The reason Asha believed Dimitri would listen to her was because she had resorted to using the emperor’s favor and authority as a threat.
“You broke your promise?”
She had made a joke about baking a tart if Ilya helped organize the tea party, but it seems Dimitri took it seriously because he wanted the girl’s pastry, not because he heard her words due to Asha’s status as the emperor’s beloved one. It seemed like he wanted to maintain his dignity in that way.
“Ah… no. No, I brought something else. The strawberry season has passed, that’s all.”
Asha hastily rummaged through her pockets and took out a individually wrapped piece of financier. It was a small baked snack with a yellow golden color that was close to dark brown on the outside, and a little split in the middle, indicating a filling inside. Just as Asha was about to hold that pastry out to Dimitri.
<There they are!>
Asha swung her head at Phoebe’s words. Beyond the trees and bushes in the garden, she could see a carriage coming from far away. The figure of a man getting out of the carriage was hazy, but it was recognizable enough to be tell it was Valery. It seemed that he had gone out and was now returning.
“What, what is it?”
Dimitri looked at Asha, who suddenly changed her demeanor, and flinched. Asha handed Dimitri one of the financiers and turned her body.
“I’ll be right back, just keep playing.”
“What, play what? I can handle things myself!”
Without paying any attention to Dimitri’s excuses, Asha quietly left the garden.
━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━
“What are you going to do when you meet the Marquis of Shapiroqin?”
“Oh, you scared me! Ah… really. Karnov.”
Asha quickly turned around in surprise at the voice that came from behind her.
“Weren’t you playing with Natalya?”
“I’m not her babysitter. I handed her over to Prince Dimitri.”
“Why did you follow me here, then?”
“I came because you came.”
Asha sighed and fidgeted with her dress hem. But since Karnov had followed her because he was concerned, it felt like she should give him something to eat. Asha pulled out a financier from her pocket, unwrapped it, and pushed it into Karnov’s mouth.
“Eugh!”
“Eugh? Dimitri can’t eat it because he’s not here.”
“…Why is Prince Dimitri looking for your pastry?”
“Because the pastries I make are delicious.”
Karnov’s expression showed his displeasure, but he didn’t say anything more. And as Asha watched Karnov silently savor the subtle sweetness of the financier, she smiled inwardly.
“…You haven’t answered what you’re going to do after meeting Prince Valery.”
“I’m giving him my pastry.”
Asha was able to notice only after telling Karnov aloud that her words sounded ridiculous to others.
“…You’re going to give him snacks?”
“To be exact, to make him eat the snacks…”
“Why?”
“…If… if you eat my pastry… it makes you feel better…”
“…”
“…”
Asha tried to pretend not to know her face was burning with embarrassment.
“Even if I send it separately, he may not eat it. I don’t know when I can meet Uncle Valery, so I have to make him eat it as soon as I meet him.”
“What happens when he feels better?”
“People become a little kinder.”
“You know he’s a bad guy.”
Asha pouted her lips.
“I hate Alexei so much, I have eyes too. Of course, I know.”
“But still, you want to give him a pastry?”
Asha couldn’t help but speak, knowing how her words would sound.
“It’s for everyone’s sake…”
“…”
“I really mean it.”
“…”
Karnov wore a puzzled expression, seemingly unable to grasp the naive words, but he seemed to understand that Asha had some kind of plan and intention.
And to Asha’s delight, Karnov seemed more than willing to play along. The news of Karnov’s visit had already spread throughout the mansion, as the servants blanched at the mere sight of his shadow.
When Asha and Karnov reached the entrance of the mansion and stepped out into the garden, Valery, who heard the news, came running out of surprise.
“Anastasia, Lord Karnov. I heard that you came to Ilya’s gathering, and I was surprised. I was already thinking about whether to greet you…”
Valery, although slightly pale, continued speaking smoothly in front of Karnov. However, Karnov only raised his head when he heard the long remark.
‘Phoebe, are you sure Uncle Valery has Prasti?’
<It seems so. It seems like he has a deep wound inflicted on his soul.>
‘Can I take out Prasti by feeding him the snacks I made?’
<You can try. You should be able to. And now, there’s someone beside you who can help…>
While Phoebe trailed off the end of her words, Valery, who had felt ignored by Karnov, blushed momentarily from a momentary sense of humiliation and turned his head towards Asha.
“But Asha, why did you come all the way here instead of playing in the garden?”
“Other people are just guests, but Uncle Valery and I are family. Since we rarely get a chance like this, I came separately to greet you.”
With a bright smile, Asha’s words pricked Valery in some way, causing him to give a short cough.
“You’re really kind. Maybe that’s why Prince Alexei cares about you. But I suppose it won’t be fun to talk to me…”
“I personally baked a pastry to give it to you, though, Uncle Valery!”
Asha said with a big smile. He couldn’t not eat the snack that his niece gave him after all. Valery remained silent for a moment before calling a servant with scars under his eyes and instructing him to prepare a simple tea table. The tea table sparkled and dazzled, with Asha’s pastry placed on it. Valery tilted his head as he looked at the rectangular-shaped pastry on the plate.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen this snack.”
