LMU 12

Chapter: 12

“Dragged into it? Not at all. I’ve been happy every single day lately.”

Rather than agreeing with Uncle, Grandma Sophie picked up another piece of fried eggplant and handed it to me.

Instead of popping it straight into my mouth, I held it out to Uncle.

“Uncle, you should eat this too. Isn’t it pretty?”

“Go sit down.”

“Okay.”

Fine then, don’t eat it.

It’s delicious though. Crunch.

“Now then, shall the young lady take her seat?”

Zenda patted the chair that had been prepared for me.

“Yep!”

Holding the fried eggplant Grandma Sophie had given me in both hands, I toddled back to my seat.

“Uncle.”

As I climbed onto the chair Zenda had pulled out for me, I called to him.

“…”

He looked even grumpier than before.

Ever since earlier, Uncle had been giving off an intimidating dark aura and barely answered anything I said.

Soon a trolley piled high with food rolled into the dining room.

Dish after dish, each with its own tempting aroma and flavor, was placed on the table.

“Thank you for the meal! And thank you for making such delicious food again today!”

“Oh my, what sweet manners you have.”

Grandma Sophie disappeared, saying she’d bring out the rest of the dishes.

I patiently waited while Zenda served food onto my plate, and the moment it was set in front of me, I stabbed a piece with my fork and stuffed it into my mouth.

The fluffy potato crumbled effortlessly across my tongue.

“So yummy! Uncle, eat lots too!”

“Finish your food before you talk.”

“Okay.”

Obediently listening to Uncle, I went right back to enthusiastically attacking my plate with my fork.

“Oh, right, Uncle. Take me to the Imperial Palace.”

“What for?”

I pulled out the letter I’d brought with me from earlier and waved it proudly.

“His Majesty invited me to come play!”

“How do you even know the Emperor?”

“I don’t really… But I know he’s Mom’s friend! The letter said to come visit. I’ve never been to the Imperial Palace before, so come with me!”

“I don’t want to.”

“…Why? You go there all the time.”

“And what’s that got to do with anything?”

“You’re so mean.”

“How’d you figure that out?”

“You’re a bad uncle.”

“You’ve got that right.”

I kept pestering him while we ate, but Uncle refused to budge.

Mission failed.

I thought if I brought it up casually, he’d just agree without thinking.

He seemed seriously angry about something, but I had no idea what.

Before long, I was full.

I quietly pushed my plate aside and patted my stomach.

Time to make a run for my room.

“My lady.”

Just as I started inching my chair back to escape, Zenda called out to me.

“Y-Yes?”

“You didn’t eat a single roasted vegetable. The roasted green onions, bell peppers, and onions are all still there.”

“Oh… um… well…”

Zenda smiled pleasantly as she stared right at me.

Desperately, I searched for an excuse.

“Oh! I already ate lots of them in my dream this morning. So I don’t have to eat any more today.”

Zenda and the nearby servants burst into quiet laughter, but I deliberately puffed out my belly even more and rubbed it earnestly.

“You need to eat a balanced diet if you want to grow tall. Look—if you want to grow as tall as Master, you have to finish all your—”

Zenda stopped mid-sentence as she looked at Uncle’s plate.

For good reason.

His plate wasn’t much different from mine.

Uncle was huge, built like a rock, and yet he hadn’t eaten any vegetables either.

“Uncle didn’t finish his either! That means I can grow tall without eating them too!”

I pointed triumphantly at the two slices of bell pepper and the roasted green onion he’d left behind.

Even Zenda, who had just insisted on eating everything, couldn’t argue with the fact that Uncle was enormous.

So I figured that settled it, and I could get up now.

“Peanut. Are you the same as me?”

“I’m not Peanut!”

“So tiny already trying to pull tricks. Clean your plate.”

And with that, he stood up and casually walked away first.

Mom used to say that.

That Uncle would always be on my side.

That even if I couldn’t trust anyone else, I could trust him.

What nonsense!

Mom’s a liar too.

One day, I’ll get my revenge!

In the end, Zenda caught me, and I had no choice but to finish every last roasted vegetable.

Still unable to shake the irritating, unpleasant feeling whose cause he couldn’t identify, Cassel entered his office.

Gerard followed behind him.

