‘Oh, but before I eat, I should praise today's chocolate pudding first!’
Not only Jeff, but the other chefs had also subtly moved closer, their ears perked up even though they pretended not to listen. I cleared my throat and lightly tapped Pom Pom, who was following me around. Then, I began to praise earnestly.
"It was so soft and delicious, just like a slide!"
As I raised my arms excitedly, the people who had been smiling at me turned their gaze to Pom Pom.
- The sensation of it melting on my tongue was like sliding down a velvet carpet!
Accurate! How can it understand me so perfectly?
"Sweet and slightly bitter, even a demon would want to have a bite."
As I nodded seriously with a grave expression, the people once again turned their eyes to Pom Pom.
- The combination of sweetness and slight bitterness made it impossible to get tired of it. I'm sure even a demon would ask for a bite.
Pom Pom's voice was mechanical, but it was enough to understand its meaning.
"Oh, such high praise again...!"
"Honestly, we struggled to bring out the flavor since we didn't have enough cacao beans."
"Yet, the young mistress understands and appreciates our efforts."
Several chefs wiped their tears, putting down their ladles as if deeply moved.
'Why are they so touched by this...?'
Anyway, I decided to continue with my compliments.
"The caramel and chocolate syrup mixed at the end were crispy and ran through my mouth like a race!"
- At the end, the caramel and chocolate syrup were baked together. The sugar crisply raced through my mouth.
Speaking clearly all the time, except when with Grandfather, was so exhausting.
'After a while, my throat and tongue start to ache.'
Some days, my throat would swell as if paralyzed. But Kiraxis's invention understood my vague words perfectly, which was quite impressive. After finishing my molecular-level praise, I stretched out my fluffy front paws and made a heart shape.
"Thanks for the chocolate pudding today!"
I winked, conveying my gratitude and expectation for more delicious treats tomorrow, causing Chef Jeff to nearly collapse, overwhelmed.
"Oh, thank you so much! Hoo hoo!"
Then he burst into tears! Surprised, I widened my eyes. John, equally startled, opened his mouth in shock. The other chefs nodded as if they understood why Jeff was crying.
"Ah, those were hard days..."
"We couldn't help the shortage of ingredients..."
"The heirs always complained about the taste, saying it was fit only for pig beastmen!"
"They would leave leftovers and throw them into the trash right in front of us!"
"Wasting precious ingredients..."
The last comment was cut off as other chefs covered his mouth. I tilted my head, feeling the somber atmosphere in the kitchen.
"Did someone... throw away the pudding?"
Who in the world threw away pudding, especially in this time of great famine, without any gratitude!
"Who was it! Who!"
I asked, fuming with anger. The chefs looked uncomfortable and exchanged glances. It seemed hard for them to pinpoint who exactly did it.
"Alright then, where's the dead pudding?"
- I want to mourn the death of the pudding. Oh, poor pudding...
Ah, right. I hadn't turned it off yet. I tapped Pom Pom's head twice to turn it off.
While I did this, the chefs glanced at the trash can beside the head chef. They couldn't say it out loud but showed it with their whole bodies.
"John!"
"At your command, young mistress."
Thump, thump, thump.
With just three large steps, the towering John reached the trash can. I almost cried seeing the discarded shape of what once was pudding.
'That delicious thing! They threw it away?'
And right in front of the chefs who made it?
"It seems the heirs have been very dissatisfied with their meals lately."
John also seemed astonished, making a comment.
'Of course, as the heirs of a great noble family, they don't need to scrape every bit like commoners.'
Even if the commoners starved, the nobles, especially the great nobles, lived well-fed.
But knowing the dire situation outside and still wasting such precious ingredients... it was just wrong.
They weren't fit to be future family heads; their potential was already withering.
'And saying it's only fit for pig beastmen is outright racism.'
I looked at the dead pudding with sad eyes and clasped my hands in prayer.
"Come to my mouth in your next life. I'll eat you deliciously."
"Young mistress's recognition comforts us all."
Actually, I couldn't even tell the head of the family about this or complain to the duchess. They were too busy and far above to notice the heirs' misbehavior.
'But I'm still a child.'
And I had the authority to choose the next head among the heirs.
In other words, I was a small but powerful figure!
"If something like this happens again, tell me. I won't marry such a person."
I said firmly, making Chef Jeff nod while blowing his nose.
'Well, it might be beneficial for me after all.'
Now they would rely on me. I was the closest outlet where they could report their grievances.
"John, how many heirs are there?"
"There are ten in total. But currently, seven are staying in the heir's residence."
"Where did the other three go?"
Later, after receiving all the snacks and affection I could get in the kitchen, I asked what I had been curious about.
Due to the urgent situation at the front lines, I hadn't had the chance to study or learn about the family as a future daughter-in-law.
So I didn't know much about the current state of the Driblyane family.
"The Driblyane family tree is complex, so it's a bit hard to explain... One is currently at the military academy."
"Military academy?"
"Yes. His father, Dean Glans, recognized his talent and sent him to the academy dormitory."
Ah, the military academy... That must be Dante.
John didn't mention the name, but the only one with the swordsmanship talent to be sent to the military academy was Dante.
"Another is a prince. He needs a special environment to grow, so he's in the imperial palace."
"A shark...?"
"Yes, correct."
The imperial family of the Holy Empire, Sertesia, were narwhals.
The imperial family of the Magic Empire, Helikoprion, were sawsharks. Sea creatures need to be in the sea, naturally.
'If there's only one heir of Driblyane who's not a saber-toothed tiger... it's Yuri.'
The future crown prince, Yuri Yerevan Helikoprion Driblyane.
I nodded and asked John another question.
"And the last one?"
"The last one is the crown prince of Ricenbyum, our allied kingdom. Since he has to support his country, he hasn't come here. He will probably give up his inheritance rights soon."
"I see."
"I've never seen him, but his younger brother is here."
Well, it's better for a non-heir to inherit Driblyane than to live and die as an obscure prince.
'Wait, Ricenbyum?'
That sounded very familiar.
In the latter part of the original story, there was a male lead who clung to the female protagonist, begging not to be abandoned. His name was Gerd, and his family name was Ricenbyum, wasn't it?
"Am I supposed to marry an albino beast?"
Just then, an extremely mischievous boy's voice came from the corridor ahead.
"I thought it was a joke when the head of the family chose an albino."
"...Greetings, young master Gerd."
"Yes. I also heard that you became its bodyguard. How did a proud bear beastman end up like that?"
A boy with brass-colored hair and eyes stood straight, trying to meet John's gaze.
I stared at the arrogant boy and was shocked.
'Gerd? The real Gerd?'
The one who begged Laheen not to leave him, saying he would do anything, even handing her a whip?!
In the original, he was described as having a beautiful, agile physique and an extremely submissive personality.
He played the role of being trampled on by the saintess to relieve her stress...
Gerd Anton Ricenbyum Driblyane.
His perversity was beyond imagination.
But now—
"He's just a kid?"
My goodness.
I looked at Gerd's chubby, rosy cheeks and couldn't help but laugh. He was the epitome of a naive young prince, full of the pride and self-esteem typical of boys his age.
