CH 10
“Okay.”
Despite my neediness, the waiter was professional and didn’t take me for granted.
After taking my order, the waiter turned to face Kashar.
“All the favorites here.”
“I’ll have it ready in just a moment!”
The waiter stiffened at Kashar’s order.
The curtain closed again, leaving me and Kashar alone.
‘Please, come up with something quickly.’
I started chanting in my head.
Kashar watched me with clenched teeth.
This is so awkward, it’s driving me crazy.
Is he scared to death, or is he just so handsome?
This was my first time sitting one-on-one with a handsome man.
Whatever!
I was trying not to stare at him, but I didn’t know if it was working.
As if sensing my stare, Kashar let out a quick, flirtatious laugh.
“Don’t worry. I won’t eat you.”
“Go, thanks…….”
“Not yet. I told you, I’m interested in you.”
His dark gaze swallowed me whole.
Everything was unfamiliar and unreal. Kashar added a little more weight to his words.
“Why else would a man send you gifts and ask you for a date?”
I hesitated as if waiting for an answer.
“Because it’s a pyramid scheme or a cult?”
At least that’s what Kashar meant when he approached me.
“……What’s a pyramid scheme, and what’s a cult?”
Kashar’s brow creased.
A shadowy figure lurked behind the curtains, shattering the mood.
“Excuse me, sir. May I open the curtains…….”
“Come on in!”
Nice timing!
I jumped out of my seat and opened the curtain to find a waiter standing in front of me.
Unlike me, who was happy to see him, Kashar’s face crumpled even more.
“Well, if you’ll excuse me.”
Surprised by Kashar’s expression, the waiter hurriedly set the plate down.
“These are our cafe’s specialties: honey-pickled fruits, sugar cakes, and mahjong cakes, as well as berry-flavored tea and certain black tea from the north. The crystal plates with the fruits are made by artisans in the province of Leuven…….”
Desserts and drinks were presented with glorious descriptions.
It was the first time I had ever seen food from another world other than my own.
……That sounds delicious.
It was always best to have someone else make it for you.
Especially if it’s a bakery!
The cafe was a favorite among royalty, so the dishes and desserts were extravagant.
As I swallowed my savory mouthful, the waiter set down a glass of water in front of me one last time.
“Finally, the water you ordered. I hope you enjoy it.”
Only the glass was luxurious. It was pure water.
The waiter kindly closed the curtain and went back downstairs.
“The water…… looks so cool.”
The desserts in front of Kashar compared sharply to what I had ordered.
One million won melts.
I gulped down the water to quench my thirst. But my gaze remained fixed on the dessert.
Kashar noticed that I couldn’t take my eyes off the dessert and spoke up.
“Eat.”
“I don’t have any money.”
I’ve been saving it for our princes.
But my firmness was swallowed by his laughter.
“Funny you should say that. I won’t make you pay, so eat it.”
He was looking at me with his chin resting on his hand.
The stare was a little overwhelming, and I finally nodded.
“I’ll eat …… then.”
I wiped the corner of my mouth and picked up my fork.
I popped the honey-soaked cake into my mouth, letting the sweet flavor coat my tongue.
“Mmm……?”
I thought it was going to be the kind of flavor…… that makes your eyes close and your cheeks burn.
‘……Something’s a little off.’
It was sweet, and it was obviously made with expensive ingredients, but it tasted like something was missing.
I tried rolling it around on my tongue and chewing it, but the particles were grainier than they looked, and it was still uncomfortable in my mouth.
I tried another bite, but the result was the same.
The only thing I could eat was honeyed fruit,
……Is it because sugar itself is so new?
In this world, sugar had been around for less than 100 years, and honey was extremely rare. This kind of dessert was something that even the nobility would eat once a week.
In other words, the history of desserts is very young.
That’s interesting. The cafe looks exactly the same as if it was brought from the modern era.
The flavors don’t match the interior.
I couldn’t help but feel disappointed at the price.
‘Well, I don’t like it, but I’m sure it’s a very precious dessert here.
It’s not as good as Monsieur or chocolate pie.
It was the first time I realized that after living in a food powerhouse, this could be a problem.
Okay, tomorrow we’ll give the princes a K-sweet.
Louis was always sleepy for sugary treats, and Evan ate them quickly, even if he pretended not to.
‘I see you’re thinking about them, so you’re almost a guardian.’
I felt like I knew what it was like to be a parent, even if only a little.
Kashar interrupted me while I was still thinking about them.
“Is it bad?”
