I Became the Villain’s Daughter – Chapter 48
“Yes, yes?”
Pia hesitated, unsure of what was being said.
“I mean the white robe.”
The white robe could only refer to the one he had worn in the video. Thea looked at us and explained.
“On Pia’s birthday, I once gifted him a magical robe. Whoever wears it gets a recognition-disabling enchantment, so they’re hardly noticed by others and can go anywhere freely.”
“I see…”
My eyes widened. Thea’s stern voice continued.
“But I didn’t give you that magical robe so you could go around stealing desserts, Pia. You stole the desserts yesterday, didn’t you? You’ll have to take full responsibility for that.”
“St-steal?”
Tears started welling up in Pia’s eyes. The steward hurriedly intervened.
“D-did you mean the strawberry cake that Lord Pieter brought yesterday?”
“Yes. It was meant for the gathering here, but because Pia stole it, all the desserts for the gathering disappeared.”
“N-no…! Prince Pieter…!”
The steward looked extremely flustered. He knelt before us, bowing deeply.
“I-I’m so sorry. It’s entirely my fault.”
“…? What do you mean?”
Eivharun asked, puzzled.
Closing his eyes tightly, he spoke.
“Actually… yesterday…”
Pia, tears streaming down her face, grabbed him and shook him.
“I-I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. I must have been confused.”
“Your Highness…”
“I-I’m truly sorry. I don’t even know how to apologize for ruining the gathering because of me.”
Even though Pia was young, he bowed and apologized properly. The steward was left awkwardly, unsure how to respond.
Finally, unable to bear the tension, Eivharun stepped forward.
“You say you were confused… what do you mean by that?”
Even the steward looked like he might start crying.
“Well… I’m embarrassed to say this, but yesterday was the fifth birthday of the dog we keep at the palace.”
“….”
“So I had ordered a strawberry cake from the kitchen the day before… and the prince insisted on bringing it personally…”
“….”
“I thought the cake looked elaborate, but I assumed it was still a strawberry cake, and I didn’t think it could have been swapped…”
Wait… are they saying the winter strawberry cake was mistaken for the dog’s birthday cake? I was so flabbergasted I almost felt dizzy.
“Then… why were you wearing the magical robe?”
Laon asked sharply. The steward replied.
“Well… Pia’s doctor told him to avoid sweets for his cavity. Pia probably wore it so the doctor wouldn’t find out…”
Pia nodded in agreement.
“….”
We all fell silent. That was the anticlimactic conclusion to the Winter Strawberry Dessert Theft Mystery.
“…So, what happened to the cake?”
Eivharun asked. Laon’s expression showed she was anxiously listening.
“Well…”
The steward and Pia hesitated.
“…We shared it with everyone in the palace.”
“….”
Laon’s expression at that moment was priceless—like someone watching the last thread of hope snap in an instant.
I let out a deep sigh.
Leaving Prince Pieter’s palace without any tangible results, our expressions were less than cheerful. The mystery had been solved, but without any reward, what joy is there in a detective story?
Sern nearly cried. Eivharun comforted her gently.
“There’s nothing we can do. A cake that’s already gone is… gone.”
“Sigh… But now, how do we host the Winter Strawberry Gathering? Without desserts, what can we serve…”
“Luckily, the winter strawberry tea we set aside hasn’t been stolen. Even if we serve ordinary desserts alongside the tea, it should at least look presentable.”
Eivharun’s suggestion made sense, but it was obvious everyone at the gathering had been expecting desserts rich in winter strawberries.
I anxiously glanced at the palace garden.
‘…Did we run out of time?’
Eivharun continued.
“It’s better to get desserts from a famous bakery in the capital, even now. Some guests have already arrived, so we must hurry to make the timing right.”
Still watching the palace garden, I finally nodded.
“Eivharun is right. We must… act quickly.”
Then, suddenly:
“Laila!”
From afar, I heard my name.
Several picturesque white carriages entered the palace garden. They bore the golden emblem of the Roshahil family—our family’s carriages.
Leading them, striding confidently toward us, was none other than Brother Eddie.
“Brother Edwin!”
