HRNGDS 74

~Chapter 74~

Meanwhile, Delphina arrived at the dessert shop where Ivelina had caused a commotion earlier.

Since the place had been reserved from the start, it was empty.

‘I’m only making something simple, so I don’t need any special cooking tools. The kitchen here will be enough.’

There was one fruit dish Delphina was most confident in.

‘It’s not exactly a dish that suits the current situation… but it’s the one I made for Grandfather most often.’

She remembered watching Alphonso enjoy the food the chef had prepared, and as a child, she had given him the dishes she made herself. The cooking of a clumsy little girl must have tasted terrible…

‘But Grandfather still ate it all, making a silly face.’

Her eyes stung as emotion welled up.

“Ah, our Delphina’s cooking skills are amazing. When you find someone you like, I hope you cook for them often. Promise me.”

The only times Alphonso would make a different expression when looking at Delphina were when he was eating her food—acting as if he was enduring something hard to bear. Other than that, whenever he looked at her, his face always melted into a soft smile.

Delphina liked that expression. It made her feel his affection completely.

‘Right now, Grandfather looks too serious and lacking in any energy. That’s not like him.’

She wanted him freed from the black magic soon—not only to be angry at her uncle for what he had done, but more than anything, to see that familiar smile again.

Delphina wondered, ‘Will eating my food really make him better?’

It was better than doing nothing. Just as with the Grand Madam, she hoped her feelings would be conveyed this time too.

She began making a fruit salad with all her heart.

‘It’s not a typical fruit salad.’

Instead of salad dressing, she mixed the fruit and nuts with mayonnaise.

It was a snack often eaten by children in the East.

‘There was a similar dish in Korea… I think they called it fruit salad there too.’

She picked up an apple.

‘The method is simple.’

From experience, she knew that the simpler the dish, the harder it was to get a high grade.

But… ‘As always, there are exceptions.’

This salad held memories between Alphonso and Delphina.

<Delphina and Alphonso’s Memory-Filled Fruit Salad>
Contains the strong blessing of the god Frad, who supports chef Delphina.
Made with seasonal fruits for the best flavor.
Grade: B

Tip: Alphonso may refuse to eat it if he remembers your terrible cooking from the past.

Duke Rikeion spoke to Elcayan.

“Look, Father. With the Grand Duke looking so handsome, of course Delphina would fall for him. The engagement happened because she wanted it.”

“….”

“This incident with Ivelina was truly a mistake. I’ll have to investigate further, but I think Ivelina acted out because she felt hurt by Delphina.”

“Hurt?”

“Yes. The engagement with the Grand Duke was originally meant for Ivelina. Delphina wanted it, so Ivelina had no choice but to give it up.”

The words were skillfully twisted away from the truth, yet Alphonso simply listened.

Calix found this frustrating.

‘The Alphonso I know wouldn’t even sit there listening to this nonsense.’

Normally, Duke Rikeion wouldn’t even have been able to set foot here.

‘Has his brain gotten younger along with his face? This carefulness doesn’t suit him.’

Calix didn’t like it. For knights, boldness was necessary when facing an enemy.

Alphonso didn’t even seem to be paying attention to the duke’s words. His gaze stayed fixed on Elcayan’s face. Calix began to worry this might end with Alphonso simply accepting, “I see.”

‘Just punishing Ivelina alone isn’t enough.’

As he debated whether to stir things up himself, the door opened. Calix’s nose quickly caught a refreshing scent.

‘Lady Delphina is bringing food!’

His sharp sense of smell could recognize her cooking even from far away.

Sure enough, Delphina was walking toward them with a dish in hand.

Duke Rikeion’s displeased gaze turned to her. He hadn’t expected her to actually bring food.

He wondered, ‘If she wanted to make a good impression on Father, wouldn’t it be better not to bring food?’

He had heard she cooked in the North, but he didn’t expect her to serve food here without knowing her place.

“What is that, Delphina?”

“Fruit salad. Grandfather used to enjoy it.”

For the first time, Alphonso’s face showed some expression. He looked at the salad with a wary face.

Delphina gave a small smile. She now understood how big a thing it had been for her grandfather to eat her food back then.

‘Grandfather always tried to put on a bright face for me.’

So the little granddaughter wouldn’t get hurt.

The duke also looked uneasily at the food Delphina had brought.

“Oh, you really made something yourself.”

“Yes. I wanted to serve something I made to my grandfather since it’s been a while.”

Delphina set the fruit salad in front of Alphonso.

He held his fork and looked down at it for a moment. Even then, Duke Rikeion kept talking beside him.

“Delphina, tell your grandfather it’s fine already. That way he can be at ease. No matter how wrong Ivelina was, it’s not something unforgivable.”

Delphina ignored him and said, “Please eat it, Grandfather. I made it thinking of you.”

Her earnest face finally moved Alphonso to lift his fork.

It was a dish he had often enjoyed at the Rikeion house.

But ever since the strange lethargy took hold, his appetite had vanished. If she hadn’t asked so earnestly, he probably wouldn’t have eaten it.

The fruit salad entered his mouth.

At that moment, Alphonso’s eyes widened.

The salad he hadn’t expected much from was surprisingly to his taste.

The sweet-tart apple and nutty flavor were impressive, the apple’s juice refreshing his tongue with each bite.

‘Not bad. I want more.’

Before he knew it, he had taken another bite.

Duke Rikeion stared in shock as Alphonso’s face, which had been so lifeless, began to brighten. Energy surged through his body.

Delphina knew immediately—her grandfather was freed from the black magic. The lethargy had vanished from his face.

Even more dramatic was his expression: the stern, emotionless look melted away, replaced with a goofy smile, hearts in his eyes—the exact same face he had shown her long ago.

Delphina read the system window above his head.

<Alphonso Rikeion> Status abnormality removed! Alphonso Rikeion’s emotions have changed. Lethargy >> Anger + Love for Delphina

A great trial and misfortune will befall Duke Rikeion!

Alphonso spread his arms toward her.

“Delphina? My Delphina made food for me? And it tastes like this? You really are a genius! Even after so long, it’s just as delicious. Maybe it’s so tasty that it’s filling me with energy!”