Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 004
Chapter Title: First Meal (1)
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Bill had devoted his entire life to the Schmichael Ducal Family. He could not tolerate even the slightest blemish on the family's reputation.
That was what blinded this butler. He only trusted things after thoroughly verifying and confirming them.
"Doesn't it even cross your mind that those rumors might be malicious fabrications?"
"Master. If I may be so bold, this is not hearsay from a careless investigation."
Bill answered gravely.
"We cross-verified multiple times with the servants who came from the Vicander Family. Even the rumors Lady Jessica gathered from high society match this."
"Rumors can be made up at will. Especially if several people conspire with ill intent."
Bill listened silently to my words, his face showing he wasn't convinced.
"Rose Vicander isn't the type for that, nor does she have any reason to be."
"......"
"I guarantee it. I studied with her at the Academy."
Only then did Bill's expression soften a little.
"Have you met Madam in person before, Your Excellency?"
Of course, today was the first time we'd actually met.
But I had all of Rose's memories from her past life and her second life. So it was no different from having met her.
"Of course. I know exactly what kind of person she is."
I emphasized my response deliberately.
"So if you treat the Duchess rudely based solely on those rumors, I won't forgive you."
"......"
"Acting with the same intent as that welcoming ceremony earlier—this will be the last time. Understood?"
"I apologize, Your Excellency."
Bill bowed deeply, looking chastened. He finally seemed to grasp my intentions.
"Nothing like today will happen again. I'll keep that in mind."
"Good. Treat the Duchess with the same respect you show me from now on."
"That's impossible. The only one I truly serve with all my heart is you, Master."
"Bill."
I clicked my tongue lowly in reprimand, but Bill shook his head firmly.
"I understand your will, Master. However......"
"However?"
"I have a duty to be your eyes and ears. Please allow me at least that."
In short, he wouldn't test the Duchess like today. But he'd observe her a bit more before fully trusting her.
'That's just like Bill.'
He was so rigid and inflexible it bordered on foolishness, but that was also his greatest strength. Rather than blindly blocking it, it was the master's duty to use it wisely.
"Very well. Report everything your eyes and ears pick up."
"Of course."
Behind Bill, who answered crisply, I saw Head Chef Fabry waiting quietly.
"Your Excellency."
He'd been waiting patiently, but now he was fidgeting all over, at his limit.
"Is everything prepared?"
"Of course. However......"
Fabry's forehead was slick with sweat.
The Schmichael territory's cold climate didn't lend itself to sweating often. The fact that he was sweating meant it wasn't from heat.
"I'm just anxious about whether we should really do this."
"Don't you trust me?"
"As if I wouldn't!"
Fabry yelped and wiped the cold sweat from his brow.
"Your Excellency, I've worked in this castle for over ten years. I've served seven central noble wives, so I know their dining customs well."
"Get to the point."
"Can we really serve Madam 'that'? I prepared it on your orders, but I'm worried."
"Don't worry."
"Oh dear......"
Fabry just groaned at my curt reply. He looked like he wanted to complain more, but gave up at my steely attitude.
"Go make the final preparations."
"Your Excellency, I've warned you in advance. If something goes wrong, it's not my fault."
"What do you mean? You prepared it."
"You're too much......"
Fabry trudged away with a pitiful expression.
He was twice my age and built like a mountain, but with his shoulders slumped, nothing looked more dejected.
I turned away from his sorry retreating figure.
"Has the Duchess arrived yet?"
"I heard she's just leaving her room."
As Bill finished speaking,
"Madam has arrived."
The servant at the dining hall entrance announced Rose's arrival.
Screech.
The dining hall door opened, and Rose appeared with an awkward expression. She was wearing a different dress from when she first arrived.
'That dress is probably in the incinerator by now.'
Bill was the type to follow through on his words.
As the saying goes, fine feathers make fine birds—she looked far more vibrant now. At least she no longer resembled a wilted rose.
'What did she do to her face?'
Her face was the same as before, but it had a subtle glow. Her disheveled hair was now neatly arranged. The maids must have helped with her makeup and hair.
She fiddled with her dress here and there, as if uncomfortable in it,
"Ah."
then spotted me at the end of the table and opened her mouth in surprise.
'He's really here?'
That was the look on her face.
But she didn't hesitate as long as she had at our first meeting. After freezing for a moment, Rose began walking over.
"This way."
Guided by the servant, she sat in the chair across from me. She glanced around awkwardly before meeting my eyes.
