Chapter 13
Chapter 14
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Baking Lesson
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Before long, we arrived at the kitchen.
As I opened the kitchen door, a familiar scent welcomed us.
The tangy yet sweet aroma of lemon madeleines.
'The smell still hasn't faded.'
For some reason, I felt a bit embarrassed.
It was something I'd hastily made because I'd heard Ruena was coming.
Even so, I couldn't help glancing sideways at her reaction.
"Wow..."
A short exclamation came from right beside me.
Ruena was busy looking around the moment she stepped inside.
The gleaming countertops,
The neatly arranged baking tools,
And even the sacks of flour piled up in the corner.
Everything seemed novel to Ruena.
Her eyes wide open, she stared at each item for a long time.
'Do they not even let Eliads into the kitchen?'
It wasn't an absurd thought.
From what I'd observed for over two years, House Eliad was strict and rule-bound.
If they deemed it unbecoming, they might have forbidden it.
In fact, many nobles frowned upon heirs frequenting the kitchen.
'Not our family, though.'
Father was an odd one even in House Noir.
Unlike the others—who flaunted their rogue bloodline's quirks and dreamed of escaping the eternal barony—
our father was practically the only ambitious one aspiring to rise above.
Thanks to that, he placed great importance on formality and appearances,
but surprisingly, the household rules were quite permissive.
Under the premise that he'd take full responsibility.
Moreover—
Father was unexpectedly lenient about his children's skill development.
His philosophy was to let them try anything they could on their own,
and as a result, us siblings were unusually handy with chores for nobles.
Even our eldest brother, the prime heir.
So while other nobles hushed up kitchen visits,
I—the family beggar—along with our brothers including the eldest, came and went freely.
If we didn't have that family culture,
our sister—the famous painter—wouldn't sneak around thieving as a hobby,
and little brother wouldn't be chasing women and blowing money every day.
Thinking of my siblings' talents—
Really.
Sincerely.
'They're embarrassing to show off anywhere...'
I absolutely wouldn't let Ruena meet them.
Though as the family runt, it'd end as a mere wish, not a resolution.
I let out a long sigh, and Ruena tugged at my clothes.
"Celen."
"Yeah?"
"Do you make desserts here every time?"
"Yeah. I prep on this counter, then bake in that oven over there."
I pointed at the oven, and Ruena approached it curiously.
Was our House Noir too lax?
Or was House Eliad too rigid?
Lost in pointless musings, I watched Ruena's back.
"Um, hey, Celen."
"Yeah?"
"...Can I make it here?"
"Make what?"
"Celen's birthday cake."
At those words, my heart skipped a beat.
I ignored my inexplicably heating nape and opened my mouth.
"My birthday's in five days."
"I know, but... I can't make it at my house."
Ruena stood by the counter, looking at me.
With—
the most pleading eyes.
"Can't we make it together?"
"...Yeah. Let's do it."
"Okay."
Ruena smiled ever so faintly.
At some point, she'd started smiling a little.
I didn't dislike that change at all.
Smirking, I went to hand her an apron but paused at her outfit.
'If flour gets on that...'
A chill ran down my spine.
I tossed the apron carelessly onto the counter and grabbed Ruena's arm.
"Follow me!"
"Ah, okay."
And so we arrived at my room.
I hurriedly rummaged through my closet and handed her some clothes of mine that might fit.
Ruena tilted her head as she took the shirt.
"Here, put this on."
"Why?"
"Can't let your clothes get dirty."
Ruena pondered briefly, then started unbuttoning her dress.
'W-Wait a sec.'
My vision went white for a moment.
Along with my fleeing sanity rushing back.
'I said change, but stripping right away? In front of me?!'
I hastily grabbed her hands to stop the unbuttoning.
Ruena's eyes widened.
"...Why?"
"I'll call a maid! Wait! Don't take it off no matter what!"
"Ah, okay. Got it."
My heart pounded wildly.
Even the cool corridor air couldn't cool the flush.
'Seriously... why is she so nonchalant about—!'
A moment later—
The maid entered my room.
I... waited outside, arms crossed.
Voices and rustling clothes came from beyond the door.
Hearing that, I let out a long, long sigh.
No joke, I felt ten years older.
'What. Does that mean I'm an adult the day after tomorrow?'
Lost in silly thoughts, Ruena's voice called me.
