but at this point, I was beginning to think that saying might be wrong. However....
"Wait a moment."
Now that I thought about it, that pastry chef wasn't making desserts just for me, was he? Surely they'd be going into the Grand Duke's meals too? 'An unfair deal.' Indignation began to wash over me belatedly.
"Ah, Miss?"
"I need to see the Grand Duke."
At my firm declaration, Bonita's mouth fell open in bewilderment.
"W-well, shouldn't you send word first...!"
Of course, I knew it was proper etiquette to contact him before visiting. But considering all that... the Grand Duke himself had quite a track record of dropping by unannounced. Besides, now was the time to show with my entire being that I was angry and lodge a strong protest.
"No, I'll just go alone."
I hastily shoved the remaining cookie into my mouth and marched straight to the Grand Duke's Office. Knock, knock, knock! ...Though "marched" might be overselling it—I found myself knocking without thinking.
"Ahem."
"Come in."
Soon the Grand Duke's voice reached me. I pushed the door open, my expression hardening as I fought to keep my composure from crumbling. What was infuriating was that despite this sudden visit, the Grand Duke sat there to greet me in perfect, immaculate composure. Having secured stable sleep with blackout curtains and resolved the manga distribution issue through a contract with the Embrose Trading Company, he certainly exuded an air of ease. ...His appearance had regained its former brilliance too, I'd say.
"What's the matter?"
As I found myself captivated by the Grand Duke's face, his puzzled voice broke through. I thought he'd point out that I'd come without notice, but his demeanor was as if he'd expected it. Tap. I placed my hands on my hips and cried out in an indignant tone.
"This is too much!"
"Too much about what?"
"This."
As if I'd been waiting for the moment, I pulled out the crumpled paper from my pocket and showed it to him. The Grand Duke responded with a nonchalant shrug.
"Didn't I ask you before?"
"What...?"
"Whether you like the dessert Liam bought for you."
"Well, that's...."
It was true, after all. I couldn't deny something that had actually happened. I nodded, moving my stiff neck with a creaking sound.
"And you also said you wanted to eat it every day at the Grand Duke's Residence."
That was also correct. But who in their right mind would interpret that as a job offer?! And I certainly didn't know I'd have to bear the entire cost of that employment myself.
"Still, this is far too expensive." 3.2 million Tri. Even for a professional pastry chef, it was an extraordinary sum for a year's wages. At my response, the Grand Duke crossed his arms loosely.
"The original employment cost is 35 million Tri, and you're only bearing one-tenth of that."
Faced with his attitude suggesting he'd given quite a discount, I could only stand there dumbfounded. Wait, that's how it works? So it's not actually as unfair a deal as I thought? Of course, I still found it odd that I, a guest—and lodger—should pay the pastry chef's wages that the Grand Duke hired, but since my stake in the desserts was indeed quite substantial, I couldn't argue further.
"If you truly dislike it, I'll arrange for that pastry chef to no longer handle the desserts sent to the Princess."
"Pardon?"
"Since I can't fire him now, I'll issue an access restriction order preventing the Princess from approaching those desserts."
At those words, I doubted my own ears. 'Are you serious?' Would he really be so petty? I wanted to ask that, but the Grand Duke wore an infuriatingly composed expression, and he seemed ready to issue the order immediately if I asked. Was there perhaps some law where the Grand Duke's mood improved whenever I trembled with anger? Or had the Grand Duke fallen under some strange curse that made him happy whenever he upset someone? ...I cut off my thoughts there and released a shallow sigh.
"Fine, forget it. I have mountains of other things to worry about anyway."
"Worry?"
The word "worry" seemed to catch his attention, and a question came flying immediately.
"Oh, no, it's nothing."
"Tell me."
"It's just personal, that's all."
"Bringing up a topic and then pretending ignorance is the pettiest thing one can do."
"No, I, I wouldn't call it petty...!"
Besides, the petty one here was him. But the moment our eyes met, I sensed such relentless persistence in his gaze that I instinctively realized I wouldn't be allowed to return to my chamber if I said nothing. Sigh, I had no choice. I pulled a small chair that had been near the Grand Duke's desk over and sat down, positioning myself comfortably.
"Well, so...."
My dilemma had originated from the relationship between the Embrose Marquise and Fabron Marquis and his wife. However, in a position where I couldn't breathe a word about the original story to the Grand Duke, all I could offer was appropriate anonymity and creative embellishment.
"There's an obvious situation unfolding right before my eyes, but when it's awkward to intervene directly, what should I do?"
"Explain in more detail."
"Well, A and B could become close. A misunderstanding arose, and now they're keeping their distance from each other. But it seems like if I just helped a little bit...."
Blood runs thicker than water. Above all, I knew for certain how much the Embrose Marquise cherished Fabron Marquis.
"In any case, I'm worried that if I rashly interfere, not only will both of them be shaken, but the entire situation itself will become unstable."
The Grand Duke, who had been listening to my words with composure, broke the silence and asked a question.
"What would make your heart feel at ease?"
"Me? I...."
I tilted my head and fell into contemplation. Naturally, it was better than Fabron Marquis and his wife losing their lives to hardship and the Embrose Marquise becoming unhappy as well....
"I want to bring them closer together again."
"Then do it. Your peace of mind comes first, above all else."
"Ah...?"
"If you don't care for your own heart, who will?"
My eyes widened as I gazed at the Grand Duke. His unexpectedly profound counsel struck me deeply. But suddenly, one of the Grand Duke's eyebrows rose sharply.
"Wait. Are A and B people connected to you?"
Not entirely unconnected...? I know both of them, after all. I nodded and answered.
"In a manner of speaking."
"A and B are male and female?"
Since they're mother and son, that's also accurate.
"Yes, that's right."
"...It seems you've been meeting more people lately with your work."
"Well, yes, I've been meeting people of all ages and genders."
"All ages and genders, you say."
It seemed like particular emphasis had been placed on the word "genders," but I dismissed it as my imagination and responded indifferently.
"Yes, that's right."
But at that very moment, the Grand Duke's face twisted and contorted. 'What, what is this?' His sudden shift in demeanor made my heart feel as small as a bean. However, the Grand Duke merely huffed to himself and said nothing more. As I watched him, I quietly swallowed a sigh. 'Well, still.' Caring for my own heart comes first. The feeling of receiving such unexpectedly sincere advice... wasn't unpleasant at all.
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