Chapter 58

Chapter 58

Min-ha, who arrived in front of the table, unknowingly uttered an exclamation at the gorgeous table in front of her.

“…Oh, my god.”

Salad and cheese to serve with whole roast deer stuffed with various spices and vegetables, cold pasta topped with fresh tomatoes and cheese, grilled lobster topped with cheese, and oysters topped on an ice tray. In addition, ripe fruits in platinum baskets.

On top of the silver tower in the center, tarts topped with honey-soaked strawberries, eclairs, and chocolate cakes filled with custard cream were located in the center.

Min-ha, who came to this world now, tried and ate all the foods she could recognize—even foods that she did not know what it was. She was at a loss for words in front of the food that seemed to exceed the number of people attending the party.

‘…Even when I went to a 21st-century Korean buffet, I had never been to a place with so much variety and luxury.’

Wearing a blank expression, she did not know what to do first in front of a table full of luxurious foods.

Eventually, Seth and Noah, who were looking at her blank face, spoke to her.

“What’s wrong, sister-in-law?”

“Why do you look like that, Madam?”

“…It’s just a lot more luxurious than I thought it would be.”

In response to her reply, Seth and Noah tilted their heads and asked.

“Really?”

“It’s only this much…?”

“…On, only this much?”

“This is enough to show and express sincerity.”

“That’s right, sister-in-law! At my brother’s birthday party last year, it was even more amazing! Don’t you remember?”

“…Ah.”

‘I forgot that these people are Dukes…’

It was only then did Min-ha realize what kind of position they were in this world.

She hurriedly changed her expression as Noah’s face, gazing up at her as if puzzled. Now she was the Duchess ‘Minase Persen,’ from the former imperial family. She was not ‘Kim Min-ha,’ who lived only as a commoner until she turned twenty.

As she patted her face with both hands to calm herself down, an old gentleman with a monocle approached her and spoke to her.

“Excuse me, Duchess.”

“….!”

“Is there anything you would like to eat?”

“Oh. You’re…”

When Min-ha turned her head at the voice speaking to her, who she saw was Loengram butler. The butler bowed politely and showed respect to her, Seth, and Noah.

“I see the Duke of Persen and the Duchess, and Young Master Noah.”

“…Nice to meet you again.”

“Where are the Marquis of Loengram and Young Lady Vivian, the main characters of this banquet?”

“The Marquis and Young Lady Vivian briefly went out to the gates to escort Grand Duchess Blaine. Originally, the Marquis should welcome you, though Grand Duchess Blaine just arrived… I apologize.”

“I see.”

“The Marquis asked me to forgive the rudeness, saying that he’ll be subject to whatever punishment the Duke will inflict in the future.”

“No. It’s unavoidable.”

Although the words the butler replied with were courteous and polite, they contained some strange thorns. Seth, who couldn’t help but notice, hardened his expression. At the same time, Min-ha also made a slight impression as well.

Was this not a straight-forward statement, ‘Because the Marquis is a higher-status guest, he is not here to see you right now’…? It seemed obvious at first glance, though it seemed to reveal that they had something strangely formed from the day’s commotion.

However, on the surface, the butler bowed and apologized as if he was really sorry, though it was like he only had to be polite.

“If there is anything you would like to eat, please feel free to tell me.”

“…Ah. Then, I’ll have the chocolate cake over there.”

“All right, Duchess.”

Even though Seth was still, it was strange for her to be angry at the current situation. In the end, Min-ha answered, suppressing her displeasure, pointing to the chocolate cake on top of the silver tower.

Hearing her words, the butler bowed his head to answer her and immediately called a tall servant.

The tall servant who approached after the call lowered the cake plate from the tower-shaped decoration as if familiar. The servant, who had prepared three plates and a fork for Seth, Min-ha, and Noah, bowed to show respect and walked away.

The butler held out three plates of cake and opened his mouth.

“Is there anything else you would like to eat, or would you like to ask me for something else?”

“Oh, no. I don’t have anything else I want.”

“We have champagne for the Duchess and Duchess, and milk tea for Young Master Noah, so if you need something to drink, please call us. Well then.”

“Thank you.”

Bowing her head slightly to express her gratitude to the butler, she picked up the plate with the cake. Then, she handed the plate to Noah first, took the plate on her left before giving it to Seth and said, “Now, you as well.”

“I’m fine, Madam.”

“Why? Oh, do you not like sweet things?”

“It doesn’t really suit my taste.”

“I see.”

Min-ha nodded her head and turned to Noah, who was eating the cake.

The child was eating his chocolate cake, moving the elongated fork as if it were very well to his liking into his mouth. At first, according to meal etiquette, he would scoop it up a little bit and taste it, but now, Noah scooped it with a fork and put it in his mouth.

That figure was very cute for her.

Forgetting to eat her own cake, she only gazed at Noah. As if he really liked it, the child put the cake on both his cheeks, put chocolate cream in his mouth, and ate it happily.