“What the…?”

Sitting squarely in the middle of his desk was a fist-sized box covered in dazzling rainbow colors.

It was a riot of colors, slightly crumpled and flimsy, looking as though it had been folded out of colored paper.

There was only one person in this house careless enough to make something so crude, shabby, and unimpressive.

“Could the young lady have left it here…?”

After all, no one else in the mansion would dare place something like this on his desk.

Gerard swallowed the rest of his sentence as he curiously stared at the box.

Would this become the savior that broke the gloomy atmosphere—or not?

Cassel casually picked it up and gave it a shake.

Something inside lightly bumped against the sides.

Although he barely used any force, the box had already become half-crushed.

Opening it, he found a flower brooch made by layering bright red lace with vivid yellow lace.

It looked similar to the brooches worn on the chests of Gerard and all the household attendants.

Except it was at least twice as large.

And made with two colors instead of one.

Oh—and it came in a pitiful paper box.

Gerard, who had spent the entire day being endlessly teased because of the brooch Miss Aika had given him, was the first to brighten up.

That’s it!

“She must have been late because she was preparing her very best gift for you!”

Cassel stared silently at the brooch for a long moment before muttering,

“Hah. Who’s going to wear this? It’s so cheap-looking.”

Then why are the corners of your mouth curling up?

Gerard thought to himself, but said something else instead.

“It’s much bigger too. And with the yellow layered in, doesn’t it resemble a marigold?”

He even cleverly pulled out a bit of information he’d once heard from Zenda.

As a result, Cassel’s smile widened even further.

“What a fuss over something like this. She was handing them out to everyone. Oh, right. Did you get a box too?”

“No, I didn’t. Perhaps she only made one for the person she thought was the most precious… and the coolest.”

Gerard defended Aika with every ounce of sincerity he had.

Cassel absentmindedly fiddled with the flower brooch for a while before placing it carefully on one corner of the desk.

“Enough. Give your report.”

The smile climbing toward the heavens vanished in an instant, and the room’s atmosphere became serious again.

Secretly clenching his fist in triumph, Gerard cleared his throat and began.

“We’ve finished examining every fragment of the carriage. Aside from the thirty-eight already dealt with, we’re still pursuing the remaining seven.”

“And none of them have talked yet.”

“No. Everyone except those who were captured and interrogated committed suicide.”

“They killed themselves as if they’d been waiting for the chance. Ridiculous. Find the rest.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And… what’s-his-name… If you’re not busy, go tell Peanut to get ready for the Imperial Palace tomorrow. If she’s late, I’ll leave without her.”

Gerard blinked in surprise.

The change of subject had come so suddenly it was practically an ambush.

“We’re going to the Imperial Palace tomorrow? So suddenly? What about all the work that’s piled up?”

“What do you mean, suddenly? I was planning to go anyway. I just kept putting it off because it was a hassle.”

“…Ah… yes, sir…”

Gerard trailed off with a long, weary sigh.

“What are you standing around for? If the report’s finished, get moving.”

“Yes, sir! I’ll go right away!”

“Once that’s done, you’re off duty. No need to come back.”

“Yes! Thank you!”

Having unexpectedly been dismissed for the day, Gerard hurried out of the office before Cassel could change his mind.

The uncle who had seemed absolutely determined not to take me to the Imperial Palace had, late yesterday evening, sent Gerard to tell me to prepare for the trip.

Afraid Uncle might change his mind, I’d pestered Zenda all night to help me get everything ready in advance.

The next morning.

As soon as I finished breakfast, I packed the letter and several handfuls of candy into the little round yellow bag Zenda had prepared for me.

Just as I finished getting ready, someone said Uncle was calling for me, so I ran straight to his room.

“Uncle! I’m here! Don’t I look super pretty?”

The moment I threw open the door and stepped inside, I spread my arms dramatically to show off my dress.

Uncle didn’t even look my way, but I spun around anyway.

Even while sitting on the edge of the table, he had to bend his long legs slightly.

“Are you going to a party?”

Huh? But he wasn’t even looking!

“No. But I wanted to wear my prettiest dress. Look, it even has little beads sewn onto it. Zenda said they’re pearls!”

I proudly showed him the tiny beads decorating my pale yellow lace dress.