I Was Adopted by the Villain Grand Duke Who Killed My Favorite Character - Chapter 29
The meetings with Stephanie, disguised as gifted education, continued steadily for over a month.
Gerard moved early, saying we had to avoid people’s eyes. Changing clothes always took place in the carriage.
‘It’s extremely secretive.’
I didn’t know what Stephanie’s status was, but she didn’t seem to be an ordinary person. Gerard had taken measures to prevent the maids from speaking carelessly.
“Let’s keep the education a secret for now.”
“Shouldn’t we report to the Grand Duke?”
“He’ll be more pleased if the Grand Princess tells him directly after showing some progress.”
“Indeed, that’s true!”
Watching Gerard sweet-talk the maids in real-time, I clicked my tongue. I had no right to say anything since I, too, had come to look forward to meeting Stephanie.
‘It’s just that the work is hard.’
Stephanie didn’t want to have other maids around her. It seemed she had me cook at first to try to drive me away.
The problem was that Stephanie was hopelessly untalented with her hands. Should I say it’s a miracle she’s survived this long with such poor manual dexterity?
‘I hope she stays still today.’
After getting off the carriage, I ran to the garden where Stephanie would be waiting. A bright smile formed on Stephanie’s face when she saw me.
“Little one, you’re here?”
“Hello, Stephanie.”
“Did Gerard say nothing again today? When will he give permission?”
I thought of Gerard, who had left earlier, using the knights as an excuse. Judging by Gerard’s behavior, it didn’t seem like permission would be granted easily.
‘Though I don’t know what kind of permission it is.’
When I put on a serious expression, following Stephanie, who looked grave, she burst into laughter. She quickly shook off her worried look.
“Cute little maid. I have something you can help me with today.”
Stephanie took me to the kitchen of the mansion.
I looked at the table where various ingredients, including flour, had been taken out.
‘What is she trying to do?’
I hoped Stephanie wouldn’t try to cook by herself as much as possible. The accidents she caused trying to help me still gave me a headache just thinking about them.
Moreover, Stephanie was stubborn, and once she decided to do something, she wouldn’t back down.
With an uneasy heart, I watched Stephanie open a bag of flour.
Stephanie said in a voice clearly excited:
“We’re going to make an apple pie today.”
“An apple pie?”
You’re going to bake an apple pie when you can’t even peel an apple properly?
An image of Stephanie crying in an exploded kitchen flashed through my mind. It wasn’t an impossible scenario, given that similar incidents had occurred before.
“I think it might be better not to do it.”
“We can do it. I have you.”
“Umm……”
It didn’t take long for my intuitive uneasiness to become reality. Stephanie, while moving the flour bag, fell face-first onto the floor.
Poof……
In an instant, the floor was covered with white flour.
I picked up the shrunken bag that had emptied all its flour. Stephanie, with an awkward smile, tried to open a new bag.
“We have more flour, so— Oops!”
Crash!
With a loud scream, the bowl pushed by her elbow fell.
It must be a talent to make such a mess in such a short time.
‘How much was that bowl?’
I was certain it would cost at least a month’s living expenses for a commoner. Stephanie, who had been staring blankly at the disaster, spoke seriously.
“What should we do now? Little maid teacher.”
Can’t we just not make it?
Giving up on dissuading her, I started peeling the apples that were still in decent condition one by one. Stephanie, with her hands on her hips, blinked and said:
“Little one, I’ve been thinking lately.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“If I practice, couldn’t I become as skilled as you? I’m an adult, after all.”
“Stephanie, stay still.”
When I firmly stopped her, she looked at the apples with regretful eyes.
I took a deep breath to manage my mental stress before starting to cook.
‘First, simmer the apples in sugar.’
We decided that Stephanie would stir the hot pot. After the apple compote was done, we had to make and knead the pie dough.
Thanks to Stephanie’s strong cooperation, we were able to finish kneading safely.
“Now we put this in.”
I put the finished pie crust in the oven and took out the cooled apple compote. As the cooking neared completion, anticipation grew on Stephanie’s face.
“It’s done.”
The steaming apple pie looked delicious at first glance. Stephanie cut a piece separately and gave it to me first.
The sweetness of the apple lingered in my mouth and the crisp texture was fun to chew. It was a taste that could rival the snacks I ate at the Grand Duke’s residence.
“It’s the best apple pie.”
“Right? It’s all thanks to you.”
Stephanie was happy holding the completed apple pie.
We made a lot, so even after eating our fill, there were still a few intact pieces of pie left.
Stephanie started packing the remaining apple pie separately. The way she carefully decorated it with string suggested she was going to give it to someone as a gift.
Holding the wrapped pie, she muttered for a moment.
“I wonder if it’s dangerous. But surely they wouldn’t do anything bad to a child. Hmm. Okay.”
“What?”
