At that time, Philip was worried about Colin, whose complexion had gradually worsened since his visit to the castle.
“How about calling a real therapist?”
"Yes."
Colin frowned and gave a short answer, then rolled over with a sigh.
His face was pale, like someone who had never seen a sip of sunlight, and his lips were rough, like someone who had never had a sip of water.
Philip, who was looking at Colin who was groaning, carefully opened his mouth.
“I’ll bring you some warm water.”
"... Yes."
Philip smiled at the mumbling voice that was difficult to understand.
Colin always has a blunt attitude and mostly short answers, but Philip knows that's just because he's awkward at dealing with people.
“I’ll be back soon.”
“There is no need to rush.”
No matter how trivial the matter, a person who always listens to what the other person says will never ignore the other person.
Philip, who was heading to the kitchen to see his 'father' who was groaning like that, opened his eyes wide when he saw a familiar figure walking out of the wide open door.
Dorothea smiled brightly at Philip, who happened to be walking towards her.
“Welcome, Philip.”
“Thea.”
Through the door behind Dorothea, tear-eyed cooks and maids filed out and bowed their heads toward Philip.
After standing there for a few seconds, Philip looked around the kitchen and then headed to the room where Dane was staying.
The nobles who had lost consciousness from enjoying the pleasures the day before woke up one by one, clutching their aching heads.
The magnificent feast they were given yesterday was enough to loosen the reins of those who had been cautious all along.
But even if it was a business trip that was done blindly, it was a shame to get off work and have fun drinking and gambling until you lost your mind.
It would be very difficult if someone confessed this fact.
"This."
They realized my mistake after they woke up, but it was already done.
Those with hangover faces that were more haggard than the day before showed up at the dinner table with awkward expressions.
As if they were trying to ignore each other and pretend that their 'mistakes' from yesterday were nothing.
The third Prince, Richard, cleared his throat and opened his mouth to address Dorothea.
“Yesterday...”
“I feel ashamed to have been in charge of the group and left the castle empty all day.”
"Ha?"
“When the delegation from the Kingdom of Rohen came to stay at this castle, we were thinking about elements that could show off their country’s grandeur. We were deep in thought and went quite far away, and before we knew it, it was evening.”
“...”
“I know full well that if I had intended to leave the castle for that long, I should have at least consulted you in advance. It was my fault for not doing so.”
Richard was dumbfounded by Dorothea's words, which lowered her posture sharply.
But soon he realized that this was an opportunity to reduce his mistakes, and quickly changed his expression.
As if he were a generous and compassionate superior.
Even though he was treated as a scoundrel and a loser, he was still a royal family.
“You don’t have to worry about it. I guess it’s because I’ve been running around everywhere these past few days and I was really nervous, so I was able to cool my head in the castle yesterday.”
The nobles who had been 'cooling their heads too much' nodded slyly.
Then they raised their heads proudly, with a forgiving expression on their faces as if they were forgiving Dorothea.
'She's young, but she's more intelligent than I thought.'
Even if she were to expose the faults of the nobles who visited here together, Dorothea, who was in charge, would be the one to suffer the embarrassment anyway.
Yeah, if you think about it, it's not that great. It was just a day of pleasure.
The expressions on their faces became much more relaxed as they finished calculating in their heads.
Valerie, who was looking at them, slightly lowered her head to hide the smile on her lips.
He was starting to feel sorry for those who still treated Dorothea Highclere like any other noble lady.
“Yesterday, while I was out on a field trip alone, I realized something new. It was foolish and greedy to try to entertain the delegation on my own.”
“How about calling a real therapist?”
"Yes."
Colin frowned and gave a short answer, then rolled over with a sigh.
His face was pale, like someone who had never seen a sip of sunlight, and his lips were rough, like someone who had never had a sip of water.
Philip, who was looking at Colin who was groaning, carefully opened his mouth.
“I’ll bring you some warm water.”
"... Yes."
Philip smiled at the mumbling voice that was difficult to understand.
Colin always has a blunt attitude and mostly short answers, but Philip knows that's just because he's awkward at dealing with people.
“I’ll be back soon.”
“There is no need to rush.”
No matter how trivial the matter, a person who always listens to what the other person says will never ignore the other person.
