Episode 8

What is this situation?

I handed the madam the snack I had saved for myself, but she wouldn't stop crying.

“You, from the start, have always...”

Her words came out in broken bits.

I gently pulled the plate away to save the pudding from her tears.

The Madam clutched her silver spoon and kept crying.

“How, sniff, did you know?”

“...Know what?”

"In my country, we usually eat food cold.”

Her country?

As I analyzed her words, a forgotten fact popped into my head.

‘Oh right, she’s a foreigner.’

She was so fluent that I had forgotten.

I remember there was some buzz regarding the Count of Edwell marrying a princess from a foreign kingdom to promote diplomatic unity. Or something like that.

“I never thought I’d get a taste of my hometown here.”

“Hometown?”

“This.”

She pointed towards the tiny white strawberry the size of a marble.

‘We just shared those leftovers among the staff.’

Her silver spoon tapped the cold pudding.

“You did all this, hng, for me. Thank you.”

“...”

“You prepared this because you thought I’d become homesick, didn't you?”

‘That wasn’t my intention at all.’

But, what's good is good, so I just smiled and stayed quiet.

The Countess savored the tiny white strawberries slowly.

"The food here is too hot and strong-odored for me.”

“Madam, if you’d instructed us, we’d have prepared something to your liking.”

“But I’m a foreigner. People already see me as an outsider, it wouldn’t help...”

I get it, but...

‘If she gave specific instructions, everyone would be happier.’

The head chef would be thrilled.

“Is that why you haven’t been eating all this time?”

“It’s not just because of that...!”

“Everyone is incredibly worried.”

They’re worried about getting fired.

Every time we sent or received a meal for the Countess, the kitchen was on edge.

"What do you mean, worried? That can't be the case."

“It’s true, Madam.”

“Well, of course, Sonnet would worry, but the others...”

Her lips quivered into a smile, and then she turned her attention back to the pudding.

The small silver spoon moved slowly.

“It’s delicious, Sonnet.”

“I’m glad.”

“I always wanted to tell you this. It was delicious...”

Another creepy notion.

I discreetly rubbed my arms to hide the goosebumps.

‘Should I ask Sir Ute if he knows why?’

A person I’ve never met kept acting like they knew me.

‘With a face like that, I’d recognize her, even if we just passed each other on the street.’

But if I couldn't recall, that means it never happened.

‘She did mention something about a ghost earlier.’

Could a romance protagonist be a ghost?

I gently placed my hand on the Madam's shoulder.

Thankfully, I could touch it.

As I swiftly tried to pull my hand away, her pink eyes fixed on me.

“How could I not have known you were this kind?”

Isn’t it normal to not know...?

I wanted to reply but decided to keep silent.

Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.

The madam, having enjoyed the pudding, smiled brightly for the first time.

“Thanks to you, I had something delicious to eat.”

“I can make it for you whenever you'd like.”

“Really?”

Becoming closer to her would be great, though I wonder if it’s necessary...

Her pink eyes didn’t leave me.

“Of course, anytime. And if there’s any dish you savor, do inform the kitchen. They can make anything.”

“No matter what, I’m still the countess.”

“There’s no need to force yourself to adapt to food that doesn’t suit your taste.”

“The chef is probably not familiar with the cooking methods here...”

“The kitchen can handle it.”

At this rate, the chef might as well master cooking from every country.

It would be more efficient and better to give specific instructions.

"You should preserve your health."

“...I’ll think about it.”

Okay.

This was good enough.

‘If necessary, I could just buy a cookbook from her country.'

With fewer tasks, I could aim for a casual encounter.

‘I guess we have grown a bit closer now.’

With progress now made, I should visit Ute Velvet soon.

Not because I heard the new doctor wears glasses during examinations!

This is just to carry out the contract swiftly!

With no ulterior motives!

Just purely focusing on securing my own house!

“Thanks to you, I had something delicious to eat after a long time.”

“You’re too kind. Well then, take care—”

“I was thinking of taking a walk...”

Her pink eyes wavered slightly.

It was then I realized what the Countess wanted.

“I’ll accompany you.”

The garden was filled with the scent of flowers.

Though I volunteered to accompany her, it was my first time there.

‘Since the second day, I’ve been cooped up in the kitchen.’

Not like a servant could just wander the garden alone.

Fortunately, the Countess seemed content just to have company and moved along on her own.

‘I heard she’s been confined to her room since the marriage.’

But she seemed to know her way accurately.

“I can’t remember the last time I took a walk like this.”

Her light skirt rustled.

After a second, her soft hand tugged and pulled at my wrist.

“If we walk more this way, you'll see the cherry blossom tree."

“Madam, your hand...”

“What the matter? You always... Ah, never mind.”

Sir Uteeeee!

'What kind of madam did you entrust me with?'

I suppressed a shriek and followed after the madam.

The pathway was lined with blooming white and red blossoms.

“It’s been so long since I’ve felt so at ease.”

Her hair, under the moonlight, shimmered a faint hue.

Within the tranquil garden, her voice resonated softly.

“As you know, I come from a very small country. Its area is smaller than the capital of Selcing.”

I had no idea. But I nodded earnestly.

“I know I’m not qualified to be the mistress of the Count’s residence.”

Should I comfort her?

As I pondered her intentions, she continued.

“Some of the maids said that the count had a lover.”

“That can’t be...”

I've never heard of a male lead with two female leads.

“The count probably didn’t want me either.”

“...”

“Now that I've come this far... I cannot be a burden to him any longer.”

“What will you do?”

“Perhaps we should separate—”

“No!”

Oh, damn it. Where is Ute Velvet?

Even as a new fan of romance, I was aware these stories never ended with divorce.

‘I didn’t mean to end it by ruining everything!’

If I had known this could happen, I would've read some romance books!

What do I say now?

'Romance is love—love, love between two people. Love is—'

"Sonnet?"

"L-Love...!"

"Huh?"

"Even if the master says he loves the madam?"

“...What do you mean?”

A faint smirk played on her pink lips.

“What are you talking about? Didn’t you see his expression? He doesn’t love me.”

“Perhaps he’s simply shy?”

“What kind of nonsense is that...”

I also think it’s nonsense.

But does that matter?

“He is a shy person, which is why his face stiffens every time he sees you!”

“...”

“He’s so stunned by your beauty that he’s taken aback each time!”

“What in the world? What kind of person functions like that?"

“Of course there is. Right in front of our eyes.”

That's a lie.

‘Perhaps not for you, Madam, but they do exist.'

The madam repeated stupid sounds for a while, unable to speak.

In the meantime, I repeatedly asked, ‘Would you still separate if the count loves you?’

“Well, perhaps that wouldn't be—”

“Madam?”

Oh, here comes the person in question.

The master of the house silently stood before the fragile woman.

“Why are you out here alone at this hour?”

Alone? I guess I’m invisible.

Can I leave now?

I quietly backed away, holding my breath.

“I wanted to see... the flowers.”

“Is that so... Allow me to escort you.”

I guess I am invisible.

Cherry blossom petals rained down on the couple as they departed, arm in arm.

The towering man reached out to brush a petal from her silver hair.

“There was a petal on your head.”

“Ah...”

What a beautiful scene—

“Ugh!”

A gust of petals swirled around me.

the small petals flew into my mouth.

Ptooey!

---

“Miss Sonnetttt!”

What was this bright light so early in the morning...?

The man who had been nowhere to be seen for days appeared like an allusion.

Ute Velvet rushed over and gently wrapped his arms around my shoulders—was this a proposal?

“What on earth have you done?”

---

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