The Possession-Spoon Chef Feeds the Empire - Chapter 79

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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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Chapter 79
The Duke’s eyebrows rose as he studied Serion.
He’d expected the boy to cough up blood and come tumbling out at the mere mention of his stepfather arriving, having been confined to his room in such a state of agitation.
Yet Serion appeared composed.
Apart from a slight pallor to his complexion, he showed no symptoms of poisoning whatsoever.
It was difficult to imagine this was the same youth who had deliberately ingested poison that morning, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth.
“Serion… are you well?”
The Empress looked him over from head to toe several times before speaking.
“What are you wearing? Those aren’t your clothes.”
“I received an invitation to lunch and came, but a headache came on, so I decided to impose for the day. The clothes are borrowed from one of the Duke’s grandsons.”
Serion answered with a slight smile.
“It seems the servants made an unnecessary fuss about nothing.”
“The poison?”
The Empress asked again, her tone disbelieving.
“Poison? I’m not sure what you mean. As you can see, I’m perfectly fine.”
Serion shrugged, looking down at them both.
“Are you truly certain nothing happened?”
“If anything had occurred, I would have been the first to order the culprit apprehended. There is no one in this house who has sought to harm me.”
He spoke with absolute finality.
For a moment, his gaze fixed on one of the attendants present, though neither the Emperor nor the Empress noticed.
“I had planned to stay one night, but since you’ve both come, I’ll return with you.”
Serion continued.
“If you’ll wait a moment, I’ll change and come down.”
“Yes, of course.”
The Emperor nodded, his expression dazed.
After Serion departed, silence settled over the first floor of the central building.
The Duke stood lost in thought, his expression puzzled.
The Empress, at least, looked somewhat relieved.
The Emperor, his face rigidly set as though disaster had struck, made a visible effort to avoid meeting the Duke’s eyes.
“…So, has the matter been confirmed?”
In the end, it was the Duke who spoke first.
His gaze shifted from the second floor back to the Emperor, his expression utterly devoid of warmth.
“I, well, it seems I’ve misunderstood something.”
“A misunderstanding, you say? You mean breaking into someone’s home in the middle of the night, waking everyone, and threatening to throttle me whilst accusing me of poisoning the Crown Prince?”
“No, I didn’t put it quite like that.”
The Emperor waved his hand urgently.
He began gnawing at his lip.
It was good news that Serion was unharmed, but it also meant the Imperial Household had panicked over some misunderstanding and caused considerable chaos.
True to the Duke’s words, they had come uninvited to the Duke’s Residence in Bellaon, shouting demands for his son like common ruffians.
‘Who brought me word of this?’
The Emperor ground his teeth.
Once he returned, his first act would be to seize that wretch and punish him accordingly.
“Well, at least let me apologize…”
“How convenient for you. If you truly believe a late-night intrusion of this magnitude can be settled with words alone.”
The Duke let out a hollow laugh, and the Emperor swallowed hard once more.
The Duke of Bellaon was no easy opponent.
This was partly due to the Emperor’s own weakness of character, but also to the Duke’s stern and formidable nature.
This old man, difficult to deal with since childhood, now fixed him with an angry, piercing gaze.
This would not be settled simply.
The Emperor exhaled slowly.
That sigh meant the Emperor would have to concede something to the Duke of Bellaon, or the situation would remain unresolved.
“So then…”
As the Emperor was searching for words,
“I greet the Sun of the Empire.”
A face both familiar and yet older than memory offered a respectful bow.
“The Mage Scholar Bacliff?”
The Emperor, recognizing him, nodded.
“I am now the Butler of the Duke’s household.”
The Butler glanced quickly between the Emperor and Duke, and as though he understood the situation entirely, gestured toward the Reception Room.
“We have many eyes upon us. If your conversation is unfinished, perhaps it would be better discussed indoors.”
“Very well.”
“…Yes, quite.”
The Emperor and Empress nodded immediately, while the Duke accepted the suggestion with an expression of lingering displeasure.
“Only, Arnen is still young…”
The Empress turned back, her expression troubled as she murmured.
Initially, they had learned of an urgent situation and decided it proper to demonstrate the dignity of the Imperial Household by traveling together, but now it seemed Arnen was somewhat of a burden.
She had no wish to let him witness his parents—called the supreme rulers—being spoken to harshly by the Duke.
“Your Highness, would you like some ice cream?”
Just as the Empress was wrestling with this dilemma, a familiar voice called from among the attendants behind her.
A young, bright, and charming voice.
Luciel stepped forward from where the Emperor, Empress, and Arnen were looking.
“I have lovely Moon Berry Ice Cream, as delicate and beautiful as jewels.”
“I want some!”
Arnen cried out, his eyes sparkling, and the Emperor and Empress both wiped away beads of sweat in relief.
“Go on.”
“Yes, stay as long as you like and enjoy yourself.”
Luciel smiled brightly and led him by the hand toward the Kitchen.
As Arnen’s pace quickened with excitement and the voices of the Emperor, Empress, and Duke grew distant,
Click.
Luciel shut the Kitchen door firmly behind him.
“…Huh?”
Arnen blinked, his expression bewildered.
“Was the Prince of Bellaon here as well?”
He asked, catching sight of Bael standing in one corner of the Kitchen.
“Ice cream… are we eating it together?”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
Bael nodded, producing the chilled Bead Ice Cream he’d been holding.
“But first, there’s something we need to discuss. Please, sit here.”
“…”
Arnen, his expression tense, did as Bael asked.
His bewildered gaze flickered between Bael and Luciel.
“I’ll keep it brief.”
Luciel distributed three Silver Spoons, handing one to each of them.
Even amid the tension, Arnen’s eyes gleamed with interest.
“Your Highness, would you like to commit treason?”
“Mmm—cough!”
Arnen, unable to resist and having just scooped a large spoonful of beads into his mouth, choked.
“Wh-what are you saying…!”
“Exactly as I’ve said.”
Bael replied calmly, lifting his own spoon.
“What we’re proposing is, after all, treason.”
“Wh-what do you intend toward my stepfather…?”
“Nothing at all toward His Majesty. If we intended something, we wouldn’t have asked you first.”
Luciel shook her head as though confused by the question.
“It’s about the Crown Prince.”
“…!”
“An Empire under his rule as Emperor”
She sighed as she spoke.
“will burn and be utterly destroyed before long.”
“Th-that kind of talk… why are you telling me…?”
“There are two reasons for that.”
Luciel met Arnen’s eyes directly as she continued.
“First, because you’re the only one who could reasonably replace the Crown Prince.”
“…”
“Second.”
She paused before speaking again.
“Because you yourself are already planning treason.”
“…!”
A long silence filled the Kitchen.
Arnen’s golden eyes trembled violently, his gaze darting from Luciel to Bael and back again.
“How…”
His lips, which had been quivering, finally opened.
“How did you know?”

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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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