Chapter 129

“Count, we’ll do it. Please…!”

I shook my head repeatedly while moving the frying pan in the kitchen.

“It’s fine. I want to do it myself. My brother and sister went to visit Pinea’s place, so I’ll take care of dinner. Just bring the tea up to my room later.”

“B-but, you said guests are coming! And it’s the Duke…!”

The butler was restless, but I was busy cooking.

“I want to serve them myself. Don’t worry about it. I’ll call if I need anything, okay?”

“But…!”

When I smiled and didn’t budge, the butler finally surrendered.

“I’ll come running at once, so please call me if anything happens.”

“Yes, yes.”

Only then could I truly concentrate on cooking.

They weren’t special dishes. I prepared the pork cutlets and meat stew I used to make for my friends here, and foods I remembered from my past life. Fortunately, there was a concept like ‘square feet’ here—called an ‘old sauce’—so I could make something roughly similar to bulgogi.

“Will it suit their taste?”

When the meeting that had been insisting I be “definitely— dispatched to the plague region,” as the Crown Prince demanded, ended, Ren was on the verge of throwing a punch.

I hadn’t even seen him properly lately, and they were sending him to an entirely different region. From how he’d been at Those Who Can’t Resign, he was almost at his limit. So I told him to come over for a meal and a chat since it had been a while.

Actually, the reason my family went out was because I asked Pinea and Nicola to take them along.

“I didn’t want to create a situation to worry about.”

I finished cooking, changed clothes, and just in time Ren arrived. The moment I saw his face I sent the butler and servants away.

“Relax your expression a bit.”

Instead of his stiff face, a raw, contorted expression popped out. He looked terrifying, and yet somehow it looked cute. Puzzled, I introduced the dishes I had prepared.

“Shall we start with dinner? I specially made it today.”

His expression instantly changed to surprise.

“Y-you cooked? You did?”

I nodded and described each dish.

“These are dishes I used to make often where I lived before. They’re not exactly the same, but I wanted you to try them. You were curious, weren’t you?”

“That may be, but…”

The unspoken question of why today went unsaid. I stifled a laugh and picked up my spoon.

“Try it. I made it myself.”

When I slid the bulgogi forward, he inspected it briefly with his fork and then scooped up a big bite without hesitation. Ren’s eyes widened. It was clearly a positive reaction.

“How is it? It’s bulgogi.”

“Bulgogi… it’s delicious.”

“This is the first time I’ve made it for you, Ren.”

He said it would be tasty in rye bread, so I assembled it that way and he devoured it eagerly. You could see his mood lighten. The power of delicious food really is something. Watching him made me happy.

“Don’t look at me with that expression.”

He propped his chin in his palm and admired me, and then, coming to his senses, he suddenly cleared his throat.

“What do you mean it’s troublesome?”

“It was like a parent feeling proud watching their child eat. Not very pleasant.”

“Puhat!”

See, he’s not completely without empathy. Maybe he even incorporated feedback from Those Who Can’t Resign. I pointed a finger to clear up the misunderstanding.

“It’s similar but wrong. I’m happy because someone I care for is enjoying the food I made.”

“…You always have a way of leaving people speechless like this.”

He then ate every bit of the considerable amount I’d made, leaving nothing.

“You’re full, you don’t have to force yourself…! It might not suit your taste.”

He gracefully wiped his mouth with a napkin and set it down.

“I don’t have a hobby of forcing myself to eat bad food. I train every day, so I can eat this much.”

But he hadn’t eaten this much when dining at the Duke’s residence. I started to say something, but stopped. His thoughtfulness made me smile. I think I understood what “I’m full even without eating” meant.

After the meal, we went up to the second floor where my room was. The butler glanced at the Duke, seemed relieved, placed tea and snacks, and left.

“Are you calmed down now?”

Ren, back to his usual self, brought the teacup to his lips.

“Not at all. It’s just that what you made tasted better.”

“Ren, I’m going.”

There’s no benefit in hiding this.

“No. I’m going.”

“You saw how hard the Crown Prince tried to stop me. I’m the target. Don’t get dragged in with me.”

“You know what kind of place that is…!”