Min-ha smiled and walked over to him. It was because she was going to wipe Noah’s lips. As she pulled her own long sleeve up as usual and brought it to this child’s lips, at that moment, Seth saw that and took out his handkerchief from his arms before handing it to her instead.

Winking as a thanks to him, she quickly wiped the child’s lips and asked.

“Is it that good?”

“Yes! Would sister-in-law want to try it, too?”

“Well, is that so?”

At that, Noah cut the little leftover chocolate cake in half. He cut a large chunk of it and gave it to her. Min-ha smiled at the willingness to concede what he liked to others. The next moment, she opened her mouth widely and ate what Noah gave her.

Immediately, a deep sweetness, a slight bitterness, and a deep cherry scent spread through her mouth.

‘What was this? What is the name again? Forêt Noire*? It is very delicious…!’

[ T/N: Also known as ‘Black Forest Cake’! ]

Needless to say, she was happy with the luxurious sweetness that spread in her mouth. Somehow, it seemed that the noises of the nobles around her grew louder as she received the cake with the fork used by Noah. Nonetheless, Min-ha just concentrated on the luxurious sweetness that spread around inside her mouth.

There was a Korean proverb that said that even if one dies while eating, the taste is unfathomable, and this cake was like that. It was so delicious that she wanted to eat it with her favorite person like Noah.

So, Min-ha inadvertently lifted her fork and took a bite-sized piece of her own cake that had not been touched, and handed it to Seth.

“Come on, you should try it as well. It’s very tasty.”

“If you wish…”

Pausing for a moment, Seth soon lowered his head and grabbed her wrist that was holding the fork before bringing it to his lips. As he ate the cake with a blunt face, Min-ha patiently waited for his reaction.

Soon after, a thought flashed through her mind and she was taken aback by herself.

‘Oh, right! He said he did not like sweets…! No wonder he was eating with no expression on his face at all! I am so sorry—’

Min-ha raised her body with her bewildered face and stood close to Seth.

“I, I’m sorry! You said you don’t like sweets, right? Come on, spit it out!”

So embarrassed, she continued muttering softly, “There are plates, but I could also bring my palms together, too.” However, Seth frowned at her words while holding her hands affectionately before lowering them down. And, after a while, he finally swallowed the cake and sighed briefly.

“It’s all right, Madam. It was very tasty.”

“…Lie. You just frowned.”

“Whatever you gave me, it can’t be that it doesn’t taste good.”

“….!”

“No, there isn’t any.”

He smiled sweetly at her after finishing his words.

Min-ha’s face suddenly blushed when he saw him like that, and the nobles, who had been watching them all the time, were even louder when they stared at the two of them and made a fuss for nothing.

“Grand Duchess Blaine, Young Master Charles and Minuel have arrived.”

“Oh. Seth, wait a minute. Noah, please.”

At that moment, the door of the party hall that had been closed opened, and the knights announced the arrival of Grain Duchess Blaine.

Hearing the sound, Min-ha left Noah, who was next to her and Seth, then turned her head to glance at the door of the party hall. It was because of curiosity that she wanted to check out the rumored woman, Grand Duchess Blaine herself.

And, when she turned her head, the figure she caught in her sight, Grand Duchess Blaine, was a little different from what she had expected.

Before leaving the Persen Castle, while listening to the conversation between Gawin and Seth about Grand Duchess Blaine, she had guessed it alone that she was an arrogant lady who would not even shed a drop of blood if stabbed.

Regardless, the face of Grand Duchess Blaine that appeared in front of her looked very young and innocent.

Long platinum blonde hair that was raised high was adorned with a light green silk string studded with emeralds, and her round forehead was decorated with a light green silk strap with emerald on it. Her large eyes and eyebrows with neatly trimmed tails as if they had been groomed by servants.

Not to mention her thin nose and lips… No matter how much Min-ha looked at it, Grand Duchess Blaine did not look any older than her own age.

‘…Is that woman really Princess Blaine?’

Min-ha asked, glancing back at Seth, who was holding Noah.

“That young-looking person, Grand Duchess Blaine…?”

“That’s right, Madam.”

“She looks younger than I thought.”

“The Emperor’s taste is closer to the lilies in the field than to the splendid roses.”

“…Isn’t she a little too fancy to be a lily in the field?”

The dress hem of the dark green dress with orange ribbons, and laces on the chest that exposed her chest, was inflated with a pannier. With her slender waist tightened with a corset and a jewel-studded waistband, she was now more colorful than anyone in the banquet hall. She looked rather flashy.

When Min-ha asked a question while examining Grand Duchess Blaine’s outfit, Seth responded with a smirk.

“Isn’t it strange that the mistress is so favored by the Emperor that even the Empress, who gave birth to the Crown Prince, is humble?”

“That’s true, again…”

At his words, she shrugged her shoulders as if she understood and continued to look at Grand Duchess Blaine.