Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Something's Terribly Wrong
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“Something's seriously wrong.”
If Mayches had been on his own, things never would have gotten this bad.
The problem was all the noisy support crew buzzing around to help him.
The appointed time was fast approaching, and there was only one carriage left.
It was an emergency austerity period—or no, the count was practicing a life of non-possession. Everyone had their excuses, but the upshot was they'd sold all the other carriages right on cue.
Having received an official invitation from the Crown Prince himself, I couldn't just flop down and bail.
It would've been great if I could cover it with cloth, but the household staff, led by Butler Grenji and Head Maid Noellin, all insisted it was dangerous for the wheels.
In the end, I tearfully choked down my mustard and rode the carriage with Doria's painting slapped right on it.
“Doria should've gone into business.”
The eye for piercing customer tastes at a glance, the knack for picking out top-quality items, and that creativity—why was it all so ridiculously spot-on for this stuff?
I never dreamed I'd see a 'Born Genius Kid!' sticker in this world. And with my face plastered on it big as a barn door!
If I'd known the stuff she made out of heartbreak after I passed out would be this bizarre, I'd have shut it down ages ago. Hindsight's twenty-twenty.
The minute I get home, I'm sweet-talking Doria into coughing up every last one of her monstrosities.
“Truly impressive. Oh, Mayches... I figured you'd take steps to quash the discord rumors, but I never imagined you'd go with something this immediate and effective.”
Bamper was wiping tears of laughter, howling like it was the funniest thing ever.
I was the one blinking back tears, and not from mirth.
What... I didn't do it hoping for recognition or anything, but I did rack my brains day and night for your future, cranking out that game...?
But is it okay for you to enjoy my humiliation this much?
Whether Bamper knew about the petty grudge brewing in my head or not, he turned to Mayches.
“Mind if I give the White Flame a snack? Something like that.”
The phrasing's a bit odd...
“Only the finest ingredients, handpicked.”
“Gotta check the recipe. Might have something Aiel can't eat.”
“I'll ask the head chef.”
Bamper handed me a package tied with a little ribbon.
I'd wondered what he'd been holding the whole time—turns out he'd prepared something special for my visit to the palace.
I decided to forgive him for the gut-punch of laughter earlier.
Bamper gave me a soft look.
“The imperial kitchen staff are top-notch. Even Bandahen takes a few bites of his cooking.”
A hefty bag of cookies settled onto my hand.
Peering through the transparent wrapping at the cookies inside, I thanked Bamper.
But he must've read something in my expression.
“Worried because Mayches didn't oversee it? Then don't eat it.”
“No, it's not that...”
I agonized over whether to say it. Felt like I'd just get teased.
Bamper's brow furrowed with concern. In the end, I shook my head and came clean.
“The cookies are kinda heavy...”
“...”
The cookies Bamper gave me were cut into big, chunky pieces.
Maybe back in the day, but fresh off fainting, they were a lot for me to handle.
If I had to classify them—er, adult-sized... It bruised my pride, but if I had to label it, that's what they'd be.
Bamper was staring at me like I'd said something unthinkable, and I wanted to crawl into a hole.
No! In my past life, I could tear bread with my pinky!
I just couldn't now because the effort to break it would outweigh any strength I'd get from eating.
Bamper rubbed his chin thoughtfully and asked Mayches.
“There was some debate even among us about when to bring it up. By the time I got the chance... Does your household use custom utensils fitted for your sister?”
What? No way.
“Of course.”
It did?!
Stunned by this bombshell, I watched as Mayches took the cookie bag from me. Then he gently kneaded the muscles under my elbow.
“I put as much care into you as I do into Prince Bandahen.”
He used formal address for Bandahen, who wasn't close, but bossed the Crown Prince around like this.
What if he got charged with imperial disrespect or something, Mayches? Sure, outsiders might not know, but this was the palace...
Bamper burst out laughing heartily.
“Oh, right you should. For starters, we should get a custom light tea set made up here at the palace for your sister.”
“Ah, no...!”
See? Already getting revenge!
Was this collective punishment? If it was payback for imperial disrespect, mission accomplished—I was dying of embarrassment.
“You know the Eiffel Tower?” and they go, “Yeah, sure...” all half-hearted. But then, “Well, I'm inviting you to the Eiffel Tower!” and suddenly they're interested out of nowhere, affection blooming.
I knew about the Orelot aerial gardens, but it was like knowing the Great Wall or Statue of Liberty existed somewhere—cool, but distant.
Now that Bamper had invited me, though, this unseen aerial garden was starting to feel like the highlight of my life.
Finally arriving at the Orelot Imperial Palace, I walked the corridors hand-in-hand with Mayches, excitement bubbling up to my throat.
The halls were jammed with staff hustling about. Way more serious and stiff than the Rudelriz estate crew.
Everyone clutched thick stacks of papers, rushing back and forth.
It hit me anew how all these people pledged loyalty to the imperial family and worked for them.
Eyes sparkling, I took it all in when Mayches suddenly called out to Bamper in a low voice.
“Crown Prince Bamper.”
Whoa! 'Your Highness'! Whatever happened to turning him into a Harrigal bell-ringer?
I barely stifled a laugh, clamping my lips tight.
Bamper grinned sheepishly at the summons.
“My oversight, Count Rudelriz. When the palace idles, the people suffer. No matter how curious I was, I shouldn't have been so rude. And look at them, all seeming so free—guess I need to pile on more work for the ministers.”
And like magic, it happened.
The corridor crowd ebbed away like the tide pulling out.
“Oh man, so busy.”
“So much to do for Illeneias's peace!”
Bamper, it turned out, was the type who kept his subordinates on a tight leash, no breaks.
I started worrying about Mayches.
He already skimped on sleep for a teenage boy...
Private chats might be buddy-buddy, but in public, it was Crown Prince and subject—surely he wouldn't dump extra work on Mayches with that grin?
I was shooting Bamper a suspicious glance when—
“Crown Prince!”
An attendant came sprinting from afar, whispering in Bamper's ear.
Unlike Daluh, this one had the knack for whispers—I couldn't make out a word.
But Bamper paled and turned to Mayches.
“Mayches. Come with me now.”
Mayches glanced at me holding his hand.
“If it's not urgent...”
“Bandahen's run off.”
“...”
Mayches couldn't turn down the plea from his sleazy boss and surrendered his day off.
On top of that, I couldn't hit him with the “But bro, you promised this weekend...” guilt trip that guts a busy family man.
Mayches looked like he hated leaving me more than anyone.
And so I ended up plopped alone on the sofa in the Crown Prince's palace reception room.
Staring blankly out the window across from me...
My fangirl crush on Bandahen dimmed a bit.
Nothing said the male lead was this much of a prankster. Running away? I figured he was just frail.
Talk about bad timing—right when I showed up, he bolts and wrecks my tour plans.
I was resigning myself to missing the aerial gardens when—
“...Huh?”
I'd been staring the whole time, but suddenly the room's window felt off. That's when it hit me how weird it was all along.