Chapter 11 - A New Addition to the Household
Initially from Rachel's perspective, then switching to Cyril's.
"N-nice to meet you!
I—er, I am Samuel Emonier, the fifth son of Baron Emonier.
M-my hobby is searching for seasonings... Ah, and my specialty is identifying hidden ingredients in cooking!
Also, um..."
"This isn't a marriage interview. You can relax now," Louis interrupted.
Sandwiched between His Highness and Cyril, the man with brown hair and eyes stood stiff as a board, his nervousness radiating from every pore. Cyril placed a hand on Samuel's shoulder, a silent gesture of reassurance.
His Highness spoke up. "He has been working as a chef in the royal palace for eight years. His repertoire is quite unique and interesting. Most of his dishes are light on the palate, yet incredibly flavorful."
Even for a royal chef, opportunities to meet His Highness were rare. The Barony of Emonier was a small territory, but it was a land blessed by nature, filled with forests, fields, and long hours of sunlight. As the fifth son of a baronial family far from the royal capital, he had to forge his own path. He likely had little connection to high society.
However, his background was solid, and with his skill, he was the perfect candidate for a royal chef. Despite his timid demeanor, his appearance told a different story. With narrow, upturned eyes and a rugged, sturdy build, he looked more like a knight than a cook.
"Samuel, I look forward to working with you," I said.
"Y-yes! I will do my absolute best!"
"Please discuss the details with the head chef. Sarah, tell Paul to show him around the estate."
Paul was the head butler of the Marcel household, the man who oversaw every servant in the mansion.
"Understood. This way, please," Sarah said.
"Ah, yes! Lead the way!"
Samuel kept his large frame hunched small until the very end, offering a quick, polite bow before departing with Sarah.
"Your Highness, I never imagined you would bring a chef with you."
"Was it unexpected? I couldn't help but want to see the look on your face."
"...Goodness."
"Haha, but his skills are top-tier. No one else in this kingdom could come up with such creative dishes."
"Is it truly alright to welcome such talent into our home?"
"Of course. Nutrition is the foundation of health. If you cannot eat, your body will only grow weaker. I thought he would be the best person to find something you can actually enjoy."
"Thank you for your consideration."
It was true that my appetite had not returned. The household chefs had tried their best, seasoning things lightly and experimenting with different textures, but I simply couldn't manage more than a few bites. I could barely stomach vegetable soup or fruit; bread and meat felt like lead in my throat, quickly leading to indigestion.
"If even he cannot help, we will simply have to find another way," Louis said softly.
♢
Louis and Cyril returned to the royal palace from the Marcel estate, silently tackling the mountain of work piled up in the Office. Cyril eventually looked up from his documents, catching Louis during a brief respite.
"Are you sure about this?"
"About what?"
"That chef. He was one of your observation subjects, wasn't he?"
"'Observation subject'? Honestly, Cyril, what do you take me for?" Louis sighed. "Well, I suppose his unique ideas are interesting. The consistency of his ingredients suggests some kind of regional cuisine. But lately, I find myself wanting to see the different expressions Rachel makes. That look she gave me today—the one that said 'You actually brought him'—was quite good."
"You really are something else."
"Besides, Rachel is quite entertaining when she's surprised or scowling. But... I find I don't particularly care to see her looking so frail."
"And why is that?"
Louis hummed thoughtfully. "I wonder. Discovering new sides of her is fascinating, but seeing her suffer doesn't appeal to me. Well, no one likes to see an acquaintance in pain, right?"
Cyril let out a long, weary sigh. Louis looked at him, puzzled.
"What is it, Cyril? If you're tired, we can take a break."
"No, I'm fine. I was mistaken to even ask you."
"What?"
"Come now, back to work. We won't finish today's quota at this rate."
Louis still looked unconvinced but reluctantly returned to his paperwork. Cyril watched his master with his usual expressionless gaze.
That girl, whose very personality changed along with her health... just how much will she change His Highness?
Louis possessed abilities far beyond most adults, yet he remained remarkably dense regarding his own heart. Until recently, his interest had been focused solely on the cause of her change. Now, he was beginning to look at the girl herself.
However, his entire life had been dictated by the goals he had to achieve. To that end, he had discarded all personal indulgence, ending his childhood prematurely. Born as the Crown Prince, he had been a special existence from the moment of his birth. He had lived a life where people measured his utility rather than seeing him as a person.
Consequently, for a man who judged others only by profit, loss, or intellectual interest, understanding his own emotions was still a distant challenge.
If it is a change for the better, then so be it. But if it is for the worse...
Cyril narrowed his eyes. I will have to keep a close watch.