Chapter 18
“A Special Pancake”
Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap.
Even thickness, steady speed, and smooth movements like flowing water.
Leon’s eyes briefly shone as he watched Vivian’s knife skills.
“…You’re quite skilled.”
As if the words slipped out without thinking, he quickly pressed his lips shut.
Vivian turned to him and smiled slightly.
“So you can give compliments too?”
“It just means you’re better than I expected. I imagined the worst.”
“Um… if this tastes good, will you let me out of the storage?”
“You’re noisy.”
Maybe it was the darkness, but Leon’s cheeks looked slightly red.
The orange light flickered across his face.
“I didn’t even say that much.”
“Stop talking nonsense and focus on what you’re doing.”
At his harsh tone again, Vivian lost her mood.
She sliced the leek and carrots into long thin strips, then put everything into a bowl.
“Look, you saw everything, right? Leek, carrot, flour, water. All things you know. Add one egg and a little salt, and that’s it. There’s nothing dangerous in here.”
Leon simply nodded.
Watching him slowly blink his long eyes made her feel annoyed.
It felt like she was reporting everything while he just nodded like a master.
After adding water, she turned—
And saw Leon staring closely at the bowl in her arms.
He was even leaning forward to see better.
It made her laugh a little.
“Are you that suspicious of me?”
“You talk too much. Do you think I came here to chat?”
She was cooking carefully for him at night, and he was still suspicious.
She felt annoyed.
“So you don’t trust me, right? Then why don’t you do it yourself?”
“What?”
Vivian held out the bowl.
“Mix this. You were worried I might put something in the food. If you mix it yourself, it’ll be safe.”
“Hey, you—”
“That’ll save time too. It’s better to finish quickly, right? The servants will wake up soon. While you mix, I’ll check the fire.”
“Why should I—!”
Before he could finish, she placed the bowl into his arms and quickly turned away.
As she checked the fire and heated the pan, she could hear him muttering curses while mixing the batter.
When she glanced back, Leon was glaring at her while stirring.
“What are you looking at? Turn around.”
She quickly turned away to stop herself from laughing.
Now he finally felt like the Leon from the novel.
Complaining, but still doing everything.
The Leon she liked.
“That’s enough now. Come here.”
At her words, his large body moved over.
“If you make me do something like this again—”
“Go sit over there.”
“I’m not finished talking—”
“The oil might splash.”
At that, Leon quickly stepped back.
Sizzle—
As the batter hit the hot oil, it sounded like pouring rain in the quiet kitchen.
Soon, a savory smell filled the air.
The sound of rain outside and the sizzling in the pan mixed together into a pleasant noise.
When one side was cooked, Vivian lifted the pan and flipped it.
“…Oh.”
A small exclamation came from behind.
“You saw that, right?”
“I-I didn’t see anything.”
“You’re not honest.”
“Focus.”
Vivian added more oil and gently moved the pan.
The golden pancake spun inside.
Finally, it was done.
She placed it on a plate and handed it to Leon.
“Here. A special pancake—pajeon.”
Leon looked at her smiling face through the rising steam.
Vivian spoke softly,
“Grand Duke, try a bite.”
Leon picked up a piece with a fork and ate it.
‘This is impossible…’
The first bite was crispy.
Then came the chewy texture and the sweet taste of leek.
Leon couldn’t look at Vivian’s expectant eyes.
He felt like he couldn’t hide his emotions.
He had watched the entire process.
There was no sign of magic.
She really just used normal ingredients.
Then why…?
“How is it?”
Vivian asked.
Leon silently finished the entire pancake.
His lips were shiny with oil.
After that, Leon ate several more pancakes.
He didn’t say it was delicious, but the empty plates showed his satisfaction.
His faint smile and bright eyes clearly showed he enjoyed it.
He really did.
‘Then why am I locked up again?’
Vivian was once again locked in the underground storage.
She thought things were getting better.
But after finishing the food, Leon locked her up again.
He wasn’t as rough this time, but still—
He locked her in.
He left behind cold words:
“I’ll think more about what to do with you.”
And a thick blanket.
Vivian fell asleep in the cold storage.
Then—
“Miss! Miss!”
Early in the morning, someone called her urgently.
“…Who?”
Someone was peeking through the small door gap.
“What should we do? What is happening?”
It was Ivin.
She never greeted her before, but now she came.
Vivian felt confused, but still welcomed her.
“Yeah… this is how things turned out.”
“Here… take this.”
Ivin pushed something through the gap.
It was a thin slice of bread.
“You didn’t eat anything, right? I saved this from breakfast. Please eat this.”
The bread fluttered in front of her.
At that moment—
Vivian remembered how she died in the novel.
Poisoned food.
Why now?
Vivian stared at the bread.
Ivin kept waving it.
What should I do?
Seeing no reaction, Ivin spoke again.
“Miss? Please hurry.”
“You shouldn’t do this, Ivin. Did you forget what the Grand Duke said?”
Was it really her?
The bread looked like a poisoned apple.
“Just eat it quickly. No one will know.”
What should she do?
Ivin kept urging her.
“You shouldn’t do this.”
“Please hurry, Miss.”
In the end, Vivian took the bread.
It was cold, but soft.
“Thank you, Ivin. But it’s dangerous for you to stay here. Go back.”
“How can I stay comfortable when you’re suffering like this?”
Her behavior made her even more suspicious.
“It’s okay. This will be resolved soon. Go now. I’ll eat this.”
Vivian tried to send her away—
But Ivin’s eyes filled with tears.
“Please eat… I want to see you eat it.”
She urged again.
“I said I will. Go before someone comes.”
“Miss…”
At that moment—
Ivin suddenly disappeared.
Then—
“Are you crazy, Ivin? Do you even know where you are?”
A sharp voice echoed.
“M-Miss Illa…”
A frightened voice followed.
“You dared to bring bread? Looks like you need another beating.”
Then—
Thud. Thud.
Sounds of hitting came through the door.
Vivian rushed to the gap.
“Hey! What are you doing?”
She saw Ivin curled up on the ground.
Several maids surrounded her, kicking and hitting her.
Ivin’s small body shook under their attacks.
“Stop right now!”
Vivian shouted angrily.
One maid answered coldly,
“We can’t do that, Miss.”
Her tone was disrespectful.
“If you don’t stop, I won’t let this go.”
“How?”
“…What?”
“What can you do? You’re locked in there.”
The maid continued mockingly.
“If I get out of here—”
“You’ll be sent back to your country right away.”
Sent back?
Vivian was confused.
Meanwhile, Ivin kept enduring the beating.
Three maids cursed at her.
“You people from Kihis are all the same.”
“We fed and raised you, and this is how you repay us?”
“Learn your place in the Empire.”
The hallway was filled with horrible noise—breathing, curses, laughter.
After a long time—
They dragged Ivin away like a rag.
“Miss, when you go back to your country, leave Ivin behind.”
It was Illa—the maid who mocked her earlier.
“…Your name is Illa, right?”
“Oh my, you remember my lowly name? I’m honored.”
She bowed mockingly.
Then—
“What do you think you’re doing here?”
A cold voice cut through.
Zygmunt stood there, looking furious.
