Chapter 138: Ideal Type (2)
“A dostic woman, you say… Could you elaborate a little more?”
The reporters looked up at with sparkling, curious eyes.
Their lively gazes reminded of puppies venturing outside for the first ti.
“Hmmm…”
Since they were close to Mansachs, I decided to put in a bit more effort.
And so, I continued, recalling my ti as Chief Secretary…
“The savory scent of stew wafting from the kitchen when I co ho from work.”
I pictured an ordinary ho life I’d longed for in my worn-down days.
“After dinner, we’d give each other massages.”
A life far too good for soone like .
An ideal life I’d only read about in books or heard from others.
“Wouldn’t a ho like that be more than enough to call a happy family?”
“……”
At my awkward smile, the reporters busily scribbled in their notepads for a mont.
Then one of them asked, looking disappointed.
“You’re more… ordinary than expected. I thought soone of your status would have far greater expectations.”
“I wonder what kind of image you had of .”
With my hands behind my back, I shook my head slowly and relaxedly.
“I actually find high-status people a bit overwhelming. Don’t you think the most ideal ‘family’ is one where both sides feel comfortable around each other?”
Living an ordinary life—
It’s harder than most people think.
Everyone I’d t so far was different. So how could anyone easily et the standard of being “ordinary”?
Perhaps my wish was a very luxurious one.
A gift I wanted to give myself after living a busy and exhausting life.
“Either way, I’ll be the one earning the money, so it’s fine.”
Mansachs looked at with proud eyes, utterly satisfied with my calm deanor.
Like a fox lifting its chin proudly before a pack of puppies.
“As expected, you’re incredible.”
“Truly words fit for a successful young entrepreneur.”
Even though I still had a long way to go to achieve my goals.
The reporters nodded at one another enthusiastically.
“Thank you very much for the interview.”
“We hope you find that special soone soon, Representative.”
Maybe this was enough to satisfy them.
They busily scribbled away, writing down everything we had discussed so far.
But not everyone was pleased with the conversation.
The day after the article was published in the newspaper—
So won who read the lines wore deeply serious expressions.
「――――――」
“A woman who can cook, huh…?”
Istina Cathedral.
In its most prestigious office, soone muttered while holding a copy of Gold Morning’s newspaper.
“And massages, really—n have such strange fantasies.”
Istina set the newspaper down with a thud.
As she did, her beautiful face appeared, dusted with flour on her soft cheeks.
“And how much money does he even have? I have way more than that.”
When no one else was around, her tone would grow noticeably lighter.
As the sunlight shone from behind her, her eyes glead—a deep blue like the depths of the sea.
“Well, I suppose this is kind of… cute.”
The Saint recalled the mont she had been held in his arms.
The strong muscles that wrapped around her—his biceps and thighs.
The masculine scent and his sweat.
“If it’s massages, I can do that plenty myself.”
She imagined herself running her hands over that body.
Unconsciously, her red lips curled into a sly smile.
At that mont, she looked less like a saint and more like a little devil just discovering her desires.
“No one suits the image of ‘comfort’ more than I do—”
Istina believed she was the most fitting person for that man’s ideal type.
With a relaxed expression, she turned her gaze to the kitchenette in the corner of the office.
“All that’s left now is cooking—”
There, a few royal guards lay collapsed, their faces hollowed and pale.
“Saint Istina… what exactly… did you make… urgh…”
“Is there soone you're planning to poison…?”
Next to them sat a freshly made plate of cookies.
But for sothing called dessert, they looked far too intimidating.
“Poison? What are you even saying about my special cookies?”
“If we’ve done sothing wrong, please just punish us properly instead…!!”
It looked like soone had clumped up seawater-soaked mud by force.
“No. Everyone—chew thoroughly and eat them.”
Even if she had already captured the faith of the entire North and was soon to beco a bishop—
There still seed to be one domain she had yet to conquer.
Even the soldiers who always ate the cathedral als without complaint were groaning in agony now.
“…Still, maybe I really should learn how to cook?”
「――――――」
anwhile, near the cathedral stood a grand villa.
Etched proudly onto it was the golden lion insignia of the Yekaterina royal family.
