ARVEC 11

A thirty-minute carriage ride from the central commercial district.

Short as it was, the journey felt interminably long, stretched thin by a silence so awkward it bordered on torment.

Why did His Grace have to scold me for being noisy, of all things?

The moment the carriage halted, I leapt out as though fleeing for my life. Needless to say, I had no intention of repeating the humiliating mistake of “waiting for the Grand Duke’s escort.”

Before us loomed the gates of Winter Castle, feared enough that even a passerby might flinch.

The coachman—who had charged triple the usual fare to bring us this far—asked me cautiously,

“Er… may I ask what business leads you to… get off here?”

“I’m applying to be a cook at Winter Castle.”

“…Excuse me?”

The young coachman’s face twisted in pure bewilderment.

Well, I had just succeeded in luring a little chef-to-be into the castle despite a few hiccups, so my confidence was soaring.

I smiled kindly and suggested,

“Why don’t you apply as a coachman here?”

“…I’m sorry?”

“They say there’s not much work but the pay is excellent.”

“Goodbye, ma’am! Hyah!”

He fled as though I were contagious.

His retreating back all but shouted, I’ve seen some lunatics in my life, but this woman wins.

Well, I wasn’t expecting much anyway…

Still, at least the chef recruitment was a success—oh.

Because there she was—my newly secured chef—staring longingly at the disappearing carriage.

Terrified she might change her mind now of all times, I snatched Coco’s luggage from her arms.

“It’s fine, Coco. People live here just like anywhere else. Honestly, what sort of rumors did you hear to make you this nervous?”

“I—I heard a monster lives here, a-and eats people to stay young forever…”

“Oh, that’s just nonsense.”

I glanced at the Grand Duke and continued,

“They’re simply a long-lived race. Like elves.”

“E-Elves…?”

Even in a world where sword aura soared and mages cast spells without staffs, elves existed only as dusty legends—fairy tales told by grandmothers.

“They exist. Kind, beautiful, long-lived beings.”

Perhaps a touch embellished, but not entirely untrue. The more time I spent in Winter Castle, the less its inhabitants resembled the demons or monsters described in rumors and novels.

Then—faint as a sigh—someone let out a quiet chuckle.

So soft that if my hearing were any duller, I would have missed it entirely—like an illusion.

It was the Grand Duke. His gaze had settled on me.

His expression was lost in shadow, but his sharp silver-ash eyes were unmistakably clear.

“…What? Was I being loud again?”

I spoke first, suddenly feeling guilty.

He answered in an unamused tone,

“You are loud by nature.”

Then, as though that concluded the conversation, he walked past me.

What, so being handsome and a Grand Duke means you can say anything?

As he approached, the heavy gates opened on their own like a welcoming automaton. I stared after him, momentarily dazed.

…Fine. If he’s handsome and a Grand Duke, he gets a pass.

“So you’ve resorted to kidnapping now?”

Nishe—who would probably get tongue ulcers if he ever refrained from picking a fight—stood leaning in the corridor, greeting us with his usual charm.

Shirt half-unbuttoned despite the cold, sword in hand, physique like a walking fortress—he looked more like a dungeon boss than a guard.

Training in the middle of the night?

There was an abandoned arena nearby. I had assumed it was unused—apparently I was wrong.

“You seem more like the type to kidnap someone.”

“What nonsense— Oh.”

Only then did Nishe quickly sheathe his sword.

“Hi-hik!”

The first impression he made was terrifying enough to traumatize my small, precious chef.

“She’s an important recruit. Nishe, try staying out of her way.”

“How did you even drag her here—wait. Why should I avoid her?”

I leaned close and whispered so Coco wouldn’t hear.

“What if you scare her off? This place already has terrible rumors. I barely convinced her to come.”

“…You’re sure it was persuasion? Not coercion?”

Nishe eyed me suspiciously.

“What do you take me for? I persuaded her with money.”

Well—perhaps I also overwhelmed her mind a little.

I gain a talented young cook, Coco gets more than enough for her mother’s treatment—it’s practically a happy ending for everyone.

“Yeah, sure.”

Snorting, Nishe bowed slightly to Coco.

“Hey, kid. Think you can live here?”

“H-Hik…! Y-Yes, sir!”

“You’ve heard the rumors, right? Only monsters live here. And you still plan to cook three meals a day for us?”

“I—I’ll… I’ll try my best…!”

“Good. It’s almost supper. Perfect timing. Let’s see how delicious your food is.”

Oh fantastic. This thug was hazing her.

After all the effort I put into coaxing her here, you ruin it?

I scolded him for bullying a potential talent.

“Why are you making her work immediately? Ever heard of basic decency?”

“N-No, it’s fine! I can do it…!”

Coco stammered, then hesitantly added,

“U-Um, would plain food be… acceptable? I haven’t cooked with… h-human or monster meat before…”

“What?—Pfft!”

Nishe burst into laughter.

Honestly, it was hilarious. To think she followed us here while believing such things—she was braver than she looked.

“Damn, kids these days are terrifying.”

Agreed.

In the end, Coco prepared a normal meal.

I was hungry too, so I sent her to the kitchen without resistance.

The dining hall glowed with magically lit lamps.

“H-Here’s your meal. S-Sorry for the wait…”

A warm, savory aroma drifted toward us.

Since everyone else had already eaten Winter Castle’s infamous bread, only Nishe, Allie, and I waited in the dining hall.

“I—I only had potatoes to work with, so I made a soup…”

Having seen the tragic state of the pantry myself, producing anything edible was a miracle.

I was genuinely moved.

She’s definitely getting a bonus.

Then Nishe took a spoonful and twisted his lips.

“What is this? It’s worse than what I normally eat.”

An outrageous insult—pure slander.

Juanxi, Winter Castle’s butler and potato-bread artisan, produced bread that barely qualified as a survival ration. Cooking talent? None whatsoever. If decades of baking yielded that level, there was nothing more to say.

Poor Coco cried out in distress.

“I—I’ll remake it…!”

“There’s no need, Coco.”

“Right. No need. Just leave at dawn and open a restaurant somewhere outside.”

He was driving her out.

I glared at him, shaking with fury. Allie, who sat quietly beside me—not so much serving me as simply… existing by my side—finally spoke.

“Ignore him. Nishe dislikes having new people in the castle. He’s acting out.”

“Huh?”

“In the past, many people lived here. But they all died. Humans don’t live as long as we do.”

“…”

“Every time someone passed, Nishe took it the hardest. He’s sentimental, you see. He doesn’t want to get attached again, so he doesn’t want newcomers.”

That was… unexpectedly touching.

“You’re talkative today, Allie.”

Nishe growled, but the deceptively delicate-looking maid replied coolly,

“Are you embarrassed because you cried at every funeral?”

“Shut your damn mouth.”

…And just like that, the atmosphere plummeted.

Seeing Coco pale from their clash, I cheerfully lightened the mood.

“Whatever. Let’s eat before it gets cold.”

“…”

“If you don’t like it, go gnaw on that rock-bread. I’m not babysitting your delicate feelings.”

“What? Hey, you don’t get it—”

“All right, Nishe, enough. You can’t taste anything anyway. Why pretend?”