~Chapter 12~
The omelette in front of him was so soft that it seemed like it would melt in his mouth.
‘Did she notice my efforts?’
Without realizing it, Walton took a bite of the omelette Delfina had made.
‘It’s delicious.’
He couldn’t quite find the right words to express it.
Although the omelette was probably quite old, it strangely still had warmth.
At first glance, it seemed like an ordinary omelette.
But somehow, it felt incredibly ‘delicious’—it was as if it had hit all his personal preferences!
His fork didn’t stop.
Once, twice, three times…
Soon, the bottom of the plate was visible.
Elkaian was on his way to the Grand Duke’s kitchen.
He was headed to see his future fiancée.
Although Delfina had come to the North, they had not yet had their engagement ceremony.
It wasn’t just because the Grand Duchess was ill. Even without that, the Duke’s subjects wanted to delay the engagement between Elkaian and Delfina as much as possible.
‘I need to figure out what kind of plans she has.’
Because of her uncle, the North had suffered more than ever.
Many people had starved to death.
Yet, the Emperor had only reduced food supplies further.
‘Thanks to the sacrifices of the North, those who live free from monsters…’
The resentment toward the Imperial Palace was growing among the Northern people.
No one could be trusted, except the Northerners themselves. Especially now that Aris was ill, Elkaian was the only one who could take responsibility for the North.
As he steeled himself, Delfina’s face suddenly appeared in his mind. Specifically, her clear eyes.
When Elkaian had first heard that Delfina was making omelettes to gain Walton’s approval, the Grand Duke’s servants had reacted negatively.
Since then, he had been too busy to hear any more news about Delfina.
‘It’s late at night, so the kitchen should be empty…’
When Elkaian arrived at the kitchen, he was a little surprised. Walton was eating something with a messy face.
Elkaian looked at him in shock.
Walton, known for his refined taste, was famous for eating neatly.
There, on his face, was a piece of omelette.
“Walton…?”
Walton, who had been eating the omelette absentmindedly, finally looked up at Elkaian.
“Y-Your Grace…”
“Why are you here at this hour?”
As Elkaian said this, he noticed Delfina, asleep in an uncomfortable position behind Walton.
Elkaian squinted his eyes, staring at Delfina. Walton blocked her with his body as though protecting her.
Elkaian tilted his head in disbelief.
“What’s going on here?”
Walton trembled and shook his legs nervously.
Blocking the Grand Duke’s way!
It was an act of rudeness he had never imagined.
‘How dare he defy the Grand Duke!’
But Delfina looked incredibly exhausted.
‘The Grand Duke probably planned to wake her up and send her back.’
Walton didn’t want to wake Delfina. He asked the maids to carefully move her to her bedroom without disturbing her.
Northern maids were often muscular and strong, so they could easily lift and move someone like Delfina, who was small and thin.
Walton didn’t want to wake her.
“Your Grace, Lady Delfina is exhausted from making so many omelettes today. Please, have mercy and don’t wake her.”
Lady Delfina?
Something felt off.
Elkaian had thought the Northerners would be distrustful, but what had happened to his head chef? Why had Walton changed so suddenly after just one day?
Elkaian’s gaze shifted to the omelette pieces on Walton’s face.
‘Could it be because of that omelette?’
Or perhaps it was because he had seen Delfina’s sincerity in making the omelette?
Maybe it was a combination of both.
Then, Delfina’s mumbling reached his ears.
“Mmm, omelette…”
Elkaian let out a faint laugh.
‘Is she thinking about cooking even in her dreams?’
He walked past Walton.
He saw Walton staring at Delfina with a look of concern, as if afraid Elkaian would harm her. Elkaian was stunned.
Instead of waking her, he gently picked her up.
“Your Grace?”
Walton’s shocked voice could be heard.
“Are you planning to wake her?”
Elkaian said nothing more as Walton fell silent. The kitchen was now engulfed in complete silence.
Elkaian, holding Delfina in his arms, began walking.
‘Why am I doing this?’
For a moment, Elkaian wondered, but quickly came up with a reasonable explanation.
It couldn’t be helped.
Delfina was smaller and more fragile than the other women of the North.
If she were left to sleep in the cold kitchen, she would surely catch a cold.
Then the maids and doctors would need to take care of her, and he didn’t want to see his people suffer.
‘So, this is why.’
Elkaian thought as he walked, carrying Delfina.
When Delfina woke up, she realized she was in a bed.
‘I was sure I fell asleep in the kitchen…?’
She had no idea how she ended up in her room. Just then, Sana approached her.
Delfina asked her.
“How did I end up in my room? I was in the kitchen…”
Delfina was slightly surprised. The system window floating above Sana’s head had changed.
‘Just a few days ago, she seemed wary of me…’
<Sana>
‘She’s from House Lycaeon, but Lady Delfina seems like a kind person. Anyone who gives you something delicious must be kind!’
The fact that Delfina had made omelettes for her made her heart warm. But at the same time, she felt worried.
The people in the North seemed so simple-hearted.
‘Just because someone gives you delicious food doesn’t mean they’re a good person…’
Sana hadn’t changed her mind just because Delfina gave her a delicious omelette. She knew the effort Delfina had put into earning Walton’s approval in the kitchen.
Of course, she didn’t fully trust Delfina yet.
But the effort Delfina had shown had made them soften their hearts a little.
The system window only showed snippets, so Delfina was unaware of the sudden change in the Northerners. She had mistaken their sudden friendliness for simplicity.
“Lady Delfina?”
Delfina looked up at the voice calling her name.
Sana smiled warmly at her.
“I’ve brought you back, Lady Delfina.”
“You did?”
“Yes, I carried you.”
It was a convincing statement. Sana’s body looked more muscular and sturdy than many knights.
The Northern maids took pride in their strength.
Delfina smiled lightly.
“Impressive, Sana. Thank you.”
“This is nothing for the maids of the North.”
Sana said this with a bead of sweat on her forehead.
‘I’m sorry, Lady Delfina.’
Sana’s conscience pricked at her for telling a lie.
She recalled what happened the previous night.
Elkaian had picked Delfina up and carried her to her bed.
Seeing the shocked Sana, Elkaian had said:
“You brought the House Lycaeon lady here.”
“Understood, Your Grace.”
Elkaian’s voice carried a sense of wariness. Unlike Walton, Alex, and the others, their master was cold towards Delfina.
This was natural.
Even if they grew soft, the ruler of the North had to maintain a cold heart.
More coldly than the North’s winter winds.
To protect the North.
Sana bowed deeply with respect.
Delfina, after waking up, went straight to meet Walton.
Seeing her, Walton cautiously bowed.
“There’s somewhere I want to take you, Lady Delfina.”
The kitchen, normally bustling with people preparing food for the Grand Duke’s family, was completely different now.
But the place Walton took her to was completely different from the kitchen she had known. It was filled with shiny, state-of-the-art equipment and countertops, but it was quiet and empty.
“This is where the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess’s meals are prepared.”
Delfina looked at Walton awkwardly.
His gaze had changed as he looked at her.