I’d been so focused on the food that I’d forgotten I was alone with him.
In a small, curtained-off space.
“Oh, no. It’s delicious!”
I nodded vigorously.
I’m supposed to say it’s delicious even if I’m serving tofu.
Sensing that this was about to get weird, I quickly dipped my fork into the cake and brought it to his mouth.
“You should try it, Duke!”
It wasn’t very tasty, but it wasn’t something to die for.
Kashar looked at the cake on my fork, blinked slowly, and opened his mouth.
“Delicious, huh?! You get what you pay for!”
His lips curled into an arc as he took a bite.
Then his throat moved, and Kashar laughed.
It was a mesmerizing smile.
“Is that how you usually want to feed people?”
“Oh, did I say that? I think it’s because I’m hosting the princes entourage. They really enjoy what I serve them. And sharing delicious food makes it even tastier…”
I was so nervous that my mouth was dropping open.
I have a condition where I can’t look at anything too pretty or handsome for long.
I bit down on my fork and avoided his gaze, wondering if he could see the blush.
“Why is he suddenly so nice to me?
My mouth was sweet, but my eyes were full of questions.
I suddenly remembered Kashar’s words about wanting to make my fiction real.
‘It’s still before the original story…… Maybe he was just being nice to someone he hated so much.’
I had a strong feeling that I should ask him now.
But I was too nervous.
“Duke, I don’t like it.”
I blurted out, “I don’t like all this.”
I was surprised, and so was Kashar.
I wanted to clap him on the back instead of waving goodbye.
“Finally, your head is blown off.” (Kashar said)
As I prepared to die, Kashar leaned back and laughed.
“……? Hello?”
I called softly, but Kashar was too busy laughing to answer.
After a while, he stretched his upper body and looked pleased.
“You’re not fooled by a little niceness, and I like that.”
It was as if he was admitting that he’d been faking it.
It was ridiculous, but I didn’t have the courage to spit in his face.
Maybe because I was a normal girl.
An obsessive who is cold to others but warm to me.
And who can resist a handsome man?
But I was guilty of knowing the original, so it was impossible.
“Or maybe my acting wasn’t good enough? I tried to put more effort into it, but it didn’t work.”
Kashar rubbed my chin.
At this point, I realized two things.
One, he was sane.
And two, he had no intention of killing me.
As soon as I realized that my neck wasn’t on the line, my liver throbbed.
I scrambled to my feet.
“You know what, we’re going to be honest with each other.”
I turned to face Kashar straight on.
I didn’t know what it was, but this man wanted something from me.
‘I don’t need a guy who’s going to fall for his leading lady anyway.’
He was a character I’d wanted to see at least once, so I figured I’d better get to the point, wish fulfillment be damned.
Because.
I have to go home and feed my kids!
In the Cold Palace, I have my own little princes that I have to feed.
I need to go feed them, put them to bed, and dress them so they don’t pierce your stomach in the original, okay?
I didn’t bother to tell him anything he didn’t understand.
“Well, okay, no need to drag it out.”
Finally, Kashar got to the point.
“I need a lover. The Empress is forcing me to find a lover, and she’s very keen on giving me a woman of her own choosing.”
‘The Empress, Empress Waieno?’
There was no way he didn’t know.
She was the one who had placed the maniacal curse on Kashar, and had driven him to his death.
The final villain of this novel.
In the past, Waieno, a former concubine, eventually became empress and succeeded in making her son crown prince.
She sent him off to war to kill the deposed Kashar, but he was victorious and returned as duke.
Then he deserves to find a woman to play the part of his lover.
Having a woman from the empress’s clique as a duchess was like having an official spy on your side.
It all made sense now. But.
“Why are you looking for it now?”
“I thought you said you were my lover, even though we haven’t met.”
“……You know I’m full of shit.” (Eileen said)
“I know, but I want to make it real.” (Kashar said)
A hand reached out and intertwined my fingers, one by one.
“Hiccup-!”
I wasn’t immune to this kind of kissing.
I was like a mouse before a predator, especially in front of a super handsome man.
“Well, I’m sure there are many other women here.”
No matter how handsome he was, this was dangerous.
‘Be careful, or I might catch the queen’s attention.’
And the twins’ safety was at risk. But Kashar didn’t seem to care.
“I liked your food.”
My outstretched hand brushed against his lips.
“Not to mention you’re funny.”
With that, Kashar brought the cream from his thumb to his lips.
“It’s tasteless. Yours is much better.”
He frowned.
I had to stare at the cream as it disappeared.
