CH 15

Like she did in the reception hall, Eleonora stayed near the edge of the room.

(There’s yummy lookin’ food here too-pe. But the ham from earlier isn’t here. Why isn’t there any-dabe? There’s only fruit and snacks here. Not that I don’t like it of course. There’s nothing I like or dislike-be. But I’m in the mood for Ham-chan’s ham-pe!)

Eleonora’s long eyelashes cast a shadow as she made a sullen expression, sighing as she hid the bottom half of her face with her folding fan. Then she looked over at the table of food once again.

(Ahhh, I really wanna eat ham. Why is there only sweet things-pe.)

She was lightly discouraged until she spotted a certain dish.

(Ah! Over there is the pie that Ham-chan liked-pe. Pie, my name! The precious name that Ham-chan gave me-pe. I practiced making pie a lot. I made many types of pie-pe. If I ever meet Ham-chan again I want to try making some for him-dabe!)

Eleonora headed toward the table of pies. Then after she chose two kinds and asked the waiter to slice them for her, she waited for the pies to be brought to her at her seat.

But, yet again with his timing, the emperor Alexei entered the room.

(Why, why does the emperor come whenever I want to eat something-pe?)

Obsessed with food, Eleonora managed to completely hide her anger then, for some reason or another, abruptly stood up from her seat and sat down again. While thinking of pie, she waited for Alexei to speak.

(Hurry up and say we’re free to enjoy. I want to eat pie.)

Everyone faced Alexei and quietly bowed. Then, in a low resounding voice, Alexei spoke.

“Rise.”

In the next moment, Eleonora met Alexei’s eyes.

(He has the same hair and eyes as Ham-chan-pe! This is the first time I’ve seen silver hair since I was reborn as Eleonora-pe. If Ham-chan grew up would he look something like this-dabe?)

However, she brushed this thought aside and dropped her gaze to the floor.

(No, Ham-chan would never have such cold eyes. He had kind and warm eyes. He’s totally different from the emperor!)

“Today is meant to be an easygoing gathering. Enjoy yourselves.”

Once again, the room was filled with the chatter. The ladies all became excited, chatting about Alexei’s handsome face. They whispered praises of his well-ordered beauty. But there was no one foolish enough to speak to him. Even if he said it was meant to be easygoing, everyone knew to still mind their manners.

However, within that group, Eleonora’s half-sister Sofia boldly walked toward Alexei to greet him. With her droopy eyes and charming face tinted red with blush, she spoke to Alexei.

“This is our first time meeting. My name is Sofia, from the Purpleus dukedom. I am thrilled to be invited to this wonderful ball.”

Contrary to her sparkling gaze, full of expectation, Alexei’s gaze remained cold.

(Sofia, what’re you doin’?! You can’t! And why does stepmother look so proud-dabe?! Look closely, no, even if you don’t look closely you can tell he has an ice-cold expression-pe!)

With a cold sweat, Eleonora watched over Sofia, praying that she wouldn’t say anything more.

“Alexei-sama?”

She looked up at him and tilted her head, but everyone could see that Alexei’s eyes were filled with scorn.

(Are you stupid?! Sofia! This is where you call him Your Highness-pe! Why did you call him by his name­-dabe?!)

“I’ll remember your name.”

After saying that, Alexei left.

Sofia was thrilled to hear those words, but those words meant he wouldn’t forget her rude actions. Basically, he wouldn’t forgive her rudeness.

(You’re stupid Sofia! That person is the cold-hearted emperor. Even in the carriage, didn’t you all call him the demon emperor?! He’s purged so many politicians-dabe. He might kill you too if you give him a reason.)

Eleonora’s head hurt from how foolish Sofia was but decided to once again sit down. As she waited for the waiter to bring her the pie she asked from before, the sight of the emperor’s unpleasant expression as he, for some reason, approached the table where the pie was. Next to him was the prime minister Sergei who had brought her into the room.

“Sergei, dispose of these snacks right now.”

(What is he saying-pe?! Throw away the pie?!)

“Don’t ever let me see this snack again. Have you forgotten what I told you?” muttered Alexei unpleasantly as he pointed at the pie.

(You can’t waste food! No matter how high and mighty you are, that’s unforgivable! You’ve never starved before so you can say stuff like that-pe.)

In her last life, Eleonora was constantly starving in the village leading to her strange attachment to food. He was planning to waste food and not only that, it was pie, the origin of her name. Eleonora couldn’t keep her usual calm and she resolved herself to death, heading over to advise Alexei.

“…With all due respect Your Highness. You mustn’t waste pie, no, you mustn’t waste any food.”

Like her last life, Eleonora wanted to save the poorly treated pie.