Chapter 35
“What? What did you say I’m in charge of?”
“You’ll be responsible for Young Master Dietrich’s meals.”
“Me?”
It was early morning, the sun barely up.
As usual, I was crouched in the corner of the kitchen trimming vegetables when the head maid came to find me. I stared at her, eyes wide.
Responsible for Dietrich’s meals?
That sounded weird.
Can’t Dietrich even eat on his own?
While I just blinked in confusion, the head maid sighed and explained again, sounding exasperated.
“From now on, you’ll bring his meals directly to the young master’s study. He gave the order himself, so don’t question it—just do as you’re told.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Do as I’m told, huh.
Well, guess I don’t have a choice.
‘Does he not usually eat in the dining room or something?’
The idea of eating in his study made me tilt my head.
Once she heard me agree, the head maid left the kitchen.
As soon as she was gone, Robert—who’d been silently peeling carrots like a mouse—slid over next to me.
“What’s that about? Why would they suddenly make you handle Young Master Dietrich’s meals? You are close to him, huh!”
“Not really.”
Actually, it’s been so long since I even saw him that I don’t know if I could say we’re close anymore.
“So you’ll have to personally take the food to him every time? Ugh, what a pain!”
Robert looked at me pitifully as he shaved carrot skins.
But instead of being annoyed, I just couldn’t stop thinking about what the head maid said earlier.
“From now on, you’ll bring meals directly to the young master’s study. He gave the order himself, so don’t question it.”
Because he ordered it himself, I just have to obey?
He’s ignored me this whole time, and now suddenly he thinks I’ll just jump when he says so?
Unbelievable!
That afternoon,
I was carrying a tray with tomato-sauce meat pie, carrot cake, and blueberry yogurt toward the main mansion.
I pouted the whole way, grumbling about how I didn’t want to go—but of course, I couldn’t refuse.
“Heidi, it’s better to just get it over with, isn’t it? You have to do it anyway. If you go quickly, I’ll give you the leftover carrot cake.”
If not for the head chef’s sweet temptation, I wouldn’t have gone!
And yeah, maybe I’m just a kitchen maid, but still—don’t ask how, I just wouldn’t have gone!
The tray was heavy, so I climbed the stairs carefully.
At the second floor, in front of Dietrich’s study, I gripped the tray tight in my right hand and knocked with my left.
Knock knock, thud!
That last thud was not an accident.
It’d been weeks since he came back from the northern subjugation with Harpe.
Even after returning, he never sought me out, and I barely even saw him around the mansion.
Thinking of that made my knock a bit harder than necessary.
“…Come in.”
He didn’t even ask who it was before giving permission.
I swung the door open.
And there he was—in front of the dark brown desk, sunlight streaming through the window.
Dietrich sat slouched back in his chair, feet propped on the desk, eyes closed.
The light scattered across his tousled silver-gray hair like a halo.
His long lashes cast faint shadows across his face; the lines of his expression were softer than usual.
“Wow…”
I couldn’t help staring.
It felt like witnessing a masterpiece painted by a genius who’d dedicated his life to art.
Under those dark brows, his straight nose cast a graceful shadow, and his slightly parted lips were a perfect shade of red.
As if hypnotized, I stepped closer.
I knew I probably looked like an idiot, but who could look away from a face like that?
Setting the tray down carefully on the desk, I started admiring him in earnest.
“Should I have paid admission to come in here or something? This face is insane.”
Usually, people pay to see something this beautiful in a gallery.
But me? I was getting a front-row seat for free.
“Well, the job might be exhausting, but the employee perks are pretty decent.”
If only he didn’t talk, he’d be perfect.
Before I knew it, I had wandered close enough to his chair.
It wasn’t really my intention—I just felt drawn in.
Up close, there was a faint floral scent coming from him.
I never expected a man to smell like flowers. Surprised, I leaned in a little more.
