Chapter 18
What was even more astonishing was the unmistakable hint of pride in Prince Evan’s voice as he spoke.
“That’s right. And she’s quite good at it, too. Did she say she’d bake a cake for you as well, Patrick?”
“Y-Yes…”
“It seems Cat has taken a liking to your son. She doesn’t bake for just anyone, so you ought to be grateful.”
As he spoke, Prince Evan went into surprising detail about the cocoa mug cake Katrina had baked especially for him.
Even the strawberry jam spread on top, he proudly explained, had been simmered by the princess herself.
No matter how one listened to it, it sounded as though he were proudly boasting about his younger sister.
The Marquis of Roengreen and Patrick could only sit there in utter confusion.
That prince? The one who looked as if not even a drop of blood would come out if you cut him?
Surely not… especially in a situation like this?
But…
How was knowing how to bake a cake something worth bragging about?
Considering Katrina’s extraordinary status as the Empire’s Second Princess, it was an incredibly humble talent.
Unsure how to respond, the Marquis and Patrick merely maintained stiff smiles.
Unable to endure it any longer, Amelia interrupted Evan.
“By the way, Brother. Did I tell you that I healed one of the knights who was injured during training with my divine power?”
To everyone’s surprise, Evan immediately abandoned the subject of Katrina’s cocoa mug cake and readily followed Amelia’s lead.
“Of course you did. I heard it was quite remarkable.”
Was he… not actually trying to boast? Was it merely casual conversation?
Patrick’s confusion only deepened.
Beside him, Amelia let out her bright, cheerful laugh.
“It wasn’t anything that amazing. I just happened to be walking nearby when I heard all this commotion. When I went to see what was happening, there were all these handsome knights wearing heavy suits of armor, riding enormous warhorses, and each carrying spears this big!”
Excitedly, Amelia recounted the story of the knight who had fallen from his horse during training and how she had healed him.
Patrick couldn’t understand her.
How could Amelia so openly display such overwhelming divine power in front of Prince Evan?
It was, in effect, no different from trampling over Princess Katrina’s existence.
After all, Katrina had been born amid expectations that she would become the prophesied Saintess, only for everyone to discover that she possessed no divine power whatsoever.
Anyone in the room should have been anxiously watching Prince Evan’s reaction.
Yet Evan merely listened with genuine interest.
“I see, Meli. The more I hear about divine power, the more miraculous it seems. Even broken bones and mangled flesh can be restored in an instant… It’s truly an extraordinary power.”
“Oh, Brother, you’re exaggerating.”
Amelia accepted his praise as though such a response were only natural.
To an outsider, it would have looked as though Evan and Amelia were the real brother and sister—not Evan and Katrina.
Patrick unconsciously held his breath again.
Is he really planning to abandon the Second Princess?
Or is there still something House Roengreen hasn’t discovered?
Just then, after chatting amiably with Amelia like an affectionate older brother, Evan turned his attention back to Patrick.
“But the Marquis must be terribly disappointed.”
“You entered into this engagement because you expected my sister to become the Saintess.”
“And yet, when you finally met your fiancée, she turned out to be nothing more than an ordinary girl without even a trace of divine power.”
Patrick instinctively glanced toward his father.
Others might not have noticed.
But he did.
It looked as though a tiny crack had appeared in the Marquis of Roengreen’s perfectly composed smile.
His father was usually an exceptionally cautious and rational Master of the Magic Tower.
But whenever he wore the expression that said, ‘So that’s how you want to play?’…
…he had a habit of becoming unexpectedly combative.
Fearing his father’s temper had finally reached its limit, Patrick hurriedly spoke before the Marquis could answer.
“N-Not at all, Your Highness.”
Strictly speaking, Evan had addressed the Marquis, not Patrick.
Interrupting was a breach of etiquette.
At this point, however, such minor formalities no longer mattered.
Evan regarded him with immense curiosity, like a well-fed lion toying with prey already cornered.
“Oh? Really? I had assumed my dear future brother-in-law was secretly disappointed after finally meeting the fiancée he’d anticipated for so long.”
His tone carried the unmistakable implication:
Your fate has already been decided.