Philip, who was heading to the kitchen to see his 'father' who was groaning like that, opened his eyes wide when he saw a familiar figure walking out of the wide open door.
Dorothea smiled brightly at Philip, who happened to be walking towards her.
“Welcome, Philip.”
“Thea.”
Through the door behind Dorothea, tear-eyed cooks and maids filed out and bowed their heads toward Philip.
After standing there for a few seconds, Philip looked around the kitchen and then headed to the room where Dane was staying.
***
The nobles who had lost consciousness from enjoying the pleasures the day before woke up one by one, clutching their aching heads.
The magnificent feast they were given yesterday was enough to loosen the reins of those who had been cautious all along.
But even if it was a business trip that was done blindly, it was a shame to get off work and have fun drinking and gambling until you lost your mind.
It would be very difficult if someone confessed this fact.
"This."
They realized my mistake after they woke up, but it was already done.
Those with hangover faces that were more haggard than the day before showed up at the dinner table with awkward expressions.
As if they were trying to ignore each other and pretend that their 'mistakes' from yesterday were nothing.
The third Prince, Richard, cleared his throat and opened his mouth to address Dorothea.
“Yesterday...”
“I feel ashamed to have been in charge of the group and left the castle empty all day.”
"Ha?"
“When the delegation from the Kingdom of Rohen came to stay at this castle, we were thinking about elements that could show off their country’s grandeur. We were deep in thought and went quite far away, and before we knew it, it was evening.”
“...”
“I know full well that if I had intended to leave the castle for that long, I should have at least consulted you in advance. It was my fault for not doing so.”
Richard was dumbfounded by Dorothea's words, which lowered her posture sharply.
But soon he realized that this was an opportunity to reduce his mistakes, and quickly changed his expression.
As if he were a generous and compassionate superior.
Even though he was treated as a scoundrel and a loser, he was still a royal family.
“You don’t have to worry about it. I guess it’s because I’ve been running around everywhere these past few days and I was really nervous, so I was able to cool my head in the castle yesterday.”
The nobles who had been 'cooling their heads too much' nodded slyly.
Then they raised their heads proudly, with a forgiving expression on their faces as if they were forgiving Dorothea.
'She's young, but she's more intelligent than I thought.'
Even if she were to expose the faults of the nobles who visited here together, Dorothea, who was in charge, would be the one to suffer the embarrassment anyway.
Yeah, if you think about it, it's not that great. It was just a day of pleasure.
The expressions on their faces became much more relaxed as they finished calculating in their heads.
Valerie, who was looking at them, slightly lowered her head to hide the smile on her lips.
He was starting to feel sorry for those who still treated Dorothea Highclere like any other noble lady.
“Yesterday, while I was out on a field trip alone, I realized something new. It was foolish and greedy to try to entertain the delegation on my own.”
“Ah, Young Lady is still young, so you can be that greedy.”
“It is as His Highness the Prince said. The Marquis must have educated her well, but everyone already knows how frustrated Young Lady feels due to her lack of experience.”
“That’s what we’re here to complement.”
They all smeared their faces with gold as if they had butter on their lips, and did not hesitate to belittle Dorothea's abilities, experience, and learning as if they were teaching a child.
Dorothea, who had been waiting with her body low towards those who were biting their opponents with kind faces, raised her head with a smile.
The eyes of the beast that had seized the opportunity sparkled at its prey.
“I am so touched that you have taken my position into consideration. May I take this as an expression of your intention to actively support me in the future?”
They thought Aiden Highclere was just trying to split the credit among the Highclere clan since he brought his cousins one after another.
At this rate, they could treat Dorothea like a puppet and take the credit for themselves.
Those who exchanged glances had sinister eyes in contrast to their polite faces.
“It’s a given.”
“We’re just doing what we have to do.”
“Young Lady, you don’t have to worry.”
“Oh my God.”
Dorothea smiled.
“Be thankful.”
As the hyena pack was eating the food, Dane quickly blocked their retreat.
“Then, let’s start today’s schedule by checking the menu to entertain the delegation.”
Just as a look of puzzlement crossed their faces, the door opened and a cart loaded with food approached.
Soon, a steaming white stew with a savory smell appeared in front of those waiting for their meal.
The chef in charge of the kitchen explained in a solemn voice.
“We tore the tender flesh into a broth made by boiling whole wild birds, which are hard to come by in the Kingdom of Rohen.”
