The Possession-Spoon Chef Feeds the Empire - Chapter 24

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 24
“Bael.”
The Duke murmured the name under his breath.
Every eye in the Garden turned toward the boy astride the horse.
“That…… that horse……?”
Theo, standing nearby, widened his eyes and uttered a bewildered murmur.
Osborn maintained a carefully composed expression, though a faint furrow creased his brow.
Lucille suddenly understood why Osborn and Theo so resented Bael.
Silver hair and deep blue eyes. A long, elegant frame, and the depth of his gaze.
‘He looks so much like the Duke.’
“Grandfather, I offer my respects.”
Bael bowed his head from atop the horse.
“I heard you were here, so I came to greet you.”
“Bael…… you’ve come outside.”
The Duke murmured as though unable to believe the sight before him.
“Yes, I have.”
“Can you ride?”
“I can ride this horse.”
“Your legs—your legs……”
Bael glanced down at his own lower body for a moment.
The shape of the saddle alone made clear that strength had not returned to his legs.
Cain approached Bael and reached out to help him down from the horse.
“You don’t need to dismount!”
The Duke spoke hastily.
“If you cannot bear your full weight……”
But Bael slowly descended to the ground, leaning on Cain’s shoulder.
The furrow in Osborn’s brow deepened.
For a moment it seemed he might need to be carried, but Bael set his own feet upon the earth with Cain’s support.
His legs, unable to bear their full weight, trembled visibly, but he gritted his teeth and found his balance.
And slowly he straightened himself.
“……!”
The Duke’s eyes widened.
Though he leaned upon Cain, he was unmistakably standing on his own feet.
That boy who had been dying of an inexplicable illness. That face, pale and drained of all color.
Now faced the Duke clear and direct.
“You’ve grown so tall.”
“Even while bedridden, one’s height increases, it seems.”
“How did this happen? What has transpired in all this time?”
“……”
Instead of answering, Bael turned his head toward Lucille.
The Duke’s gaze followed in that direction.
“Is it because of that girl?”
He asked as though still unable to believe it.
“……”
Bael began to speak, then closed his mouth.
Lucille, watching, knew what had crossed his mind.
The matter of the sword.
That one of those brothers had been the cause of Cedric’s death.
But Bael’s silence was unavoidable. The incident was old, and there was no proof.
Even if a Magic Stone were produced, they could simply deny it was theirs.
They still had to wait.
“……Cooking.”
Bael said.
“Her cooking. I ate well, and I recovered.”
“That girl’s cooking, you mean?”
The Duke indicated Lucille.
“Yes.”
Bael smiled faintly.
The slightly upturned corners of his mouth and the curve of his eyes had an effect that soothed the hearts of all who beheld them.
“It was delicious. The Honey Crepe, the Lemon Tart, the Sea Salt Brownie and Ice Cream.”
The Duke’s pupils trembled visibly for an instant.
“Is that so?”
“It would be nice if you tried some as well, Grandfather.”
“……”
A faint smile appeared at the corner of the Duke’s mouth.
After a brief silence, his hand rose slowly and brushed across Bael’s hair.
It was a touch he had not been able to give in a long time.
Lucille found herself remembering anew.
Before Bael fell ill, he had been the grandson closest to the Duke.
If Bael remembered this, then his words now were half sincere, half strategy.
A strategy to create an opportunity for Lucille.
“What can you do?”
Then the Duke turned his gaze to Lucille.
‘Status Window.’
Lucille murmured inwardly.
‘Show yourself again.’
Pop—
A glimmering miniature Status Window appeared above the Duke’s head.
‘Never mind the nutritional assessment from before. Tell me what kind of menu this grandfather prefers.’
Pop—
[Preference Analysis Complete]
Preference: Sweets. Extremely sweet and soft things. Shows particular fondness for chocolate varieties.
……This is absurd.
This grandfather, who looked as though he consumed nothing but coffee and liquor, had such tastes.
Lucille read the Status Window with a dumbfounded expression.
‘The grandfather and grandson share identical palates.’
The moment when the Duke’s pupils had trembled moments earlier came to mind.
When Bael had mentioned the Honey Crepe and Sea Salt Brownie.
The Duke, shocked and deeply moved by his grandson’s recovery, had in that instant unconsciously salivated.
“I am skilled at all manner of cooking.”
Lucille answered with a bright smile.
It was no exaggeration.
According to her mother, she had grasped a ladle at the age of one.
Even before summoning the Status Window, cooking had come as easily as breathing.
“Among my greatest specialties is a rich Fondant Chocolat.”
The Duke’s eyes trembled once again.
It was only natural. One could tell merely from the name that whether or not such a dish existed in the Empire, it would be laden with chocolate.
“I had just planned to make it for Bael tomorrow, as it happens.”
Lucille continued.
“Perhaps……”
“What?”
“Would you care to join us for breakfast?”
“……”
The Duke opened his mouth, then closed it.
Lucille could sense it.
“But for that to happen, I would need to use the Kitchen for one more day.”
The advantage had shifted back to her.
“Wait a moment.”
After the Duke accepted the breakfast invitation and departed,
Theo strode toward Lucille with swagger among the dispersing crowd.
He seized the reins of Estelle from her hand, then attempted to strike away Bael’s hand that rested upon Estelle’s back.
“Give her up. She’s my horse.”
“I understand it differently.”
Bael knocked away Theo’s hand first as he spoke.
“Father gave her to me. I’ve had her for months……”
“After which I won her from you in a wager.”
When Lucille cut off his words, Theo’s face flushed red.
“Did you forget? The horse belongs to whoever breaks her in within a month.”
“You, a mere cook, daring to speak thus to your master……!”
“Your master failed to break in the horse.”
Lucille smiled blithely, utterly unaffected by the blow.
“I succeeded. So did Bael.”
“It’s a fraud!”
Theo tightened his grip on the reins and shouted.
“A servant girl, a mere kitchen drudge—how could you have broken in a horse that even I couldn’t ride?”
“I suppose someone who only sees use for meat wouldn’t understand.”
Lucille laughed softly and stroked Estelle.
As though understanding the situation, Estelle gazed down at Theo with naked disdain.
“This……!”
“Keep wondering. I won’t tell you. Come on, Estelle.”
“Wait, you……ugh!”
At Lucille’s word, Estelle whipped her head around, and Theo, losing his grip on the reins he’d been tugging hard, staggered backward.
Snort—
As she walked away, Estelle narrowed her eyes and cast one final look at Theo.
“Those……those wretches.”
Though Theo had never communicated with Estelle before, this expression was unmistakable.
Association with you was repugnant, and I wish never to lay eyes on you again.
—and with that, Estelle disappeared after Lucille in a bouncing trot.

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