The Cooking Princess - Chapter 29

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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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The Princess Who Cooks

 

Episode 29

 

It was just as Chloe arrived at the Imperial Palace and was passing by the pond to head to the Audience Chamber.

 

The first person she encountered was Claude.

 

“Hey.”

 

At his deliberate attempt to start trouble, Chloe nearly failed to manage her expression.

 

‘At this point, we should just ignore each other and go our separate ways.’

 

Chloe put on a fake smile and responded to Claude’s provocation.

 

“I greet Cloud, Duke.”

 

After greeting him, she bowed her head and maintained perfect etiquette.

 

For some reason, Cloud, Duke seemed even more twisted inside by that fake display.

 

He glared at Chloe for a long while before saying this.

 

“You’re quite shameless, aren’t you?”

 

No matter how shameless Chloe might be, could she match Claude who threw insults at a princess from their first meeting?

 

Chloe smiled brightly and responded to Claude’s provocation.

 

“Today I entered the palace at the invitation of Shuel, Prince.”

 

In other words, stop picking fights and let me pass.

 

At Chloe’s nonchalant words, Claude’s face turned cold.

 

As befitting the main villain of the original story, he spoke with a very cold expression.

 

“How ridiculous. Do you even know how black-hearted that bastard is?”

 

Chloe was the one who found it ridiculous.

 

After all, Shuel was the one protecting Chloe from Claude’s attacks, yet here he was badmouthing Shuel in front of her.

 

At such absurd words, Chloe finally couldn’t hold back and retorted.

 

“Aren’t you tired of picking fights over every little thing?”

 

You must have quite a lot of free time, Chloe muttered quietly as she turned around to leave the pond area.

 

And at that very moment.

 

“Acting all high and mighty and looking down on people.”

 

Though his tone was quiet, Chloe felt tremendous anger and emptiness in Claude’s voice.

 

‘Why is he so angry?’

 

Since he was the character who staged a coup in the original story, it made sense that he’d hate Shuel enough to throw such fits from childhood, but as someone caught up between the wicked Empress and Claude, she didn’t want to care about it.

 

Feeling uncomfortable, Chloe ultimately couldn’t ignore Claude and answered his words truthfully.

 

“I’m neither high and mighty nor looking down on anyone. If I had to choose between Your Grace and His Highness the Prince, His Highness simply takes priority.”

 

However, her words only provoked Claude further.

 

Before she could even finish speaking, he grabbed her delicate shoulder.

 

He seemed to be arguing about something.

 

“Is it about status? Is it about status? I’m better than that incompetent puppet bastard.”

 

At such ridiculous stubbornness, Chloe also flared up.

 

“At least in terms of character, His Highness seems far better than you! And let go of this!”

 

At Chloe’s words, Claude answered with dark eyes and a sneer.

 

“Absolutely not. Why should I let go for someone else’s benefit?”

 

Chloe twisted her body this way and that, trying to shake off Claude who had grabbed her shoulder without permission.

 

And at the very next moment.

 

“Oh,”

 

Splash!

 

She fell into the pond.

 

“Cough, gasp…”

 

Having never learned to swim in either her past or current life, Chloe flailed for a long time before slowly sinking to the bottom of the pond.

 

“Princess!”

 

Someone’s voice calling for Chloe reached her ears faintly.

 

“…cess,”

 

She heard a small sound.

 

Unable to regain consciousness, Chloe grumbled sleepily.

 

“Let me sleep just a little longer. Just five more minutes.”

 

“Princess!”

 

Recognizing that the voice waking her belonged to a boy, Chloe’s eyes snapped open.

 

“Oh, ah. Uh. Your, Your Highness?”

 

Opening her eyes and looking at Shuel, cold sweat ran down Chloe’s back.

 

She searched her mind and barely managed to recall what had happened to her.

 

‘I fell into the water… I can’t remember what happened after that. So how much time has passed?’

 

The considerate Shuel seemed to understand Chloe’s feelings and spoke gently.

 

“I’m so relieved that you woke up, Princess. Only about an hour has passed.”