“...”
Everyone tilted their heads and picked up their spoons at the heavy meat broth dish that is not usually served as the first dish for a regular meal.
“Well, that’s okay.”
“Not bad.”
“Opinions may differ, but, surprisingly, there is no unpleasant odor.”
Those who savored the stew with exclamations each gave their own comments.
After a while, the chef brought out the second dish.
“Next is the finely chopped horse meat tartare steak with spices added.”
The exotic flavor lingered in their mouth thanks to the spices sprinkled between the red meat.
The nobles, who had been closing their eyes and savoring the experience, each nodded their heads.
After that, the dishes made with care continued.
“This is a cutlet made by frying the whole loin of a wild boar. The sauce on top of the crispy outer layer is made by stewing the meat, so it is characterized by a rich meaty flavor.”
“It is the rump of a buffalo, infused with a subtle scent of fire.”
“Lamb’s tongue with roasted garlic.”
“It’s buffalo ribs topped with simmered yogurt sauce.”
As the cooking continued, the nobles' faces became more and more wrinkled.
All that was on the table was meat, meat, and more meat.
Of course, the taste of the dish the chef put his heart and soul into making was excellent, and the quality of the ingredients was never lacking.
If it were normal, they would probably have continued their meal with rave reviews.
However, the nobles who had drunk the night before with Richard were still suffering from hangovers.
Starting with a heavy meat broth, the fried, steamed, boiled, and grilled meat dishes were all making their stomachs rumble terribly.
Count Jubel, unable to bear it any longer, put down the fork he was holding.
Starting with that, Richard and most of the others suffering from hangovers pushed the bowls in front of them away with disgusted faces.
"Ah..."
At that moment, Dorothea, who was putting the food into her mouth with such deliciousness, let out a single word.
As his niece's face darkened, Aiden, who had been just as absorbed in his meal, began to fluster.
“Thea, why are you doing that?”
“There’s still half a dozen dishes left...”
She looked up at the Count across from her with sad eyes and muttered softly.
“I guess you don’t like the course I designed myself. I thought you would at least try it all before leaving a review, but I guess you didn’t even have to try it all.”
“...!”
Aiden's eyebrows shot up, seemingly oblivious to the sky.
A strangely large man sitting at the dining table began to scatter his food around the dining table.
Everyone's face turned pale at the sight of the mad dog that had been sweeping the battlefield since he was a minor.
“Our Thea came to me at dawn asking for fresh ingredients, so I went hunting in the early morning and caught them myself...”
“...”
All the nobles who had put down their spoons rolled their eyes.
Philip, who had been eating quietly, added softly while wiping his mouth with a napkin.
“Looking at you all, it seems like you are not in a state of health to ‘actively cooperate’. Of course, you are all old, so it would be difficult for you to go far. Surely, you do not have other thoughts. For example, you are intentionally excluding ‘someone’ whom the ‘Emperor’ is quite concerned about...”
“...”
Count Jubel fell silent as he looked at Dorothea's shadowy face.
In this situation, if they refuse to eat the entire course she prepared, the responsibility for all of this will fall on them.
That would be the case, as Dorothea showed her sincerity by personally asking her uncle to procure the game and planning the menu herself from early in the morning.
To stop the meal she had prepared now would be to trample on her goodwill.
"That..."
If they collapse now, they'll be giving her a justification.
Dorothea, far from being self-righteous, tried to actively accept their opinions, but the other narrow-minded people decided to 'sabotage' her.
A cold sweat ran down the Count back.
'His Majesty is particularly concerned about this matter, and she is the precious Granddaughter of the Marquis of Highclere.'
There were so many eyes watching her in the castle, and there were relatives who came down with her.
If this gets out, they won't be getting any credit for coming all the way here, and they'll just be criticized and laughed at.
It was at that very moment that Count Jubel gritted his teeth and was about to continue on to the next course.
Richard, who had turned pale, threw down his plate without any sense of dignity and ran away from the table.
After the first defector, they started leaving the dining table one by one as if they had gained some momentum.
Even Count Jubel, who had been holding on with his eyes tightly shut, eventually left the table with moist eyes, and everyone who was still left fell into silence for a moment.
“Phew.”
And the one who broke the silence was Count Kiel, who was sitting quietly eating next to Dorothea.
