Chapter 27

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 27

Chapter Title: The Grand Duchess's Husband Candidates (2)

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"It was just me talking to myself. Nice to meet you, Miss Evi. I'm Elena Frozenheart."

Elena gave a gentle smile. It was as if that momentary narrowing of her eyes had been a lie.

Fortunately, Evi didn't seem to harbor any suspicions either. Elena's voice had been so soft that she probably hadn't heard it clearly.

'That startled me...'

I didn't show it on my face, but inwardly, I was worried. It was the first time Elena had ever made such an expression.

Even when I'd teased her about being a crybaby, she'd only pouted at most...

At that moment, Elena's gaze turned toward me.

"Luke, I think some explaining is in order?"

"The two of them said they wanted to tour the gardening club, so I came along with them."

"I see. It's not on the schedule, but I suppose there's no problem."

"I'll escort you."

"I'm fine, so please take good care of our fellow students."

Was it my imagination? Elena's voice sounded a little sulky.

Before I could puzzle that out, Elena started walking.

I followed behind her, and Evi and Yubel fell into step beside me.

It wasn't long before we arrived at the clubroom.

"Oh my, we have quite a few guests today."

Princess Erze, the gardening club's signboard member, greeted us with a smile.

Behind her, I spotted two familiar faces: Evan and Cain. The two who had arrived earlier were sitting across from each other, sipping tea.

'So it turned out like this after all...'

Now that Elena had decided to join the gardening club, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠there was no reason for them to leave. If anything, they'd stick even closer. It was a prime chance to get friendly with her.

Those guys are just so transparently scheming. This isn't your personal dating market.

At least Evan has the excuse of being Erze's brother. But Cain? He's purely after romance.

"Come on now, don't just stand there—come in and make yourselves comfortable. I'll prepare some tea."

"Your Highness, if I may be so bold, I'll handle the tea."

"Is my tea that bad...?"

"Of course not. I just wanted to brew it myself."

Of course, that was a polite way of putting it.

'I couldn't just stand by and watch...'

Regardless of the taste, it was hard to watch a princess brewing tea.

This was a place where everyone was equal, but she couldn't go beyond sharing a table to serving others.

Maybe some remnants of my corporate life were still ingrained deep in my bones.

"Ahem, in that case, I'll watch over you."

"Yes, please let me know if I make any mistakes."

Leaving Elena behind, I headed to the spot with the teapot alongside the princess.

For some reason, my nape prickled, but it had to be my imagination.

The top student of the Magic Department, Elena Frozenheart, who had proudly entered the Academy.

At the moment, she felt oddly irritated.

"Oh, brewing tea at this temperature?"

"I thought it might bring out a bit more sweetness with the tea leaves from the gardening club."

"You're right. The bitterness is reduced, and the sweetness is more pronounced."

Erze and Luke were chatting as they brewed the tea.

It was probably just his nature—he couldn't bear to watch a princess handle the tea.

His mindset was admirable, but for some reason, it didn't sit right with her.

'That Evi Douglas girl...?'

Turning her head slightly, she saw the black-haired woman sitting next to her. She was staring intently at Luke, scribbling something furiously on a small piece of paper.

Stealing a glance at the paper...

『Proficient in tea.

Connection between tea and swordsmanship? It might help with surprisingly delicate aspects.

Does lifting the teapot build strength? Not sure about this one...』

She'd wondered if the girl was malicious, but she seemed to just be eccentric.

Maybe sending the duel challenge to Luke had simply been one of her quirks.

"Oh, that reminds me—I had something I wanted to say last time."

A sudden voice made her turn her head. The red-haired man was speaking to her. Yubel Lutwalt, if she remembered right.

"When I was young, I attended a banquet celebrating the lady's birth. It's an honor to meet you again like this."

"I see. Thank you for coming that day."

There had only been one banquet on Elena's birthday. At age nine, when she'd first met Luke.

There had been so many issues back then that she hadn't memorized every guest.

Still, red hair should have stuck in her memory at least a little...

The fact that it hadn't meant they probably hadn't even exchanged words.

"Oh, come to think of it, I was at that banquet too."

"Hrm, what a coincidence. I was there as well."

