Chapter 4:
I’ve Found What I Like
MY FIANCÉ, WHOM I WAS SEEING FOR THE first time in four days, was sitting on a chair. He rested his chin on his hand and looked at me. He was wearing simple clothes—loungewear, I assumed. He usually gave the impression he was very thin because he was so tall, but I was surprised by the thickness of his wrists peeking out of his sleeves.
Under the light of the candlesticks, his sharp, masculine features and his green eyes stood out even more than usual. His thick black eyelashes quivered as he blinked slowly, and his gaze seemed rather fond.
“It’s been four days since we last saw one another, hasn’t it?” he said with a hint of wonder in his voice. “I almost couldn’t recognize you. You’ve become even prettier.”
“I’m most thankful for your words. Allow me to extend my gratitude for the kind treatment you’ve given me, Count Granado,” I said, bowing low.
The count remained silent for a few seconds before mumbling, “I told you not to refer to me by my family name and title.”
“S-sorry! You did mention that.”
“You can just call me Kyros. We’re engaged, after all.”
“Y-yes. Um… Lord Kyros, what are you doing here so late at night?”
He picked up the small glass in front of him and shook it in reply. Was that alcohol? No, it was likely tea. I could smell the fragrant aroma of the tea leaves wafting through the air. He must have finished his work not too long ago and decided to have some tea before heading to bed.
“Work kept me busy, and I ended up missing dinner,” he said. “I wanted to eat a little something before going to bed. What about you, Marie?”
“I…couldn’t fall asleep.”
“I see. Come sit with me, then.”
I let out a weird gasp despite myself. A look of confusion flashed across his face as I hurried around the table and sat diagonally across from him. I couldn’t bring myself to do otherwise! The table was meant to sit twenty people or so. Sitting right across him felt wrong, but sitting next to him would be even worse!
Lord Kyros stood up and walked around the table too. Then he sat back down, right next to me. He reached for his glass and started drinking the rest of his tea nonchalantly.
Huh?!
“Mio will be back soon. Wait until she gets back. The tea she brews is a lot better than mine.” His low, tender voice went straight into my right ear, and it started feeling ticklish.
Whoa… His voice is so masculine…and so close! I wasn’t usually so overly aware of the opposite gender, but this was the middle of the night, I was wearing nothing but my nightgown, and we were so close… I didn’t know how to interact with him.
I glanced at Kyros, but as soon as his green eyes entered my field of vision, I looked away.
“Wh-where did Mio go, anyway?” I asked with my face still turned away from him.
“To the kitchen,” he replied. “She went looking for a late-night snack for me and—oh, speak of the devil.”
Mio appeared at the other end of the dining room, a candlestick in hand. The sight of the ever-expressionless chamberlain brought me endless relief.
Perhaps she’d heard me speak, because she didn’t seem surprised to see me here in the slightest. In fact, Lord Kyros and I were the surprised ones, because behind Mio was Toppo, the head chef. He was walking right behind her, and I wondered if he thought he was hidden. The man was three times as wide as the slender Mio, so we could see most of him.
“You’re still awake, Toppo?” Lord Kyros asked.
“Yes, young master. Welcome back. Toppo has brought you a meal.” And sure enough, Toppo set down a plate on the table. He lifted the cloche covering it, and a peculiar aroma wafted through the air.
“Oh! Chicken and mochi potatoes soup! It looks delicious!” Lord Kyros observed enthusiastically before turning to me. “Have you ever had coriander, Marie?”
“No… Is that a foreign ingredient?”
“It’s an aromatic herb with a rather strong taste. If you like it, you’ll get hooked, though. You should try it! Toppo, bring Marie a plate.”
“Of course.”
Toppo shrugged and went back to the kitchen before coming back with another plate. I lifted my head and looked up at him. I was about to thank him when he said, “Toppo isn’t sure it’ll suit your palate, but here, madam.”
Somehow, his tone wasn’t as pleasant as when he spoke to Lord Kyros, and I found myself unable to reply. I just nodded.
The fragrant vapor that rose from the hot broth aroused my appetite. I picked up my spoon and had a taste. “Whoa! It’s so good!”
There was no other seasoning beyond salt, and the broth was almost completely transparent, but the flavor was so rich. The herb Lord Kyros had mentioned made for a wonderful accent, and as for that light flavor I could taste… Oh, it had to be olive oil. The springy texture of the potatoes was also nice.
I wasn’t particularly hungry, but I couldn’t stop taking in spoonfuls. Warmth spread through my belly as my appetite was stimulated with every successive bite. I’d been given a pretty large serving, yet I devoured half of it in the blink of an eye.
“Do you… Do you like it?” Toppo asked.
I nodded enthusiastically. “It’s delicious!”
“Really? Well, that’s great.”
“I’m glad you like it. I love this soup too,” Lord Kyros said, digging in. “Toppo is the only one who can make it this way, though. I don’t know much about cooking, but whenever I order chicken and mochi potatoes soup outside, it just doesn’t taste right.”
“The chef’s sensibilities might come out more because it’s such a simple dish,” I suggested.