The Cooking Princess - Chapter 56

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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 56

Shurya was still in the midst of suspicion.

Too many things had changed between before and after the regression.

And at the center of it all was Duchess Chloe Garnet.

She had changed the most dramatically, and everything related to her had completely transformed.

Even changes that seemed unrelated were ultimately connected to her when examined closely.

‘How could I not be suspicious and endure this?’

Shurya tried not to make hasty judgments, but Chloe was far too different for that. As if she had become a completely different person. Or perhaps….

‘She knows the future.’

The Chloe from before the regression couldn’t even be called outstanding or clever by any stretch of the imagination.

She was both wicked and stupid, falling for her own schemes and having her conspiracies exposed immediately.

She was a reckless fool who relied solely on her family’s power and wealth, ultimately dragging not only herself but her entire house into ruin.

‘But the current Chloe is different.’

Though she couldn’t yet leave the temple to act directly, making her activities limited, there were many people within the temple who served as Shurya’s eyes and ears.

The Chloe they described to her was vastly different from the Chloe Garnet that Shurya had known all along.

Where on earth had she learned things that even Shurya, a regressor, didn’t know? She created unheard-of inventions, collaborated with the Magic Tower for joint development, and became incredibly wealthy.

She made foods no one had ever thought of before, and even established direct trade with the Southern Continent, claiming it was all for cooking.

Her cooking was so remarkable that even Prince Shuel and Duke Claude, who had either disliked Chloe or shown no interest in her before the regression, were now desperately pursuing her.

Though Chloe hadn’t noticed, in Shurya’s eyes—having lived through the previous life—it was clear that both young men were completely smitten with Chloe.

The Empress was also frustrated that she couldn’t get Chloe under her control, but if Chloe were to actually become engaged to Claude, she would certainly change her stance immediately.

The Empress that Shurya knew was the type who, if she truly despised someone, wouldn’t even dirty her own hands but would have subordinates bury them socially or simply have them assassinated.

She had even heard that the Emperor himself was lenient toward Chloe.

And now she was even attending the agreement ceremony between the Imperial Court and the Magic Tower.

This agreement had existed before the regression too, but back then, hardly anyone understood its importance.

In the future of approaching destruction, the Magic Tower and the new Merchant Prince would be absolutely crucial figures.

Unless she knew the future, why would Chloe, a mere noble daughter, desperately struggle to attend that meeting?

Shurya used her sharp mind to consider every possible scenario.

And whatever the truth might be, there was one thing she could be certain of now.

She wasn’t the only one who knew the future.

She couldn’t yet know what impact this fact would have on her. Especially if the person who knew the future was Chloe Garnet—it was difficult to determine whether she would be enemy or ally.

But if Chloe did know the future, she had to find out what exactly she intended to do with that knowledge.

And if Chloe interfered with Shurya’s plans….

‘No, let’s not think about that right now.’

As Shurya suspected, finding out whether Chloe was a regressor like herself was the most urgent matter.

Even if it meant revealing the fact that she had regressed to Chloe Garnet, who had been a foolish villainess before the regression.

***

“So tell me. You have memories of the future too, don’t you?”

“….”

“The Chloe Garnet I know is stupid and wicked. You’re completely different from her now. And unlike you, other people haven’t changed like this.”

Shurya now brought her face close enough that their noses nearly touched.

“Only you.”

“….”

“You’re my only variable.”

Chloe, who had frozen momentarily under Shurya’s piercing gaze, gently pushed her away and answered.

“First, back off a little. …This is a bit overwhelming.”

“Ah.”

As if she hadn’t realized how close she’d gotten, Shurya also seemed slightly flustered and averted her gaze.

In that moment, Chloe also composed her expression.

‘I could make excuses if I wanted to.’

Shurya had revealed not only that she was a saint but also that she had returned to the past.

‘If I keep pretending not to know here, I’ll become complete enemies with Shurya.’

In such an urgent situation, she didn’t have confidence in creating a convincing excuse that would satisfy Shurya.

Most importantly, the very fact that Shurya was pressuring Chloe while revealing her own regression troubled her.

So she felt she needed to be somewhat honest.

“First of all, I didn’t turn back time like you did. I don’t know the future either.”

“Lies! Then how….”

“I have memories of my previous life.”

Shurya’s face went blank at this answer that completely bypassed all the scenarios she had expected.

“…Are you joking with me right now?”

“If you weren’t going to believe me anyway, why did you ask?”

Of course, Chloe had no intention of telling Shurya everything. For instance, the fact that this place was the world inside a book she had read in her previous life, and that they were all characters from that book.

‘How devastating would it be for them to learn they’re characters in a book?’

Wouldn’t that make all their trials, sorrows, despair, and even love seem like mere entertainment for others?

Since Chloe had genuinely rooted for Shuel and Shurya while reading the original work, she hoped Shurya wouldn’t experience such despair.

Even if it meant she would have to lie forever.

And even this half-truth seemed to be shock enough for Shurya, as she still couldn’t find words to continue.

“In my previous life, I lived as an adult until I died. So even though my body is young, at least my mind doesn’t have to act as foolishly as you remember.”

“That’s impossible….”

“So I don’t know about this ‘future’ you mentioned.”

“….”

“From what you said about the ‘me before regression,’ it seems I did something bad to you. I’m sorry, I don’t remember.”

In fact, Chloe only knew how the ‘original Chloe’ had treated Shurya from reading the book—she truly had no memories of it.

At Chloe’s straightforward apology, Shurya went through stages of confusion, bewilderment, and finally acceptance, muttering in a deflated voice.

“So reincarnation really exists….”

“….”

“Sorry for misunderstanding. I thought you were scheming something.”

Even from Chloe’s perspective, knowing the original work, Shurya’s wariness toward ‘Chloe’ had been rational.

For that reason, Chloe did her best to clear up Shurya’s misunderstanding.

“My scheme is to somehow improve the rotten food culture of the Luzhiere Empire.”

Having said that much, Chloe let out a deep sigh and continued.

“I fainted from how terrible my mother’s cooking was, and that’s when my previous life’s memories awakened.”

The world I lived in during my previous life was full of incomparably diverse and delicious food compared to here.

Shurya looked briefly suspicious, wondering if Chloe was joking, but seeing her infinitely serious expression, she kept her mouth shut.

“And in my previous life, I was a cook’s daughter.”

“Ah, so that’s why you were so obsessed with cooking… I see.”

Shurya groaned as if things were finally making sense.

“You have various other businesses, so I was curious why you chose cooking of all things as a means to change the future. No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t find an answer, but it wasn’t that—the food was just… tasteless.”

Muttering this, Shurya nodded several times as if convinced.

“By the way, you were a saint. People our age are usually apprentice priests, but I thought something was unusual when I saw you wearing formal priest robes. You’re even more remarkable than I expected?”

At Chloe’s words, Shurya made an ‘oops’ expression.

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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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