LSOV Chapter 09 — [R15]

009. One of Those Days

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After dining out with Cedric, I spent most of my time inside the duke's residence. I hardly went out even back in the Kingdom of Lundra, so I didn't really feel the need to force myself to go out here.

Cedric had gone out the day after I arrived in Owen, and since he had also taken me out to dine, I wondered if the rumors about him being reclusive were exaggerated. But after that dinner, he didn't go out either. So occasionally, I would run into Cedric.

One such day.

As soon as I woke up, the news delivered by the maid was that Cedric had hired a new head chef. Apparently, he was a Lundra cuisine specialist who had learned cooking in Lundra.

The breakfast prepared in the small sitting room of my chamber was filled with perfect Lundra-style dishes. The raspberry pie, in particular, was excellent.

After enjoying a thoroughly satisfying meal, I went to visit Cedric's office.

Cedric, wearing glasses, greeted me.

"Duke, do you have a moment?"

"Of course."

It seemed Cedric had been working; he was with Baron Hudson, his steward. Baron Hudson, who was handling documents at a separate desk beside Cedric's, poured tea for me.

"I wanted to thank you for gifting me such a perfect Lundra-style meal."

"I merely did what I ought to do."

"That may be how it feels from Duke's perspective, but from mine, I wanted to express my gratitude."

I shrugged lightly and took a sip of tea.

Ginger tea.

I wasn't particularly fond of ginger tea because of its strong aroma, but I didn't want to leave the tea untouched when I was already taking up the duke's time during his work. After a few more sips and some brief, formal conversation, I stood up to leave.

Another day passed.

I spent the time browsing the duke's library.

I randomly pulled a book from the shelf, and it turned out to be a history book. Up until the story of Dragon Lundra, it was almost identical to what I already knew, but toward the end, there was an added section about the founding of the Owen Empire.

From my standpoint as a foreigner in Owen, the empire's history books portrayed the conquering king—its first emperor—in a rather positive light.

Though he had been a conqueror to other nations, it seemed that within Owen, he had been a decent ruler.

Was it simply that accounts of one's actions change depending on perspective?

The history written from Owen's point of view was so interesting that I forgot to sit down at a desk and remained standing in front of the bookshelf.

"Princess."

I lifted my head at the voice calling me, it was Cedric. He was already holding several books in one hand.

"Duke, good-"

I glanced toward the window.

"It's evening already!"

"Yes, good evening. Have I interrupted you?"

"No, not at all. I was just looking around."

True to his gentlemanly nature, Cedric didn't check to see exactly what I had been reading. I lifted the front cover of the book and showed it to him.

"It's a history book of the empire. It's more detailed than the Owen history I learned back in the Kingdom of Lundra, so I'm finding it interesting."

"I see."

He didn't glance at the book's cover. It was clear he had no interest at all in what I was reading.

"Did you come to look for a book as well, Duke?"

"I needed some reference material for work, so I came to retrieve it. Please excuse me."

Cedric's hand passed briefly through my field of vision. With neat, precise movements, he took a few more books from the shelf we were facing, gave a polite nod, and left the library.

"Princess, it's dinner time. Would you like to eat now?"

The maid spoke.

I thought of the raspberry pie. Will it appear again? Or will there be something new and delicious this time? I found myself looking forward to it.

Another day passed.

After breakfast, I strolled through the duke's residence, admiring the paintings in the corridor to help my digestion. While walking along the hallway, I ran into Cedric.

"Good morning, Duke."

I greeted him first.

"Good morning, Princess."

"Have you had breakfast?"

"Yes. Have you eaten as well, Princess?"

"Yes! Thanks to you, I'm enjoying wonderful meals every day."

I placed a hand over my chest, filling the gesture with gratitude.

Cedric looked at me with an impassive expression. It seemed he didn't realize how childish my words and actions were.

I naturally changed the subject.

"Are you on your way to the office?"

"Yes."

Cedric was wearing gold-rimmed glasses. He seemed to wear them only when working in his office. Even with part of his face obscured by the glasses, he was still handsome.

"Glasses suit you well, Duke."

Since complimenting a man's appearance wasn't very ladylike, I framed it as praise for the glasses.

"Thank you."

His voice was the driest, crispest sound in the world.

Another day after that.

One of the reception rooms on the second floor of the duke's residence had an especially spacious terrace. The sunlight was particularly pleasant that day, so the maids recommended having a picnic there.

As I sat at the terrace table enjoying some snacks, I noticed Cedric speaking with Sir Kerner in front of the outdoor area used by the Deirton Knights.

