Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 045
Chapter Title: Reward (1)
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"Refuse all outside jobs for the time being and focus only on the tasks I assign you."
"This is... this is too much."
"I'll decide whether to keep using you based on how you handle it."
Only then did Casto grasp my intent and swallow hard. He stared at the money in the pouch with a complicated expression,
"Understood."
before giving a resolute reply.
"I'll show you the best results possible for the trust you've placed in me."
"No need to be overly frugal. Use as much as needed where it's required."
"Yes, Master."
"I have two main tasks for you."
I could feel Rose, sitting beside me, taking a short breath. She was paying closer attention to my words than ever before.
"Chief Physician Joel is your surveillance target. Assign people to find out the places he visits regularly or the people he meets."
"Yes. I'll put our sharpest, quickest lads on it."
"And,"
I handed him a paper I'd prepared in advance.
"investigate every family that put out a hit on me."
To gain the upper hand in the war with my uncle, there was much to prepare.
**
The next day.
Because we'd gone to bed late the night before, Rose and I had a relatively late breakfast.
"Madam, does it suit your taste?"
Munch munch.
Rose chewed and swallowed her food vigorously before smiling sweetly.
"Of course. Your cooking is truly the best today as well."
"Ahem, you're too kind."
Fabry approached with a pleased look, this time carrying a plate of roasted quail skewered on sticks.
'Pretty heavy for breakfast.'
The first day, Selma's concern over Rose's nutritional state had shocked me quite a bit. To think she wasn't naturally small but had stayed that way from not eating enough—unthinkable for a noble lady.
I'd immediately instructed Fabry to feed Rose high-quality, nutrient-rich meals every day. Thanks to that, all three meals now were practically full-course banquets.
"Fresh quail roasted this dawn from the hunt. Try dipping it in the accompanying sauce."
Fabry seemed happiest when Rose ate with relish. It was a warm smile I'd never seen directed at me.
"Thank you, Fabry."
Rose let out an exclamation upon seeing the quail roast. As she reached for her knife, Fabry suddenly muttered,
"You're eating more than on the first day."
"......Oh."
Rose flinched in surprise and paused her knife.
"Have I... eaten that much? Should I stop?"
Her face, which had been beaming with happiness moments ago, hardened abruptly.
"They even scolded me in the Vicander family for eating too much... I guess I haven't broken the habit yet."
"No!"
"Not at all!"
"No."
Responses erupted from all around at Rose's absurd self-reproach. Fabry turned pale, followed by the kitchen staff jumping in alarm.
"Madam."
I was the last to reply, giving a small nod.
"Madam absolutely does not eat much. Before, it was sparrow-feed portions; now it's magpie-sized."
"You don't need to be quite so detailed with the analogy..."
"Anyway, won't she grow nice and tall if she eats plenty? She's still got a long way to go."
I shot a stern glare at Fabry for his needless remark, then continued.
"If Madam doesn't eat it, the food will just be thrown out anyway. Don't hold back."
"Madam, that was a slip of the tongue on my part. Please forget I said it."
My command was followed by Fabry's plea.
"You saved this old man who was just dragging through joyless days. Without you, Madam, there's no point in preparing meals... no, I have no joy in it!"
Fabry drooped his brows and pulled every pitiful expression imaginable. It was hard to watch from a man built like a mountain.
'Madam! What on earth are you saying!'
'Why say something like that to the Head Chef! Take it back quick!'
'No way! If Madam eats less, the Head Chef gets all prickly!'
The dining hall servants couldn't voice it outright. But they stared wide-eyed, conveying their desperation.
And rightly so—Rose was the kind of person the kitchen staff couldn't help but adore.
'This is so delicious!'
Not only did she eat with gusto,
'These sugar-pickled fruits today are exquisite. The sweetness is just perfect.'
she always left a review of what she'd enjoyed. Unlike me.
Moreover, seeing her once-hollow cheeks gradually plump up gave an undeniable sense of accomplishment.
With all that combined, the dining hall buzzed with energy these days. As the master, I didn't mind the change.
"Really...?"
Rose asked hesitantly, and Fabry nodded vigorously.
"Yes. Watching you eat heartily and with delight is the joy of my life. Please don't take that away from me."
Even after hearing that, Rose glanced at me cautiously,
nod.
only relaxing once I gave a light nod. Then she began slicing and eating the quail roast bit by bit.
