Chapter 21
“An Unwelcome Guest (3)”
“You’re saying that I, Michael, will be served a dish I’ve never eaten before? What foolish confidence. There is no food in this Empire that I haven’t tasted.”
Crown Prince Michael’s lips twisted.
Even at that reaction, Vivian’s eyes shone even more.
“Then what about food from other countries? You haven’t eaten every dish in the world, right?”
“Don’t tell me you’re going to serve some foreign country’s food?”
Of course not.
Michael was about to taste something he had truly never seen or heard of.
Vivian was certain.
Most of the dishes she knew would be unfamiliar and new to him.
“I’m confident you’ll be satisfied. Especially if you’re looking for something new.”
At her confident voice, Michael narrowed his eyes.
He found her attitude amusing—acting like the mistress of the house when she was nothing more than a hostage.
Did she really think she could do something?
His lips twisted.
He already knew Vivian had nothing to do with the banquet food.
There was no way Leon would give such authority to someone he hadn’t even officially married yet.
Even if they were married, she wouldn’t have that power.
After all, she was just a puppet bride.
Michael looked at the table with cold eyes.
“If that was possible, you should have done it from the start. Why did you serve such terrible food?”
The food wasn’t terrible at all.
From Vivian’s perspective as a cook, it was more than acceptable.
At his complaint, Vivian lowered her eyebrows.
“I didn’t know you liked unfamiliar food. If you give me one more chance…”
“No need. I’ve already lost interest in the Grand Duke’s table.”
As he pushed his chair back and stood up, his attendants also stood at once.
As if planned, they rinsed their mouths with wine.
Seeing this, Leon’s expression hardened.
He was about to step forward, but Vivian’s urgent voice stopped him.
“Please give me just one chance, Your Highness… If you do, ah!”
Leon should have stopped Vivian from approaching Michael.
He should have made her understand the situation.
But he didn’t.
And he was one step too late.
Vivian tried to rush past the table—
And fell forward.
Thud!
She collapsed onto the floor.
The sound echoed through the hall.
Her shoe flew off and rolled across the carpet, stopping near a maid’s feet.
Silence filled the room.
“This is ridiculous…”
Michael burst out laughing, and his attendants laughed with him.
Leon growled at Vivian, who was half sitting on the floor.
“What are you doing?”
“Ah… it hurts so much.”
She had stretched out her arm just in time to avoid completely crashing down.
Otherwise, she might have broken her teeth.
At least she avoided that—
But her wrist was injured.
“What are you doing? Take my hand already—”
At Leon’s rough whisper, Vivian frowned slightly.
“I think I twisted my wrist.”
“You really cause trouble.”
Vivian held her swollen wrist and shook her head.
Leon frowned deeply.
You shouldn’t have stepped in.
He needed to stop the Crown Prince, but his fiancée was on the floor.
He wanted to ignore her, but there were too many eyes watching.
Without hesitation, Leon lifted her up.
Vivian let out a small cry.
His hand on her shoulder was cold.
His sharp eyes looked even colder.
“What are you trying to do?”
“I need to fix this.”
“Why you?”
“Because… this is about the mansion.”
“That has nothing to do with you.”
“We’re on the same side, aren’t we?”
“…What?”
Leon’s expression changed slightly.
If Michael left like this, Leon’s reputation would be ruined.
Vivian didn’t care about Michael’s opinion—
But Leon’s reputation was different.
If bad rumors spread about the mansion, it would affect things later.
“I think you need treatment.”
Leon looked at her swelling wrist.
Vivian shook her head firmly.
“Later. Not now.”
Michael quietly watched her.
His eyes noticed her trembling hand and swollen wrist.
A dangerous smile appeared on his face.
“Actually, I’ve changed my mind. I’ll give you a chance.”
Michael spread his arms toward the table.
“Bring me food that goes well with wine. But there’s a condition.”
Vivian’s expression darkened.
“A condition?”
Michael kept looking at her wrist.
As if he found something amusing, he spoke slowly,
“You must make the dish yourself.”
His attendants began to murmur.
“Your Highness, even so… she must serve edible food…”
“She probably can’t even make tea herself.”
“I’ve never heard of a noble lady cooking.”
They tried to stop him, but Michael seemed even more excited.
“I’ll allow help from kitchen maids. You can do it, right?”
Vivian forced herself to stay calm.
She suppressed the smile that almost appeared.
“So it has to be my cooking?”
“Why? Is it difficult?”
Not at all.
She had been waiting for this.
When they entered the kitchen—
“It hurts so much. I can’t use my hand.”
Her wrist was swollen.
As ordered, Marian did not enter the kitchen.
She seemed relieved about it, but the other maids—except Ivin—were not.
Illa and her group were in panic.
They already knew how cruel the Crown Prince was.
They just wanted to run away.
“I’m sorry, Miss. We… we can’t do this.”
Illa begged with tears in her eyes.
“What if something goes wrong? You might just be embarrassed, but we might die.”
That was true.
Michael was capable of that.
But Vivian needed their help.
She had only one hour—
And had to prepare food for more than ten people.
And—
“There are too many vegetables to prepare. We need everyone to help.”
“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, Miss.”
At Illa’s words, the maids shook their heads.
Only Ivin stood in front of Vivian.
But even she looked unsure.
“Ivin, can you cut ingredients?”
“…I…”
Her expression showed she couldn’t.
No one had ever taught her.
Vivian looked back at the other maids.
They all avoided her gaze.
“Are you all really going to be like this?”
Their lives were on the line.
Shouldn’t they try their best?
Vivian walked toward them.
“Are you really not going to help?”
“….”
No one answered.
Vivian sighed softly.
“Fine. Then forget it. I can’t do this without your help anyway. It’s better to give up than serve something half-done.”
At her words, Illa’s face trembled.
“…Miss, you don’t know the Crown Prince. Something terrible could happen…”
“The worst is embarrassment, right? But for you, it’s more serious than that. I won’t do it.”
Vivian turned away completely.
“I’ll go tell His Highness that I give up.”
She began walking toward the exit.
Step by step.
The closer she got to the door, the more the maids sighed.
Still not helping?
Vivian clenched her teeth and kept walking.
She was about to step outside—
“O-Okay, Miss! We’ll help. What should we do?”
Illa ran toward her.
“No need. I’ll just go tell him I can’t do it.”
Vivian turned coldly.
Illa begged desperately,
“Please, Miss. Let us help.”
“…Can you really do it?”
“Yes. What should we do?”
As Illa tied her apron, the other maids rolled up their sleeves.
The new dish was japchae.
A classic dish always present at Korean celebrations.
Along with bibimbap and bulgogi, it was one of Korea’s most famous foods.
When Vivian returned from the cold storage with ingredients, the maids were already prepared.
Seeing them so tense made her want to laugh, but she held it in.
While the maids with working hands prepared vegetables, Vivian soaked the glass noodles.
She didn’t know why they were in the storage—
But it was lucky.
After stir-frying the sliced ingredients, she mixed them with the cooked noodles and sauce.
Ivin handled the mixing.
In no time, twelve portions of japchae were done.
The kitchen maids plated them.
Soon, the serving maids came and carried the dishes away.
Michael and his group had already moved to the banquet hall.
The fresh japchae was placed on the table, filled with the scent of wine.
When the last plate was served, Michael asked,
“What is this?”
“It’s japchae. It’s like a type of pasta. Please try it.”
“This looks terrible. How can you call this food?”
“It will taste good.”
“It better. If not, I’ll cut off the chef’s head.”
Michael stared at the plate, then picked up the japchae with a fork—
And put it into his mouth.