"Celen."
"What."
"These clothes are kinda big."
I opened the door, and Ruena was wearing my shirt and shorts.
Ruena was quite petite,
while I was unusually tall for my age.
'I figured it'd be loose, but...'
I looked her up and down in my shirt.
The hem reached her thighs, and the sleeves fully covered her hands.
Seeing that felt kinda weird.
Forcing my poker face back on, I spoke casually.
"It's big, huh..."
"Yeah."
"Good. No worries about flour then."
Ruena nodded at my words.
I rolled up the sleeves so her hands showed and said,
"Let's go, then."
"Okay."
Ruena replied and reached out her hand again.
'Isn't hand-holding getting... too natural?'
Glancing ahead, Ruena seemed unfazed.
Thinking I'd lose if I made a big deal of it,
I took her hand casually too.
We returned to the kitchen.
No worries about dirtying my clothes now,
but hygiene matters, so I tied an apron on her.
As I did, Ruena's eyes sparkled more and more.
Thinking her just a tiny bit cute, I pulled out ingredients.
"First time, so let's make something simple."
"Simple?"
"Yeah. Brownies."
Brownies were best for beginners.
No need to whip meringue laboriously,
nor baking powder or yeast fermentation.
'Easy, quick, delicious—perfect.'
Plus, Ruena—thanks to the parrot—almost never ate chocolate.
"You love the smell of chocolate, right?"
"Yeah..."
Ruena nodded very slightly.
Grinning, I broke off a piece of chocolate and popped it in her mouth.
"Eat as much as you want today."
"What about Celen?"
"Me?"
"It's Celen's birthday cake."
"Ah, uh... It's fine. I like chocolate too."
Only then did Ruena's lips curve up faintly.
'Never thought I'd end up teaching her to make my birthday cake.'
Pulling out baking tools, I glanced at Ruena.
Her eyes brimmed with seriousness, determined not to miss a single move.
I didn't dislike that at all.
"First, melt the chocolate and butter."
"Melt? How?"
"It's called a double boiler, like this with hot water..."
I started to boil water and teach double-boiling, then paused.
'What if she burns herself?'
The thought drained the blood from my body.
My mind flashed with wild imaginings.
Ruena burning herself,
getting caught teaching her baking,
getting kicked out and becoming a beggar...
I hurriedly pushed Ruena back and demonstrated.
"First, cut the chocolate like this."
"Okay! Me too—"
"No, no. It's dangerous, so I'll do it. Too risky for a beginner."
Ruena pouted slightly.
"Then what do I do?"
"Uh, um... Peel the wrappers?"
"......"
"Kidding. There are safe parts—help with those."
I slid over prepped sugar and eggs.
"Crack the eggs like this. Put the contents in this bowl and mix with sugar. As long as no shell gets in, it's good."
"Shell? Okay, got it."
Why did her confidence make me anxious?
Mid-chop on the chocolate, I looked at Ruena.
She gripped the egg carefully and cracked it gingerly.
Crack—
Cleanly in half, contents dropping neatly into the bowl.
"Oh, nice."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Super good for a first try."
Buoyed, Ruena immediately added sugar and started mixing.
Her diligent wrist-circling was somehow cute.
While she focused, I finished melting the chocolate and butter.
"Add this melted chocolate and butter mix too and stir."
"I'll do it."
"Yeah. Thanks."
Ruena approached every step earnestly.
Mixing ingredients,
sifting in flour,
pouring batter into the pan—all with utmost care.
"Now just pop it in the oven and bake."
"Hm, about 20 minutes?"
Ruena peered intently into the oven.
As if averting her eyes would make the batter flee.
"Staring won't make it bake faster."
"What? Really?"
"Nah, kidding."
"Muu..."
Ruena grumbled and crouched by the oven again.
Soon, sweet chocolate scent wafted from the oven.
Ruena looked at me, face slightly flushed.
"It's baking?"
"Yeah. It's baking."
"Waa..."
That short gasp brimmed with excitement.
'She's sneakily cute, huh.'
Smirking, I slipped on oven mitts.
Carefully pulling out the brownies, Ruena's voice came from behind.
"Celen."
"What?"
"On Celen's birthday... even if I can't make a cake, I'll give you a present for sure..."
"Ah, I can't go to your house on my birthday."
At that moment, the kitchen fell silent.