~Chapter 44~
Before Cedric and Eileen could continue their conversation, he suddenly froze, his body tense.
Knock, knock.
There was no need to ask why. It was the sound of someone knocking on the door.
“Mary…?”
“I’ll check.”
Eileen was about to tell her maid to come in, but Cedric quickly stood up and approached the door. At times like this, he seemed more like a predator than a person. How did he sense things so sharply?
At least, when it came to physical abilities, he was never lacking. It was impressive, even.
‘But that might lead to arrogance…’
People who excel in one area often start to believe that their talents can solve all their problems. They assume that their skills will cover up all their weaknesses.
If Cedric were just a regular knight, he could have lived his life like that without issues. His sharp instincts and unique swordsmanship would have been enough for survival.
But as a Duke, things were different. The position required more than just physical strength; it demanded political sharpness. Cedric’s abilities might even become shackles, preventing him from fully utilizing his potential.
Sometimes, it made sense why he felt frustrated at his own limitations.
“…Cedric, wait.”
But that wasn’t the issue right now.
Eileen suddenly realized who was knocking on the door. It wasn’t Mary.
“There’s no one else who would come…”
“Ah.”
“Diana?”
Eileen let out a sigh, hearing Cedric call Diana in disbelief. The exact reason why Diana had been avoiding them was only known to her, but Eileen guessed that Diana had been running away because she wasn’t ready to talk yet.
Cedric was about to break whatever unspoken connection had been forming between them.
“Cedric? Why are you here?” Diana asked.
“Diana, why are you here?” Cedric replied, surprised.
“I…”
Diana’s eyes shifted to the bouquet of flowers she was holding, and Cedric’s tense shoulders suddenly relaxed. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed.
“Did you bring these hibiscus flowers?”
“Why? Is there a problem?” Diana shot back, slightly defensive.
Eileen quickly took the flowers from Diana, sensing the tension in the air.
“Thank you, Diana. I’ll put them in a vase.”
Diana looked slightly relieved that Eileen accepted the flowers. She was happy, but quickly masked it and tightened her grip on her skirt, about to say something else but stopping herself.
“You don’t have to be so formal with me,” Eileen said.
Eileen leaned against the doorframe, feeling that while she was strong against hostility, she was weak against those who were defenseless. Diana’s envy didn’t even feel like true ill will. It seemed more like a mix of jealousy and self-centeredness.
‘Maybe that’s the answer…’
If Eileen put herself in Diana’s shoes—growing up with a childhood friend who suddenly brought home a stranger as an engagement partner—she could understand the confusion. She didn’t know how to act either. Should she coldly reject them? Or be overly polite, risking her pride? She didn’t know what to do.
“I’ve received everything you’ve given me well.”
Diana’s face flushed slightly. Eileen spoke softly, gracefully, as always.
Diana had never known how to approach Eileen, and now that she thought about it, she regretted not greeting her properly when she first arrived.
“Wait… was it you who made those cookies? They were… a little hard.”
“How did you know?”
“Well, I ate them all,” Cedric casually interjected, breaking the warm atmosphere between the two women.
“Cedric! How could you eat them all?” Diana shouted, annoyed.
“I’m just saying they were… hard. Some of them even got burnt. I picked the best ones, though,” Cedric said, nonchalantly.
Diana was left speechless, glaring at Cedric for making fun of her cooking.
“Well, at least you ate them. Next time, I’ll try to make them better.”
Cedric smirked. “Eileen wouldn’t have even bothered to taste them.”
Diana chuckled at Cedric’s teasing. She was starting to understand why they were so close.
It was clear they were friends. It wasn’t about criticism; they were just too familiar with each other.
‘Maybe that’s the only person he can truly act like this with.’
Cedric, normally composed, was now free to be his true self, showing a side of him she had never seen before. It made her feel like she didn’t fit in anymore.
Watching them bicker was like watching two close friends who had their own private world.
“Eileen has a refined taste, you know? I should just hire a baker for her…” Cedric began, but Eileen was already getting up to leave.
‘Leave them to talk. I’ll go,’ she thought, trying to step out of the situation.
But of course, Diana wasn’t about to let her go that easily.
“You really ate all of them?”
“There’s a reason for that.”
Diana stood, determined to get an answer.
“You’ve eaten all of them. Didn’t you?”
“…Yeah.”
“Cedric, that was mean.”
“Yeah, Cedric, that was wrong.”
Cedric, who had been nonchalantly eating, now found himself cornered with their combined criticism. He opened his mouth but then hesitated. He couldn’t tell them that he had eaten the cookies because he didn’t want to share them with anyone else. It would have sounded ridiculous.
“…When did you two get so close?” Cedric asked, finally breaking the silence.
He was secretly hoping that if another problem arose between Diana and Eileen, he could step in and mediate. He never thought they would get along this easily, but it seemed he was wrong.
“You were under the impression that we didn’t get along? You were wrong,” Eileen replied, her words filled with amusement as she turned to leave.
“Diana, come with me,” she said, guiding Diana out of the room.
“Where are we going?”
“I’m going to help you make them again.”
Even though Eileen had long given up on some of her hobbies, like embroidery or playing musical instruments, helping Diana felt strangely refreshing.
“I want to join too,” Cedric said, following them.
“No, Cedric, you’re not coming,” Eileen replied with a quick smile.
“Yeah, Cedric. You’re not coming,” Diana added, making Cedric’s frustration clear.
Despite his protests, they both left him behind. There was a kind of energy between them that wasn’t so bad. It was a new feeling for Eileen.
She was starting to find it a bit better than she had expected.
***
In the end, Cedric was kicked out of the kitchen.
With him gone, Diana looked much more relaxed and began speaking more comfortably.
“You have to mix the dough like this.”
“Add more butter?”
“More than that.”
Making cookies was simple, so there was not much to worry about.
Eileen watched as the neatly shaped dough disappeared into the heat of the oven and untied her apron.
“Now just watch the time carefully. They bake quickly, so don’t leave.”
“…You knew I left and burned them.”
“It happens.”
Since most dishes took at least twenty minutes, it was easy to overbake cookies.
As Eileen quietly counted the time, she heard a small voice beside her.
“…I’m sorry.”
Some might say a single apology does not change anything.
But it does.
And because of that, Eileen found herself able to be generous with Cedric.
And now, with Diana too.