Go ahead. Struggle if you like.
Patrick took another sip of tea.
Even so, his mouth remained painfully dry.
“No… I mean… I wasn’t disappointed.”
“Not at all.”
“Because… P-Princess Katrina…”
“We only spent a short time together, but…”
“…she was…”
“…truly…”
“…beautiful.”
Before he could stop himself, he felt heat rush to his face.
That only made him panic even more.
Among nobles, describing one’s fiancée as beautiful or lovely was nothing more than polite convention.
So why was he reacting like this?
By now, the boy’s face had turned bright crimson.
And that, more than anything, proved his words weren’t empty courtesy.
They were sincere.
Slowly, he raised his head and looked around the table.
Prince Evan and the Marquis of Roengreen had both forgotten their silent battle of wills and were staring at him with wide eyes.
Amelia openly frowned.
Patrick instantly realized he had made himself into the subject of everyone’s amusement.
But it was too late.
Once he’d spoken aloud the truth he’d been trying so desperately to ignore…
…there was no taking it back.
Beneath the cool shade…
Her silver-white hair had been as pure as lingering snow.
Her black eyes had seemed impossible to fathom.
Though spring had breathed life into the entire world…
…that girl alone had looked as though winter still belonged to her.
Dignified.
Dry.
Solitary.
They had barely spoken.
She hadn’t displayed any remarkable wisdom or extraordinary insight.
And yet…
The tragic past that clung to her like an ugly rumor gave her a strange presence that made it difficult to look away.
Granted, the moment she’d opened her mouth, she’d started talking about cakes and sweets like any ordinary child…
But that wasn’t the important part.
His engagement to Princess Katrina was, above all else, a political alliance between House Roengreen and the Imperial Family.
The Imperial succession remained undecided.
The rivalry between the First Prince and the Second Prince had thrown the Empire into turmoil.
House Roengreen’s highest priority was to preserve its own stability and interests amidst that chaos.
Yes.
That was all.
If circumstances demanded it…
House Roengreen had to be prepared to sever ties with Princess Katrina at any moment.
For now, maintaining the engagement simply happened to be in the family’s best interest.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
Yet…
By the time Patrick’s face had turned completely scarlet, Prince Evan suddenly burst into hearty laughter.
“Hahaha!”
“It seems Patrick has fallen quite deeply for my little sister.”
Pour sugar and water into a saucepan.
Place it over low heat and patiently simmer it.
Stir occasionally with a wooden spatula.
Once it begins bubbling gently, cover it with a lid and wait.
Before long, a wonderfully sweet aroma will begin drifting through the air—
sweet enough to make your mouth water all on its own.
“Wow, that smells amazing.”
“I’m getting hungry.”
When they finally lifted the lid…
Inside was a batch of golden caramel, glowing with a warm sweetness reminiscent of Cindy’s hair shining beneath the spring sunshine.
Set the caramel aside to cool.
Meanwhile, heat milk together with tea leaves.
More excited than any of the maids gathered in the kitchen, Kitty lightly stopped Margaret—who was reaching for another pot.
“Use the same pot we made the caramel in.”
“It’ll blend together better afterward.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Margaret was the senior-most maid among those who had helped dress Kitty that morning.
Following Kitty’s instructions, she poured plenty of milk and tea leaves into the same saucepan that had held the caramel.
Before long, a familiar fragrance filled the kitchen.
It spread gently through the air…
Soft and rich…
Almost as though it were coating the inside of everyone’s nose with warm milk.
The scent was unmistakable.
Milk tea.
The maids’ eyes sparkled as they eagerly inhaled the delicious aroma.
Everyone knew, in theory, that boiling milk together with tea leaves produced milk tea.
But witnessing the two ingredients transform together before their eyes still felt almost magical.
They continued stirring occasionally until the milk turned a soft, creamy tea color, then allowed it to cool.
Next, Kitty poured the cooled milk tea through a fine sieve twice into a bowl containing beaten egg yolks and whipped cream, mixing everything thoroughly.
Finally, she strained the milk tea mixture one last time before pouring it into the bowl containing the cooled caramel.
