Expensive tiles were generously applied, and the countertops were beautifully finished with high-quality wood. The other cooking utensils gleamed brightly.
Many items used in herbal medicine were similar to kitchen tools. Some innovative healers even used tools inspired by the kitchen. So, Dante wanted to carefully examine this special kitchen, but there was someone else who caught his attention first.
“Oh, ah! Your Highness… There’s no problem. It’s not a significant injury, so it won’t leave any scars, and you should be fine before tonight… I think.”
Karnov Neustadter!
As soon as Dante entered the kitchen and recognized Karnov’s face, he went pale. He was a healer. Wasn’t he supposed to be the one saving lives? It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that he stood completely opposite to Karnov Neustadter, who contracted with the Spirit of Death. Of course, the weights of their scales might differ slightly.
Considering that fifteen-year-old Dante once hesitated over plucking apples from the neighbor’s apple tree, the gap felt even more significant. But now, the contractor of the Spirit of Death…
Thunk!
“Look at this. It’s nothing significant.”
While listening to the girl scolding him while hitting his forearm with her fist, Dante forcefully bit his lip inwardly.
“I was trying to get confirmation from the palace doctor that it wasn’t a big deal, Your Highness.”
Karnov’s voice was strict but polite, and if you ignored the fact that it was Karnov speaking, it felt like he genuinely cared for the other person.
“Oh? Really? You’re… worried, huh?”
Initially, Dante had been questioning why Karnov Neustadter was in this kitchen.
If they were discussing military affairs with the imperial army, he wouldn’t have thought twice. Why was such a person washing the princess’s hand in cold water here, but why was he looking at it with a serious expression when Dante came?
But the princess pushed Karnov away and approached Dante instead, grabbing his arm and helping him up.
“It’s nothing significant, but thank you for coming. Do you like almonds, by any chance? What’s your name?”
“Huh?”
Dante stared at the girl with a bewildered expression. Her emerald-like radiant eyes gazed at him with warm light.
“Do you like almonds? Can you eat them?”
“Yes…? Yes! I… I like them.”
“Great, got it. Then… I’m making some cookies right now, so when I finish, I’ll send some your way too. Thanks for coming today.”
‘Huh? Is she an angel?’
She didn’t seem like a human.
She was supposed to be ten years old, but her gentle smile and gestures of consideration didn’t feel like that of a ten-year-old.
With that thought lingering for a moment, Dante reluctantly left the girl’s kitchen, taking with him a package of herbs and healing tools, swaying as he went.
━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━
Asha was worried about Lise and had stopped making cookies today, even the caramelizing of the almonds. As they left the kitchen, Asha asked Karnov with a sullen expression, wondering why he had come. If Karnov had come, it must have been for a reason, and it wouldn’t have made sense to send him away without any meaningful purpose.
“So what brings Karnov here?”
On the way out of the kitchen, Asha asked heartily. If she hadn’t been distracted by the news that Karnov was here, she wouldn’t have had to call the doctor for no reason.
“Even though I bring good news, I am treated so poorly.”
“Good news?”
“You must have completely forgotten about it.”
At Karnov’s sarcasm, Asha tilted her head and opened her mouth wide.
“Is it Lady Meura’s painting?”
“I’ve been curious since a long time ago, but why are you calling Mura Aylau, Meura?”
“Hehe. Because it’s my own nickname for Meura.”
“…”
Silence hung in the air as Karnov tried to process Asha’s playful response. Then Asha urged Karnov forward.
“So, you said that the Viscount Ceilistria will lend us the painting?”
“Yeah, he said he’ll lend it.”
Asha began counting on her fingers. Two portraits from them, one painting from Karnov, one from Baroness Saratov, and another from Marchioness Tataricha, plus one more from the Viscount Ceilistria.
“Okay, that’s it. That’s it! Now I just need to print the tickets, figure out a way to distribute them, and think about how to divide the confetti at the exhibition.”
“Divide the confetti?”
Karnov rubbed his forehead and asked.
“Why do I keep hearing about things I don’t know about?”
“Because, you know, Asha has her own life.”
Asha answered proudly, calling herself in the third person, and Karnov sighed again. Asha went on regardless.
“The exhibition will be conducted by selling tickets, right? So, I thought I could give out a few confetti pieces to those who come.”
“How many people do you think will come?”
“Ah, I don’t really know. How many people do you think will come? Just in case, I thought we should prepare enough… So, I decided to make it together with Baroness Saratov and Sophia.”
“Was Baroness Saratov skilled at making pastries too?”
“No, not at all.”
As Asha answered, she remembered the image of Baroness Saratov accidentally spilling white flour recently and burst into laughter.
“Because it’s still simple… It’s going to take a lot of work, so Baroness Saratov will come to help when she wants a change of pace from work. I think Sophia wants to make a new snack.”
