Chapter : 06
Camilla silently stared for a moment at the two people… no, the two ghosts standing there and smiling at her.
[What is it?]
[Is there something you wish to say to us?]
Under her gaze, the ghost chef Perol and the ghost butler Derin tilted their heads.
Had they done something wrong?
“Go on. Tell me now.”
[Tell you what?]
[What do you mean?]
“What do you want from me?”
After living alongside ghosts for more than twenty years, Camilla had learned one thing.
There was no such thing as a ghost wandering this world who helped a person for no reason.
‘Especially someone else.’
Would these two really be any different?
“I’ll need both of your help from now on as well.”
It would be far too much to hope that her image of them would completely change just because they had brought flowers to the study and cooked a meal for her.
“So tell me. What is it that you want?”
She intended to grant any reasonable request.
They were the ones who had told her how to avoid death, so what couldn’t she do for them?
[…….]
[…….]
At Camilla’s words, Perol and Derin looked at each other.
Then, at the same time, they burst into hearty laughter.
[There’s only one thing I want.]
“What is it?”
[Cooking.]
“…Cooking?”
Camilla looked troubled.
Cooking?
Did he want her to hold some kind of memorial service with food she had made herself? Was there even such a custom?
‘I’m not particularly good at cooking, though?’
Even the food she had made in the kitchen earlier hadn’t really been made by her. Perol’s hands had possessed her hands and cooked the food instead.
[My wish was to cook again. There’s nothing that makes me happier than seeing someone enjoy the food I’ve made.]
But Perol’s answer was completely unexpected.
“Your wish is to cook?”
Then did he want to be able to cook through her?
What kind of wish was that?
Seeing her confused expression, Perol chuckled softly.
[Thank you.]
“…….”
[For letting me cook again.]
He had thought he would never touch cooking tools again.
He had believed he would never again be able to serve food he had personally made.
Even now, it felt like a dream.
The fact that he could stand before a fire again.
Although they were Camilla’s hands, he was incredibly happy to hold a knife and a pot once more.
“I see…….”
Camilla nodded with an awkward expression.
It would be foolish to create a problem when he himself said there was nothing he wanted.
However, Camilla had never experienced receiving someone’s help without paying a price, so she still felt uncomfortable simply letting the matter go.
[I feel the same way.]
Derin, the ghost butler who had caught Camilla’s gaze, also smiled faintly.
[I was happy to be able to place baby’s breath flowers in the Duke’s study once again.]
…What was that supposed to mean? Something like that made him happy?
[Being able to help the people of the ducal family with the information I know is a great happiness for me. Thank you.]
Camilla felt slightly bewildered as she watched the two ghosts thank her instead.
‘These people…….’
In other words, they had remained wandering this world because they still had regrets about making others happy.
She had truly met all kinds of strange fools in her life.
‘Well, it’s good for me.’
Anyway, neither of them particularly wanted anything from her, right?
Camilla politely clasped her hands together.
Then she bowed deeply and respectfully toward Perol and Derin.
“Please continue to take good care of me.”
She didn’t know what would happen later, but for now, she was in a position where she would receive their help without giving anything in return.
She was more than willing to show them proper courtesy and respect.
[…….]
[…….]
Perol and Derin’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected greeting.
But soon, gentle smiles once again spread across their faces.
“Y-You can make this too?”
Chef Gelard’s eyes widened as he looked at the food Camilla had completed.
That red sherbet.
That wine-based dessert was also something his late master had been especially skilled at making.
After finishing the final decoration, Camilla turned her head and stared steadily at Gelard.
“…….”
“…….”
Slowly.
After exchanging gazes with her for a moment, Gelard naturally bent his previously straight knees.
Only after his eye level had lowered did Camilla open her mouth.
“You don’t know this recipe either?”
“I-I do.”
It was just that when he made it, it didn’t come out with such a beautiful color.
He had been watching her for more than ten days now, and every time, Camilla created food with astonishing skill.
And she only made dishes that his master, Perol, had enjoyed making.
‘Could it be……?’
Naturally, he began to grow suspicious.
‘Did Master leave behind a recipe book somewhere?’
Had Lady Camilla found it?
‘No, no!’
But he quickly dismissed the thought.
This wasn’t a problem that could be solved simply by knowing the recipe.
Those skills could never be achieved just because someone had a recipe book.
‘And what on earth is with the way she acts?’
She effortlessly found the tools and ingredients placed all around the kitchen as if she had worked there for decades.
“Um… Lady Camilla, can I have the leftovers……?”
“Eat them if you want.”
“Yes!”
Gelard had carefully pointed at the remaining wine sherbet after filling the glasses.
