-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: The Emperor's Invitation
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Caught up in what? Every day has been nothing but happy lately.”
In response to my uncle's words, Grandma Sophie picked up another piece of fried eggplant and gave it to me.
Instead of popping it straight into my mouth, I held it out to my uncle.
“You should have some too, Uncle. It's so pretty.”
“Just go and sit down.”
“Okay.”
Fine, if you don't want it.
It's delicious, though. *Crunch*.
“Now, shall we get the young lady seated?”
Zenda tapped the chair where I was supposed to sit.
“Okay!”
Clutching the fried eggplant Grandma Sophie had given me in both hands, I went to my seat.
“Uncle.”
I called out to my uncle as I sat down in the chair Zenda had pulled out for me.
“……”
He looks even more upset than before.
My uncle had been radiating a dark aura for a while now, not even properly answering me.
Soon, a trolley laden with food was brought out.
Dishes boasting all sorts of flavors and aromas were placed on the table.
“Time to eat! Thank you for making such delicious food again today!”
“Oh, you say the sweetest things.”
Grandma Sophie disappeared, saying she would bring more food.
After waiting patiently while Zenda served the food onto my plate, I immediately speared a piece with my fork and put it in my mouth the moment the plate was in front of me.
The fluffy potato crumbled effortlessly in my mouth.
“It's yummy! You should eat a lot too, Uncle!”
“Finish eating before you talk.”
“Okay.”
I dutifully followed my uncle’s orders and went back to diligently working my fork.
“Oh, right, Uncle. Take me to the imperial palace.”
“Why the imperial palace?”
I took out the letter I’d brought with me on the way to the dining room and waved it around.
“His Majesty the Emperor invited me to visit!”
“How do you know the emperor?”
“I don't know him...? But I know he's Mom's friend! The letter just said to come visit. I've never been to the imperial palace, so you should go with me, Uncle.”
“No.”
“…Why? You go there all the time.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“You're so mean.”
“How'd you know?”
“You're awful.”
“You know me well.”
Even after that, I pestered him several more times during the meal, but my uncle was adamant.
Mission failed.
I thought if I brought it up naturally, he'd just go along with it.
He seems really angry about something, but I don't know what.
Before long, my stomach was full.
I subtly pushed my plate aside and patted my belly.
Time to make a run for my room.
“Young Lady.”
Just as I was stealthily turning to get up, Zenda called my name.
“Uh, yes?”
“You haven't touched your roasted vegetables. The roasted green onions, bell peppers, and onions are still here.”
“Ah. Um, well…”
Zenda stared at me with a smile on her face.
I struggled to come up with an excuse.
“Ah, I ate a lot of them in my dream this morning. So I don't need to eat any more today.”
Zenda and the nearby servants let out small chuckles, but I deliberately stuck my belly out further and rubbed it diligently.
“You have to eat a balanced meal to grow big and tall. Here, look. If you want to grow as tall as the master, you have to eat everything like he does…”
Zenda trailed off as she looked at my uncle's plate.
It was no wonder, since my uncle's plate looked no different from mine.
My uncle is so tall and built like a rock, but he didn't eat any vegetables either, right?
“Uncle didn't finish his either. That means I can grow tall without eating them all!”
I pointed triumphantly at the two pieces of bell pepper and one roasted green onion my uncle had left behind.
My uncle was so big that even Zenda, who had just been lecturing me about eating a balanced meal, had to admit it.
So I thought I could just get up and leave.
“Peanut. You think you and I are the same?”
“I'm not a peanut!”
“A little thing like you is already trying to pull tricks. Clean your plate.”
And with that, he got up first and strode away!
My mom once told me.
That my uncle would always be on my side.
That even if I couldn't trust anyone else, I could trust him.
No way! Mom was a liar too.
I'll get my revenge someday!
I had no choice but to be held captive by Zenda and finish every last bit of the remaining roasted vegetables.
* * *
Still unable to shake the unsettling and irritating feeling of unknown origin, Cassel entered his office.
Gerard followed behind him.
“What is this.”
In the center of his desk, a fist-sized box of brilliant rainbow colors greeted Cassel.
