After the boring and hard history time, it was time to eat.
It seems to me that we've turned imperialism into history, but let's just move on because it's annoying to ask them all.
'Yum yum, cookies are always delicious. As expected, shwillin cookies are the best!'
After eating in the dining room, I was eating cookies for dessert.
Before I knew it, I had a cookie in my hand that I had kept as a gift.
Instead of a comfy leather chair, I sat in a slightly uncomfortable chair, staring intently at the cookie in question.
Everything is fine except for a little bit of flaking after tearing off the plastic... nope.
It was mushy that it would make me feel bad if I gave it to someone as a gift.
But I decided to keep my promise to Freya.
I decided to give a cookie to the villain who handles monsters.
Why do I keep my promise to a goddess I don't even believe in?
For some reason, every moment I came to the Duke of Visenna, I felt like my life was getting shorter.
Coincidentally, there were three men in this position.
If we had to judge by age, they were Duke Eustia, the Grand Duke Ferze, and young lord Sharkis in that order.
Even after a satisfying meal, I couldn't get up.
It was the same with the three men watching me.
Fiddling with the enclosed cookies, Ferze couldn't contain his curiosity and asked.
"Why aren't you eating that cookie?"
"That's...."
I met Ferze's eyes as I was touching the cookie in my hand for a long time.
I could hear Duke Eustia coughing next to me.
Ferze, who was about to say something, soon shut his mouth.
I pondered which of the three to choose for my fortune.
Unfortunately, the unfortunate winner who will have the mushy, dusty cookies is....
Having made a decision in my mind, I ran to Eustia and hugged him.
A little startled at first, Eustia stretched out his arms and held me in his arms.
"What's wrong?"
I wriggled uncomfortably in his arms, and Eustia looked puzzled.
You are the oldest, so be the sacrifice of a mushy cookie, Eustia Visenna!
I smiled at him as he managed to notice my intentions.
Even if I feel a little guilty, my father won't have a stomach ache.
And technically, it was Duke Eustia who handled the monster first.
Although he failed to let Ferze go together.
Ferze could have killed the monster first...
Unfortunately, it was a small difference.
"Ah–."
I naturally asked Eustia to open his mouth.
The servant's expression hardened while serving the meal.
They seemed to expect my neck to fly away soon.
What's wrong with them? I just said I'd give him cookies.
No wonder the atmosphere was so cold that a cold silence fell like a blizzard.
Did I get caught trying to give him a mushy cookie?
Feeling guilty, I opened my mouth with a regretful face.
I didn't forget to make a sullen voice.
"This is the only cookie I have left that I love very much..."
"I've never seen it before."
Oh, my gosh! You don't know about this famous cookie?
It was a lie no matter how hard I looked at the person who sent poison cookies to the heroine, Riena, that he didn't know about the Shwilin cookies.
"Oh, I may have seen it before."
The recognition was faster than I thought.
I held out the cookie to Eustia with a trembling hand.
For some reason, it feels like I'm feeding my stepfather poison. Anyway, I have to do what I have to do.
I breathed in relief only after I passed the cookies on Eustia's red lips.
I kept my promise to Freya, so I'll be able to sleep comfortably for a while, right?
Crisp.
Eustia elegantly bit the cookie. Seeing this, Ferze pressed down on his temple to see if his head hurt.
I looked at Ferze with a rather strange gaze.
What's wrong with Ferze?
You know what it tastes like because you've tried it. What you ate, Grand Duke, was more crispy and delicious.
Ferze seemed to be disappointed, but he shook his head, meaning that this opportunity was over.
The Grand Duke had a face that looked like he had a lot to say, but I gave him a look that I had no choice but to do this time.
But I don't think my eyes worked.
'Why does he looks upset?'
Although it was the cookie that Ferze gave me, it was already mushy. Besides, I'm sure he got it from the butler.
'Are you mad at me for giving him expensive cookies?'
Err... I don't know I'll pay you back twice later.
Not finding the right answer, I planned a strategy over the last cookie.
"Ugh, it's mushy."
In fact, it was a crisp new cookie that I secretly received from Sharkis.
I took out a crisp cookie and put it in my mouth, and my eyes met with Ferze.
'Hyuk.'
If it is found out that I ate delicious cookies and gave Eustia a mushy cookie....