Dorothea glanced at him as he burst into laughter, his shoulders shaking, and asked with a blank expression as if she knew nothing.
“What went wrong?”
“No, I was impressed by Young Lady's wonderful appearance... Phew!”
It was such an ingenious method that it made him wonder how on earth they came up with such a thing.
He had already been briefed on what had happened in the kitchen at dawn and was secretly wondering how Dorothea would handle things.
If she did something wrong, all the employees who had shown her favor could have been punished, and she would have been reprimanded for her recklessness.
“Since you have shown me something truly interesting, I will not tell them the truth about Young Lady.”
“As expected, my benefactor truly cares for me.”
Kiel gritted his teeth and barely managed to suppress his laughter at Dorothea's bland answer.
“I, I think the dishes Young Lady prepared were... Phew. They were really great. However, something urgent came up so I have to go up... Phew!”
As Kiel Spencer walked away, laughing with tears in his eyes, Luke tossed the napkin in front of him.
Dane scratched his head as he watched her looking at him with cold eyes and striding towards the room.
“So whose side is that Prince on? It seems like he clearly knew our intentions in advance.”
It is clear that they did nothing to their disadvantage, but that does not mean they showed any favor.
“It’s okay. He won’t be able to say anything for a while. He’s done me wrong a lot.”
Since Luke clearly made a promise and broke it, he has no choice but to be mindful of his reaction.
Dorothea smiled fondly at Aiden, who was finishing off the leftover food and waiting for the next course.
“Thank you for your help, Uncle.”
“Huh? No. For you, I would kill all the wild boars, water buffalo, and wild ducks in this area.”
“Excessive hunting is worse than no hunting at all.”
Hunting should only be done to obtain what is necessary for survival, without harming the cycle of the world.
There was no need to follow the path of those who often used hunting to show off their power or skills or to treat it as a mere pastime.
“Look at the kind heart of my niece who cares for even the life of a mere animal. And on top of that, you have such a beautiful heart that you worry about me getting hurt while hunting!”
While Aiden, who was touched by his niece's first expression of gratitude, was exaggerating her small sincerity, Marilyn got up from her seat and sneaked into her room.
Valerie, who was looking at Marilyn like that, smiled at Dorothea and congratulated her.
“Now they won’t be able to find fault with anything you do. As expected, Thea, you’re amazing.”
"Yes."
Aiden heard his niece's reply in a gravelly voice behind Dorothea, who had given a short answer.
“No one will dare say anything to you. By the way, the people working in this castle are really unprepared. Our Thea eats so much that the food in the warehouse is all gone just because she ate a little late-night snack. It’s because we prepared so little in the first place!”
Dane, who had been racking his brain to sort out Dorothea's accident, looked up at his uncle with a bewildered expression.
'I can't scold you for raiding someone else's food warehouse at dawn, even though you're a noble lady.'
Isn't that why children are becoming more self-centered day by day?
Dane, who was about to say something to his cousin who had caused another major accident as usual, changed his mind when he saw Dorothea's completely empty plate.
'Even without that, the kid with no stamina must have been hungry after wandering around outside the castle all day.'
Still, he thinks he should blame her for her recklessness and not think about the consequences.
'Isn't it a good thing that this incident silenced the noisy nobles?'
The thoughts that had been changing in his head were completely transformed by the time they came out of his mouth.
“Don’t overeat. You’ll get hurt.”
"Yes."
No human of the Highclere family can defeat Dorothea Highclere.
Dane Highclere was also a helpless member of the Highclere family.
“It is as His Highness the Prince said. The Marquis must have educated her well, but everyone already knows how frustrated Young Lady feels due to her lack of experience.”
“That’s what we’re here to complement.”
They all smeared their faces with gold as if they had butter on their lips, and did not hesitate to belittle Dorothea's abilities, experience, and learning as if they were teaching a child.
Dorothea, who had been waiting with her body low towards those who were biting their opponents with kind faces, raised her head with a smile.
The eyes of the beast that had seized the opportunity sparkled at its prey.
“I am so touched that you have taken my position into consideration. May I take this as an expression of your intention to actively support me in the future?”
They thought Aiden Highclere was just trying to split the credit among the Highclere clan since he brought his cousins one after another.
