The Possession-Spoon Chef Feeds the Empire - Chapter 59

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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 59
“Your Highness the Crown Prince. What brings you here?”
“……Judging by what you’re doing, you’re no successor to the Duke.”
Serion’s eyes raked over Debron from head to toe, and then he murmured as if speaking to himself.
“It doesn’t look like you’ll last long in the Council either.”
“Pardon? What did you just say?”
“Nothing. I have nothing to discuss with you, so would you mind stepping aside for a moment? I’d appreciate it if your son would do the same.”
Serion smiled thinly and gestured to both Debron and Edwin.
“Well then…….”
“My business is with those two.”
The fingers he pointed toward held Bael and Luciel.
Debron hesitated with a confused expression, but at the Crown Prince’s repeated gesture, he withdrew, mentioning he’d take a quick look at the Garden.
“……If Arnen could grow as foolish as all that, it would be one less thing to worry about.”
Serion murmured to himself, then fixed his gaze upon Bael and Luciel.
“Glad to see you again. It would have been troublesome if you’d already passed through the Main Gate.”
“……What is the matter?”
When Bael asked, Serion smiled once more.
It was a smile that pulled only at the corners of his mouth, not his eyes.
“The former emperor made a request of your chef earlier. So your chef refused.”
He continued.
“I’ve come to issue a command.”
“Pardon?”
“I issue an Imperial Order. From now on, each time I direct you, Chef Luciel shall present a new dish.”
What kind of nonsense was this?
Luciel tilted her head, regarding Serion.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Bael watching him not with confusion, but something closer to hostility.
Regardless, Serion continued speaking.
“Now, listen carefully—you must follow all the conditions I’m about to state. Create a new dish. You’re permitted to reuse the Recipe and Gloves you used today.”
“…….”
“I want a dish made with mushrooms and meat. The mushrooms must have a strong aroma. The meat must retain ample juiciness, and the sauce must be light. There must be contrast in texture, and you must complete it in a way never before seen. The process itself must be worth watching, just like today……why that expression?”
Serion, issuing instructions as though it were obvious, looked between the two of them.
“One of you can’t seem to understand, and the other looks ready to kill me.”
His mouth curved upward toward Bael.
His eyes held an obsession that exceeded all bounds.
“I was wondering why you would do this, knowing you’d be refused.”
Bael answered in a toneless voice.
“Do you perhaps think there’s a way to make her listen even if she refuses?”
“From the sound of it, you’ve heard about me. The Chef must be the same. Then this will be quick.”
Serion laughed once more, then turned his gaze toward Luciel.
“I’ve done this sort of thing many times.”
His handsome mouth twisted upward.
“Even if they refuse at first, eventually they’ll obey.”
“…….”
“At my word, Baedong betrayed his own brother, a council elder abandoned the Imperial Palace, and the imperial prince Arnen threw the dog he’d raised with his own hands into a mountain where monsters roam. It was as easy as flipping my palm. You too will become the same.”
At words spoken without the slightest change of expression, Luciel felt her skin prickle with dread.
They say he’s overflowing with self-love.
‘He takes pride in doing this sort of thing.’
That’s why he doesn’t stop.
“Everyone has a weakness, and I’m good at finding them. When a weakness is touched, when you’ve lost half of what you had and half of what you must protect remains, a person breaks—it’s inevitable.”
“…….”
“But I don’t have many weaknesses. So you won’t be able to counterattack.”
A step forward.
“Would you like to know what your weakness is?”
Serion drew closer to Luciel as he spoke.
Luciel stepped back, looking up at him.
A Crown Prince who sought only provocation, devoid of warmth.
The villain her mother had never managed to defeat.
The catastrophe that would bring ruin to this Empire.
He was threatening her.
It would have been a lie to say she felt no fear.
“For example, I can see you have affection for the people of Bellaon. Including Bael here. I make use of such things. I can harm those who hold your affection, or even…….”