'This is my mistake.'
I turned my head to the side and bit the cookie.
Ferze somehow loosened his hardened expression.
Eustia and I. Sharkis, who was staring at us, asked with his arms folded in front of his chest.
"Ciel, why am I the only one that didn't receive a cookie?"
It was a gentle sound like flowing honey. Nevertheless, I have a slight goosebump on my arms.
Instead of 'Why didn't you give one to me?' He said 'Why am I the only one that didn't receive a cookie?'
Did you see me talking to Ferze and exchanging cookies?'
That's why I don't give it to you, Sharky.
Ferze put a light smile on his mouth when asked by Sharkis's suspicious question.
"It's a gift from me, so it's quicker to buy and eat with your money, Sharkis Visenna."
For the first time, Ferze smiled triumphantly.
Eustia, who was looking at the two pathetically, got up from his seat holding me in his arms.
Without anyone stopping him, we strode out of the hall where the dining room was located.
"Where are you going, Duke?"
As Sharkis followed him and asked, Eustia stopped his steps.
The duke, who looked down at his son with a numb eye, silently hugged me and walked away without a word.
No matter how urgent you are, you have to answer your son!
If you shut your mouth like that, I don't know where we're going.
'Where the hell are you going?'
We're not going to the 6th floor tower just because I gave you mushy cookies, are you? I felt uneasy.
'He might drop me, so let's hang on!'
I wrapped my arms around the Duke's neck as he moved quickly.
This time, I was thinking not to fall from Eustia's arms.
In the end, the person who felt sorry opens his mouth first. I held back my fear and asked.
Maybe it's because I'm used to it. It wasn't as scary as the first time I saw it.
"Where are we going?"
"To the Imperial Capital."
When asked what he was going to do there, Eustia made an absurd face.
What he didn't understand was the same for me, so I followed his expression the same way. Eustia's fine eyebrows rose.
"Guess it."
Oh gosh, am I a pushover?
Tell me to guess every day. Oh, it wasn't every day.
I said as I glanced up and down Eustia, who likes to take life-threatening quizzes.
"Are you going to buy a shwilin cookie?"
I guess the one I gave you was really good. Did "Mimi" ring in Eustia's ear?
You could have your subordinates go, but it was somewhat credible to see you go in person.
Looking at the faster pace, Eustia was on the verge of sweeping the only Shwilin Cookie Shop in the capital.
It's a tricky place that doesn't sell more than ten cookies per person. I had a sad feeling that the owner would give away even a hundred.
"Cookies next time."
'Huh? It's not?'
I blinked at the unexpected wrong answer.
Then why the hell do you want to take me to that far?
Perhaps it was difficult to say in one sentence, so Eustia furrowed one eyebrow.
He has always used a straightforward and brutal way of speaking.
It was the first time the Duke had been so troubled, so he looked at me with curious eyes.
"I heard you were from the streets."
That was all.
Eustia, who was rumored to be a monster, did not ridicule me for being of lowly origin.
Rather, he refrained from saying anything else with a heavy expression on his face.
I got a hint here.
Looking at that expression...... It's definitely going to torture anyone.
"Are you going to kill my dad?"
Dad? Eustia stopped walking at the words that naturally flowed out of my mouth.
'Did I make a mistake?'
It was a feeling I couldn't describe in words.
I was pondering what to explain, then I shut my mouth and looked at the Duke.
There was no need to explain in the first place.
After all, it's just a three-year contract based on mutual understanding.
I looked up at the distant ceiling without saying a word, and Eustia looked down at me with a sad face.
Contrary to the expectation that he would scold me, he gently ruffled my hair with one hand and said.
"I'm your father from now on, Ciel Visenna."
The moment I heard those words, it felt like someone was tickling my heart with a feather.
Should I get rid of this vain feeling? I opened my mouth with such worries.
"It's a contract...."
Somehow, it became a little sad.
t/n : *it's say '미미(美 味)!'
美味 (Měiwèi) : tasty, delicious
미미 (Mimi) : (아름다운 맛, 매우 뛰어난 맛) Beautiful taste, very good taste
This word's Korean reading Sound is 'Mi-Mi'. However, It's mostly not used in Korean. It's a famous meme in Korea.