Chapter 18
“Lady, it’s time for dinner.”
“Let’s go, Juno.”
I said, looking at the cat-pig lying on Linda’s lap, getting its fur brushed.
Purr…I’mnotgoing.Purr… I’m not going.
Huh? What did you say?
Startled, I widened my eyes and asked.
“Are you finally trying to lose weight?”
Hey!Itoldyouit’sallfur!Hey! I told you it’s all fur!
“Then why not?”
Becauseit’sfrustratingnotbeingabletotalkproperly!Thefood’sallgreasy,too.Ugh,onadaylikethis,samgyeopsalwithbibimnoodleswouldbethebest.Because it’s frustrating not being able to talk properly! The food’s all greasy, too. Ugh, on a day like this, samgyeopsal with bibim noodles would be the best.
Samgyeopsal? Bibim noodles?
Was that food trendy at the time?
It was a weird excuse, but to me, it just looked like the sacred beast was sulking because the duke kept treating it like a pest.
Then Linda and Rosy started making a fuss.
“Oh my, did the divine beast just say it’s going on a diet? Impossible! That round little silhouette is so charming!”
“No, right? You just meant you’ll eat in your room again, right?”
Ah!Finally,someonewhounderstandsmygreatness.Twenty−secondsuccessor,makesuretogrilltheporkthinandcrispy,gotit?Ah! Finally, someone who understands my greatness. Twenty-second successor, make sure to grill the pork thin and crispy, got it?
Such picky taste.
Says the food’s greasy but insists on meat.
“Linda, Rosy. The divine beast wants that crispy grilled—”
I was about to pass along the message kindly when Juno’s grumbling voice echoed in my head, like water filling my ears.
Thatdamnedtwenty−firstgenerationtreatedmelikeaflea Thetwenty−secondisslowasarockwakingmysoul Atthisrate,I’lldiebeforeIcanevenaskforfoodmyself That damned twenty-first generation treated me like a flea~ The twenty-second is slow as a rock waking my soul~ At this rate, I’ll die before I can even ask for food myself~
Definitely a pest.
“…Never mind, make it vegetables instead. The divine beast says fresh greens are best.”
Meow! Meow-meow!
With a flurry of angry mewls, it ran out of the room, scratching at the door as it left. But I knew already—
that with its soft little paws, it could never open the round doorknob.
‘That’s what you get for bothering someone who’s working hard.’
After all, I had more important things to do—finding a way to visit Bianca’s home.
The only reason I befriended her in the first place was to meet her father, the viscount.
But the real problem appeared elsewhere.
‘Ugh. I finally got invited, so why won’t you let me go, Dukeee…!’
Click.
That evening, I walked into the dining room, determined to win permission this time.
As always, the duke sat at the head of the table like a sentinel.
I was so busy thinking that I didn’t notice until I climbed onto the tall chair—someone else was sitting across from me instead of my uncle.
“Good evening, Lady Airi.”
“G-good evening, Lady Diana!”
Oh goodness, I almost jumped.
Was she invited because it was her first lesson today?
Being of high rank, she must have been seated near the duke in place of my uncle.
“Thank you for the invitation, Duke Dain.”
At her sweet voice, the duke simply nodded.
But when I looked at her more closely, something seemed… off.
My woman’s intuition, long buried, started to stir.
The rosy blush, the trembling voice, the shy sidelong glances…
“Don’t worry, Lady. You have me, Diana, here.”
‘Ah. That “lady of the house” comment earlier… so she was talking about herself, huh?’
Ha! No wonder I’d been feeling uneasy!
Looking back, it was obvious.
The beautiful duke was a missing husband, and she a wife who’d lost hers—
a pairing that practically begged for mutual sympathy and comfort.
‘No way! I refuse! I absolutely refuse! That lovestruck widow is so unworthy of our duke!’
But no matter how much I denied it, you could never predict affairs of the heart.
And since I’d already changed the future, I felt guilty toward the true duchess.
So now, all I could do was avoid giving them any reason to use me as an excuse.
I had to be perfect—flawless in etiquette.
Just like back in my prime, I laid the napkin on my lap, held the knife delicately like a feather, felt the blade’s weight, and elegantly sliced the steak.
Scritch, scritch.
“……”
Five minutes later, my fingers started to lose strength.
The steak remained untouched.
Right.