A carriage ca to a stop in front of it.
And the one who stepped down—
Was the rising star of the culinary world, currently busy with his new restaurant launch.
Harris Andalusia.
“When Helena calls for , it’s always about sothing serious…”
Though he was the eldest son, he often found himself watching his strong-willed younger sister’s mood.
She was considered the next Grand Duke after all—sharp-minded and as calculating as their father.
“What could she possibly want from all the way up in the North?”
Under any other circumstance, he would’ve refused Helena’s request.
However, she was currently financing his entire business operation.
There was no point in upsetting a patron like that. And so, the eldest son had co all the way to the North himself.
“Young Lord, we’ve been expecting you.”
The escort knight of the Western Grand Duke’s House, stationed in front of the villa, greeted him with formal courtesy.
The blond man responded with a serious expression.
“Helena said it was sothing urgent, so I ca.”
“That’s right. It’s an extrely serious matter.”
Indeed, even the escort knight wore a solemn look—
As though a matter of national salvation was at hand.
“Lady Helena is currently facing a very serious problem.”
“A serious problem…? Don’t tell —is my sister sick or sothing?”
Harris’s expression darkened instantly.
“I told her so many tis to cut back on the sugar…!!”
He sighed deeply, recalling her usual eating habits.
Without delay, he hurried into the villa to see her.
“Helena…!!”
The villa was dark.
Despite it being broad daylight, most of the windows were covered with curtains.
Thanks to that, the atmosphere felt as if a giant shadowy sche was brewing behind the scenes.
In a leather chair sat a woman with a wild ss of luxurious golden hair.
“Are you alright? Did you see a doctor?”
“…Harris.”
The leather chair slowly turned around.
And there, with pronounced dark circles under her eyes, was a strikingly beautiful blonde.
“Yes, maybe I really should see a doctor…”
“What kind of illness are we talking about here?”
Helena slowly raised her trembling hand.
In the shadows, her sky-blue eyes quivered precariously.
“……”
Under the oppressive air, Harris swallowed hard.
And then, the mont his sister opened her mouth—
His body froze white, like a candle.
“I think I’ve co down with an illness… where I can’t cook.”
As the shadows lifted, her full appearance was revealed.
Sprinkles of powdered sugar glistened faintly, having landed on her dramatic curves.
“…What?”
The eldest son stared blankly at his sister.
So this was why she had summoned him to the North…?
“You’re telling this whole thing was because of cooking?”
All of this… for a cooking lesson.
“……”
Helena hung her head low.
She, who had endured the rigorous training of her father, the Western Grand Duke.
She, who had triumphed over every crisis with her own hands.
And yet, this one thing—cooking—she could not overco through sheer will.
“Harris, just what kind of battle have you been fighting…? How can you possibly make a living off sothing like this?”
The lights ca on.
And with them, the full chaos of Helena’s office was exposed, filled with strewn cooking utensils and equipnt.
“…My god.”
Harris clicked his tongue at the sight of what looked like a war zone.
Then, looking at her with conflicted eyes, he said,
“Why not just call a catering service? Why are you trying to do it yourself?”
“There’s… a reason.”
Helena shook her head, unwilling to explain further.
Then, pointing her finger directly at her older brother, she pressed him.
“Either way, teach how to cook.”
“…Sigh. Helena, you know I’m busy with the restaurant opening right now… Just ask the villa’s chef about this stuff.”
Dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, the eldest son let out a deep sigh as he bent his knees.
Then, he flicked a finger at a mixing bowl lying on the floor.
But his finger stopped dead in its tracks.
“Oppa, don’t you need money?”
Because this was the first ti she had ever called him Oppa.
“…What?”
Harris looked up at his sister, stunned.
Then Helena stood from her seat and approached him with an icy expression.
“1 billion.”
A short, firm declaration.
She was making an offer to soone much older than herself.
“I’ll add it on top of your opening funds. So teach .”
A serious proposal—befitting the next Grand Duke.
“I’m talking about popular ho-style recipes from the northern Empire.”
“……”
Harris imdiately sensed sothing unusual in her eyes.