“Hmm…”
Asha glanced up at Karnov’s profile. Karnov had a subtle expression that was difficult to decipher, whether it was a good or bad mood.
When he had this expression, it meant his emotions had sunk to the bottom. The pleasant currents that had been swirling around Karnov just a moment ago were gradually solidifying.
“Uh, Karnov?”
“Alcohol?”
“Huh?”
“You’re not making alcohol anymore?”
“Ah~! Shasling liquour? It can only be made during the shasling harvest season.”
Asha replied coolly, wondering why the talk of alcohol suddenly came out.
“We’ll be harvesting grapes soon, so I wanted to try making grape wine, but I think it might be too much for this year…”
“Why?”
“Ah, I had asked Baroness Saratov for a favor recently. After that, once this exhibition is over…”
Asha folded her fingers to count the schedule.
“Maybe, at the end of autumn? I’ll go visit my parents then. Grandfather has given permission. So, I probably won’t have time to make alcohol and that’s why…”
“…I feel like there’s no end to the things I don’t know.”
“Oh, no. That’s what I wanted to tell you. When the time comes! It would be a little awkward to talk about it already.”
Asha hurriedly tried to justify herself. The current that had been stiffening earlier had now turned completely dark.
‘Is it… Is it because he’s upset?’
Upset?
Because she didn’t tell him?
Feeling unsure of what to do, Asha repeatedly held and let go of her own hand. Karnov’s feelings have changed a lot from when they first met. At first, they were heavy and immobile like a piece of metal, but now it was wavy gently like a stream and burned gently like a candle.
But even if Asha could understand the height, depth, and color of Karnov’s emotions, it was solely her responsibility to interpret the cause and truly see into his heart. Asha cleared her throat and took Karnov’s hand, walking a little faster. Lise, considerate as always, fell a few steps behind.
“You know, Karnov. I really meant to tell you… But I feel bad relying on you for all the mundane things I talk about…”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Um, I mean, it’s just that it feels unfair to burden you with my everyday stories, isn’t it?”
Asha presented a valid argument based on his consideration, but Karnov’s expression showed that he didn’t want to agree. Cornered, Asha resorted to saying something that should have been left unsaid in order to diffuse the atmosphere.
“Ahaha. Should we talk about everything then? Should we write in our exchange diary as well?”
That was a story Asha had brought up when she first met Karnov, as a joke to tease him out of unnecessary pride. Remembering the disgusted expression on Karnov’s face at that time also made Asha laugh, so it was said as a joke.
“Hmm. Sure, why not.”
“So, to let off stea… What?”
Asha abruptly stopped with a startled expression. Karnov also naturally came to a halt.
Asha’s eyes were wide with confusion, not understanding why Karnov’s mood suddenly improved, why there was no trace of that emotional change on his face, and why she was feeling so bewildered about what she had just said.
“What… What did I… What did I say?”
“What are you talking about? Why are you asking me about something you said?”
“Wait, no. What did I say? What did I say that made Karnov happy? Could it be…”
“You asked me to write an exchange diary.”
“…!”
Asha looked at Karnov with an expression that almost seemed like she wanted to scream.
“Why are you happy about that?!”
She blurted out, holding back her breath to make sure Lise, who was following behind, couldn’t hear. Karnov’s response was merely a raised eyebrow.
“Why? Because I think it would be nice to write an exchange diary.”
“Karnov, wait, just a moment! Let’s regain our composure first. Stay calm.”
“I’m calm.”
“You should think carefully and then answer. It’s a really bothersome thing. Can you handle it?”
“What’s the big deal? You just blurted out something without meaning it, didn’t you, Your Highness the Princess?”
“No~! That’s not it! It’s not…”
Asha kept saying no, but suddenly paused, feeling a bit confused by a sudden thought.
‘Is it really such a…bad thing to write an exchange diary with Karnov?’
The issue was simply that she couldn’t get used to the idea of Karnov, once known as the God of Death, writing an exchange diary alongside her.
As Asha went through a slow process of rationalization, Karnov silently watched her. While she considered the possibility of writing an exchange diary with Karnov, her previously bewildered expression turned into a thoughtful one.
“But I’m a princess, and you’re a Neustadter… Even if it’s a private exchange diary between us, we shouldn’t write anything too strange. You never know.”
“Strange?”
“Like if I were to insult my grandfather or something…”
Karnov let out a low cough.
Asha continued to gaze at Karnov with a serious expression.
“Got it?”
“Yeah.”
“And what kind of notebook should we use for the diary?”
“I’ll bring the notebook.”
“Make sure it’s a pretty one. Okay? Write ‘Diary’ on the metal frame of the cover, and inside, have a ribbon for bookmarking. And use paper that doesn’t let the ink bleed too much.”
“…Fine, got it.”
Karnov nodded as he carefully mulled over each of Asha’s conditions.
