episode_0027

“In just one day, a whopping one hundred and forty people were executed. Do these writers intend to turn noble Fraua into a slaughterhouse?”

“It is said that all the remaining capital guard soldiers have defected and joined the Eastern Army⋯.”

“The Southern Garrison has sent another request for reinforcements.⋯It seems difficult to expect help from them⋯.”

“It’s too risky to call in the military to the border! If we’re not careful, something even worse could happen!”

Voices echo in the head of Lord Perel Dyce, the chamberlain who has just woken up. She throws off the covers and gets out of bed to find her bed soaked with sweat.

‘This can’t go on.’

Sir Dice repeatedly pulls on the sleeves of his long official uniform, forcing his short arms out of the clothes. His frozen expression shows no sign of loosening.

A morning in Frauwa covered in thick dark clouds. The dazzling gold and splendid decorations are colorless, and a gloomy atmosphere is spreading throughout the palace.

“Head Chef, I have something to tell you.”

The head chef, who was preparing the vegetables needed to make the broth, raises his head at the sound of Sir Dice’s voice. At her serious expression, the chef puts the knife down on the table and wipes his hands on his apron.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Go ahead.”

“⋯I remember the day you first came to this castle. That inexperienced kitchen assistant is now the head chef in charge of the palace’s meals. It’s unbelievable.”

As he says this, Sir Dice reaches out to pat the tall chef on the shoulder, but since it’s not long enough, he awkwardly decides to pat him on the arm.

“Yes, that’s right. Back then, the chief of the household wasn’t even the chief of the household. Time flies so fast⋯.”

As the chef smiles, the corners of her eyes droop even further.

“Hahaha, I’m lucky to have you by my side for so long, you always make my mouth happy.”

The embarrassed chef rubs his thigh and scratches the back of his head.

“Is it my fault? I feel lucky to be able to serve people who appreciate my food. Oh, and I’m preparing a new dessert these days. I wonder if it would be good to mix sweet and sour cream with cool-smelling herbs⋯⋯.”

“Is your loyalty to the royal family still the same as it was back then?”

Sir Dice asks, cutting off the talkative chef.

“⋯What can I say? I have always devoted my life to enriching the tables of the Arsul royal family.”

“That’s right. Your job is to prepare royal meals, not to make food for the stomachs of thugs.”

As soon as Sir Dice finished speaking, he took out a small brown pouch tied with a string from his bosom.

“What is this? Your Majesty.”

The chef takes the pouch and feels it with his hands. It is lighter than he thought. If he touches it gently, he can see that the contents are some kind of powder.

“Please forgive me for the rudeness of making you tamper with the food you have spent your entire life eating. But it is for a greater cause. Please think of it as something to put in your disgusting mouth, not food.”

“Gulp⋯.”

“The rascals who soon took over the palace dare to hold a feast in this banquet hall? They’re targeting the moment when they’re most intoxicated with pride.”

Sir Dice explains his plan in a very nervous tone, while the chef accepts the bag she hands him and remains silent.

“I know, it’s not an easy decision. You have children and a husband to support. But I also swore loyalty to the royal family. I will not let anything go wrong for you.”

“⋯I always thought I wanted to do something greater for the royal family.”

The chef opened his mouth cautiously and then shuddered.

“I am honored that you trust me, Your Majesty. I will work for the Arsul royal family with this body.”

The chef bends down and takes Dice’s hand. His sweaty hands wet the steward’s gloves.

“⋯Okay, good. Your loyalty impresses me.”

***

“Oh, hello, Your Highness.”

Christie rises from her chair, takes off her hat and greets us.

“Juaron?⋯Is the prince here yet?”

“Yes. Did something happen between you two?”

“How did you know that?”

“⋯It’s all on your face, Your Highness.”

The little prince sighed deeply, went into the room, closed the door, and threw himself on the sofa with a blank expression.

“Hey, you know⋯. Does Joao know a lot about men?”

Christie closes her eyes tightly, then opens them again and raises the corners of her mouth.

“Uh-huh-huh, I’d rather count the stars in the night sky. Why did you argue with the prince?”

“I didn’t say we had an argument… No, we did. How did you know, really.”

The little boy raises his head and starts washing his face.

“Men, when do you start feeling like that?”

“Isn’t it possible that the prince wants to remain chaste before marriage?”

“That’s definitely not me.⋯Haa. How can the world be so unfair? Women all have empty spaces somewhere in their bodies, so they always want to fill those empty spaces, but why don’t men who actually have what they need do that?”

Christie just laughs dryly as she listens to the brat’s lament.

“Should I spray some perfume? I took a nice shower. Maybe it was my clothes that were the problem.”

