If You're Being Held Hostage, Wiggle the Carrot! - Chapter 35
While she may not be able to attach herself to the Duke right now, she knows that there must be a lot of spirits nearby who have been coming to him for a while. Unless they were malevolent, they should be free to move around as they please.
“Miss, would you like to try a special steak made from soybeans today?”
“You can make steak from beans?”
“It’s our Duke’s secret recipe.”
“Why would a carnivorous family need a bean steak recipe?”
It was an innocent question, so Liam answered obediently. “It’s a menu carefully crafted for our Lord, who dislikes vegetables.”
“Hmph, Liam.”
Hearing Ivan’s grumbling, Liam quickly whispered to Ruby, “Oh, whoops. My mistake. Please pretend you didn’t hear that, Miss.”
“Yes, I didn’t hear anything.”
Ruby nodded, miming covering my bunny ears with her hands. Ivan stared at the two of them, then shook his head in disbelief. He felt a little bad that they seemed to have gotten so close in a short time.
“You’re talking nonsense. Bring the food quickly.”
“Yes, pardon me.”
Liam went back to the kitchen, and the maids brought out Ivan’s meal first. A thick steak with a drizzle of brown sauce was placed in front of him.
Glancing at his plate, Ruby asked, “You really don’t eat any vegetables?”
“Well, I eat them sometimes.”
“You hardly ever eat them…”
During the past week of dining together, Ruby hadn’t seen him consume any garnish or salad that came with the meals.
Caught off guard by her keen, bright red eyes, Ivan blinked and muttered after a moment, eyes widening, “Actually, I fancy some today.”
“Well, I’ll have the salad ready in a moment,” said Liam.
He had already prepared Ruby’s portions of greens. Ivan stiffened at Liam’s uncharacteristically inattentive behavior today. He seemed unusually oblivious.
“Wow, this carrot and beetroot salad is so delicious!”
“Place it on the wheat bread here.”
“Is the sauce for the bean steak made from berries?”
“It’s a sauce made with blackberries and blueberries grown in our northern region.”
“It’s so refreshing; it complements the steak well.”
“And this is juice made by blending apples and carrots. Also…”
Today, Liam explaining everything so attentively and sticking close to Ruby instead of beside him made Ivan irritated.
Ivan sliced his steak with a scowl. The maid who had brought the salad set the bowl down in front of him. Seeing the hefty portion, even the chef seemed overzealous. Ivan put a bite of the salad in his mouth, scrunching his face.
Ruby watched as he ate the salad with a grimace, his bite distinctly different from that of the steak. It was almost cute how he didn’t want to eat with his whole body. But she didn’t understand. Why does he hate these delicious vegetables? Oh, maybe it’s because he’s a carnivore.
Continuing with their separate trains of thought, they quickly put the food in their mouths. The bean steak was exceptionally delicious. The two of them ate without much conversation, then spoke at the same time.
“What was Liam saying about your wisdom—”
“Oh, can you help me practice tucking in my ears—”
“…Huh?”
“Yes?”
As if on cue, they both opened their mouths at the exact same time, unable to hear each other’s words. Staring at each other silently, they again opened their mouths simultaneously.
“What conversation did you have with Liam…”
“Help with putting in my ears…”
“You go first, my Lady.”
“…I asked for help tucking in my ears.”
“You didn’t want to before.”
“Someone was kind enough to tell me that’s the rule here.”
“Who told you that?”
Ivan did not hide his displeasure. As the one who had brought her as his guest, he was the only person entitled to speak about the rules to her. How dare anyone else…
Putting down the fork and knife he was holding, Ivan shot Liam a sharp glare. Liam lowered his eyes, unable to hide his embarrassment. It was Leslie’s words, but he was there with her too when it happened.
On the other hand, while shoveling the steak into her mouth, Ruby casually added, “It was Lady Weaver who told me earlier.”