He raised his voice slightly as if frustrated, then closed his mouth. I could feel him trying to hold back.

“Honestly, if I go and you take over the Ministry of Justice for a while, there would be no problem. The Chancellery oversees the work of all departments. Besides, you’ve worked with me before, so all the more. And… do you think I’d let you go to such a dangerous place alone? You’re asking too much understanding of me.”

He looked ready to quit being the Supreme Justice on the spot, but I shook my head again. His anger was too valuable to waste on this trivial matter.

“The Crown Prince must have a reason for sending me there. He probably doesn’t intend to kill me. Maybe it’s more like, ‘If she happens to die, fine’… something like that?”

“How is that any different?”

“There’s a reason you have to stay here. The Crown Prince will try to do something while I’m away from the Chancellery. Lately he’s been watching like he’s on fire, so there are hardly any openings at the Chancellery. And another reason… he’ll try to intimidate me. He wants to show how big and terrifying this world I stepped into is. He’ll display scenes of chaos where life and death are at stake and flex that he can send me to places like this anytime. He thinks I’m just a young woman. Prejudices based on appearance are stronger than you’d think.”

“That guy wouldn’t have that kind of intelligence…”

“No. But there are many nobles in the Crown Prince’s faction. For example, Duke Seref… there are many high-ranking families. In any case, even if I stayed here, I couldn’t be safe. It might be better to act as he wants to induce complacency. So for my sake, Ren must stay. If Ren goes with me, he’ll pay more attention and try harder to harm me.”

“Sigh…”

Ren roughly ran his hand through his hair and growled.

“You don’t flinch when it’s yourself going, but why do you get so agitated when my name comes up?”

“I’m confident I’ll come back alive somehow. But if I think you’re in danger I can’t calm down. Physically you’re weaker than me, after all.”

He poked my cheek with his index finger and couldn’t hide his sulky expression. But following the Crown Prince’s orders doesn’t mean I’ll submit obediently.

“Don’t worry. I’ve thought of that too. It’s a way the Emperor will like but the Crown Prince can’t stop. You’ll have less to worry about, Ren.”

He was silent for a moment and narrowed his eyes.

“Then surely… Prince Raven?”

He really had good instincts.

“Yes. I’ll bring Prince Raven to the plague region with me, in a way that looks like he volunteered. I’ll use this opportunity to help his return and solidify his position completely.”

“Ria…”

His surprised look made me lift my shoulders with pride for no reason.

“I need to show him what he meddled with.”

He’s not worth being put on the same level as a Crown Prince who thinks he can burn the populace if things get hard.

“Still, I’m worried to death.”

He pulled me into his arms in an instant, and the Crown Prince’s schemes flew to the far edge of my mind.

A week later, a plague relief team bound for the east was assembled. People from the central ministries, including the Chancellery, came out to see us off. I greeted cheerfully, but the Duke barely raised his hand with a stiff expression. Lukan and Elysia’s faces weren’t looking good either.

“You two, find out in detail everything that happened at the Chancellery with Eldo.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t worry.”

The Minister of Finance and Simon also offered worried advice.

“Also, don’t run around like a colt; take care of yourself first. Understood, Chancellor?”

“…If I’m a Chancellor, treat me like one. Minister of Finance.”

“Oh my, a child barely my daughter’s age in that dangerous place… If you really can’t, run away, Chancellor. It’s not a disgrace. Everyone will understand.”

“…That’s normal, but it will probably be a blemish people talk about for a long time. Simon.”

“You already look like you’ve seen the world. It’s the adults’ fault, Chancellor.”

Leira, as if she couldn’t let Simon’s complaint go unanswered, cut in.

“If anyone pulls any X crap, I’ll make them X, so don’t worry and go.”

We laughed off the unusually strong farewell words and exchanged a final look of request with Ren.

“Let’s go, Coco.”

From behind, Aidan, who was standing next to Prince Raven, called out loudly. The relief team, led by the prince, was ready to depart. I nodded and boldly boarded the carriage.

“Can I do this well? Even in my past life I never went to a plague region.”

No, I had to believe in myself.

I survived COVID too!