Then the prince and Cain from the Magic Department chimed in. Three people from that banquet gathered in one place—what were the odds? It was practically fate.

"Thank you both as well."

The problem was that she remembered none of their faces.

She had no choice but to offer polite words.

That was when it happened.

"Excuse me for a moment."

Teacups were placed on the table. A fragrant aroma tickled her nose.

The face that briefly appeared at the edge of her vision and then vanished was the only one she remembered from that banquet.

─ So, what about our secret, secret friend?

Luke Nineheart. Her exclusive attendant and one true friend.

'Has her mood improved a bit...?'

I sipped my tea and sneaked a glance at Elena's expression.

Fortunately, the displeasure she'd shown earlier had softened somewhat.

Of course, on the surface, she was smiling just as much as before, so it might not be obvious to others. But the emotion beneath was definitely different.

Call it the Grand Duchess radar only an exclusive attendant could have? It wasn't reacting.

Then, as Yubel sipped his tea, he spoke up.

"Luke, did you brew this tea?"

"Yes, I did..."

"Mind sharing the secret? I'd love to teach it to our household servants."

In short, the tea was exceptional.

I'd thought the guy was just a muscle-headed sword nut, but his taste buds were alive and well.

"Indeed. I always thought all teas were similar, but there's clearly a skill gap."

"Even the imperial servants are skilled, but not to this level."

Cain and Evan joined in with the praise.

Yubel was the type to make a big fuss anyway, but I hadn't expected Cain and Evan to react the same way.

These two were born with the bluest of blood. They'd surely tasted plenty of fine things...

'My tea is that good...?'

As I pondered that, I heard the faint clink of a teacup being set down.

Turning my head, I saw Elena with her eyes gently closed, savoring her tea.

Her lips curved up more than usual, so she seemed quite satisfied with today's brew.

Or perhaps, as her master, she was pleased that her attendant was receiving praise.

Unfortunately, that expression didn't last long.

"Luke, have you ever thought about serving in the imperial palace?"

At Erze's words, Elena opened her eyes. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠She looked at Erze with evident surprise.

She probably didn't know I was Elena's exclusive attendant. Or maybe it was just a joke.

Either way, this was a good chance to make it clear.

"I'm sorry, but I'm in service to the Frozenheart Ducal Family."

"Oh, I see. It was just a joke, but I apologize to you, Miss Elena."

Erze turned to Elena and gave a light bow.

"Miss Elena, I'm sorry."

"It's fine. It was a joke, after all."

Elena forced a smile, but her expression remained stiff.

'She's really okay...?'

I was starting to genuinely worry about this gardening club.

Things were going to get rocky.

Time passed, and everyone's teacups were eventually empty.

Suddenly, Erze stood up.

"Well then, shall we all get to some real club activities?"

Come to think of it, even though it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was the gardening club, I'd never actually done any gardening. We'd just enjoyed snacks and tea in leisure.

'That was the best part...'

Unfortunately, those laid-back days seemed to be over.

Afterward, I headed with everyone to the field managed by the gardening club.

"Has anyone here done any gardening before?"

Everyone stayed silent at Erze's question.

It was only natural. These blue-blooded nobles had no experience raising plants.

I was the exception, of course.

In my past life, I'd helped my parents farm, and in this one, I'd learned gardening.

A super ace...!

Hesitantly raising my hand, Erze handed me a shovel from nearby.

"Good thing at least one person has experience."

No, this is not good at all.

Hiding my thoughts, I accepted the shovel.

I hadn't expected to receive a shovel from a princess, of all things...

Of course, refusing wasn't an option for me.

How many days had passed since I started shoveling for the gardening club?

As usual, Shavel stood at the lectern, waving a sheet of yellowish paper.

"Tomorrow, there will be a joint class with the Magic Department. I've posted the details up front, so check it yourselves."

A joint class between the Swordsmanship Department and Magic Department. In the original story, where Elena was in General Studies, this hadn't appeared.

'It should be fine... right?'

The events in this world revolved around the original Elena. A class without General Studies would likely pass without incident.

Yeah, it should be...

For some reason, the class content felt ominous.

It felt like something bad was bound to happen.