At this rate, they could treat Dorothea like a puppet and take the credit for themselves.
Those who exchanged glances had sinister eyes in contrast to their polite faces.
“It’s a given.”
“We’re just doing what we have to do.”
“Young Lady, you don’t have to worry.”
“Oh my God.”
Dorothea smiled.
“Be thankful.”
As the hyena pack was eating the food, Dane quickly blocked their retreat.
“Then, let’s start today’s schedule by checking the menu to entertain the delegation.”
Just as a look of puzzlement crossed their faces, the door opened and a cart loaded with food approached.
Soon, a steaming white stew with a savory smell appeared in front of those waiting for their meal.
The chef in charge of the kitchen explained in a solemn voice.
“We tore the tender flesh into a broth made by boiling whole wild birds, which are hard to come by in the Kingdom of Rohen.”
“...”
Everyone tilted their heads and picked up their spoons at the heavy meat broth dish that is not usually served as the first dish for a regular meal.
“Well, that’s okay.”
“Not bad.”
“Opinions may differ, but, surprisingly, there is no unpleasant odor.”
Those who savored the stew with exclamations each gave their own comments.
After a while, the chef brought out the second dish.
“Next is the finely chopped horse meat tartare steak with spices added.”
The exotic flavor lingered in their mouth thanks to the spices sprinkled between the red meat.
The nobles, who had been closing their eyes and savoring the experience, each nodded their heads.
After that, the dishes made with care continued.
“This is a cutlet made by frying the whole loin of a wild boar. The sauce on top of the crispy outer layer is made by stewing the meat, so it is characterized by a rich meaty flavor.”
“It is the rump of a buffalo, infused with a subtle scent of fire.”
“Lamb’s tongue with roasted garlic.”
“It’s buffalo ribs topped with simmered yogurt sauce.”
As the cooking continued, the nobles' faces became more and more wrinkled.
All that was on the table was meat, meat, and more meat.
Of course, the taste of the dish the chef put his heart and soul into making was excellent, and the quality of the ingredients was never lacking.
If it were normal, they would probably have continued their meal with rave reviews.
However, the nobles who had drunk the night before with Richard were still suffering from hangovers.
Starting with a heavy meat broth, the fried, steamed, boiled, and grilled meat dishes were all making their stomachs rumble terribly.
Count Jubel, unable to bear it any longer, put down the fork he was holding.
Starting with that, Richard and most of the others suffering from hangovers pushed the bowls in front of them away with disgusted faces.
"Ah..."
At that moment, Dorothea, who was putting the food into her mouth with such deliciousness, let out a single word.
As his niece's face darkened, Aiden, who had been just as absorbed in his meal, began to fluster.
“Thea, why are you doing that?”
“There’s still half a dozen dishes left...”
She looked up at the Count across from her with sad eyes and muttered softly.
“I guess you don’t like the course I designed myself. I thought you would at least try it all before leaving a review, but I guess you didn’t even have to try it all.”
“...!”
Aiden's eyebrows shot up, seemingly oblivious to the sky.
A strangely large man sitting at the dining table began to scatter his food around the dining table.
Everyone's face turned pale at the sight of the mad dog that had been sweeping the battlefield since he was a minor.
“Our Thea came to me at dawn asking for fresh ingredients, so I went hunting in the early morning and caught them myself...”
“...”
All the nobles who had put down their spoons rolled their eyes.
Philip, who had been eating quietly, added softly while wiping his mouth with a napkin.
“Looking at you all, it seems like you are not in a state of health to ‘actively cooperate’. Of course, you are all old, so it would be difficult for you to go far. Surely, you do not have other thoughts. For example, you are intentionally excluding ‘someone’ whom the ‘Emperor’ is quite concerned about...”
“...”
Count Jubel fell silent as he looked at Dorothea's shadowy face.
In this situation, if they refuse to eat the entire course she prepared, the responsibility for all of this will fall on them.
That would be the case, as Dorothea showed her sincerity by personally asking her uncle to procure the game and planning the menu herself from early in the morning.
To stop the meal she had prepared now would be to trample on her goodwill.
"That..."
If they collapse now, they'll be giving her a justification.
Dorothea, far from being self-righteous, tried to actively accept their opinions, but the other narrow-minded people decided to 'sabotage' her.
A cold sweat ran down the Count back.