The crown prince puts his sleeve to his nose and sniffs.

“Were you dressed like that last night too?”

Christie asks the little girl, who is dressed in a clean, ornate white uniform with no exposed skin.

“Yeah, I thought the atmosphere was really good, you know⋯. In a dark night, in a pitch-black room with the curtains drawn, I could only feel the other person’s presence with my fingertips. Isn’t that romantic enough?”

Fortunately, Christie was a quiet soul and was adept at laughing at other people’s misfortunes.

dripping

“Prince⋯?!”

The Crown Prince, startled, straightened his clothes again. However, the door opened and the face revealed was that of the chief chamberlain, Sir Dice. She also glanced around the room, met Christie’s eyes, and couldn’t hide her surprised expression, just like the Crown Prince.

“Now, what are you doing here?”

“I am performing the duty of guarding the Crown Prince and his wife. As you know, the position of bodyguard has become vacant.”

Christie responds with a smile.

“It was Ferrell? What happened?”

The prince confirmed the visitor’s identity and leaned back on the sofa again.

“You’re going to say you don’t even know why that position is vacant. What did you do to the royal guard? How shameless⋯.”

Sir Dice grumbles and closes the door as he enters the room.

“Calm down, Ferrel. I don’t think Joaaron is one of those bad guys.”

At the prince’s answer, Lord Dice glared at Christie with a face that seemed to be indignant. Christie shrugged her shoulders once, placed two high cushions on the sofa next to her, and motioned for Lord Dice to sit down. Lord Dice sat down with a crumpled expression at her consideration that seemed to be somehow irritating.

“Oh, I got an invitation. There’s a banquet? Isn’t this a good opportunity to make up for yesterday? Joao Ron. Help me out. You have more dating experience than me.”

“⋯First of all, shouldn’t we pray that the prince’s mood will improve by then?”

“Ugh… I’m not confident. Once I start vomiting, it takes a long time.”

Sir Dice feels a strong sense of discomfort towards the two who are talking without hesitation.

“⋯⋯Can I move your seat for you? It seems like you have something to say.”

Christie catches the expression on Dice’s face as he looks around and asks timidly.

“Thank you so much.”

“Then, the two of you, have a nice chat.⋯As a bodyguard, I’m a little curious about what kind of conversation they’ll have that might be embarrassing to hear.”

She stands up, turns her back on the crown prince, and wipes the smile from her face to give Lord Dice a meaningful look. Lord Dice trembles as his heart sinks at the sight of her cold gaze.

“Juaron! Will you be by my side on the day of the banquet?”

Christie nods with a perfect smile at the prince’s question as he opens the door and leaves the room. As soon as the door closes with a clang, Sir Dice screams in fear.

“You must keep your distance from me, Your Highness the Crown Prince⋯!”

“That’s surprising⋯⋯. Why are you doing that?”

Christie laughed once at the sound coming from beyond the door, and instead of eavesdropping on their conversation in the next room that Uriel had prepared, she diligently crossed the hallway. It was unexpected that the chief chamberlain, whom she had thought of as a cowardly coward, was openly showing hostility toward them, but it was also interesting. For someone of that caliber, any kind of collusion with the crown prince would be insignificant compared to what she was going to do from now on.

Click

Hesset Duzan, the husband of the Eastern Army Commander-in-Chief Uriel, opens the door and appears, holding a packed lunch for his indigesting wife in one hand.

“You are⋯?”

He stops when he runs into Christie, who is working out outside, sweaty and in a sleeveless outfit.

“Hoo, good morning, wife.”

Even though her social status may have suddenly risen, her tedious habit of personally delivering lunch boxes to her every day has not changed. The only thing that has changed is the cloth used to wrap her lunch boxes. Christie stretches by pulling her elbows up over her head.

“Yes, that’s right. Hmm… He’s in the office, right?”

Christie turns and looks up at Uriel’s office, then turns back to Hesset.

“He is not at his desk right now because he has a meeting during the day.”

A fleeting moment. Christie couldn’t help but notice that the man in front of her was staring at her bare armpit. Moonlight? Perfume? Atmosphere? She knew that visual stimulation was the most important thing to men. She didn’t need to be completely clean. The subtle scent of her sweaty body also helped.

It’s impossible for a man in this world to have weak desires. This poor man, who was caught in Christie’s trap, felt his heart pounding in broad daylight.

“If you want, I can pass it on to you.”

When Christie reaches out, Hesset, who was awkwardly covering his groin with his lunchbox, is startled.

“⋯⋯I have something to say myself, so thank you but that’s enough. Ahem, ahem!”

Then Hesset hurriedly walked in the opposite direction from the conference room.

“I’ll take you to the conference room, ma’am.”