Sir Kerner gave Cedric a casual salute. It seemed their conversation had ended. As Cedric turned around, our eyes met. I thought he seemed particularly sensitive to being watched.

When Cedric looked up at me, Sir Kerner also raised his head and gave me a silent bow. I waved cheerfully. Cedric returned the greeting with a brief nod.

I thought this second-floor terrace was a wonderful place to enjoy fresh air.

Then came another day.

We decided to have a picnic in the rear garden of the duke's residence.

After finding a large tree with good shade, I had the maids set up a table. While enjoying sweet hibiscus tea, my eyes met Cedric's again, Cedric, who was inside the building, beyond the window.

Only then did it occur to me that the duke's office was on the first floor, and that its windows faced the back garden. Even so, out of all the wide grounds, why did we have to set up the table right in front of the duke's office?

I felt awkward, worried that it might look like I was leisurely enjoying myself in front of someone who was working.

To brush away the awkwardness, I smiled toward Cedric. He bowed his head briefly in greeting and then turned away. The sunlight was bright, and I couldn't see deep inside the room through the window.

I picked up the sandwich placed in front of me. After taking a big bite, I decided that next time, I should set up somewhere else.

Then, yet another day.

The chef brought me a dessert I had never tried before, and it exceeded all expectations. It was called a mini crème brûlée tart.

Knowing that I enjoyed having picnics and snacks throughout the duke's residence, the chef threaded several small tarts onto a palm-length wooden skewer. I privately dubbed it a crème brûlée tower.

One day, I asked the chef to prepare a large batch of crème brûlée towers. Since it was a type of snack I had never seen in the Kingdom of Lundra, I thought it would be nice to share it with the knights of the kingdom as well.

Accompanied by maids carrying baskets of snacks, I headed toward the knights' quarters. While crossing the rear garden on the way, I ran into Cedric.

"Good afternoon, Duke!"

"Good afternoon, Princess."

I reached into the basket hanging from my wrist and handed him a snack.

"Would you like one? It's sweet."

"Thank you."

Cedric accepted it, standing still with the skewer held delicately at the tip.

"This is how you eat it."

I lifted my arm, pretending to hold an imaginary skewer to demonstrate. Cedric raised his arm slightly as well.

"Yes. Like that. And then you eat it like this."

I showed him how to take a bite. Cedric followed along.

He eats well.

After exchanging greetings, I continued on toward the knights' building.

Another day… or maybe the day after that, anyway.

I went horseback riding. Butler Mason mapped out a light riding course that followed the forest around the estate. Sir Leo Mathis, one of the kingdom's knights, rode alongside me as both escort and companion.

After finishing the exercise, I ran into Cedric while heading to the stables.

I dismounted and greeted him.

"Good afternoon, Duke."

"Yes, Princess. Good afternoon."

Cedric replied politely, his expression still impassive.

His light attire caught my eye. I wondered if he had just finished training.

"I've heard that you're quite a famous knight in the empire, Duke."

"Is that so."

"I'm curious why you're known as such a renowned knight."

"I'm not sure which rumors you're referring to, so it's difficult to answer."

"You don't even know your own rumors?"

I couldn't suppress a smile. Cedric's expression didn't change.

"I don't take much interest in matters outside."

"Hm. Then I suppose you don't know the other rumors about yourself either?"

I leaned slightly closer and lowered my voice, whispering.

I spoke as if I knew all about his rumors, but in truth, the only thing I had heard was that he was reclusive. After spending several days with him, it seemed less like a rumor and more like a fact.

Even if I told him that, he probably wouldn't be very surprised. Still, I just wanted to see a hint of curiosity appear on Cedric's face, so I pretended to know more than I did.

"There are other rumors as well?"

Cedric asked, looking completely uninterested.

"I've heard some things. If you're curious, feel free to ask anytime. I'll tell you."

"Very well."

That took the wind out of my sails. I straightened back up.

Thinking Cedric would pass by, I adjusted my grip on the reins but then his voice reached me again.

"Rachel has informed me that she plans to visit in a few days."

"The Imperial Princess?"

"She seems to wish to meet you."

Did he mean the three of us should meet together? Or that Rachel and I would speak alone? If it were the two of us, would she bring up the topic of the kingdom's treasure again?

"I'll have the details of the time sent to you through the maids."

"Thank you, Duke."

Cedric gave a light bow and headed back toward the duke's residence.

As my horse shifted its weight and I turned with it, our eyes met again. Cedric was standing in an awkward spot, somewhere between where we had parted and the residence itself. I gave him a small nod in greeting.

Why wasn't he leaving? I turned my body and headed toward the stables.