'His Majesty is particularly concerned about this matter, and she is the precious Granddaughter of the Marquis of Highclere.'
There were so many eyes watching her in the castle, and there were relatives who came down with her.
If this gets out, they won't be getting any credit for coming all the way here, and they'll just be criticized and laughed at.
It was at that very moment that Count Jubel gritted his teeth and was about to continue on to the next course.
Richard, who had turned pale, threw down his plate without any sense of dignity and ran away from the table.
After the first defector, they started leaving the dining table one by one as if they had gained some momentum.
Even Count Jubel, who had been holding on with his eyes tightly shut, eventually left the table with moist eyes, and everyone who was still left fell into silence for a moment.
“Phew.”
And the one who broke the silence was Count Kiel, who was sitting quietly eating next to Dorothea.
Dorothea glanced at him as he burst into laughter, his shoulders shaking, and asked with a blank expression as if she knew nothing.
“What went wrong?”
“No, I was impressed by Young Lady's wonderful appearance... Phew!”
It was such an ingenious method that it made him wonder how on earth they came up with such a thing.
He had already been briefed on what had happened in the kitchen at dawn and was secretly wondering how Dorothea would handle things.
If she did something wrong, all the employees who had shown her favor could have been punished, and she would have been reprimanded for her recklessness.
“Since you have shown me something truly interesting, I will not tell them the truth about Young Lady.”
“As expected, my benefactor truly cares for me.”
Kiel gritted his teeth and barely managed to suppress his laughter at Dorothea's bland answer.
“I, I think the dishes Young Lady prepared were... Phew. They were really great. However, something urgent came up so I have to go up... Phew!”
As Kiel Spencer walked away, laughing with tears in his eyes, Luke tossed the napkin in front of him.
Dane scratched his head as he watched her looking at him with cold eyes and striding towards the room.
“So whose side is that Prince on? It seems like he clearly knew our intentions in advance.”
It is clear that they did nothing to their disadvantage, but that does not mean they showed any favor.
“It’s okay. He won’t be able to say anything for a while. He’s done me wrong a lot.”
Since Luke clearly made a promise and broke it, he has no choice but to be mindful of his reaction.
Dorothea smiled fondly at Aiden, who was finishing off the leftover food and waiting for the next course.
“Thank you for your help, Uncle.”
“Huh? No. For you, I would kill all the wild boars, water buffalo, and wild ducks in this area.”
“Excessive hunting is worse than no hunting at all.”
Hunting should only be done to obtain what is necessary for survival, without harming the cycle of the world.
There was no need to follow the path of those who often used hunting to show off their power or skills or to treat it as a mere pastime.
“Look at the kind heart of my niece who cares for even the life of a mere animal. And on top of that, you have such a beautiful heart that you worry about me getting hurt while hunting!”
While Aiden, who was touched by his niece's first expression of gratitude, was exaggerating her small sincerity, Marilyn got up from her seat and sneaked into her room.
Valerie, who was looking at Marilyn like that, smiled at Dorothea and congratulated her.
“Now they won’t be able to find fault with anything you do. As expected, Thea, you’re amazing.”
"Yes."
Aiden heard his niece's reply in a gravelly voice behind Dorothea, who had given a short answer.
“No one will dare say anything to you. By the way, the people working in this castle are really unprepared. Our Thea eats so much that the food in the warehouse is all gone just because she ate a little late-night snack. It’s because we prepared so little in the first place!”
Dane, who had been racking his brain to sort out Dorothea's accident, looked up at his uncle with a bewildered expression.
'I can't scold you for raiding someone else's food warehouse at dawn, even though you're a noble lady.'
Isn't that why children are becoming more self-centered day by day?
Dane, who was about to say something to his cousin who had caused another major accident as usual, changed his mind when he saw Dorothea's completely empty plate.
'Even without that, the kid with no stamina must have been hungry after wandering around outside the castle all day.'
Still, he thinks he should blame her for her recklessness and not think about the consequences.
'Isn't it a good thing that this incident silenced the noisy nobles?'
The thoughts that had been changing in his head were completely transformed by the time they came out of his mouth.
“Don’t overeat. You’ll get hurt.”
"Yes."
No human of the Highclere family can defeat Dorothea Highclere.
Dane Highclere was also a helpless member of the Highclere family.
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