ESWPT 10

Chapter 10

“So, how long have you lived in the capital?”

Rosemary answered immediately.

“I was born on Mayfair Street and have lived there my whole life! My friend, Isabelle, has been in the capital for… uh… four years, right?”

“Five years, Your Majesty,” Isabelle corrected.

“That’s good.”

Cecilia smiled brightly. She was pleased that both of them had spent a considerable amount of time in the capital.

Even as commoners, living in the capital allowed them to pick up gossip about the nobles. Meeting old friends might yield deeper information, but for now, she had to extract as much as possible from these two.

“Well, go ahead and tell me.”

“What kind of stories would Your Majesty like to hear?”

“Anything. I’ve been away for so long, I’m curious about everything. Who had a child, who got divorced… I love that kind of gossip.”

“Hmm…”

After hesitating for a moment, Rosemary began speaking without pause. Isabelle, though a bit hesitant, added her own tidbits.

Thanks to them, Cecilia was able to gather quite a bit of useful information.

It seemed that most of the nobles who had fawned over the emperor had been eliminated.

Yet some had maintained their boundaries and survived, becoming leaders among the remaining nobles.

On the surface, all of them appeared loyal to Edward, but their true intentions were unknown.

‘The real challenge is to win them over.’

No matter how much of the devil’s power Edward possessed, a kingdom couldn’t be ruled by force alone.

Cecilia, having once dominated high society, knew this well.

The pen is mightier than the sword, and winning someone’s heart is far harder than taking their life.

‘I guess there’s no choice,’ she thought.
‘Edward has always been weak in that area… I’ll have to help him.’

A man who never bent his will had now become emperor… it was painfully obvious what would happen.

After a long conversation, Cecilia felt thirsty and hungry.

Quick-witted Rosemary smiled.

“Are you hungry, Your Majesty? If you tell me what you like, I’ll bring it right away.”

Naturally, there were dozens of dishes Cecilia wanted to eat immediately.

But one stood out above the rest…

“Crème brûlée!”

“C-Crème brûlée?”

Isabelle asked in surprise. Though she didn’t press further, her tone implied, “Wouldn’t something more filling be better?”

“Yes. Bring it immediately. It’s my favorite dessert.”

The maids glanced at each other.

After all, it wasn’t a demand for tropical fruits or rare meats that were hard to obtain in the capital’s climate. Requesting a common noble dessert wasn’t difficult at all.

Rosemary went off to prepare the crème brûlée. Isabelle asked,

“Shall I prepare a cool bath, Your Majesty?”

If Cecilia were an ordinary woman, she would have said yes immediately.

It was midsummer, and even thin clothing couldn’t prevent ordinary people from sweating profusely indoors.

But Cecilia was a grand mage.

Leaving Mezina, where weather was strictly controlled within magical barriers, she found the capital’s heat almost fascinating.

Even ordinary people might think, “How interesting,” instead of feeling discomfort because they weren’t used to extreme temperatures.

“No need.”

Cecilia waved her hand, and a chill filled the room.

“Y-Your Majesty…? This is…”

Isabelle’s pupils trembled. Cecilia realized she had almost forgotten—these two didn’t know she was a mage yet.

‘Well, whatever. They’ll find out soon enough.’

She asked Isabelle directly.

“Yes, I am a grand mage. Do you dislike magic?”

“…No.”

Isabelle replied cautiously but firmly.

“It’s just… amazing… Your Majesty, you’re truly incredible.”

Cecilia smiled. Yes, this was the proper reaction. Not fear, not accusations—just wonder.

Shortly after, Rosemary returned with a tray full of desserts. At first, she seemed slightly surprised, but she quickly accepted it—it was clear the kitchen had already heard the rumors.

Seeing the large crème brûlée, Cecilia said,

“I’d like to eat in peace. Could you step out for a moment? I’m not used to having someone constantly nearby after living alone for so long.”

Isabelle hesitated.

“But… Your Majesty, what if something happens to you…”

Cecilia found this curious. Even if a grand mage was unfamiliar to the people of the empire, didn’t her name alone carry an aura of power?

It didn’t matter. By tonight, everyone would know the stories of the white-haired witch empress who flung soldiers away with a flick of her hand.

Look at Rosemary—she was pulling Isabelle away with an expression of amusement and disbelief.

After dismissing the maids, Cecilia cast a magic barrier to prevent anyone from peeking inside and picked up the little dragon.

“…! You… trying to tempt me with food? Do you think I’d fall for this?”

“Not at all,” Cecilia said calmly.

“Our Mage King would naturally have no interest in something like crème brûlée, would he? I hear the ones from Rinek are the best on the continent…”

“I… I have no interest!”

Cecilia sipped the pomegranate juice. The sweet-tart flavor filled her mouth.

There was none of the typical astringency of pomegranate—it seemed to have been mixed with lemon juice and sugar for a perfect balance.

‘Yes, this is what I missed… food made by a skilled cook…’

The Guardian Tower had rotating chefs. On lucky days, she could eat something delicious, but it could never match the skill of Jude, the chef from the Keres estate.

Yet…

‘This tastes exactly the same… no, identical.’

Trying other desserts confirmed the strange déjà vu.

The pastry was flaky yet layered with different flavors. Cannoli was crisp outside, moist inside, with a hint of orange, not too rich. Almond cookies topped with lime cream for palate cleansing.

The more she ate, the more familiar it felt.

Jude, the Keres estate chef, was unparalleled. Other households often tried to recruit him, but he always refused. His father had been indebted to the former duke.

So it wasn’t strange that he had come to the palace, but why was he working alone in the Empress’s deserted kitchen…?

‘Does he have an apprentice, maybe?’

Regardless, she was happy to enjoy the delicious food now.

Having devoured half of the desserts in no time, Cecilia picked up her spoon. It was time for the crème brûlée.

The little dragon’s sparkling, tear-filled eyes staring at the dessert was slightly awkward, but for the sake of her purpose…

“M-Mine!”

Before Cecilia’s spoon even touched it, the little dragon dove headfirst into the dessert, shattering the caramelized sugar with a crisp sound.

He splashed through the custard, making indistinct noises.

Cecilia couldn’t help but smile.

The mighty Mage King, Bjorn, happily swimming in custard like a baby dragon…

“Delicious?” she asked softly.

“…Trying to tempt me with something this trivial? I am Mage King Bjorn! I don’t fall for desserts!”