‘Well, she’s going to be his wife, so he has no choice but to take her side.’
Captain Declan grumbled inwardly, watching Masera speak kindly to Cynthia.
Openly embarrassing one’s future wife was akin to spitting in one’s own face.
For soldiers, wives were helpmates on the outside and the highest-ranking superiors on the inside. This phenomenon was created because most officers married above their station.
The Captain rolled his eyes and surveyed the officers’ reactions.
One officer quietly tasted the Ratatouyou, then looked at Cynthia with a serious expression.
He was Major General Ewan Isaac, higher in rank than the Brigadier General, and Masera’s superior.
“This Ratatouyou has a different taste than usual.”
Major General Ewan Isaac was known as a meticulous, strict, and sarcastic man.
Those who invited him to banquets in an attempt to climb the ladder of success had presented him with all sorts of delicacies, but he had never given a single compliment.
‘The meaning of food is useless to the Major General, who has no sentimentality. He’ll surely criticize her for serving a dish that doesn’t suit a banquet.’
Captain Declan put down his fork, anticipating the harsh criticism that would follow.
The Major General spoke with his characteristic sharp expression.
“It tastes just like my father used to make. He was from Francia.”
Major General Isaac closed his eyes, still holding his fork. He took a long sigh as if savoring the aftertaste, then opened his eyes again.
“It brings back old memories. Did the Princess make this herself? I would be grateful if you could share the recipe.”
It was an enormous compliment from a man who had only ever given criticism.
The servant standing by to assist frowned slightly and looked at Cynthia.
He expected her to say that she had made the dish herself, but Cynthia shook her head firmly.
“The cook at the residence made it. As expected of someone from Francia, his cooking skills are excellent. I’ll get the recipe for you later.”
Everyone knew that the cook made the banquet, but most wives would usually say that they had taken the lead in everything.
Hearing the unexpected answer, the Major General wiped his mouth with a napkin and said,
“No, it would be better to eat what the cook from Francia made himself. Would you invite me to dinner sometime?”
It was the first time the Major General, who tended to reject numerous invitations, had asked to be invited.
“Of course. You can live here. I’ll take you on a world tour with food.”
At Cynthia’s unexpected answer, the Major General’s lips, which seemed incapable of smiling, twitched slightly.
Captain Declan felt a sense of crisis.
‘Did she even investigate that the Major General’s father was from Francia? She’s no pushover. It was my mistake to underestimate her because of her naive face.’
In reality, it was a coincidence. As if the heavens were on Cynthia’s side, coincidences were strangely in her favor.
Meanwhile, Masera, who had been pleased to find a way to torment Cynthia, was staring blankly at his plate with a stiff face.
“Oh, only the Brigadier General’s plating is different. It’s in the shape of a heart.”
One tactless officer said loud enough for everyone to hear.
Only the vegetables on Masera’s plate were piled up in the shape of a heart.
Masera shook his head firmly.
“It’s just a coincidence and a low probability that it ended up that way as I was eating.”
“What do you mean?”
Masera’s gaze, which had avoided the embarrassed officer, landed on Cynthia.
“Oh, you’re such a shy guy. I made the Brigadier General’s plate in the shape of a heart especially!”
Cynthia, who had met his eyes, sent him a finger heart with a bright face, and Masera turned his head away.
‘Was she planning this from the start?’
She was like strong ultraviolet rays, not sunlight.
Masera, unable to shake off the feeling that he had been had, gulped down water.
“Ahaha, it already feels like a honeymoon atmosphere. It’s good to see.”
“I’m envious that you’re marrying such a bright and lovely person. You’ll be laughing every day.”
The officers, who thought the two were on good terms, began to shower them with well wishes.
They simply thought that Masera had turned his head away because he was shy.
‘All according to plan.’
Cynthia, seeing Masera’s tormented face, smiled darkly.
In any case, she had shown that the two were on good terms, gained the favor of Masera’s superior, and the food was delicious, so it was a successful dinner.
In addition, she had completed her revenge on Masera, who deliberately called her ‘Princess’.
‘Eventually, like the rat who was recognized as a chef, the day will come when hatred and prejudice disappear.’
She had once been despised and called a ‘cursed white rat’ because of her appearance.
But now, wasn’t it being used as proof that she was a descendant of the ‘Great Snow Queen’?
Cynthia smiled as she watched the soft snow falling outside the window.
* * *
After the meal, only the officers involved in the business remained in their seats.
The officers, who had enjoyed a satisfying meal, were in a very good mood.
This was also the reason why dinner parties were arranged when important matters were to be discussed.
Brigadier General Steve looked at Cynthia and asked,
“We’re about to start talking about business, would you be alright with that? It would be boring for a woman who doesn’t know this side of things.”
It was a subtly dismissive tone, implying that she wasn’t qualified to be at this kind of gathering.
“I’m fine. Shouldn’t I know what’s going on too?”
At Cynthia’s words, Captain Declan made a noticeably uncomfortable expression.
“She’s not even the lady of the house yet, is it okay for her to hear information that should be kept confidential for business purposes? I’m concerned as an investor.”
It was a valid point, as they were not yet married.
“Haha, well, even if you’ve set a wedding date, you never know what might happen until you walk down the aisle.”
Brigadier General Steve made a joke that would leave a lingering bad taste in one’s mouth if one thought about it.
‘It would be ridiculous to say ‘We’re getting married no matter what’. Let’s retreat for now, as a courtesy to Masera.’
Just as Cynthia was about to leave her seat, Masera said,
“Unless one of us dies, we’ll get married, so you don’t have to worry.”
Did he have to say it so brutally?
Cynthia’s eyes widened. In reality, it was no different from her ‘We’re getting married no matter what’ comment.
“To put it coldly, aren’t you someone who has no authority?”
At Captain Declan’s sharp words, Masera slowly shook his head.
“You’re mistaken. The ‘Princess’ also has authority in this business.”
‘Thanks for taking my side, but please stop with that title.’
Cynthia, whose shoulders twitched at the strangely emphasized title, glared at him with a sharp gaze.
Regardless, Masera continued,
“So, I’m thinking of starting with the mountain range exploration, according to the Princess’s opinion.”
Brigadier General Steve asked in an unpleasant tone.
“What does that mean? If the Princess interferes in that way without qualification, I will withdraw my investment and pull out. Unless the Princess shows me some faith.”
His greedy eyes clearly showed that he wanted a material show of sincerity.
At his statement, the officers in Brigadier General Steve’s line looked at each other and threatened to withdraw their investments.
But Masera didn’t even blink.
“She has enough qualifications. Recently, the Nox area has been changed to the joint ownership of ‘Princess’ Cynthia and myself. Right now, we can’t even start unless the Princess gives her permission.”
At the words that Cynthia held the reins of the business, everyone’s gaze turned to Cynthia.
There had been some unsavory incidents recently, so it seemed that Count Queensguard had transferred the ownership before the marriage.
‘But Masera turned Nox into joint ownership? Why?’
Cynthia blinked in surprise.
Somehow, she felt like she was being put to the test.
A test of the luck she possessed, and a test of whether she was really on his side.
It seemed to mean that he would show trust first to confirm the other person’s trust.
“I accept your intentions to withdraw your investments so far.”
Masera’s lowered voice was heard.
“What does it matter whether it’s the Princess’s property or not? I won’t withdraw. It has unprecedented potential.”
It was Major General Isaac, the highest-ranking person in this place, who spoke.
The officers, who had opposed it but hadn’t really thought about withdrawing from this business, were quite embarrassed.
