MEXH • 07

<CHAPTER 07>

A Praising Smile

Evelyn had believed herself to be rather capable and clever.

At the very least, she had defined herself as someone who would not struggle with eating, sleeping, and living.

But… I was wrong.

She stared gloomily at the empty basket.

The bread and cheese Alfredo had brought were already nearly gone.

She was already deeply worried about what she would eat once those ran out.

Can ham be eaten raw? I could not eat the grains raw…

She recalled the time she had secretly tasted the feed while giving it to the chickens and felt despair.

The amount of food stored in the cool cellar was enough to last over a month, even including Rexfail.

But that was only if one could cook with the ingredients available.

That was a story very, very far removed from Evelyn, who had been born and raised as the Crown Princess.

This will not do. I should ask His Highness Rexfail whether I may borrow Penril’s help.

She had told him to leave and acted as though he did not exist whenever he approached to speak, but she had not been stingy with food.

Each time she ate, she cut an appropriate portion of bread and cheese for Rexfail and his guard knight and left it before the door.

She had not given them a large amount, but considering their builds and number, she had provided three times what she herself ate.

So this food shortage was their responsibility as well.

She persuaded herself of that.

All right. I will ask him to send Penril to the village to procure provisions.

Having organized what she would say, Evelyn steeled herself and went to the room where Rexfail was staying.

It was the first time she had approached him closely since he began staying in the cottage.

And then.

Hm?

She smelled something.

Familiar, nostalgic, and incredibly delicious.

Bang.

She had no room to consider propriety.

Without knocking or announcing herself, she flung the door open.

What met her eyes was a Simila’s room completely transformed from what she knew.

“What in the world…”

The cozy room once furnished with fabric woven by the old woman herself was gone.

Instead, it resembled a portion of the Imperial Palace, lavish and refined, with Rexfail seated while being attended by a young page.

“If you have come, then sit.”

She had heard nothing.

She had not sensed anyone coming or going.

Yet while she remained unaware, the structure of the small cottage had been completely altered, and new occupants had moved in.

She froze unconsciously, eyes wide in shock.

The young page attending Rexfail approached her.

“This way.”

The boy, clearly brought from the palace, guided her with flawless etiquette.

Before she knew it, Evelyn was seated upon a long sofa that doubled as a bed by the window.

“It was narrow and inconvenient to stay, so I made some slight adjustments.”

“…Slight?”

The built-in cabinet that had stored small belongings had been completely dismantled and incorporated into the room.

The bed and drawers Simila once used were nowhere to be seen.

Evelyn was shocked that all of this had occurred without her knowledge.

“There was no suitable place to store the furniture and belongings, so we kept them in a newly built cottage a short distance from here.”

Only Penril, the guard knight, offered her an awkward explanation regarding the missing items.

“A newly built cottage?”

“We required one, so we built it. There was an adequate clearing.”

Evelyn could not gather her thoughts.

But she could not protest either, as the food being set before her distracted her senses.

“Where did all this come from…”

Cold turkey was placed before her, accompanied by sweet raspberry sauce whose fragrance rose enticingly.

There was salad made with herbs and vegetables not grown in the backyard, clear meat soup, and well-baked small rolls served with various cheeses.

Though not presented as courses, the dishes covering the large table rivaled a formal banquet.

“Will you not partake?”

Seeing Rexfail dip torn bread into the clear meat soup and withdraw it, Evelyn swallowed unconsciously.

As if to show off, Rexfail slowly opened his mouth and pushed the soaked bread inside.

Hunger paralyzed her thoughts.

Her body began moving of its own accord.

Before she realized it, she dipped her fingertips into the bowl of water brought by the page and cleansed them, then whetted her appetite with the aperitif.

Soon she was so hungry that she felt she must put something into her mouth at once.

“Take your time and enjoy it. We have plenty of time.”

At his gesture, the page sliced the chilled turkey cleanly in half with a specialized knife.

The crisp sound of the skin splitting nearly drove Evelyn mad.

Though unable to tear her eyes from the glistening turkey, she followed the etiquette ingrained in her, beginning with the appetizer, then the soup, fish course, and palate cleanser.

Only then did she touch the turkey the page had cut for her.

It was a meal conducted in perfect accordance with noble dining order.

Rexfail engraved every detail coldly and precisely into his mind.

Evelyn, enjoying a proper meal for the first time in a long while, was completely unaware.

“If you would permit the use of the kitchen, we could serve not only cold dishes but freshly prepared ones as well.”

At the page’s regretful sigh, Evelyn showed interest.

Rexfail casually brought a piece of turkey thickly coated with jam to his mouth and spoke indifferently.

“Since we have already been discovered, there is no need to move in secrecy. You may use the kitchen, Gail.”

She wanted to shout that this was not his palace.

But she could not.

He was the Crown Prince, and so long as he did not infringe upon the Emperor’s authority, there was nothing he could not do at will.

…There should not have been.

For the first time in a long while, Evelyn thought of Duke Maxwell Dame Membro, her former father.

When I died, how did Father react?

She could not imagine it.

Perhaps he had been angry, or perhaps he had merely clicked his tongue.

One thing was certain.

Whatever the case, he would not have grieved.

Father grieving? That is absurd.

Evelyn lightly shook her head to dispel the memory.

She then focused her gaze on the page clearing the table.

“Is there something you wished to say?”

The perceptive boy quickly sensed she had something on her mind.

At his polite bow and sweet smile, Evelyn unconsciously placed a faint smile upon her face.

It was a praising smile.

A smile artificially formed to commend a subordinate who had acted to please their master.

It was a smile only someone accustomed to commanding others beneath them could produce.

A smile only one long served could fabricate.

It did not suit a young girl living alone in a cottage with an old woman.

Witnessing something so out of place emerge where it was not expected felt akin to realizing one was dreaming.

The Crown Prince acted as though he had anticipated it.

The young page, ignorant of the world, simply accepted it.

But Penril was different.

He stiffened at the sense of incongruity.

Without even knowing what had unsettled him, he sharpened his senses.

As a subtle killing intent began to leak from him, the Crown Prince cast him a quiet glance and restrained him.

What was that?

She had been nothing more than a small and shabby country girl.

Yet the slightly peculiar young girl now felt like something vast and incomprehensible.

Penril felt the urge to cut down the woman who seemed to be wearing an ill-fitting shell.

But.

No. Stand down.

His lord’s will was unmistakable.

The Crown Prince was not disturbed by the woman’s reaction.

He appeared rather pleased by it and remained firm.

He even seemed comfortable beside her, as though he were an old acquaintance.

That woman is dangerous.

Penril trusted his instincts.

But with his lord blocking him so resolutely, he could not act rashly.

I must tell Vane to hurry.

The investigation ordered by the Crown Prince was being handled by Vane.

His Highness had said there was no rush while his wounds healed, but now there was no room for leisure.

“Would you prepare tea for after the meal?”

The sight of that girl displaying perfect noble etiquette grated on him.

He wanted her removed from his lord’s side.

He wanted certainty that she could be removed.

As he quietly sharpened his thoughts—

Thud.

Suddenly, a small gray bundle of fur rushed at his feet, breaking his concentration.

“Coco!”

A scream rang out.