With Camilla’s permission, he hurriedly brought the sherbet to his mouth.
‘As expected!’
Gelard’s eyes shook endlessly after tasting the wine sherbet.
Why?
What on earth was different?
He had clearly used the same recipe, so why couldn’t he get this flavor when he made it?
“Is it good?”
“I-It isn’t bad.”
Despite everything, he still had some pride left and tried to change the subject.
Watching him, Camilla lightly tapped the back of her neck with her hand.
Slowly.
Gelard’s gaze, which had risen for a moment, dropped downward again.
“My lady.”
At that moment, Butler Rube entered through the kitchen entrance.
Seeing Gelard standing before Camilla with his knees slightly bent as always, Rube quietly swallowed the laughter that was about to escape.
“Are you finished?”
“Yes.”
Camilla pointed toward the wine sherbet placed to one side.
A small mint leaf was cutely placed on top of the round scoop of red sherbet inside each small glass.
“Please take care of it today as well.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Butler Rube lightly bowed and picked up the glasses containing the sherbet.
‘This is truly unexpected.’
Rube glanced at Camilla as he lifted the tray.
‘Why has she suddenly changed so much?’
It wasn’t that he had ever disliked her.
But he had never particularly liked her either.
He knew very well that she was becoming increasingly isolated within the ducal household, but he had never felt the need to help her.
The thing he hated most was extending a helping hand first to someone who did nothing for themselves.
So he had merely watched.
‘But…….’
Recently, Camilla had changed.
The incident where the food the kitchen maids had played a prank on ended up in the Duke’s mouth.
Had that really been a coincidence?
He didn’t know what had happened, but Rube found her very interesting these days.
‘Even now.’
To think she had managed to make someone as ill-tempered and self-centered as Gelard behave like that.
It was quite fascinating to see Gelard constantly watching Camilla’s mood while secretly scooping up more sherbet.
“But are they having a meeting at this hour too? The day will change soon. Aren’t they sleepy at all?”
At that moment, Camilla’s voice reached Rube’s ears.
“Or did something happen?”
The sherbet prepared today wasn’t the usual two servings.
There were several trays filled with glasses.
That was because all the retainers of the household were currently gathered in the meeting room.
The meeting had been arranged suddenly today.
“Who knows?”
Butler Rube smiled gently at Camilla’s question.
The person who had decided to postpone the meeting, which could have been held during the day, until this hour—the time when Camilla brought snacks—was none other than Duke Sorpel.
Perhaps the reason was…….
“Then I’ll be going now.”
After politely bowing, Rube quietly left the room.
Several maids followed behind him, each carrying a tray filled with sherbet.
“Um… how do you make it come out with a color like that……?”
“Do you want to know?”
“Yes!”
“Then try behaving nicely.”
“L-Like this?”
“…Take your hand off your cheek. And stop talking in that childish voice.”
Hearing the conversation between the two behind him, Rube quickly held back the laughter that was about to escape.
“H-Having a meeting at this hour certainly feels new.”
“Th-That’s right, haha!”
“My sleep at night has been getting shorter lately anyway, so this works out well.”
The people gathered in the meeting room continued speaking with awkward smiles.
‘Why at this hour?’
‘Didn’t His Grace say he was too busy during the day?’
‘I heard he wasn’t particularly busy today…….’
No one could understand Duke Sorpel’s intention in postponing the meeting scheduled for daytime until this hour, when midnight was approaching, because he claimed to be busy.
There weren’t even any particularly urgent matters to discuss.
They could simply hold the meeting tomorrow afternoon.
So why?
Of course, no one openly expressed their confusion or dissatisfaction to Duke Sorpel.
‘But…….’
‘Why does he keep looking at the clock?’
Everyone had noticed Duke Sorpel repeatedly looking at the clock standing against one wall during the meeting.
It wasn’t as though he had another appointment at this hour.
Knock, knock!
At that moment, the meeting room door opened with a knock, and Butler Rube entered along with several maids.
Each of them carried a long tray in their hands.
“Your Grace, Lady Camilla has sent snacks again today.”
“Hmm. Bring them here.”
Duke Sorpel lightly nodded.
Then, as if he were about to say something extremely important and wanted everyone to listen carefully, he asked in a loud voice,
“Did Camilla make them herself again today?”
“Yes, Your Grace. It is a dessert personally made by the young lady. She also prepared plenty for the guests.”
The retainers’ eyes widened at the conversation between the two.
Who made what?
“Hoho, heavens…….”
“Can she make something like this too?”
After hearing that Camilla had made it, they cautiously took a spoonful of the sherbet with wary expressions.
But soon, they sincerely admired it.
