Chapter 76

Chapter 76

It wasn’t that kind of situation at all, but somehow it was made to seem like it was. 

That’s how sweet—no, dangerously sweet—Dylan’s expression and voice toward Erina were. 

Meian shook off the inappropriate thoughts crowding her head and glanced around nervously. 

Fortunately or unfortunately, everyone was staring at Dylan like they’d just chewed something sour. Even the young children seemed to instinctively sense that what their uncle was doing was weird.

Not that anyone could say exactly what was wrong, if asked.

“E-Erina! I want cake!!”

“Mama!”

“I’m eating the meat pie first!”

Sensing something fishy between Dylan and Erina, the kids gave up on waiting quietly and made a break for the oven. Maybe they felt like they had to rescue Erina from Dylan’s clutches. 

Meian found herself unconsciously cheering the kids on.

Yes, that’s it! We have to keep Lord Dylan and Erina apart!

“What are you doing, Halfie? Oho, still clenching your fists?”

“Eek!”

Mitzu snorted at the shrinking Meian, then followed the kids toward the oven. Weird or not, there was no way he was letting those brats steal the snacks. 

Hael followed quietly, a little spark of anticipation trailing behind her like a sign of her snack cravings.

Now Meian was once again consumed by curiosity: just how good could these snacks be…?

A few minutes later, Meian, with eyes brimming with tears, stuffed her mouth with meat pie and cried out,

“Eayanae! Thish ish sooo gooood!! E-ehrinaaaa! sob sob!!”

It was on a whole different level from any meat pie she’d ever had. The crust was crispy, the inside moist, and there was no trace of the usual greasy meat smell or floury aftertaste.

“I’m glad it suits your taste. Actually, I only gave instructions. Dylan did all the cooking. You could say it’s entirely his dish,” Erina said brightly, as if it were nothing.

But Meian suddenly felt like something was stuck in her throat. Come to think of it, it was Dylan who had been wearing an apron earlier. 

The recipe may have come from Erina, but the terrifying dragon was the one who’d cooked it. Meian carefully chewed and swallowed the rest of the meat pie, then cautiously glanced at Dylan. 

She was worried he might be offended that she’d eaten something he made.

But Dylan seemed too busy asking Erina, “Was it good? Don’t I have a knack for cooking?” to care what anyone else thought.

Relieved, Meian finished off her share of the meat pie. She had to make room for the mousse cake that was coming next.

Ever since last night, when Erina grilled the meat perfectly, Meian had suspected she was a cooking genius. Goodness, how far did Erina’s charm go?

Across the table, Meian’s eyes turned sticky again, like a grizzly who’d found honey, as she watched Erina take care of the children.

***

At the same time, a commotion was breaking out in Princess Anna’s palace.

“L-Lady Darien! You came without any notice!”

“What? Am I not allowed to come?”

The unexpected visitor had thrown everyone into a panic.

“Her Highness the Princess is not feeling well! It would be better to set an official date for a visit…”

“Oh my! The princess isn’t well? Then I came at the perfect time! A mother is the best comfort when one is sick!”

A mother?! Consort Darien was only eight years older than the princess. 

Even if she was favored by the emperor, she could hardly be considered Princess Anna’s mother. She was a concubine, plain and simple. The empress’s seat had been vacant for over a decade.

Where did she even get the nerve to say such blasphemous things?

The attendants’ faces stiffened at Consort Darien’s words. Yet she was still the emperor’s recognized consort. They couldn’t stop her by force.

Knowing this better than anyone, Consort Darien smirked at the attendants and strutted deeper into the princess’s palace, her heels clacking with defiance.

“You there, go tell the princess I’m here. Hmm… yes, this room is nice. Bring her here. Now!”

She barked at a passing maid and claimed the grandest reception room she could find. 

Clearly bigger and more luxurious than her own quarters, it stung her pride. With a greedy glint in her eye, Consort Darien scanned the lavish furnishings.

If everything went according to her plan, this would soon be hers.

No, not just this—it was only part of what she intended to claim.

Consort Darien wasn’t aiming for the princess’s palace alone. She wanted the empress’s throne.

That had been her goal ever since she entered the palace as a much younger consort to the aging emperor. And from the moment she caught his eye, everything had gone according to plan. 

There was only one frail princess in the imperial family, so if she bore a son, it was only natural that the emperor would bestow the long-vacant empress’s crown on her.

But instead of gaining more favor, she found the emperor drifting away from her. Even worse, he humiliated her publicly and placed her under house arrest to keep her quiet.

Confined to her quarters for days, Consort Darien’s resentment festered. That’s why she’d changed her plan and stormed into Anna’s palace during her probation. 

Sure, she wanted to torment the princess but more than that, she wanted to send a message to the emperor.

That she knew many things. And that she could reveal them, of her own free will, to none other than his beloved Anna Richover.

Consort Darien’s red lips curled into a sly smile as she stroked the armrest of the sofa.

***

Meanwhile, Princess Anna had just finished her morning studies and was resting in a lounge adjacent to her study. 

The attendants, knowing her routine, typically didn’t disturb her at this hour unless something was urgent.

Today was different.

A sudden knock preceded the flustered entry of the head attendant, who bowed deeply with a troubled expression. Anna, who had been staring blankly out the window, turned to her with a puzzled look.

“Your Highness, I deeply apologize for interrupting your rest. But I must report something urgent. Lady Darien is currently waiting in the main reception room.”

“W-What? Consort D-Darien?”

“Yes. We told her Your Highness was unwell, but she insisted on paying a visit anyway.”

The head attendant apologized repeatedly for being unable to prevent the intrusion. 

At his words, a flash of coldness briefly passed through Princess Anna’s eyes, but it was gone in an instant—too quickly for anyone to notice.

When the attendants lifted their heads again, she had returned to her usual vacant, dreamy expression.

“If… if I, meet her… it’ll, end, faster? I-I’ll go.”

“Understood. I’ll inform her of your decision.”

After bowing again, the head attendant left. A moment later, the head maid entered, carrying a thick cloak to drape over the princess’s shoulders.