CH 199

“You couldn’t possibly be good at this too!” Maggie cried, as she demonstrated how to cut the widely spread pie dough. Estian silently began cutting his dough in the same manner. When she quietly measured it with a ruler, she found they were perfectly identical in every dimension. After a long pause, Maggie leaned close and secretly whispered, “I say, do you have any interest in working here? You’ve got talent I tell you. And strength!”

Of course, Estian ignored her suggestion, and instead asked, “Where should I leave the work clothes?”

While Estian left to dust off the flour from his clothes, Maggie moved about to put the apple pies into the oven. Cecile watched all of this with amusement. When the piemaker was done, she came over to Cecile’s side.

“Is he your man, that fellow?” Maggie asked.

“Gosh, how did you know?”

“Anyone who has eyes could tell.”

‘So, it was that obvious after all?’ Cecile scratched her cheek shyly as she confessed, “He’s actually my husband.”

“Oh dear! Looks like both husband and wife are held captive by the emperor. I heard that the emperor cuts people up on a whim, while the empress torments her subjects with a whip. Are you having any difficulties?”

Cecile could only awkwardly laugh, as she thought, ‘You’re talking about us though.’

With the passage of a little time, a savory smell began to waft out of the oven. When Maggie opened the oven door, the warmth and aroma filled the kitchen. As she began to turn around, she said, “Good. It looks well baked, so let’s try a—”

Before she’d realized it, Cecile had already readied a plate with a knife and fork and was looking at her with anticipation.

“It’s been so long since I last baked that I don’t know if it’s done well,” Maggie warned. Despite her words, Maggie was wearing a face overflowing with confidence as she cut a slice of pie. A satisfying crunch could be heard as the knife sliced through the crust, and apple filling dripped down the middle of the sliced pie, revealing its ripe appearance.

‘So. this is the rumored pie!’ Cecile was moved by the sight of the pie that was emitting a cinnamon fragrance. In front of her was something she’d sorely desired to eat at least once in her lifetime. Cutting the pie into bite-sized pieces, she speared one with a fork and immediately held it out to Estian, who’d returned and was sitting beside her.

“I’m okay. You eat first,” Estian refused.

“No can do! The one who brought these apples should be the first to try them.”

“You sounded so keen on eating the pie, but it turns out that was a lie? Letting someone else try it first,” Maggie tutted, watching the two with a wistful look in her eyes.

However, while the couple was arguing over who should have the first bite, the piece slipped from the fork and fell onto Cecile’s hand.

“Ow! Hot!” she yelped, shaking her hand after being startled by the sudden heat. The piece was flung back into the air and this time landed squarely on Estian, who was busy checking to see that his wife was alright.

“Oh dearie me,” Maggie fussed, immediately fetching some cold water. “What’re you doing? Quickly soak your hand. It’s quite hot. so there’s a risk you’ll be burned.”

Cecile made a tearful face as she dunked her hand in the water, looking regretful at the wasted piece that had fallen to the floor. She silently mourned its untimely death.

“You too, lad. Come on,” Maggie urged, grabbing Estian’s hand and dunking it into the water too. Clicking her tongue, she said, “Darn, I forgot you were wearing rings. There might be some pie residue trapped inside, so quickly take them—”

“You can’t!” Cecile shouted, but it was too late.

The moment Maggie slid off the rings on their fingers, her eyes widened in shock. “Who are you people?” She was shocked to find two strangers sitting in front of her. With the rings that Richard had provided removed, the two had returned to their original appearances.

“Oh, uh… That is to say…”

Unlike Cecile, who was at a loss for words, Estian answered with a relaxed face, “A certain husband who was dying to give his wife some apple pies.”

A little while later, Maggie’s wails echoed throughout the city of Aluna. “I deserve death, Your Majesty!”