I had foolishly forgotten the strength of a five-year-old.
“Oh my, does the young lady pet her steak? Hoho. How adorable children are.”
“……!”
‘Ugh! That venomous spider!’
I was about to bare my teeth at her, etiquette be damned—
when suddenly, in the narrow edge of my vision, I saw salvation: a small piece of steak floating toward me.
From the steak, I followed the fork, the arm, and finally—the face.
‘…The duke?’
Staring dumbfounded, I watched as he brought the fork close to my mouth.
After a brief pause, I cautiously opened my lips—and the meat really went in.
Chew, chew.
I instinctively moved my jaw, still staring at him.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“……”
I could ask you the same thing, sir. What are you doing?
Once I swallowed, another bite appeared right in front of me.
Was he trying to fish-feed me?
Afraid I’d choke if this went on, I tried to refuse.
“I can eawt by mysel—”
But before I could finish, someone else spoke for me.
“Duke Dain. Please, let her eat alone. I understand you adore her, but that is not an appropriate way to show it.”
Her words were perfectly correct, and the duke’s hand froze midair.
But this time, I didn’t want to eat alone.
Maybe it was the rebellious part of me—or maybe I just wanted to wipe that smug look off her face.
So, even though I knew it wasn’t wise, I deliberately opened my mouth wide.
“Ahh—!”
And naturally, another piece of steak found its way in.
“Woww! This ish the most dewicious thing in the worl’!”
I pumped my tiny fists and wiggled my shoulders in exaggerated delight.
The duke then calmly took my plate and began cutting up more pieces.
Diana’s expression froze.
“…She eats well, yes, but such spoiled behavior! Duke, His Majesty asked you to raise her properly—this does not reflect well.”
What? Was she trying to use the emperor to pressure him?
I bristled at her tone, but her position brought me back to my senses.
She was a guest from the imperial palace—a spy, even.
I couldn’t let the duke suffer because of me.
So I came up with a halfway-decent excuse.
“…I was taught it’s rude to refuse an aduht’s kindness. Tha’s why. Airi’ll eat alone now…”
“Of course, right? Hoho.”
Only then did a satisfied smile bloom on her face—
the smile of someone who’d just reclaimed the spotlight.
But still, the piece of meat lingered in front of me.
When I shook my head hesitantly, the duke said,
“I thought you liked meat.”
“Duke, must I repeat myself? She needs to learn—”
“She’s an imperial out-marriage, isn’t she? Are you speaking for His Majesty now, Countess Lucendiart?”
Her long lashes trembled.
“N-no, that’s not what I meant…”
“Then you’ll understand. Even His Majesty wouldn’t tell me to treat the daughter I found after five years coldly.”
“I…”
Without looking at her, the duke placed the steak into my open mouth.
She bit her lip hard, glared at me, then abruptly stood.
“Seems I’ve overstayed my welcome. I’ll take my leave.”
Ah, she’s sulking now.
Duke, that was a little harsh.
After all, she was once the darling of the entire empire—a noblewoman every girl dreamed to be.
Still, the juicy piece of steak in my mouth mocked her retreat, dancing happily on my tongue.
The duke watched me quietly and asked,
“Does it not taste good?”
“It’s sooo good! But are you okay, sir? The lady left.”
“Don’t mind her. More importantly…”
“Hmm?”
“…Never mind.”
There are two ways to make someone angry.
The first is to stop talking mid-sentence.
And the second…
…is to reject a request before hearing it.
“Ah! I have a favor to ask!”
“No.”
There it was. The second way.
‘…But what can I do? In this mansion, the duke’s word is law…’
“I… I really wanna go…”
I muttered gloomily. The duke glanced down at me and asked,
“…Bianca, was it?”
“Yes! From House Wildoff!”
Perk!
My ears practically stood at attention—my last thread of hope.
“It’s nothin’ big! I jus’ wanna see the garden! The records said the former lord used to tend it with her!”
“Former lord?”
“Oh! I mean, the previous head of house…! It’s jus’—um—it kinda stuck, calling him Grandpa…”
Calling the previous duke “Grandpa”… how shameless.
I looked up anxiously, but he didn’t seem offended. Instead, he muttered softly to himself.
“Grandfather… Uncle… I see. Then I…”
“…Duke?”
“……”
He let out a sigh I couldn’t quite understand—
and with that, dinner came to an end.
