Chapter 115: The Grand Duchess’s Cook
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 115: The Grand Duchess’s Cook
“It is still morning… Will you be alright?”
At Loik’s question, I answered immediately, terrified he might take the stew away. He stepped inside, carrying a tea tray.
Forgetting all sense of decorum, I shuffled across the bed on my knees to greet the tomato stew.
“Would you like to eat in bed?”
“No! I’ll eat at the table.”
I didn’t trust myself to eat carefully enough to avoid spilling broth on the white bedsheets.
Swallowing hard, I sat down at the table, and Loik set the bowl of tomato stew before me. Steam rose from the dish in soft curls. The spicy scent of pepper instantly whetted my appetite.
How long has it been since I’ve had stew!
Despite having received the recipe from Lady Marie, I hadn’t been able to eat tomato stew for quite some time. I couldn’t bring myself to ask Berni to make it according to her recipe, fearing it would hurt his professional pride.
And it’s been ages since I’ve been able to visit the inn.
As I looked ready to pick up the bowl and drink it then and there, Loik hurriedly added, “It is hot. Please let it cool sufficiently before you eat.”
Seeing his overly worried expression, I made a show of blowing on the spoon to cool the stew. Once I saw Loik look somewhat relieved, I took a large mouthful.
The tangy pieces of tomato slid down my throat. It felt as though a blockage in my chest had been swept away, leaving me refreshed.
Ah, this is the taste.
“Is it to your liking?”
“Ith sho delicioush.”
Loik smiled tenderly as he watched me mumble with a mouth full of hot stew. I was busy shedding metaphorical tears of joy while shoveling the food into my mouth when he spoke again.
“Since you like it this much…” Loik asked with a puzzled look. “Why did you not ask Berni to make it sooner?”
“Ah, well, I did get the recipe from Lady Marie, but…”
When I explained the reason, his brow furrowed.
“You endured your cravings just for that?”
He looked as though he had much more to say, but instead, he gently pushed the bowl closer to me.
“There is plenty of stew, so please, have as much as you like.”
“But how did Berni know the recipe? I never gave it to him. Did Sir Leon tell him?”
I looked up, struck by sudden curiosity, only to see Loik’s face turn slightly red.
“…Berni did not make this.”
“What? Then did Lady Marie come here to cook it?”
Loik hesitated, then gave a small, dry cough. “I made it.”
“What do you mean? You made it, Loik?”
I blinked, unable to process his words.
“…Are you saying you cooked this, Loik?”
“I learned the recipe from Leon during the last expedition.”
“You went into the kitchen? Yourself? In the kitchen?”
Loik nodded as I asked him repeatedly. With just a word from him, Berni would have prepared anything and everything for him.
“Because it is something you like, Annette. I wanted to make it for you myself.”
My hand, which had been raising the spoon, froze. Internally, I was grabbing my own collar, trying desperately not to lose my mind. A man who can brew a perfect spicy tomato stew?
“That’s cheating.”
“I suppose I should have at least one thing I am not good at.”
“Being good at cooking too is just too much, don’t you think?”
Only then did Loik realize my words were a compliment, and a smile played on his lips.
“Don’t go cooking yourself from now on. Think of how threatened Berni will feel.”
“Even so, I would like another bowl for today.”
Loik’s eyes curved softly, clearly pleased by my request for seconds.
“I will bring it right away.”
While Loik was away, I swallowed the rest of the stew. The warm heat filled my body, revitalizing me.
“Let’s not worry too much. It’ll work out somehow.”
Along with the hot tomato stew, I swallowed my anxieties as well.
*
“I really don’t know anything!”
Meisel stood up abruptly, her face flushed with indignation. Her dress, adorned with extravagant jewels, clattered noisily.
“Lady Meisel, please sit down.”
When Hedrick gestured with a calm face, Meisel reluctantly sat back down. Her face was distorted with disappointment and rage.
The letter she had received through her father had clearly stated that she was to be questioned in the name of the Grand Duke.
— “Make my hair as elegantly voluminous as possible. Use the flashier necklace! Not that dress—the one I had made at Ramondria’s! Bring the one with the brighter color!”
