A Runaway Villainess, Now Healing In An Enemy Country - Chapter 11

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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【Chapter 11】

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Unusually, Winter Castle was located not in the center of the capital but on the outskirts, positioned with mountain ranges behind it.

A 30-minute carriage ride from the Commercial District in the center.

It was a short time if you thought about it, but it felt very long since we spent it in an awkward, even terrible silence.

‘Why did someone give me looks for being noisy.’

I quickly got off as soon as the carriage stopped. Of course, I didn’t do something embarrassing like waiting for the Duke’s escort twice.

In front of the castle gate of Winter Castle that everyone found uncomfortable.

The coachman who had received three times the market rate as payment for coming this far asked me quietly.

“Um, what kind of people are you that you’re getting off here?”

“I’m applying to be a cook at Winter Castle.”

“…Excuse me?”

Bewilderment rose over the young coachman’s face.

There had been some twists and turns, but I had just succeeded in persuading the little cook. My confidence was rising for good reason.

I smiled good-naturedly and made a light suggestion.

“How about you apply as a coachman too?”

“…Did I hear wrong?”

“There’s not much work but they pay well.”

“Farewell. Hiya!”

And I got rejected.

From his retreating figure that shot away like an arrow as if afraid I’d grab him, I could see his inner thoughts: ‘I’m seeing all kinds of crazy people.’

Well, I didn’t expect much anyway…

‘Still, I did succeed in recruiting a cook… Huh.’

That very cook was looking at the departing carriage’s rear with what seemed like envious eyes.

Worried she might change her mind now, I quickly snatched Coco’s bundle of belongings.

“It’s okay, Coco. This is also a place where people live. What rumors did you hear to make you so nervous?”

“That monsters eat people and live forever…”

“Oh, that’s all lies.”

I glanced at the Duke and continued.

“They’re just a long-lived race. Like elves.”

“Elves…?”

Even in this fantasy world where people wielded sword energy and cast magic without staffs, there was still fantasy of its own, and elves only appeared in ancient legends.

They were probably old tales that only grandmother’s generation would have heard.

“They exist. A kind, beautiful, long-lived race.”

It was a fairy tale exaggeration, but I wasn’t just saying random things. I actually viewed the inhuman beings of Winter Castle similarly.

The more I stayed here, the less they seemed like the demons or monsters from rumors or the original descriptions.

Then I heard a deflated laugh, barely audible.

It was so quiet that I wouldn’t have noticed if my hearing wasn’t sharp, making it feel like a hallucination or mistake.

Before I knew it, the Duke’s gaze was directed at me.

I couldn’t tell his expression due to the deep shadows, but only his particularly bright silver eyes were clearly visible.

“…What? Was I being noisy again?”

I spoke first, feeling unnecessarily guilty.

Soon the Duke answered in a humorless voice.

“You are always noisy.”

Then he passed by me as if he’d said all he needed to say.

‘What. Just because he’s handsome and a Duke.’

As he approached, the heavy castle gate opened like an automatic door. I watched the Duke’s retreating figure disappearing into the castle, somewhat dazed.

…Being handsome and a Duke did make a difference.

* * *

“Did you go as far as kidnapping now?”

Nishe, the man who would get tongue sores if he didn’t pick fights, stood crookedly in the corridor to greet us.

He was dressed in a half-unbuttoned shirt despite not being cold, and with his door-like build and drawn longsword, he looked exactly like a dungeon boss.

‘Did he train late at night or something?’

There was a wasteland nearby that was presumably once a training ground. I thought it was completely abandoned, but it was surprising to learn it was actually being used.

“You’re more likely to kidnap someone.”

“What nonsense… Ah.”

Only then did Nishe quickly sheathe his sword.

“Hiik!”

But it was a sufficiently menacing first impression to frighten my small and precious cook.

“This is a cook I recruited with difficulty. Nishe, try to avoid her well.”

“How exactly did you recruit her, wait. Why should I avoid her?”

I brought my face close to Nishe and whispered so Coco couldn’t hear.

“What if she gets scared and runs away because of you? This place already has such a bad reputation that I barely convinced her.”

“…Did you really convince her? Not threaten her?”

Nishe’s eyes became suspicious.

“What do you take me for? I convinced her well with money.”

Though I did push forward while she was completely dazed.

I got a promising cook, and Coco got enough money to treat her mother’s illness and more, so this was truly a win-win situation.

“Sure.”

Nishe snorted and bowed toward Coco.

“Hey, kid. Can you live here?”

“Hiik…! Y-yes!”

“You’ve heard the rumors, right? This castle only has monsters. But you’ll still cook three meals a day and live here?”

“I-I’ll try my… b-best!”

