KYDC chapter 32

* * *

Of course, this is partly because I was so emotionally exhausted that it amplified the experience.

In reality, the pie was far from refined.

It seemed like something made in an ordinary household—a simple filling made from simmering snow strawberries with beets, without any syrup or cream, then stuffed into a rough pie crust.

“Irina managed to procure this dessert from a local resident she happened to meet. I’m not sure if it will suit your taste, but I thought it might be better than what we had at the restaurant earlier.”

Then, without giving me a chance to refuse, he cut a piece and offered it to me on a fork.

I couldn’t just push it away, no matter how irritated I was.

You have to eat when there’s something edible, even if you’re upset. As soon as the pie entered my mouth, the rough sweetness spread, and I felt a bit of the exhaustion lift.

“It’s… quite good.”

It wasn’t even close to the level of what I used to eat at the Grand Duke’s residence or in the South, to the point where comparison was impossible, but under the circumstances, I was grateful for even this simple dessert.

The recipe was so simple that even a child could guess the ingredients, but it faithfully served its purpose as a dessert.

“Please, have some more. I’ll make sure we have something ready for breakfast tomorrow as well.”

I suddenly felt embarrassed, as if I’d become a spoiled child complaining about food, but I reminded myself that my refined palate had elevated the family’s status.

I didn’t always demand the finest service, only when the situation and environment warranted it.

Even now… it’s not that I can’t eat it, just that I wasn’t expecting to find a service here that would satisfy me.

I was planning to endure with just some jerky, but unexpectedly encountering a decently made dish had replenished my energy, and my thoughts started to clear up.

“If this place is chosen as a business site in the future…”

I mumbled to myself, and Hernan tilted his head, prompting me to continue.

“We could market snow strawberry pie as a local specialty.”

We would need to pay more attention to the ingredients and perfect the flavor, but the tartness of the snow strawberries and their plump texture paired well with the rustic pie crust.

With a bit more refinement, it could be a good product.

As I finished speaking with a serious expression, Hernan burst out laughing, looking at me.

‘’You were thinking about that in such a short time?”

For some reason, I felt mocked and lightly tapped Hernan’s shoulder with the side of my fist.

Hawthorn would probably faint in shock, but there were only the two of us here, so it didn’t matter.

“Items that can be commercialized are important. Do you think there are many things that local residents can access easily, yet outsiders would find appealing?”

As I raised my eyebrows and pouted, Hernan responded as if to placate me.

“Of course. How could I possibly doubt your abilities, Your Grace?”

The smirk on his face was annoying, so I snorted and turned away, finishing the pie before standing up. Like a cat watching a toy, Hernan’s head followed my movements.

“Now that I’ve eaten, I should earn my keep.”

Despite the bag under me, my robes were covered in dust, so I brushed off my bottom and wrapped my cloak around me. The view quickly darkened. If I was going to wander around outside, I’d definitely need to carry a lamp. I filled a portable lantern with oil and prepared to head out.

“Where are you going?”

I secured the cloak tightly to prevent it from slipping off and answered.

“To a place where you can hear people curse the lord?”

There was something I needed to check before storming the lord’s castle.

I tilted my head toward the door, signaling Hernan to follow if he wanted to, and stepped into the hallway.

“…”

Wait, I meant people could come along, not dragons. I tried not to be too conscious of the dragon now perched casually on my shoulder as I muttered to myself, looking straight ahead.

“Um… May I ask why, exactly, Lord Ryuudene is on my shoulder?”

The ancient dragon, who had kept his small wings folded, flapped them lightly and replied.

[It seemed like it would be fun, so I came along.]

“This is fun?”

I cautiously walked in the direction the shopkeeper had indicated earlier, carefully observing the street where every window was tightly shut to keep out any light.

A small dragon on my shoulder, the Duke by my side—there couldn’t have been a more uncomfortable situation, and I sighed involuntarily.

[It’s been nearly a thousand years since I’ve visited a place like this, so of course it’s exciting! Go on, open the door.]

He tugged at my robe like some kind of Ratatouille, and I nodded in acknowledgment, grabbing the handle of a one-story building at the end of the alley.

So… how did this happen?

As soon as I stepped into the hallway, the ancient dragon suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

Not only did he pester me with questions about where I was going, but when I mentioned I was planning to visit a popular local tavern, his eyes lit up and he insisted on accompanying me.

Considering that if my robe were accidentally removed, my delicate features would make it clear that I was someone of noble birth, leading to a potentially dangerous situation.

I tried to persuade him to let us go alone, but it was hopeless.

Even though the dragon couldn’t be seen by others, meaning he wouldn’t draw attention, I didn’t want to be seen talking to thin air in an era without wireless earbuds—it would make me look insane.

Desperate to avoid taking him along, I came up with various excuses, but the dragon made a surprising proposal.

[Hmph… so desperate to leave me behind, are you? Alright, then let’s do this.]

What are you planning now…?

After grumbling to myself for a moment, I got more than I expected.

[So, you’re hiding your identity under that cloak, huh? Well then, let me make sure no one can recognize your faces.]

I had no idea what he was talking about, but when he flapped his wings once, my reflection in the mirror changed into an ordinary face.

“…!?”

For a moment, I was startled, thinking my appearance had really changed, so I touched my face, but I felt different contours from what I saw in the mirror.

[Don’t be surprised. I’ve only altered your appearance temporarily, so you can walk around freely.]

If someone stronger than a dragon were to look at us, they’d see our true selves immediately, but there was no such being in a small town like this. Having unexpectedly gained a useful option, I headed towards the tavern, silencing my complaints.

“Though I’m still not thrilled about having something perched on my shoulder.”

Since there was no point in grumbling now, I carefully entered the tavern with Hernan.

“Irina said she’d wait outside, so let’s make this quick and get out.”

I was worried that Irina’s presence would draw too much attention, but her calm reaction earlier was still vivid in my mind.

“I’ll wait close by in ambush then.”

“What?”

Given her build, she’d stand out even if covered in a cloak. I was about to ask how she planned to hide when she swiftly climbed a nearby tree and crouched.

Although I had clearly seen her ascend with my own eyes, it was so dark that it looked like nothing more than a cluster of leaves—a perfect camouflage.

‘So it’s… possible.’

She claimed there were ways to watch from inside the building as well, but I didn’t want to know the details. It was impressive how someone with specialized training could pull off such feats.

Feeling slightly reassured that someone would come to my aid if necessary, I took a seat in a corner of the tavern.

It certainly seemed like a place frequented by local residents, and…”

As soon as we, who appeared to be travelers, entered, we could feel the stares from all around. I hadn’t expected the atmosphere to be warm and welcoming, but the overwhelming tension that pervaded the place caused the noise in the tavern to abruptly disappear.

“I wonder if we’re going to get kicked out before we even hear any insults about the local lord.”

When I met Hernan’s gaze, he shrugged his shoulders as if to say he couldn’t do anything about it. The awkward silence was broken by a gruff voice.

[Shouldn’t we order something soon? Do you want to just stand here getting glares and then be thrown out?]

It was a fair point. I ordered the most popular drink from the server who eyed me with suspicion.

Despite the exorbitant price—clearly an overcharge—it seemed best to keep my complaints to myself to avoid being thrown out.

“Are you seriously charging this much for watered-down liquor?”

The moment I smelled it, I could tell.

Ah, they’ve mixed something into this.

The drink was so unappealing that I didn’t even want to taste it.

As I looked down at the glass with contempt, someone abruptly intervened between me and Hernan.

“Oh, are you guys new around here?”

The person had an unmistakably rough demeanor, as if he was advertising his history of troublemaking with his face.