HRNGDS 58

~Chapter 58~

Delphina brushed a delicate egg wash over the pie’s golden lattice and sprinkled a light dusting of sugar before sliding it into the preheated magical oven.

Fifty minutes should be enough…

When the oven’s magic finally dimmed, the apple pie emerged, its surface perfectly caramelized and glistening. All that remained was to let it cool before presenting it.

Delphina looked upon her creation with quiet pride.

<Apple Pie Made by Delphina for Johannes>
Grade: B

An apple pie crafted with meticulous care for the First Prince, Johannes. Prepared with his preferences in mind and imbued with Delphina’s skill and sincerity, it is certain to bring joy to those who partake.

Tip: Johannes is already prepared to savor anything made by Delphina, regardless of taste.

Johannes waited anxiously for her arrival.

Delphina has agreed to see me…

She had even mentioned preparing food for him.

That must mean she agreed out of obligation. She probably still dislikes me.

The memory of the dreadful meals Delphina had cooked for him in childhood was still vivid in his mind, and he could hardly expect this one to be different.

At that moment, the attendant at his side announced,

“Your Highness the Grand Duke and Lady Delphina have arrived.”

Before long, Delphina and Elcayan stepped into the room.

Johannes felt a wave of warmth wash over him. He had seen her briefly at the banquet, but now, up close, he could see just how radiantly she had grown.

“It’s been a long time, Your Highness Johannes,” she greeted softly.

“Yes, Delphina. It has been years since we’ve spoken face to face…”

He had caught glimpses of her from afar, but this was the first time in so long that they had truly conversed.

To him, the moment felt almost overwhelming. Delphina took a seat, and Johannes instinctively moved to sit beside her—

But Elcayan, his brow furrowed with displeasure, intervened.

“Your Highness, your seat is here.”

He gestured firmly to the chair opposite her, a jealousy so transparent it was almost childish.

A contractual relationship, is it? Johannes mused inwardly. Yet he can’t bear the thought of another man sitting beside her.

His suspicions were confirmed. Johannes silently resolved to support his friend’s feelings and sat down across from Delphina, prompting Elcayan to nod in satisfaction.

“Your Highness, I brought a small treat,” Delphina said, lifting the apple pie. “I thought it might be nice to recall old memories.”

Johannes’ gaze fell upon the pie in her hands, and he swallowed hard.

How terrible will it be this time?

But as soon as she set the pie before him, he noticed something startling.

There was no trace of cinnamon.

He took a bite—and his eyes widened.

The warm fragrance of butter filled his senses, followed by the delicate sweetness of tender apples.

She remembered I disliked cinnamon.

He realized, with a start, that Delphina had crafted this pie with his preferences in mind.

“You must have been very hungry,” Elcayan remarked dryly.

Only then did Johannes return to his senses. The plate before him was empty; he had devoured the entire pie without realizing it.

When did I finish it?

Flustered, he nodded slowly. “I… suppose I was.”

But inwardly, he was astounded. Delphina’s cooking was exquisite—worlds apart from what he remembered from their childhood.

Elcayan’s faint smile suggested he understood Johannes’ reaction all too well. He had worn the same dazed expression the first time he tasted Delphina’s fried chicken.

Before long, Johannes will be just like Calix, he thought.

Those who tasted Delphina’s cooking for the first time were inevitably captivated.

Once he had steadied himself, Johannes spoke with quiet earnestness.

“Delphina, I have long awaited the chance to speak with you.”

“You have?” she asked, surprised.

“Yes. There are matters that concern us both.”

Her expression stiffened.

She knew exactly what he was referring to—the carriage accident that had claimed their parents’ lives.

“Have you never wondered why the accident happened?” Johannes asked.

“…”

“Who do you think benefited the most from it?”

Delphina did not hesitate.

“My uncle,” she said.

The Duke of Rikeion, who supported the Second Prince.

The accident had deprived Johannes of his most powerful allies: the Empress, the former Duke of Rikeion, and the Grand Duke of the North—all staunch supporters of the First Prince.

In a single moment, Duke Rikeion had seized unparalleled power.

“I believe he was behind the carriage accident,” Johannes said firmly.

Delphina shut her eyes tightly.

“And I doubt he was alone. My stepmother, the current Empress, and my younger brother Piaze are almost certainly involved as well,” Johannes continued, his face unreadable.

Delphina listened in silence.

“The reason I never told you before was because it would have changed nothing,” he said. “Back then, you were loyal to Duke Rikeion.”

He was right. Had she not regained the memories of her previous life, she likely would have stood on her uncle’s side without question.

A chill ran down her spine at the thought.

“I always sensed something was wrong,” Johannes said softly. “You despised your uncle, yet after your parents’ deaths, you changed completely.”

“…”

“You weren’t the only one. I’ve seen others undergo the same strange transformation after a tragedy—the High Priest, and one other person you know well.”

“Who?”

“Alfonso Rikeion, your grandfather.”

Delphina thought of the man who had withdrawn from the world after surrendering the dukedom to his younger son.

It was not uncommon for grief to sap one’s strength, but Alfonso’s withdrawal had always felt… unnatural.

“Is it possible my uncle did something to Grandfather as well?”

“Yes,” Johannes said grimly. “If my suspicions are correct, then yes.”

Their inexplicable passivity had always worked in Duke Rikeion’s favor.

Alfonso had never trusted his second son. It made no sense that he would hand over the dukedom so willingly and abandon Delphina to him.

Especially knowing how much he loved her.

Johannes remembered vividly the way Alfonso had doted on her as a child.

“Our dear Delphina, your cooking is simply divine! Hahaha! This grandfather is truly blessed to taste your food!”

He had always adored her, even enduring her catastrophic cooking with a smile.

I always knew, Grandfather, she thought. My cooking back then was terrible.

Alfonso’s devotion had been so deep that the late Duke and Duchess of Rikeion had worried she would become spoiled.

Had Alfonso remained in the household, things would never have turned out this way.

By now, Johannes was certain. Someone had orchestrated their family’s tragedy.