I Thought a Villainess' Divorce Would Be Easy

Above all, there were not enough dishes to prepare for the Duchess’ first meal right now. Since no information was obtained about the Duchess’s eating habits, it was necessary to provide as many different foods as possible. Moreover, in order to prepare a sumptuous and delicious breakfast for the Duchess, who must have had a difficult night, the number of items had to be increased. Fortunately, most of the ingredients, including some hard fruits, were safe.

 

“Most dishes that contain fruit have to be omitted, so it lacks color…”

 

Harmon, who was recalling the recipe in her head, exchanged the apple she was holding with both hands, as was her habit. Because it was hard, it was one of the few fruits that were not destroyed by Richard’s hands, except for the first one or two.

 

“Should I bake an apple pie? I already baked meat pies.”

 

As Harmon was pondering, something that looked like a white fur hanging from the end of the table came into view. Harmon’s thoughts stopped for a moment as he returned his gaze from the food ingredients and confirmed the identity of the white fur ball. The pure white thing was clearly a bundle of fur, but inside it was a brighter white face.

 

‘Cute, pretty, beautiful.’

 

A lovely girl, almost at a loss for adjectives that came to mind, was following the apple passing between Harmon’s hands with her eyes. The sight was so lovely that Harmon unconsciously held out the apple in his hand. The girl who hesitated and then accepted the apology with a smile did not look human, unlike the women who had overcome the rough lives of the North. The maids, who were puzzled when Harmon, who was supposed to be busy moving, did not move, also turned their heads in the direction he was looking.

 

“Chef?”

 

“Can you see the fairy that I see right now?”

 

“Yes? Oh, ma’am?”

 

“Ma’am, how did you get here?!”

 

The fairy theory that came to Harmon’s mind disappeared in an instant. Instead, the fact that the small, precious-looking girl armed with all kinds of loveliness in front of him was the mistress he would serve in the future made Harmon’s heart beat violently. Even the maids who were embarrassed by Anthea’s appearance took their breath away at the loveliness of the herbivore-like mistress, who held an apple the size of her face with both hands and carefully bit into it.

 

Crunchy.

 

Just the slightest sound, like a rabbit chewing on an apple, was enough to make their hearts ache. After hearing a few gnawing sounds, Anthea, who hesitated, put down the apple at the level where her mouse had gnawed.

 

“Doesn’t suit your taste? There are many other fruits as well.”

 

Harmon, embarrassed, gathered up the few fruits that had survived the Duke’s hands and placed them in front of Anthea. Anthea, looking at the fruits lined up on the table, smiled awkwardly.

 

‘It certainly looked like an apple.’

 

As she was about to take a bite, she thought she was chewing a watermelon rind. Still, it tasted like an apple, so she tried her best to eat it, but all she could do was use her front teeth. Even the apples were like this, so she couldn’t even dare to touch the other fruits that the chef showed her.

 

‘It looks really busy. Wouldn’t it be a nuisance if I asked for a discount here?’

 

No, she was going to act like a villain anyway, so what’s the harm in asking him to peel an apple? Anthea, determined, raised her head as shamelessly as possible.

 

“How can I just eat this?”

 

Anthea tried her best to complain, but the charm already ingrained in her made her efforts go to waste. What’s worse, the Duke’s misbehavior a little while ago was all because of the Duchess! She was enough to keep you guessing. They guessed she didn’t realize the master’s care in trying to crush the fruit properly out of concern for the Duchess’ delicate teeth. After coming to this absurd conclusion, Harmon immediately swung his knife and cut the fruit into small pieces.

 

“Oh, if you just cut me an apple…”

 

“You’ve waited a long time, my lady.”

 

Words and actions were inconsistent. The speed was so fast that Anthea had to look elsewhere for a moment before a large plate of cut fruit was piled up. Anthea, not wanting to think much longer due to her excessive hunger, took the fork offered by the maid and dipped straight into the fruit and brought it to her mouth.

 

Crunchy.

 

The fruit, which was peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces, was hard but not hard to chew.

 

‘But it’s definitely harder than what I ate at the count’s house.’

 

Indeed, everything in the Duke’s house seemed big and solid. From people to architecture to food. To Anthea, it was full of big, hard things, as if she had come to visit a giant village. Even though she was very hungry, the mountain of fruit showed no sign of decreasing. When Anthea, who had filled her stomach with plenty of fruit, put down her fork, the eyes of the head chef, Harmon, wavered.

 

“Doesn’t suit your taste? Other fruits will arrive in a few days. I won’t disappoint you then.”

 

“It’s fine. I’m full.”

 

“You’re full even though you haven’t eaten anything… Oh, and please speak lower, my lady.”

 

Seeing Harmon’s discomfort, Anthea pursed her lips. It seemed like she had to be more careful about her tone of voice than at the count’s house.

 

“Huh, okay.”

 

When Anthea smiled brightly, Harmon also laughed along. Anthea stood up because she didn’t want to cause further trouble in the kitchen that was still being prepared.