“It’s made with richly roasted butter and almond flour, and shaped like a gold ingot. The outside is crispy, and the inside is moist…”
“…”
Didn’t one of Valery’s business ventures fail miserably? She had chosen the gold ingot pastry in hopes that it would make him feel a little better, but it seemed like she had made a wrong judgment.
‘Could it be that I got him more angry?’
Valery only poured in the tea with a black expression and did not touch the snacks. When Asha was thinking about how to feed him – she even thought about rushing in and forcing it into his mouth – Karnov, who was sitting next to her, suddenly put down his tea cup and picked up a pastry. In that abrupt movement, Valery glanced briefly at Karnov. Karnov meticulously ate one pastry and then looked at Valery.
“Isn’t it disrespectful for the prince to not eat it?”
“Ah… no. I should eat it. After all, it was baked by my niece…”
Valery made an effort to smile as he picked up a pastry. Asha covered her face with the tea cup, staring intently as Valery cut the pastry in half.
The surface, baked to a rich and enticing dark color, split in half, revealing a light ivory interior. As the delightful aroma of hazelnuts filled the air, Valery’s expression softened slightly. And when Valery took a bite…
‘Phew.’
Asha finally relaxed her rigid posture and breathed a sigh of relief. Valery’s dense fluorescent green particles fluctuated greatly as if they had been attacked.
‘Phoebe, so it’s all because of Prasti? Originally, he was good…?’
<Not really.>
Phoebe’s voice echoed from within Asha’s sleeve button.
<The nature of that human is undoubtedly vile. He envies those who possess what he lacks, always hoping for the downfall of those who are above him.>
‘…’
<However, it was because of Prasti that he stooped to such a low level of personality with dirty wishes like evil thoughts and causing harm to others.>
Listening to Phoebe’s words, Valery before her seemed unusually sinister.
‘…So, if I just feed him the pastry, the problem will be solved, right?’
Asha’s statement sounded a bit disheartened, and Phoebe softened her voice.
<To be exact, that’s your role. To take measures to get those traits out.>
‘Then how do we extract those traits?’
<The Spirit of Time will help with that.>
‘What? Karnov?’
<Yes. If he is the knife that cuts open wounds and removes the pus, then you are the medicine that heals the wounds.>
Once again, Asha furrowed her brow seriously, hearing a story she had never heard before.
‘Karnov and I? What’s that…’
At that moment, a bright orange particle grazed past Asha’s eyes. Surprised, she raised her head. Valery, who had finished eating one financier, looked slightly flustered, and the bright particles that were bouncing around were all coming from him. Though the number wasn’t large…
“So…you made these pastries yourself?”
“Oh, yes! How does it taste, Uncle?”
“It’s very delicious. You seem to be very talented. The emperor gave you a kitchen for a reason.”
Valery, with a more relaxed look than at the beginning, naturally sipped the tea and picked up another financier.
“His Majesty’s birthday celebration will be held soon, right? What if you give him these pastries as a birthday gift?”
Asha’s eyes widened at the mention of the emperor’s birthday celebration, which she had never heard of before. Valery smiled faintly.
“You still have much to learn since you’ve only recently come to the palace, don’t you know? During autumn, in addition to the harvest festival, a grand celebration is held for His Majesty’s birthday.”
“Oh, I see…can I give the pastries I made for that occasion?”
Valery nodded with a subtle smile.
“It seems like anything you personally make would be appreciated, even if it’s not pastries. Seeing how you can create something so delicious, it’s clear that you have exceptional skills.”
Valery’s words were as sweet as honey. If it were a birthday gift for the emperor, everyone would bring magnificent and splendid items crafted by artisans, so it was certain that something shabby made by a ten-year-old girl would stand out in a negative way.
‘So, this is what Phoebe meant by unique traits.’
“Thank you for letting me know, Uncle Valery.”
“What did I do? It’s all thanks to your skills. It would have been nice if Ilya knew how to make this and that like you. The only thing he knows is to read books.”
Asha smiled broadly.
‘You’re saying I’m a kitchen servant and Ilya’s a smart student, right?’
“Ilya is kind-hearted and always willing to compromise. I haven’t seen anyone kinder than Ilya.”
Valery’s forehead turned red, and he awkwardly chuckled.
“Maxim adored the youngest Yuriev… I mean, your father, so much. Is that why? You seem to resemble Maxim a bit.”
“I do?”
“Ah… Yeah.”
Valery ate the last bite of the financier, had half a cup of tea, and got up from her seat.
“Anastasia, I’m sorry, but I still have some work to do, so I need to leave first. I hope you have a great time with Ilya. It was a pleasure to meet you, Lord Karnov.”
Though her parting words were somewhat solemn, Valery had already finished all the pastries Asha had brought, so she smiled and got up from her seat without any regrets.
“I’ll be back next time!”