The closer I got—near his chest, beneath that crisp white shirt—the stronger the scent became.
‘It smells so nice.’
Was it cologne? Or maybe his soap?
The scent reminded me of wildflowers caught in a fresh breeze.
My gaze drifted upward—slowly, slowly—until I was near his face.
The harmony between that clean fragrance and his divine beauty was intoxicating.
“…Are you some kind of pervert?”
I froze.
His eyes—blue-green like the ocean and forest at once—were open, staring straight at me.
“Ahhh!”
“Why are you screaming? I’m the one who should be startled.”
“Since when were you awake?”
“That’s what I want to know.”
He lightly tapped my forehead with a finger, and I stumbled backward, flustered.
Then, pointing at the tray on his desk, I mumbled, “I—I just brought you your lunch.”
He calmly glanced at the dishes—still steaming hot.
My ears burned as I inched toward the door.
But his voice stopped me cold.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“Uh, well—”
“Sneaking a look at me while I’m asleep and now trying to run away?”
“I wasn’t sneaking a look!”
“Then sit down.”
He tilted his head toward the ivory-colored sofa across from the desk.
Unable to escape, I sank into it.
Was I supposed to… watch him eat or something?
But even after picking up his fork and knife, he didn’t eat right away.
He just stared at the food for a long moment, as if trying to taste it with his eyes.
Then, in a low voice, he asked:
“Did you cook this yourself?”
I wasn’t the one who cooked the meals. I only helped in the kitchen.
The head chef handled everything.
We kitchen maids just prepped ingredients and helped when told.
So I shook my head.
“No, the head chef made everything. But! I did season the sauce for the meat pie!”
“And who plated it?”
That, of course, was me!
Strange question, considering he was the one who ordered me to deliver it personally.
“I did!” I said proudly, thumping my chest.
“…I see.”
Only then did he finally cut into the steaming meat pie.
Watching him, I couldn’t help admiring the head chef’s skill again.
How could it look that delicious?
Even though I hadn’t cooked it myself, I felt my shoulders puffing up a little.
“Looks good, right?”
He silently picked up a forkful and took a bite.
Then his brow twitched.
“It’s salty.”
“Then give it here. Don’t eat it.”
“No.”
Even as I glared at him for picking a fight, he kept chewing contentedly.
For someone who’d just complained, he seemed to enjoy it plenty.
‘Now that I think about it… why does he insist on eating in his study?’
It’s not like he’s picky with food.
Come to think of it, I’ve never seen him eat in the dining room.
Though maybe that’s just because I don’t work there.
As I watched his graceful eating posture, I finally asked:
“But why do you eat in your study?”
“…”
“Wouldn’t it be easier to eat in the dining room?”
“Are you saying it’s a hassle to bring it up here?”
He frowned slightly, setting his fork down.
Apparently, I’d annoyed him somehow.
He gestured at my apron and asked dryly,
“What? Do you just want to stay in the kitchen, but I’m keeping you from it?”
What on earth was he talking about?
I rubbed my forehead and laughed in disbelief.
“No! I don’t like staying in the kitchen!”
“Really? You seem to have made quite a few friends there.”
Was he talking about Robert?
I tilted my head, confused—then realized something more important.
How did he know that?
He hadn’t even come to see me once!
But he somehow knew about my kitchen life?
I crossed my arms and lifted my chin defiantly.
“Yeah, I made lots of friends!”
“…Keep bringing the meals here from now on.”
He turned his head away sharply, like he didn’t want to talk anymore.
What a child.
Annoyed, I grabbed the tray as soon as he finished eating.
“Fine! I’m leaving!”
He didn’t even glance at me as I stormed out.
The door shut with a loud bang.
I stuck my tongue out at it and marched off without looking back.
No more delicious extras for him!
Hmph!
Still grumbling like a sulky kid, I made my way back to the kitchen—
never imagining that just a few hours later, that bold little promise of mine would completely fall apart.