 

Then he bowed his head politely.

 

“I’m sorry. No matter how reckless Claude might be, I never thought he’d push my guest into the pond. I should have come to meet you, but I was too complacent. I’m truly sorry, Princess.”

 

This was Claude’s fault, definitely not something Shuel should apologize for.

 

‘And Claude probably didn’t push me on purpose either.’

 

While it resulted in the huge scandal of Chloe, who was invited by the Prince, falling into the pond at the hands of the Duke, it probably wasn’t Claude’s intention anyway.

 

Claude hadn’t intended to push Chloe, but rather to grab her tightly and force her to listen to what he had to say.

 

Not knowing what thoughts Chloe was having, Shuel continued with a still dark expression.

 

“Never be in the same space as Cloud, Duke. Only you get hurt.”

 

Muttering that she seemed to lack awareness of danger, Shuel held his head in his hands.

 

Just by looking at his face, you could tell how much he had worried while Chloe was unconscious.

 

“I’m fine, but Princess, you’ve now left a bad impression with the Empress and Cloud, Duke, so you need to be careful.”

 

Chloe honestly admitted that she lacked caution.

 

But even she hadn’t expected him to grab her shoulders without permission and even lose control in broad daylight at the Imperial Palace where everyone could see.

 

Unable to hide her discomfort, she objected to Shuel’s words.

 

“What do you mean you’re fine, Your Highness? You don’t look fine at all.”

 

Chloe reacted sensitively to Shuel’s words, as he seemed to treat his own wounds as nothing, and seeing such a Chloe, Shuel rubbed his face and sighed before answering.

 

“That’s a different matter.”

 

“It’s the same matter.”

 

“How is that the same? Unlike me, Princess, you have no means to fight back against Claude!”

 

Chloe’s eyes widened in surprise at Shuel, who had always been gentle, raising his voice.

 

“…No, ah. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you, Princess.”

 

Saying this, Shuel looked flustered and kept apologizing.

 

“I’m sorry for getting emotional. I thought you were really, really going to die, Princess.”

 

Thinking how cute it was that his golden hair was disheveled as he worried about her, Chloe barely came to her senses.

 

‘Don’t be swayed by his face, Chloe Garnet.’

 

After barely pulling herself together, Chloe searched through her small pouch where she kept cooking ingredients.

 

And she made a tearful expression.

 

“All the cooking ingredients got soaked, so I can’t cook for you right away. What should I do?”

 

“Your life is more important than cooking, Princess, so don’t worry about such things.”

 

Though the Prince said this, Chloe was also sad that all the high-quality spices and ingredients had fallen into the water and become unusable.

 

So she spoke in a dejected tone.

 

“The dish I prepared for Your Highness was really delicious. It’s such a shame.”

 

That said, she didn’t want to come back to the Imperial Palace again just to repay the Prince next time.

 

Even if this incident was an accident, it was clear that the Empress and Claude harbored ill feelings toward her, so she wanted to avoid them somehow.

 

Indeed, Shuel seemed to have the same thought, as he sighed and spoke in a calm tone.

 

“I failed to consider you carefully, Princess. From now on, I’ll come to the Garnet Estate instead.”

 

“What? But Your Highness can’t come every time I cook,”

 

“Of course I don’t mean I’ll come every day. It would be nice if you invited me when you’re making something special, Princess.”

 

“Ah, if it’s just that much…”

 

Chloe nodded at Shuel’s compromise.

 

“Of course, even so, the fact that the Princess is specially serving me food doesn’t change.”

 

Shuel expressed his intention to keep Chloe close and continue caring for her.

 

‘Why is he going this far for me?’

 

Wondering if her food had really been that delicious, Chloe felt a bit bewildered.

 

Having the Prince personally come to the Garnet Estate would be quite a troublesome matter for Shuel as well.

 

“Thank you, Your Highness. Next time you visit, I’ll definitely make something delicious for you.”

 

“Do we really need to wait for next time?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Since I have the Princess’s permission, let’s go to Garnet Manor right now.”

 

“Pardon? Right now?”

 

“Yes. Right now.”

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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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