“Really? It’s just dinner time, so that works out well. I’m looking forward to seeing how delicious your cooking will be?”

…Could this possibly be hazing?

‘I carefully coaxed and persuaded her, and now he’s being difficult?’

I scolded the thug who was intimidating my talent.

“Why are you making her work right away without any business ethics?”

“N-no, I can do it…!”

Coco, who had been nervously watching, hesitated before speaking.

“Um, would ordinary cooking not work…? I don’t have experience cooking with h-human or monster meat yet…”

“What? Puhaha!”

Nishe clutched his stomach and laughed.

Honestly, it was funny. To think she came along while imagining that kind of cooking – she was braver than she looked.

“Wow, kids these days are fearless.”

I agreed.

In the end, Coco had to prepare a ‘normal’ meal.

I was also hungry, so I reluctantly sent Coco to the kitchen.

The dining room was bright with magically lit flames.

“D-dinner is ready. You’ve been waiting a long time.”

Coco appeared with a delicious smell.

Since everyone had already finished eating with crazy bread during the hour she was cooking, only Nishe, Ally, and I were in the dining room.

“Well, there were only potatoes for decent ingredients. S-so I made soup for now…”

I had also seen the desperate situation of the ingredient storage. It was impressive that she managed to produce any finished product.

I was even moved by it.

‘I’ll definitely make sure to give her a bonus.’

Just as I was resolving to provide her with financial therapy.

Nishe, who had taken a bite, twisted his lips into a crooked smile.

“What’s this? It’s mediocre. What we usually eat is better.”

An outrageously unfair criticism and nitpicking.

The bread made by Juansi, Winter Castle’s servant and potato bread artisan, is nothing more than a rock with no value beyond survival rations, even if you package it nicely.

He has absolutely no cooking talent whatsoever. He must have been baking for at least several decades, and if that’s his level, it says everything.

Coco, who had unfairly received a one-star rating, cried out.

“I-I’ll make it again…!”

“There’s no need for that, Coco.”

“Right, no need. When dawn breaks, get out immediately. Go open a restaurant outside or something.”

Wow. He’s acting like a difficult customer to try and kick her out, isn’t he?

As I trembled with anger, Ally, who had been sitting quietly beside me rather than actually serving, spoke up.

“Just ignore him. Nishe hates bringing people into the castle, so he’s acting like that for no reason.”

“Huh?”

“There used to be quite a few people here in the past, but they all died… Others don’t live as long as we do.”

“…”

“Nishe had the hardest time each time that happened. He may not look it, but he’s very affectionate. He doesn’t want to get attached, so he doesn’t want to bring in new people either.”

That’s… quite unexpected.

“You’re being unusually talkative today?”

Whether Nishe glared at her with fierce growling or not, the maid hiding her strength responded calmly.

“Are you embarrassed about crying and wailing at every funeral?”

“Damn it, shut your mouth.”

…The atmosphere instantly became tense.

Seeing Coco turn pale from the battle of wills between Winter Castle’s monsters, I cheerfully lightened the mood.

“Let’s just eat. Before it gets cold.”

“…”

“If you don’t like it, you can go pick up that rock bread and eat it. I don’t care about your delicate feelings.”

“What? Hey. You’re doing this because you don’t know something.”

“Stop it, Nishe. You can’t taste anything you eat anyway, so why are you being stubborn?”

When my loyal maid took my side and delivered a sharp rebuke, Nishe’s face crumpled satisfyingly.

Huh. I couldn’t help but ask.

“…Wait a minute. You can’t taste anything?”

“Yes. Didn’t I mention that?”

Well, I had heard it in passing before.

I thought only the Duke had no senses, and since they said they weren’t that bad, I figured they were just somewhat insensitive.

“How much better are you than the Duke?”

“I can feel that this food is… soft?”

Then it’s not just that you can’t taste well.

‘Were their taste buds really completely dead?’

No wonder they had no complaints about meals all this time!

No wonder they’ve been making terrible bread for decades!

There’s no question of being better than the Duke. All the inhuman beings in this place have lost their senses.

My thinking had been too shallow.

“Now I understand. Just wait a little.”

“…? For what?”

“I’ll restore your taste buds with magic.”

Once he tastes Coco’s cooking, there’s no way he could think of kicking her out because he doesn’t like it.

And while we’re at it.

‘It’s better for everyone to eat deliciously together than just me alone.’

Nishe snorted.

“What magic? Don’t waste time and save it.”

Did he take after his master? His way of speaking is so lovely.

The Duke from this afternoon, who had said ‘Don’t waste mana, will you?’ floated hazily over his face.

…I’m getting a little annoyed?

…I’m getting irritated?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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