Stephanie, who had stopped talking to herself, grabbed my shoulder with a smiling face. I froze at the unexpected name that came out of Stephanie’s mouth.
“Could you deliver this pie to the Grand Duke on my behalf? I can’t leave here.”
“This apple pie?”
“Yes. Gerard isn’t trustworthy.”
You’re the only one who can do this favor for me.
I had a rough idea of why Stephanie wanted to meet the Grand Duke. When I encountered her in the garden, she seemed to be looking for someone.
‘It must be related to the person she’s looking for.’
The apple pie in my hand felt like a bomb of unknown identity. Gerard’s caution echoed loudly in my troubled mind.
“You must absolutely not let the Grand Duke know that you’re meeting Stephanie.”
“Does the Grand Duke dislike it?”
“Officially, Stephanie has never visited the Grand Duke’s residence.”
I shouldn’t… I really shouldn’t.
Unable to ignore Stephanie’s sparkling eyes, I slowly nodded.
***
Back in the Grand Duke’s room, I entrusted the box containing the apple pie to Sen. Sen’s eyes widened like saucers when she opened the box to check its contents.
“It’s well-baked. Is it an apple pie?”
“Yes. It’s a gift.”
When I said I made it during a job experience, the maids accepted it without much suspicion. The problem was how to deliver that apple pie to the Grand Duke.
‘I can’t just give it to him.’
As a compromise, I told Gerard about Stephanie’s request when he came to the room. Gerard said firmly with a humorless face.
“Absolutely not.”
“Why not?”
“The moment you deliver the apple pie, His Grace will know that you two have been meeting.”
So what if he knows we’re meeting?
It didn’t seem like he was trying to stop me because he felt guilty about making me do maid work. I didn’t know anything about this situation because Gerard wouldn’t explain it to me.
I wanted to grant Stephanie’s request while also keeping my promise to Gerard.
“Then what should I do?”
“I will deliver that pie.”
Gerard’s words cleared my mind, which had been complicated with worry. I tried hard to recall the message Stephanie had asked me to convey.
“She also said to tell him that if he doesn’t let her meet him, she won’t stay quiet.”
To be precise, it was twice as harsh as this.
I laughed, remembering how she had to catch her breath after spewing out words full of profanity. Stephanie didn’t seem to fear the Grand Duke much.
Gerard, with an even more disgruntled expression, reluctantly replied.
“…I see. I will convey that message as well.”
“Please do.”
If he could just deliver it for me, I could be at ease too. Gerard said he would go right away since the topic came up, and received the apple pie from Sen.
With the apple pie in hand, Gerard left more quickly than usual.
‘He’s leaving early today.’
Usually, Gerard would inquire about what happened between Stephanie and me. Even on the day I first met her, he bombarded me with questions.
“How was your first meeting with Stephanie?”
“It was good.”
“Didn’t you feel anything?”
“I wonder how she managed to survive until now with such survival skills.”
As the questions repeated, I began to sense Gerard’s feelings. To care so much about someone of the opposite s*x that he would make separate requests to me.
‘This is 100 percent certain.’
It seemed Gerard liked Stephanie.
He probably wants to confess but can’t due to their difference in status. I hadn’t heard that Stephanie was married, so there was hope.
‘I hope it works out well.’
If these two beautiful people got together, it would be the most beautiful wedding. It was worrying that both of them had personalities that weren’t honest.
“I’ll watch a little longer.”
I left the room, making the excuse to the maids that I was going to return something Gerard had left behind.
I didn’t have to go far before I saw Gerard’s back.
‘Why is he still there?’
Gerard was standing in the middle of the corridor, opening the apple pie box. It felt ominous as he held the apple pie and muttered something.
“…Really. I told her His Grace shouldn’t take interest.”
What shouldn’t happen?
Gerard’s expression darkened as if he was thinking some gloomy thoughts. As if shaking off those thoughts, he shook his head and took the pie out of the box.
‘Why is he taking it out now?’
The apple pie in Gerard’s hand went straight into the trash can. Gerard turned around after dusting off his hands that were covered in crumbs, without any hesitation.
Gerard’s voice falling on my ears was colder than I had ever heard before.
“I hope you stay quiet.”
Even after Gerard left, I stood still for a long time. The apple pie thrown into the trash can was crushed.
‘What a terrible person.’
No matter how I thought about it, there was only one reason why Gerard would throw away the pie.
“He must be jealous that it was only for the Grand Duke.”
My fists clenched at the thought of Stephanie waiting for news. If Gerard wouldn’t deliver it himself, I had no choice but to do it myself.
‘I should just be careful with my words.’
The Grand Duke was supposed to visit the room briefly this evening. It seemed like I could grant Stephanie’s wish if I brought it up then.
HeathBar
I feel so sad for Stephanie. I’m guessing that because of the purple eyes Liat is the Duke’s actual daughter.