I felt my face light up. Grasping my dress, I ran to him in a single step.
“What happened?”
Brother Eddie smiled and placed his hand on my head.
“Nothing is impossible for Roshahil.”
A smile naturally spread across my face.
As Brother Eddie gestured, the servants disembarked from the carriages, each carrying a silver tray hidden under a lid.
“…What’s happening?”
Eivharun, following behind me, greeted Brother Eddie politely and asked.
“Well…”
I grinned.
The servant bowed courteously and lifted the lid of the silver tray.
“…!!!”
From behind came the sound of Laon sucking in her breath.
Inside was the winter strawberry cake we had been desperately searching for.
It was a Roshahil original, different in design and taste from the palace pâtissiers’ version.
“Wh-what’s going on?”
Sern looked between me and the cake. I scratched my cheek and explained.
“I didn’t want to disappoint the guests if we couldn’t fully recover the desserts. So last night, I sent a messenger to our family asking if we could quickly make winter strawberry desserts…”
“And this was the result.”
Brother Eddie nodded proudly.
Apparently, our trading house also handled winter strawberries. A few boxes that had arrived as part of the trade were immediately sent from the house, and our family’s pâtissiers began making desserts at dawn.
For reference, our household still has ten pâtissiers. I don’t eat much dessert now, so their work could have been deemed useless, and they almost got dismissed. But they had been diligently crafting desserts for me, and occasionally designed new ones for fun, enjoying their work.
“I couldn’t tell Sern or anyone else, worried we might not make it in time… but as long as the result is good, everything’s fine.”
I smiled.
“I can assure you, our household pâtissiers are just as skilled as the palace’s.”
“Of course. I heard the Roshahil family paid an enormous sum to hire chefs and pâtissiers who had long worked in the palace.”
“You know well.”
I nodded. Brother Eddie held a sheet of paper and explained the menu.
“Winter strawberry cake. Tarts made with peaches and winter strawberries. Winter strawberry shaved ice and fresh mousse and jelly, served warm in the greenhouse.”
“…Magnificent.”
Laon’s face was almost entranced.
“I’m glad the guests won’t go hungry.”
I sighed in relief. Eivharun interjected.
“Truly quick decision-making and action.”
“Really! I was only thinking about retrieving the winter strawberry cake—I never imagined remaking it in time…!”
Sern’s eyes sparkled like stars once again. I could only smile.
Thanks to the swift efforts of the Roshahil household, the Winter Strawberry Gathering proceeded as originally planned, with a table full of winter strawberry desserts.
Everyone raised their teacups in delight, as if intoxicated by the alcohol-free winter strawberry tea. The clink of cups rang out clearly.
“Really…! Heavenly taste… crunch…”
“Eat first, then talk.”
Luke ran a hand through a sigh beside me. Laon was busy eating and wiping her tears.
At the front, one of the young ladies performed a cello piece. I rested my chin in my hand, enjoying the music. Though not a professional, the performance was moving.
The gathering was lively, with poetry readings and various performances, leaving no room for boredom.
The Winter Strawberry Gathering, which began at noon, continued well into the evening. Laughter and joy filled the air.
“Today was truly enjoyable.”
After sending everyone off, only my friends and I remained in the greenhouse garden. Sern took a bundle of red and pink ribbons from the centerpiece as a keepsake.
“The winter strawberry desserts were truly astonishing. I’ve never enjoyed anything so delightful,” Laon said, nodding seriously.
“I hope we can have another gathering like this.”
“Indeed,” Eivharun and Luke agreed.
As the atmosphere began to wind down, Laon seemed a bit wistful.
“Still, it’s a pity to think this dessert will only be served today…”
I widened my eyes.
“Oh, it’s not just for today.”
“Huh?”
Laon tilted her head.
“If you ever miss the pâtissiers’ creations, you’re always welcome to visit our house.”
I looked around slowly and continued.
“I’d be truly happy if you came. Unlike winter strawberries, our desserts aren’t limited to one season.”
My smile brightened Laon’s previously confused expression.
The next day, it was late, and I was staying in the palace for one more day to thank Thea properly.
Thea and I were walking near the lake in the garden.