Chapter 9
I blinked in surprise.
“…Huh?”
“Cooking may look easy, but for someone not used to it, it can be quite difficult. Judging by the ingredients, this uses fire, so it’ll be hard to do alone.”
Wait a second…
“You really want to help me?”
“Of course! It’ll be much better if we do it together.”
I was a little taken aback.
I expected at least a suspicious glance, maybe even a question,
but Mia seemed to understand everything
and shrugged lightly.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Do you think I’d doubt you, Princess?”
“Well…”
Of course not.
I am Loreia Friese.
Mia smiled gently.
“If you intended to help your master secretly,
you’d use a more private and reliable method,
not such a complicated way.”
She added that she could judge at least that much.
“See? Am I right?”
“Well… yeah.”
I mumbled and let my words trail off.
What? I didn’t even explain anything yet.
Can someone trust this easily?
Isn’t she missing a screw?
I am Loreia Friese, for heaven’s sake.
I felt my cheeks heat up and unconsciously smoothed my apron.
Being the emperor’s illegitimate child,
I had lived every moment proving my usefulness.
That’s twenty years.
After reincarnation,
when I ran from the imperial city and set foot in the Grand Duke’s mansion,
I had to prove my harmlessness.
So Mia’s attitude—asking nothing and doubting nothing—felt strangely new.
While I awkwardly fumbled,
Mia cleaned the messy counter and cutting board,
and brought fresh tomatoes.
“I shouldn’t brag, but my cooking skills are quite good.
I manage meals for the master and the young master.
Just tell me what you want, and I’ll help carefully.”
“Oh, I’m making eggplant rollatini.”
“Rollatini! Great. So that’s why you wanted the tomatoes cut small?”
“…Yes, but it’s harder than I thought.”
“It’s naturally hard at first. Watch me.”
Mia stepped slightly aside so I could see the cutting board,
and with her skillful hands, she began slicing.
The new tomatoes quickly became neat little cubes.
Everything I struggled with
was gone in an instant.
“Wow…”
She was like a master.
It hadn’t been easy; it only looked easy.
Suddenly, a small tomato piece popped into my mouth.
“Hoho, Princess, don’t let it fall out!”
The sweet and sour juice spread instantly.
“How is it? Tasty, right?”
“…Yes.”
“The Grand Duke’s ingredients are always fresh. Want another piece?”
I hesitated, then took it.
Mia smiled watching me chew.
“Princess, your expressions are surprisingly varied.”
“…Me?”
“Yes, just now, you looked very cute.”
“Cu-cute…?”
What is this housekeeper saying?
The only person who ever called me cute was the emperor,
and even then, it was to flatter me.
Objectively, I’m not really cute—more sharp or severe.
“You should watch what you say.”
“Oh my! Did I say something wrong? Well, thirteen is a cute age, right?”
“No, I mean…!”
I clamped my mouth shut.
Even if I spoke, it wouldn’t matter.
Mia laughed softly at my dull reaction
and offered a freshly cut tomato.
“Is this okay now?”
“Yes, that should be enough.”
“Then what next? Should I roast the eggplant?”
“Ah, wait a moment.”
I quickly grabbed a few washed leaves from the counter.
“Before roasting the eggplant, we need to cut and coat these first.”
“Blueborage?”
“Yes.”
Before coming to the kitchen, I had picked these edible leaves behind the mansion.
Blueborage was common throughout the empire,
but cooking it with the eggplant
would neutralize the remaining demonic energy in the body.
This method had never been made public,
used only within the royal family.
“The Grand Duke’s body is already weak from demonic energy,
so this should help.
I know many other foods with similar effects.”
“Princess, you know so much.”
“After the emperor, I know the most about demonic energy and refined stones.”
I looked away, feeling slightly guilty.
In the past, I had stayed silent to sell refined stones,
even though I knew these remedies.
Mia seemed to notice but cheerfully asked:
“Should I chop the blueborage to coat the eggplant?”
“Yes, and roast it immediately. Then we’ll make the sauce, though I don’t know the exact proportions.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got it.”
Mia used the ingredients I had clumsily prepared
and expertly made the sauce and completed the dish.
Soon, the kitchen smelled delicious.
“Here, it’s done!”
Mia proudly pulled the plate from the oven.
The dish was complete in less than 30 minutes,
and I couldn’t help but admire it.
I had planned to struggle for two hours…
Mia cleaned the plates and neatly arranged the food on a tray,
then offered me a small herb piece.
“Hmm?”
“Since it’s your dish, Princess, the final decoration should be done by you.”
She pointed to the center of the plate.
“…But Mia did all the cooking.”
“I only lent a hand as you instructed. Cooking is about the heart and care, after all.”
She shook the herbs gently toward me.
Isn’t that a bit too flowery?
But my hand moved on its own.
I hesitated, then placed the herbs on the dish.
“Now it’s truly finished!”
Mia smiled brightly.
“…Yes, it’s done.”
Even though I barely did anything,
I felt proud.
“The master usually eats lunch in the study,
but today he skipped because he wasn’t hungry.
So delivering it now will be perfect.”
Huh?
“Me?”
Not Mia?
I looked at her in surprise.
She tilted her head as if asking what the problem was.
“It’s your cooking, Princess. You should deliver it yourself.”
Even if I didn’t actually cook a thing.
“No, but—”
“Go ahead, you’ll be hungry.”
Mia pushed me toward the kitchen door before I could refuse.
By the time I recovered,
I was standing in the hallway, tray in hand, apron off.
“I need to prepare dinner now, so off you go, Princess.”
She smiled and waved.
“Um, Mia…”
“I’ll cheer for you.”
Before I could say anything else, she disappeared into the kitchen.
…She’s really sending me off like this?
I was left dumbfounded.
Even stranger,
I always found myself letting Mia do this.
I stared at the tray for a moment, sighed deeply, and began walking.