"...Phew."
Beside me, Fabry wiped sweat from his brow with bated breath. I shot him a cold look.
'You really have a loose tongue.'
'My apologies. I'll watch it.'
Fabry had nearly ruined our pleasant mealtime. As I inwardly praised myself for averting disaster without letting my guard down,
"Your Excellency."
Rose called to me cautiously. She'd already polished off the quail roast by then.
"About yesterday."
Rose was aware of listeners in the dining hall and cleverly lumped it as "yesterday's matter."
"What about it."
"By any chance... will you give me a reward too?"
"......"
This time, I paused with my fork in hand.
I understood what she meant. It must be about the reward talk between Helena and me.
But it was unexpected that Rose would bring up the word "reward" herself.
"It seems you give rewards for jobs well done. If that's the case, could I get one too?"
"Do you think you've done well, Madam?"
I asked to gauge her thinking, but Rose's face darkened.
"Ah, so not really... I'm sorry......"
Her voice turned gloomy in an instant.
"......"
Stinging glares from Fabry and the servants pierced like arrows. Fabry's in particular burned fiercely.
'Your Excellency? You chewed me out for that, and now you do this?'
...Well now. I'd been the careless one.
I'd asked casually as usual, not expecting Rose to react like that.
Looking back, it made sense why the original Rose grumbled about being a "princess"—not the royal kind, but the terror-of-the-jaws variety.
Anyway, damage control was needed.
"Madam."
I raised my hand, masking my awkwardness.
"I wasn't scolding you. I was asking what you think."
"Ah...?"
Rose lifted her drooping head. Light returned to her darkened eyes.
"Your Excellency, does that mean...?"
"To be honest, you've done better than expected."
"Ah... really?"
"I'll leave the next tea party invitations to you. Pick well and make an appearance at one."
Rose's face visibly brightened.
"Tea party, tea party......"
She seemed to recall the contract terms, lost in thought briefly,
"What do you want as a reward?"
before snapping to at my question. She asked back eagerly.
"Can I really say?"
"Yes."
What was she going to say? I'd told her to buy whatever she wanted with the funds.
Was the money short? Should I give more? Or something money can't buy? A royal treasure, perhaps?
As I pondered,
"Um... actually, there's something I want to eat."
Rose said something unexpected.
Hm, food. That hadn't crossed my mind.
"Something Fabry can't make?"
"Well......"
Rose hesitated, not answering right away.
"Madam, what is it! Just tell me! I'll learn it right away and make it! Or we can invite that chef to the castle!"
Fabry wailed, and Rose, emboldened, spoke slowly.
"It's not that—it's actually something only Fabry can make."
......No way?
As I furrowed my brow with a bad premonition, Fabry grew even more frantic, urging her on.
"What is it? Just say the word! I can't hunt dragons, but griffon nests are doable... no, never mind."
I stopped Fabry with a glance before he drew his favorite weapon. He cleared his throat awkwardly after calming down.
"Ahem, sorry. What dish do you desire? It's your first request, so I'm thrilled."
"Well, you see."
Rose pondered briefly before resolving to speak.
"On the first day here, there was a dish brought out but taken back."
"Pardon? You mean the lake... that one?"
"The dish made with that rare fish from the lake—you definitely brought it."
Rose blushed faintly and asked me shyly in a small voice.
"I've been curious about it ever since. Could I try it?"
Thud.
Her small words hit the dining hall like a massive boulder.
"--!"
Fabry turned to me with a face full of ecstasy.
"Finally!"
"My goodness."
The servants nearly dropped their dishes before catching them hastily.
"......"
And finally, me frowning.
'She remembers that?'
Fabry had whisked it away the moment he brought it out.
I'd thought she'd missed it amid the chaos of the first day, but Rose remembered it vividly.
'This is trouble.'
My reason screamed no, that it'd horrify Rose. My emotions urged giving her the benefit of the doubt, just once.
Besides, it was the first time since arriving that Rose had voiced a craving. A husband who doted on his wife ought to indulge her.
"Your Excellency?"
Unaware of my turmoil, Fabry fixed gleaming eyes on me. He fidgeted, itching to bolt to the kitchen.
"......Do you have the ingredients?"
My question clung to a sliver of hope, but
"Of course!"
Fabry's reply dashed it utterly.