The pretext didn’t matter. It was an opportunity to meet the Grand Duke one-on-one. Meisel had dressed herself to the nines before heading to the Grand Duke’s Castle.
However, the knight had led her not to the Grand Duke’s parlor, but to a shabby interrogation room.
— “Y-you want me to see the Grand Duke here?”
How could they bring a lady who might become the future Grand Duchess to such a place? Was the Grand Duke still walking on eggshells around his wife?
But the person who entered for the questioning was not the Grand Duke, but the gray-haired Vice-Captain of the knights.
— “Is the Grand Duke not coming?”
When Hedrick reacted as if her question was absurd, Meisel snapped.
— “Then call Sir Tiern instead!”
— “I will be the one in charge of your questioning, My Lady.”
Hedrick proceeded with the interrogation—which felt more like a cross-examination—without a hint of sympathy.
“Did you truly give this brooch to the Head Maid for no reason at all?”
“How many times do I have to tell you! I just felt sorry for my nanny, who was working so hard!”
No matter how many times she gave the same answer, Hedrick relentlessly circled back to the same questions. Meisel felt like she was going lose her mind.
She thought she might get away with the brooch, but then Hedrick presented her with a bank withdrawal slip.
“What was this money used for?”
It was the money Marzella had taken to hire someone to throw eggs at the Grand Duchess.
If I had known it would come to this, I would have coordinated our stories.
“My nanny said she had a place to use the money, so I simply lent her a little.”
Meisel spoke with forced confidence, trying to hide her anxiety. Marzella wasn’t particularly loyal, but she was someone who knew how to play her cards. Since she would know that Meisel was the only person capable of getting her out of prison, she wouldn't betray her so easily.
“Did you not ask for the reason?” Hedrick asked, pointing out that if they were close enough for her to hand over such an expensive brooch, it was only natural to ask why.
“How should I know everything about my nanny’s private life? I lent it to her because she asked!”
Just as Meisel was huffing, telling him to ask the nanny himself if he was so curious, Hedrick spoke.
“The Head Maid is currently not in a state where she can speak.”
Meisel fell silent for the first time, looking flustered by Hedrick’s blunt statement. Seeing her trembling lemon-colored eyes, Hedrick let out a small sigh.
It would be difficult to imprison the daughter of a Count with this level of evidence. Nevertheless, the Captain had made it clear he wanted to punish the Count’s family and the Lady officially. In the end, bringing her to the interrogation room to scare her into a confession was the best Hedrick could do.
Though she doesn't seem particularly frightened.
Even the great Hedrick couldn't hide his fatigue after listening to that shrill voice for so long. Before he knew it, the sun was setting through the small window in the stone wall.
Any more than this would be a waste of time.
“For now, return to the Count’s estate. His Highness the Grand Duke will personally decide on the punishment later.”
“That’s ridiculous!” Meisel shouted, her face turning red. “Punishment! What have I done wrong!”
As Hedrick stood up, her voice became desperate.
“Please, let me see His Highness. I will speak to him myself.”
“The Captain is not someone you can see just because you wish to, My Lady.”
“Then at least let me see my nanny!”
“Please!” Meisel said, her face contorted. “She is like a mother to me.”
Her attitude was quite different from a moment ago when she had shouted at him to ask the nanny himself.
“I just want to make sure she’s alright and give her a blanket for the night.”
Meisel held up a small basket she had brought with her. Hedrick hesitated.
If this is a ploy to silence the Head Maid…
Rather than blindly blocking the visit, it might be better to give her the opportunity and watch for anything suspicious.
Meisel clasped her hands together.
“My heart aches so much I can’t sleep. If Marzella has committed a crime, I will do my best to make her confess. Please, just give me one chance to see her.”
Her eyes were even glistening with a hint of moisture.
“Only for a very brief moment. If you do anything suspicious, the cell next to hers will become your room, My Lady.”
Meisel flinched at Hedrick’s sharp gaze but soon nodded. In the end, Hedrick granted her permission to visit Marzella.