"You weren't... waiting for me, were you?"
"I was."
"I'm sorry."
Rose's face darkened immediately.
Here we go again. Acting like an apology machine that spits out "sorry" on autopilot.
"Is apologizing a habit for you, Duchess?"
"Well,"
"Only apologize when you've truly done something wrong."
Rose stared at me as if I'd said something unexpected. Her eyes said she couldn't believe it was me saying this.
Eventually, she mumbled,
"I really... didn't think you'd be in the dining hall."
"I keep my word once given."
"You're that kind of man......"
It was a sigh-like whisper. Her voice was so soft I nearly missed it, but I heard clearly.
'Haven't you outgrown the age where someone has to be there for you to eat?'
After saying that in the novel, Dane Schmichael never once dined with Rose. He'd have food brought to his study or eat simply alone in the dining hall when he felt like it.
A man who always kept his word. So it was natural for Rose to be surprised that I was actually waiting in the dining hall.
"I plan to have dinner in the dining hall from now on."
"Pardon? Yes."
"It means we'll dine together every day."
"Every day?"
Rose sucked in a breath, but I ignored her and raised one hand.
"Serve the meal."
The quiet dining hall suddenly bustled. Plates were carried on carts, and servants wheeled them over.
"Your Excellency, what you just said......"
Rose sent a questioning look demanding details, but
"Ahem."
she froze as Head Chef Fabry approached from a few steps away.
"It's an honor to serve Madam's first meal."
"Fab... um, yes."
'Did she almost say his name just now?'
I pretended not to hear and introduced him.
"This is Fabry. He serves as the head chef of the Schmichael Ducal Family."
"Yes. My main duty is making sure Your Excellency, who has such picky tastes, doesn't collapse......"
"No need to mention that."
"If not now, there won't be another chan......"
Swish.
I raised my hand to silence Fabry's outburst of personal feelings.
"Focus on attending to the Duchess today. I'll eat on my own."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
Clink.
Fabry picked up a plate from the cart. Then he glanced slyly toward me.
'Are you really going through with this?'
I understood his reaction. Fabry might be huge, but he was quite timid.
Still, his constant hesitation was starting to test my patience.
'Now.'
I narrowed my eyes, and Fabry scurried away. He quickly placed the plate on Rose's side of the table.
"This is...?"
Rose's eyes widened at the dish.
It was an appetizing soup packed with meat and some vegetables like potatoes and carrots.
"Northern-style soup. Stir-fried with pork fatback for extra flavor. Nothing beats it as an appetizer."
Fabry answered, trying to hide his tension.
It was called soup, but it was really more like a thick, chunky meat stew.
The north, where the Schmichael territory lay, was cold and dry, unsuitable for farming. That was why meat-heavy dishes like this had developed.
What set this soup apart from ordinary ones was that no steam rose from it.
In other words, it was completely cold.
"......"
Rose stared piercingly at the soup bowl, her expression inscrutable.
Gulp.
Fabry's Adam's apple bobbed.
When he'd served this soup to previous Duchesses,
'Is this what you call food?'
the first had scolded him harshly,
'Are you mocking me right now? My goodness, cold soup! I've never seen anything like it.'
the second had been appalled,
'Fetch His Excellency at once! How can we allow someone who serves such food in the castle?'
and the third had been furious.
When I heard about it, I'd snorted.
'Let her starve.'
Fabry couldn't bear to see anyone go hungry or food wasted. So afterward, the Duchesses got bland mushroom soup or plain cream soup.
What a shame.
This soup was something Fabry had created in his prime, when he was still active on the front lines, bashing magic beasts. He'd scraped together every ingredient he could find.
From then on, whenever I came to the dining hall, he'd always serve this soup. But when I said I'd dine with the new Madam today, he'd suggested a different one.
'Shut up and serve that soup.'
Unable to defy my order, he'd made it, bracing for disdain from the new Madam.
The other servants felt the same. Having endured the previous Duchesses' tyranny, they were united with Fabry.
'Ugh, that precious stuff's going to waste again.'
'Please leave it untouched so we can eat it......'
The servants' wistful gazes darted over the table.
"......"
Unaware or not, Rose blinked a few times,
swish.
then picked up her spoon. She scooped up a hearty spoonful of soup without hesitation.
"-!"
The dining hall's atmosphere shifted dramatically at this unprecedented situation. A Duchess had touched the soup for the first time.