Chapter 189
“They ran away.”
“Ran away?”
“Yeah, scared of getting scolded.”
“…That’s what you call running away?”
There’s a saying that some birds, when a hunter appears, just expose their big body and only cover their eyes. You’re exactly at that level.
Ceres gave Kamangi a look of disbelief. If you wanted to hide properly, you’d go into your specialty—the shadows. What on earth is this supposed to be?
Press.
Flinch!
When she poked Kamangi’s back with her finger, the little one flinched.
Still, he didn’t lower his hands from covering his eyes. It was as if this was the only way not to get caught and scolded.
…What is this even supposed to accomplish?
“Kamangi.”
Flinch.
“Who told you to eat someone else’s snack? I said before whether you could or couldn’t eat theirs, didn’t I?”
Hearing Ceres’ words, Kamangi curled up even more and continued to cover his eyes with his hands.
“Besides, you even broke the plate. What are you going to do about that?”
Press, press.
Flinch, flinch.
“From now on, only one snack a day.”
[Ppu, ppuuu!]
The little one, who had been pretending not to notice even when poked in the rear, immediately lifted his head when told the number of snacks would be reduced.
[Ppueee!]
Finally, Kamangi sat down with a thud and started crying.
“What are you crying for, you did nothing right?”
[Ppue!]
“You did wrong, didn’t you?”
[Ppuu…]
“Then go over there and hold up your hands.”
[Ppueee…]
At Ceres’ command, Kamangi moved to the corner where he had just hidden, raised his short arms, and started crying again.
Meanwhile, Colin, having finished tidying everything up, brought a new snack and placed it on the table.
“Sit down and eat.”
“Okay.”
“……”
Unlike Yulia, who immediately sat down with a smile, Zien didn’t move at all.
Not meeting anyone’s gaze, she just kept her head down.
“Why not you? Don’t want it? Is there something you can’t eat?”
Seeing that, Ceres asked, and the child gave her a puzzled look.
“…Again?”
Why that expression again? Ceres had a premonition that her head might start aching again.
“If there’s some left… you eat it.”
And that premonition was exactly right this time.
“…Damn…”
Hah, she’s been swearing like crazy lately. Ceres swallowed the curse that was about to escape again. She thought she might need to look into the orphanage this child came from.
‘That director bastard.’
You, I think we need a long, long talk, don’t you?
“Eat, it’s yours.”
“……”
The child’s slightly widened eyes trembled faintly. Even when Ceres spoke, Zien couldn’t bring her hands to the snack in front of her. It was as if she was seeing something intact like this for the first time.
Her expression seemed to say: I… can really eat this?
“Kamangi, come here.”
Sighing silently at the sight, Ceres called Kamangi, who had been crying even more pitifully after the new snack arrived.
[Ppu!]
As if waiting for the call, Kamangi flapped over immediately. Ceres pushed the snack that Colin had set aside for Kamangi toward him.
Munch, munch!
Immediately, he threw himself onto the cake and began devouring it.
“You’d better eat fast. Otherwise, he’ll finish yours too.”
“……”
After finishing a piece of cake in no time and staring intently at Zien’s portion, as Ceres had predicted, the child slowly picked up a fork.
‘Haa.’
Watching the child awkwardly bring the cake to her mouth, Ceres sighed silently again. She felt that there would still be a lot to teach going forward.
“Haaah…”
…Thirsty.
“Water…”
…None.
Waking up in the early morning with a dry throat, Ceres noticed that the cup by her bed was empty and got up.
“Jay, give me some water.”
Half-asleep, she entered the kitchen and called out as she sensed someone.
Naturally, she assumed it was Jay, knowing that he usually prepares to leave the shop around this time.
Tap, tap.
“Thanks.”
Feeling the glass of water placed in front of her, Ceres yawned deeply with half-closed eyes and picked it up.
Gulp.
“Drink slowly. They say if you gulp water too fast, the medicine won’t work.”
“……!”
A strange voice suddenly reached her ears.
Pffft!
Without meaning to, Ceres spat out the water she was drinking, staring blankly at the source without even wiping her mouth.
“I didn’t mean for you to spit it out.”
Smiling faintly while offering a handkerchief was none other than Crown Prince Aserian.
“…What are you doing?”
Ceres, still half-dazed, asked, not even thinking about taking the handkerchief.
What are you doing here at this hour!?
“And what’s with the ladle in your hand?”
Seeing that he held a ladle in one hand, she looked even more baffled.
Is he cooking here… now?
‘No way…’
…Creepy.
“I plan to make breakfast myself once we’re married.”
“…You’ll be a good husband, I see.”
Ceres could not hide her displeasure and quickly wiped her mouth.
‘Ah, this is exhausting.’
What’s going on this early in the morning? Why didn’t anyone tell me he was coming? And why did they let him into the kitchen?
‘Can we just hand over our kitchen to anyone like this?’
Ceres hurriedly sought out the butler, Colin, to clarify the situation. But the absurd words from the Crown Prince came next.
“I told you not to wake me. I shouldn’t cause trouble so early in the morning.”
…The most troublesome thing right now is you.
Ceres threw him a look of disbelief and sighed deeply.
“I thought we could have breakfast together. It’ll be ready soon, just wait a bit.”
With that, the Crown Prince returned to the pot, slowly stirring it with the ladle. His movements were so natural it was creepy.
Why is the Crown Prince so skilled at cooking?
“……”
Watching him in disbelief, Ceres quickly left the kitchen. She needed to get out to clear her head.
“I wonder if the meal was to your liking.”
“Yes… well.”
It tasted good.
‘…But everyone else seemed uncomfortable, that’s the problem.’
Antonion, entering the dining room to eat breakfast, saw the Crown Prince placing dishes and immediately ran out.
Only after confirming it was his own house did he cautiously return to the kitchen.
‘Sis, why is he here?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Can we… eat this?’
‘I guess we should run away together.’
‘What? Wh-what nonsense is this? The Crown Prince wouldn’t throw away food and flee, would he!’
…Well, no real harm would come from not eating breakfast.
Seeing Antonion eat reluctantly and uncomfortably, Ceres had no choice but to join the meal.
“Wow! This is really delicious!”
“Thank you. Unlike some, you’re very honest, little lady.”
Yulia was the only one to enjoy her breakfast. Recently, Ceres had been responsible for Yulia’s meals, but today was too hectic.
So today, she gave her food specially prepared by the Crown Prince, and Yulia surprisingly ate it very well.
‘Ugh!’
‘…Take your medicine.’
After giving Antonion the medicine because he seemed uncomfortable after finishing breakfast, Ceres finally sat across from the Crown Prince.
“Your tea tastes great again. I might get addicted.”
The Crown Prince leaned back comfortably in his chair as if it were his own home, savoring the tea.
Ceres, sitting across from him, still looked displeased. Why does he always come so early in the morning?
‘Is he doing this on purpose?’
Does he know I’m a heavy sleeper?
“I’ll be busy in the afternoon, you see.”
Smiling faintly as though his thoughts were written on his face, the Crown Prince answered.
