The Safety Guidelines of The Duke’s Haunted Castle Chapter 64

The answer was actually quite simple. I was trying to solve it because I thought helping the villagers regain their faces was connected to the progression of the story.

But I couldn’t exactly say that, so I came up with another reason and told him.

“Because it must be really inconvenient for everyone.”

“Inconvenient… You mean that is the only reason?”

It wasn’t like there was no truth to that reason.

Of course, I thought this was probably just a concept designed for the story, but everything had been made so realistic that I had grown quite attached to the people I had met without even realizing it.

Maybe that’s why I genuinely sympathized with their situation.

Having their safety threatened every night and even having their freedom to move around restricted. They probably had no choice but to accept it, but I couldn’t help worrying that the stress from living that way must be quite serious.

“Is that strange?”

“…It isn’t strange, but.”

Edwin stared at me silently for a moment before giving a short reply.

“I didn’t expect you to give that answer.”

Hmm? Then what kind of answer did he expect me to give?

“Is that a good thing?”

“…It is a good thing.”

He answered while slightly avoiding my gaze. And as if to show that he truly meant it, a system message appeared right away.

[Affection +1 (12/50)]

Hmm, this time, it wasn’t like his affection increased because of the whole ‘I like people who like me’ thing….

Could it be that Edwin was simply attracted to kind women?

“Let’s go to the library.”

Perhaps he was embarrassed by the way I was staring at him, because Edwin quickly walked ahead of me, showing me his back.

As I watched his earlobes, which seemed slightly reddish for some reason, I tilted my head when another thought suddenly occurred to me.

‘By the way, I wonder if the people at the trading company(?) will like the recipes?’

They weren’t throwing a fit over how ridiculous a payment this was, were they?

 

 

 

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―Tritan Empire, Tulip Garden

Under the warm spring sunlight, flowers bloomed throughout the garden. The bright sunlight reflected off silver teacups, scattering sparkling light, while small baskets of bread were placed all around the tea tables.

Looking at the perfect scenery, Melissa’s lips curved into a smooth smile.

‘Perhaps this will be enough….’

With several members of royal families from neighboring countries visiting for the Emperor’s birthday celebration in a few days.

Normally, the Empress herself would have been expected to entertain the honored guests, but since she had recently suffered from a severe feverish cold and was not in good health, that role had naturally fallen to the princess.

And today, Melissa was busy preparing for exactly that. No, calling it busy was an understatement. She was practically fighting for her life.

That was because the small tea party being held in this very Tulip Garden was going to be attended by the First Princess of the Salt Kingdom—the woman who had stolen Duke Brium, Melissa’s first love and the man she had secretly loved for years.

Melissa knew that feelings between a man and a woman were something that couldn’t be helped, and she also knew that the two had already officially married.

But after suffering such a huge blow to her pride, Melissa needed this chance to win a small victory in her mind.

‘It’s not like I’m doing anything bad, right?’

She had heard that the tea party hosted by the First Princess of Salt had been completely ruined by a sudden storm, and Melissa had decided that this was her chance to knock that woman’s arrogant nose down a peg.

Absolutely, absolutely! She must not believe the ridiculous rumor that the shameless woman had been bragging about winning over the man that Princess Melissa of the proud Tritan Empire had wanted.

Before long, the honored guests began arriving under Princess Melissa’s careful direction.

Then, someone who could easily be called the highlight of the day appeared.

“It’s been a long time, Your Highness. I hope you have been well.”

The First Princess, Ermia, greeted her with only one corner of her mouth raised. Her white face clearly showed that she was trying to hide her mocking expression.

‘Well, look at you.’

Melissa felt so furious at her arrogant attitude that she almost choked, but she forcibly lifted the corners of her mouth and maintained her dignity.

“It has been a long time for you as well, Princess. Have you been well?”

“Of course. Ah, and although my family is indeed from Salt, as Your Highness knows, I recently became a married woman… So, if you don’t mind, I would appreciate it if you called me the Duchess of Brium. Hoho.”

Melissa’s hand trembled slightly as she saw the hostility hidden behind the fox-like smile.

But she managed to regain her composure. She even kept smiling as she answered in a tone that seemed almost gracious.

“Of course. Duchess of Brium. I heard that the tea party you hosted recently ended up being extremely successful. Congratulations.”

With powerful winds blowing everything away and turning the entire place upside down, and someone who had lent money to the late Duke Brium showing up to cause a scene—if that could be called a success, then it certainly was one.

Having been reminded of a painful wound after carelessly provoking her, the Duchess of Brium swallowed her anger and headed to her seat.

Soon, as the tea party officially began, Melissa stepped toward the center of the garden and lightly clapped her hands.

“Recently, I discovered a tea that I particularly enjoy, and I wanted to share it with some wonderful people, so I prepared this gathering. And the bread here may be unfamiliar to you, but….”

With a gentle smile, she pointed toward the baskets piled high with bread.

“Once you taste it, I assure you, it will be a flavor you can never forget.”

Until only a short while ago, this bread had been a precious snack that she carefully kept all to herself. But as soon as she sent the golden carrots, they had sent the entire recipe in return.

They had even sent her the recipe for such a unique food, something she had expected them to keep as a secret?

Of course, Melissa wasn’t going to waste this opportunity.

‘Mother tried to stop me, saying they were people from hundreds of years ago and that they were cursed, but at least they certainly understand the rules of proper business, don’t they?’

Thanks to sending every last bit of the remaining supply, it would be difficult to make another trade for a while. But in exchange, she had obtained the perfect weapon for entertaining the honored guests.

And in the very center of the main table sat a special bread made with those ‘golden carrots.’

Originally, Melissa had planned to keep it all for herself, but after tasting a bite the day before, there was no way she could do that.

“Then, I hope you enjoy your time.”

The people gathered here were renowned gourmets from all over the world.

Melissa was certain. Once they tasted this bread, they would praise the Tritan Empire’s outstanding culinary culture as well.

And sure enough. The moment the tasting began, exclamations of admiration erupted throughout the garden.

“Oh my!”

“How can something taste like this…!”

“How in the world was this made?”

Just as she had expected, the reaction was tremendous. Everyone was tasting the bread with moved expressions, closing their eyes as if savoring the flavor filling their mouths or nodding with satisfaction.

Even the Duchess of Brium, who had seemed absolutely furious just moments ago, soon relaxed and happily ate the bread and drank her tea.

‘As expected.’

Satisfied by the sight, Melissa also cut off a piece of bread that the imperial pastry chef had painstakingly prepared today and put it into her mouth.

‘Hmm?’

However, amid all the exclamations of admiration, her expression slowly became strange.

‘They said they made it exactly according to the recipe….’

The imperial pastry chef was the finest expert in the Tritan Empire and could even be called an authority in the world of fine dining.

It was a creation made personally by someone so picky and strict about quality, yet for some reason, Melissa couldn’t feel the deep flavor of the original she had tasted before.

Objectively speaking, it was certainly delicious, but it definitely wasn’t the same as the feeling she had experienced that first time.

‘That can’t be.’

They had used high-quality ingredients and followed the recipe they received exactly. And yet….

‘It’s different.’

Everyone else was praising the bread without knowing anything, but Melissa, who clearly remembered the taste of the original, simply couldn’t agree with them.

‘…I’ll have to ask them directly.’

What kind of wheat they had used, where it had been grown, what kind of butter and cheese they had used, even the oven temperature and baking time.

Everything. Without missing a single detail!