The look in her eyes now…
It was exactly like the one he’d seen when she had first tried to learn how to cook as a child.
“You sure about this…? If you want to learn properly, there’s no end to cooking.”
“There’s nothing I can’t do. I’m just… learning a bit slowly this ti.”
Harris had always admired the fierce drive in both his father and younger sister.
And so, eventually, a faint smile tugged at his lips as he stood up.
“Alright. Judging by the price tag, I can tell you’re serious.”
The eldest son took off his suit jacket and tossed it onto a chair.
Then, picking up the mixing bowl and ladle, he said:
“You’ve got three days. I’ll teach you everything you need to make a proper al by then.”
Harris rolled his wrists, as if getting ready to exert so real effort for the first ti in a while.
Then the two siblings began cleaning off the table together.
“But seriously—why are you suddenly trying to learn how to cook?”
At her brother’s question, Helena paused for a mont.
Then she looked out the window toward a distant hotel.
“No reason. Just figured I should learn while I’m supporting the food industry…”
With those convincing words, Helena lightly covered her lips with her fist.
Then, clearing her throat, she tied on an apron.
It was a rare sight for soone who was always dressed in formal suits.
「――――――」
Beyond the cathedral and villa lay an enormous field of rye.
If one followed the golden waves of grain, a grand, vintage mansion would appear.
Annex buildings were attached to the main residence.
Those buildings housed the Grand Duke’s kitchen, and the chimneys were always puffing smoke as als were prepared.
But the current ti was 2 p.m.
Certainly not ti to be preparing food—yet.
For so reason, smoke had been wafting from the chimney since early in the day.
And on top of that…
Bang! Bang! Bang!
There were even sharp, chilling sounds of knife work.
“What on earth is going on…?”
Debier, the chief secretary, who patrolled the mansion around this ti every day—
With his hands clasped behind his back, he headed toward the kitchen.
At this hour, the chefs should have all been in the break room.
Puzzled by the strange noises, he cracked the kitchen door slightly and quietly peeked inside.
And then—
“The Grand Duke’s daughter…?”
His eyes, sharpened by over thirty years of managing the estate and weathering every conceivable storm, flashed in shock.
Standing there was a woman who clearly didn’t belong in a kitchen.
“Hoo…”
Long, black hair flowed down her back.
Her figure, shaped by training and refined feminine grace, stood gracefully before the counter.
There was no doubt—it was Echina.
“What on earth is she trying to do…?”
Her hand rested on the longsword fastened at her waist.
Then, focusing her mind, she emitted a surge of highly refined mana.
――――――
In a single motion, Echina sliced through the vegetables on the cutting board.
With a luxury-grade longsword crafted by Schmidt.
“This is perfect.”
The Grand Duke’s daughter murmured to herself, pleased.
Then, with great care, she neatly arranged the sliced vegetables into a bowl.
“……”
She, who always wore a chilling expression whenever she held a sword—
Now looked completely different.
As she sliced the vegetables, Echina appeared more feminine than ever before.
Seeing such a smile on the Grand Duke’s daughter—one he had never witnessed in his entire life—left Debier blinking in disbelief.
He even pressed both hands over his eyelids, wondering if he’d imagined it.
But what followed only deepened the shock.
“What… did I just witness?”
Echina glanced around cautiously.
Confirming no one was around, she quietly picked up a pre-sliced piece of apple.
Then…
From between her red lips, she extended her smooth tongue—
And ever so timidly licked the cut surface of the apple.
“…!!”
Debier, who had spent a lifeti in service to the Grand Duke of the North and had seen countless bizarre incidents—
Snapped back into focus, as a top-tier secretary should.
And just as he peeked back into the kitchen again—
“Secretary Debier, is there sothing you need?”
He suddenly locked eyes with Echina, who was exiting the kitchen, having wrapped everything up.
“Oh—no, I just saw smoke rising from the chimney and ca to take a quick look.”
“I was feeling a bit hungry, so I whipped up a quick bite. I’ll be off now.”
Echina walked out as if nothing had happened, carrying the lunchbox she had made.
Among the containers was one holding apple slices.
Reviews
All reviews (0)