Chapter 14

Chapter 14

After a while, Anriche and Liliana entered the kitchen.

The maids who were gathering and chatting were surprised and got up from their seats.

“I’m going to bake some cookies with Liliana today.”

“Cookies?”

“Yes. I’ll prepare the ingredients and equipment on my own, so you guys go out and take a break.”

Having said that, Anriche put strength in her eyes and looked around the kitchen maids. It was a gaze that she wouldn’t let Liliana know.

As they understood the meaning, the maids shrugged their shoulders and bowed their heads.

“All right, madam.”

“Good.”

After the maids slipped out like an ebbing tide, Liliana carefully seated the doll in her arms on the kitchen chair. Anriche looked at the figure with a happy glance.

“To make cookies, first, you have to wash your hands thoroughly.”

“Yes, mother.”

Anriche washed her hands first, then Liliana followed her.

She mixed the butter that was gently melted at room temperature with sugar and sifted the flour. Liliana, with her careful hand, was separating the egg yolk and white.

While making the dough, Anriche slightly frowned her eyebrows.

“This.”

It was because Liliana’s rolled-up sleeves were running down her wrist. Anriche was confident she rolled up her sleeves tightly at the beginning, but she guessed it loosened.

“Come here, Liliana.” Anriche folded the child’s sleeves and lifted them.

Liliana, glancing at her tightly folded sleeves, muttered a little with her shy face.

“Thank you.”

“It’s no big deal.”

Anriche, shrugging her shoulders, turned towards the cookie dough. Liliana couldn’t take her eyes off Anriche’s back for a while.

‘…Mother is really sweet.’

Someone taking a close look at her, and giving help at the right time. It was something that she had never experienced before.

Over little Liliana’s lips, a slow smile spread.

It was a happy smile.

***

Finally, the cookies are all baked.

The savory and sweet smell from the cookies began to vibrate.

Then, Elliot plopped his head into the kitchen.

“… Are you baking cookies?”

“Well, it’s all baked, but it’s still hot. When it cools down a bit, I’ll share them with you.” Anriche replied with a smile.

Elliot, who was looking over with an alert expression, sneaks into the kitchen. To cool the cookies, various animal-shaped cookies were laid out on a wide plate.

He glanced at the cookies, asked a question.

“Then, does Dad have a share?”

At that moment, Anriche stiffened.

‘Oh, right.’

Her mind was sold focused on Liliana and Elliot that she forgot about Alexei.

‘I’ll try bringing my baked cookies to him… it’s a miracle if he doesn’t hate it.’

Anriche, who was troubled with a suspicious face, carefully looked at Elliot.

“Well, didn’t your father go to the Imperial Palace? Because he’s so busy…”

“No, he said he was in the townhouse today.”

‘…In other words, he’s home in the townhouse.’ Anriche groaned deeply.

She could have pretended not to know, but now there’s nothing that can be done since she was told now that he was home.

Well, but…

Thinking of giving Alexei a cookie, it’s so awkward that she wanted to die?!

Tearing blood inside, Anriche examined to see if the cookie had cooled down. It was at the right temperature for eating. She glanced at the kids.

“Well, children. Would you like to eat cookies first?”

“Then, what about mother?”

“Oh, I want to bring cookies to the Duke.”

At those words, Elliot had an unexpected look.

‘Of course, I told her, saying ‘dad is in the townhouse,’ but…’

In fact, Elliot thought it would be lucky enough if she would give the cookies to the duke through the maid.

That would be the case because the Duke and the Duchess had pretended not to know each other for almost three years.

“Are you bringing it to him yourself?”

“Yes, why?”

“Well, no.” Elliot shook his head.

Well, it’s no wonder that Elliot reacts like that.

Somehow bitterly, Anriche took a plate of cookies, a teacup, and a tray with a teapot.

***

Knock, knock.

At the sound of the short knock, Alexei lifted his gaze.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me. Anriche.”

Alexei’s eyes widened a little at the hesitant voice.

‘Anriche?’

The Duke and Duchess of Valois have been living without barely even seeing each other’s faces for the last three years.

They only talked in unavoidable situations, and if it wasn’t an urgent matter, it was enough to let the employees relay the message.

In such a situation, what on earth did she come to his office for?

“…Come in.”

The door opened. Anriche, carrying a tray in her hands, stepped her feet into his office.

Alexei looked at her as if he was wondering what her intention was.

‘Some might think I’m here to assassinate you if you’re being that cautious.’ Anriche grumbled inside, putting the tray down on the table.

At the same time, his picturesque eyebrows bent.

“What is all that?”

“It’s cookies and tea.”

“I know that. Why does the wife bring me cookies?”

She was a little offended by his words. ‘I even baked cookies and brought them with me, so why treat people this way?’

“Hey, it’s not poisoned.”

“What?”

At the sudden remark, Alexei made a puzzled face at the moment. Anriche raised her neck firmly and stared at him.

“You’ve been staring at me from before, right?”

“…”

“Like I’m going to assassinate you with this cookie.”

Hearing so, Alexei became a little awkward because it was true that he kept his guard at her. Still, he quickly got his mind together because ‘this’ is Anriche. The reason she came to find him was actually apparent.

‘The money you’ve allocated is too small, so pay more.’

… Probably for that reason.

Alexei also knew that the shopkeepers on Le Morgan Street likened his wife as ‘lottery tickets.’ She literally sprinkled gold coins like water.

As long as it is new and limited, she would buy anything. Designer’s new products, dress and hats, shoes, jewelry, luxury desserts, and even useless furniture and ornaments…

‘Because I’m on the lookout for her excessive spending, is she now trying to bring a cookie and buy some favor?’

Alexei leaned against the chair, asking questions in a groaning voice.

“So now, you brought me a cookie with pure intentions?”

Anriche opened her mouth and looked at Alexei.

“Hey. You know that’s a very rude response, right?”

‘…What?’ At the unexpected reaction, Alexei was a little embarrassed.

Anriche spoke with a sour face.

“I baked cookies with Liliana and just came here to give the Duke a little taste.”

In those words, Alexei’s eyes widened.

‘She baked cookies with Liliana?’

Is she saying she made cookies herself? However, Anriche, whom Alexei knew so far, has a disgusting temper for even putting a drop of water on her finger. So, there’s no way she would be able to handle ingredients such as flour and eggs…

Meanwhile, Anriche was firmly misunderstanding Alexei’s silence.

“…Well, if you’re in doubt about this cookie, I’ll try one first. Is that good?”

Anriche, who said so with a sulky face, picked up a cookie from the plate. A crunchy cookie chewing sounded could be heard, and after a while, Anriche, who ate all of her cookies, raised her nose.

“Now look. Can you see that I’m fine?”

Anriche grumbled into her mouth as she brushed the crumbs with her hands.

“It’s just delicious. Seriously, there’s nothing suspicious…”

Alexei glanced at Anriche.

Strangely enough, Anriche, who groaned with her mouth open, felt somehow not so bad to him. Of course, he was amazed at himself the next moment for thinking so.

‘…Oh, when people fail ten times and do well once, they would look different.’

Isn’t Anriche just that?

Alexei narrowed his forehead without noticing.

Yet…

‘I’m the one in the wrong anyway.’

If he doesn’t admit his fault here, he will end up becoming the same person as her. He struggled to repress the undeserved feelings and politely apologized.

“I didn’t mean that, but I’m sorry if you were offended.”

“Ah, yes…”

Anriche, who was showing her sulky expression, blinked her eyes without acknowledging.

Well, I didn’t know he would apologize so gently.