A soft thud.
Bael’s arm cut across the space between the bending figure and Luciel as he leaned in to whisper.
“Hardly.”
He spoke quietly.
“Seeing you only bluff with words suggests you have no other means.”
“……What?”
Serion turned his head slowly to regard Bael.
At the same time, Bael pushed Luciel back to a safer distance.
‘What are you doing……!’
Luciel’s gaze shot toward Bael with concern. No matter who it was, the other party was of the Imperial House.
There was little he could do.
“Your Highness does not lack weaknesses.”
When Bael spoke with conviction, Serion raised an eyebrow.
“What do you mean?”
“The need to preserve your status as Crown Prince is a weakness. And the inclination to torment others despite that is also, in a sense, a weakness. You’re creating enemies.”
Serion’s pupils flickered for an instant.
“But you’re calculating, of course. Determining who can be touched without consequence. And precisely because you calculate, you don’t easily do things that would cost you your status.”
“…….”
Serion’s face darkened as he watched Bael speak as though he’d understood him completely.
Meanwhile, Bael’s eyes, which had burned with hostility moments before, had settled into a cold, measured calm.
As though his analysis were complete.
“Baedong, who was beaten by Your Highness and betrayed his brother, came from a humble baronial family, as I understand. The elder who abandoned the Imperial Palace out of fear of you was already considering retirement due to his age, and Prince Arnen…….”
He continued, letting out a short laugh.
“Prince Arnen is merely twelve years old. Is sending on an errand a mere boy of twelve so remarkable?”
“How dare you……!”
Serion snarled, feeling the open mockery.
At the same moment, the corners of Bael’s mouth lifted slightly.
As though victory were certain.
“You selected only those who could never significantly retaliate against you. It’s obvious you could break such opponents. It’s nothing remarkable, requires no extraordinary skill, and gives no reason to fear you.”
“……!”
Serion’s once elegant face twisted in an instant.
Of all the words spoken, it seemed the phrase “gives no reason to fear you” struck deepest—he quietly clenched both fists.
“But Luciel is a person of Bellaon.”
Bael continued, unmoved by Serion’s reaction.
“She is the chef whom my grandfather treasures most, and the one who healed my affliction. Even my aunt, known for her cold blood, holds Luciel’s value in high esteem.”
“…….”
“So Bellaon will not release Luciel. And…….”
Bael stepped closer to him, just as Serion had done to Luciel moments before, and continued.
“Should you touch Luciel nonetheless, Bellaon will counterattack. With everything.”
“…….”
“My grandfather is not the sort to let his house be swayed by the Imperial House’s whims, large or small. Least of all by those of a Crown Prince who hasn’t yet reached adulthood.”
“Insolence!”
Serion finally roared.
For someone whose expression rarely changed, it was the first time his anger emerged so openly.
Insolent whelp. Dog-like creature.
He muttered beneath his breath.
He’d not be satisfied even if he twisted his neck, burned him in flames, and tore him to pieces.
Each word Bael spoke struck true.
When the Emperor himself had been refused, there was no guarantee Serion could move Luciel with a mere command.
So he’d sent the adult Debron away, left only Bael—a mere boy despite being his master—and the seemingly naive Luciel, and broached the subject then.
He’d judged that direct pressure, even if refused immediately, would make her reflect afterward, and that by needling her gradually, breaking her will would be easy.
Had he known Bael would be this sharp, he’d have disposed of him and kept Debron instead.
“…….”
Bael’s gaze was cold but composed.
Unlike himself, who had already revealed his anger.
As he realized this fact, violent fury welled up in Serion’s chest.
“You dare counterattack me? I’m curious if you truly intend to.”
Pop.
With a small burst, a silver magical rune blazed across Serion’s cheek.
“……!”
Bael’s brows knitted together.
His eyes caught the Mana gathering at Serion’s fingertips.
Also the Killing Intent glittering in Serion’s pupils, cruel and cold.

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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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