 

“Lord Mogens, take me to my room. I want to rest.”

 

“I’ll take you to your room.”

 

Seeing Anthea looking tired, Arthur immediately took the lead. The head chef, who was staring blankly at Anthea’s back as she walked away, urgently shouted to the maids.

 

“Bring more ingredients from the warehouse!”

 

“Yes-yes!”

 

“The meat I told you to bring earlier, I’ll hit it with a meat mallet!”

 

“How much should I pound?”

 

“So thin that her great-grandfather would come back alive and break even if he chewed it!”

 

When he mentioned his ancestor who had lived so long that all of his teeth fell out and he had to chew with his gums, a look of sadness appeared on the maids’ faces. Looking at the slightly wrapped apples lying on the table, Harmon became even more enthusiastic.

 

“I’m going to bake new bread, so make the dough again.”

 

“Yes, chef!”

 

Anthea was walking slowly as she had a long way to go back to her room, without even realizing that she had completely upset the kitchen. Arthur, who mistook Anthea for looking listless, asked her carefully.

 

“You ate more than this even when you felt sick during the carriage ride.”

 

Although she often got seasick, she ate a hearty dinner whenever she stayed in town. Although it got a bit harder as you got closer to the north, bread and biscuits were okay to soak in the soup and eat. The delicious smell coming from inside the kitchen already made her mouth water, but when she saw the raw vegetables floating on top of the soup, she had no choice but to give up.

 

“Hmm… It’s a bit difficult.”

 

“Ah. I had no idea.

 

“I’m sure the master will be fine even if he stays up all night, but Madam, you’re probably having a hard time, so let’s go to your room.”

 

No, she meant her jaw hurts. As she was rubbing her chin and opening her mouth to clear up the misunderstanding, two maids came towards Anthea holding a cloth that looked like a laundry bag. She was even happy to meet a maid who she had not seen while looking for her. The maids stepped aside and lowered their heads, but Anthea, who was short, came up to her nose and looked up, so she couldn’t help but make eye contact.

 

“Do I have a dedicated maid or personal maid by any chance?”

 

“Yes, of course. You can keep the maid by your side as long as you want, and the dedicated maid will greet you separately.”

 

“Then can I choose you as my maid?”

 

When Anthea made eye contact with the surprised maids, a bright smile bloomed brightly. The maids, faced with a smile so lovely that it touched their hearts without even knowing it, the fatigue they had suffered from the head maid’s nagging since early morning seemed to disappear.

 

“Wow, it’s an honor.”

 

“Yes, ma’am. I will serve you with all my heart.”

 

Having the Duchess by her side was like a promotion for the maid. Once her salary increased and she was freed from odd jobs, she smiled at her sudden good fortune. Anthea, who smiled brightly on the outside as she looked at her delighted maids, apologized on the inside.

 

‘Sorry. You two will have to accept my evil from now on.’

 

“Then can you bring me something to drink in my room?”

 

“Yes, ma’am.”

 

“Then I will carry the seat myself.”

 

“Why are you burning the sheets?”

 

At Anthea’s innocent question, the maid’s face slowly turned red as if she was troubled. Behind her, she glanced at the vice-captain of the standing knights, and looking at the maids swallowing their words, Anthea guessed what kind of misunderstanding would cause those expensive-looking sheets to be burned. This damn curiosity. Cubic mind. She asked a question that would have just gone into the room. Still, she couldn’t let anyone misunderstand that her first night was like this, so she went up to her maids and told them the truth.

 

“That’s a nosebleed.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“It’s a nosebleed, I fell and bang! I got hit.”

 

The maid’s gaze rested on Anthea’s nose, but they did not see any particular wounds. Of course, she also thought that Ann Shea was lucky that, miraculously, only the bridge of her nose was photographed and there were no bruises on her. It was Arthur, who was standing behind her, who responded to Anthea’s firm excuse.

 

“Hmm, I’ll just go now.”

 

“Ah, thank you. Lord Mogens.”

 

Arthur’s ears and the back of her neck turned red as she hurriedly walked away without her being able to respond, so it seemed like she had completely misunderstood. Sure enough, her maids seemed to know as well, and she looked at Anthea with warm eyes as if she were her younger sister.

 

“It’s okay, ma’am. It’s all like that at first.”

 

“No, that’s a nosebleed?”

 

“You don’t have to be embarrassed.

 

On the contrary, you can be proud.”

 

“No, wait.”

 

“Thank you for your hard work, ma’am. Go ahead and rest inside. It’s harder when your body cools down.”

 

Whatever Anthea said, it was all an excuse out of shame and was likely to be a lie.

 

“Listen to me!”

 

“Yes, yes, I am listening. Then we will handle the exhibition first.”

 

“I will take you inside. Can you walk?”

 

“You saw me walking so far.”

 

Even though Anthea was upset at the continued misunderstanding, the maid’s eyes became even warmer. Anthea realized again. Northern characteristics… They were all big and solid. They were masters of misinterpretation.

 

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