The garish colors, along with its somewhat crumpled and flimsy appearance, made it look like it was folded from construction paper.
There was only one person in this house careless enough to create such a shoddy, trivial, and shabby object.
“Could it be something the young lady left for you…?”
*After all, no one else in this house would be bold enough to place such a thing on this desk.*
Swallowing the rest of his sentence, Gerard also looked down at the box with curious eyes.
*Would this be the savior that broke the tense atmosphere, or not?*
When Cassel casually picked it up and shook it, something rattled lightly inside.
He opened the box, which was already half-crushed despite his gentle handling, to reveal a flower brooch made of layered red and bright yellow lace.
It was similar to the brooches that all the servants, including Gerard standing beside him, wore on their chests.
Except that it was easily twice the size and, impressively, featured two layered colors.
Oh, and the shabby paper box, too.
Gerard, who had been tormented all day because of the brooch he'd received from the young lady, was the first to brighten up.
*That's it, that's the one.*
“It seems the young lady was late because she was preparing the best gift of all!”
Cassel, who had been staring down at the box for a long while, muttered.
“Hmph, who asked for this? What's so great about such a shoddy thing.”
*Then why is the corner of your mouth twitching upwards?*
Gerard thought to himself, adding another comment instead.
“It's much larger, too. And the layered yellow looks just like a marigold, doesn't it?”
He even showed the presence of mind to bring up a piece of information he had once heard from Zenda.
Thanks to that, the corner of Cassel's mouth stretched even further.
“What's the big deal. She was giving them to everyone. Ah, speaking of which, did you get a box?”
“No, I did not. Perhaps she only made them for the person she considers the most precious and wonderful?”
Gerard defended Aika with all his might.
Cassel fiddled with the flower brooch for a long time before setting it down on a corner of his desk.
“Enough. Report.”
The corner of Cassel's mouth had been climbing to the heavens, but the mood shifted in an instant.
Gerard secretly clenched his fist, cleared his throat with a *hem hem*, and began his report.
“We have finished examining every last fragment of the carriage. Excluding the thirty-eight who have been dealt with, we are still pursuing seven others.”
“And none of them have talked yet.”
“Yes. Except for the ones who were tortured, they all committed suicide.”
“Suicide, as if on cue. How ridiculous. Find more.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And… uh, what was it. If you're not busy, go tell Peanut to get ready to go to the imperial palace tomorrow. Tell her I'll leave her behind if she's late.”
Gerard blinked in surprise.
The change of topic was so fast it was almost an ambush.
“You're going to the imperial palace tomorrow? So suddenly? What about all your backed-up work?”
“What's so sudden about it? I was always planning to go. I just postponed it because it was a hassle.”
“…Ah, yessir…”
Gerard trailed off, his smile lines deepening.
“What are you doing? The report's over, so get a move on.”
“Yes, I'll be right back!”
“When you're done, go about your business. No need to come back.”
“Yes, sir! Thank you!”
Having been granted leave for the day in the blink of an eye, Gerard quickly exited the office, worried his master might change his mind.
* * *
My uncle, who had seemed absolutely determined not to take me to the imperial palace, sent word through Gerard late last night to get ready to go.
Worried my uncle might change his mind, I pestered Zenda last night to get everything ready in advance.
The next morning.
Right after breakfast, I finished my preparations by stuffing a few handfuls of candy and the letter into the small, round, yellow bag Zenda had put on me.
And when I was told my uncle was calling for me, I immediately ran to his room.
“Uncle, I'm here! Isn't it super pretty!”
As soon as I burst through the door into the room, I showed off my dress with a *ta-da*!
My uncle didn't even glance my way, but I still did a little twirl.
Still not looking, my uncle was perched on the edge of a table, his legs slightly bent even so.
“Going to a party?”
*Gasp, he wasn't even looking!*
“No. But I wanted to wear my prettiest one. It has beads on it. They're pearls!”
I showed him the beads studded all over my pale yellow lace dress.
*What do you think, what do you think? It's really pretty, right?*
“Why is your bib that color?”
