ATRF Ch 8

“Do you need anything else, my lady?”

“No, I’m fine.”

Dalia forced a smile toward Rosine, the maid looking at her with sparkling eyes.

It had already been over a week since she came to the Lancaster ducal estate.

Contrary to her expectations that everyone would keep their distance, the people here were all kind.

“How about a Camembert cheesecake with blueberry compote? It was made freshly this morning by the Lancaster family’s exclusive pâtissier using freshly picked blueberries!”

If there was one downside, it was that their kindness was so excessive it felt overwhelming. Even now, they’d brought a tray to her bed and served her meal, saying she needed to rest.

“Thank you, Rosine. But I’m full. I’ve eaten enough.”

Dalia’s embarrassed gaze drifted to the empty plates on the table.

In high society, it was considered rude to finish your plate. Nobles were expected to appear as though they had no appetite.

But the food at the Lancaster estate was incomparable to anything she’d eaten at Noirose.

The beef steak, cooked with generous amounts of high-grade ghee butter, melted in her mouth. The warm white bread, served with a creamy sauce made from blended nuts, was a delicacy on its own.

‘It was too delicious… I ate it all…’

Now that she was six months pregnant, she simply couldn’t suppress her appetite anymore.

The contrast to her former self—who had thrown a fit about coming here—was staggering.

“…Please take it away now.”

Looking at the empty plates only made her crave more..

Each serving hadn’t been large, so truthfully, she wasn’t completely full yet.

But having polished off everything, if she now devoured the dessert too, the servants would definitely gossip that she lacked the dignity of a noblewoman.

“Understood…”

Rosine was about to clear the dishes with visible reluctance when—

“I told you to tell me if there’s anything you want.”

Leonald entered the room, pushing a cart.

He narrowed his eyes slightly at the now-empty plates on the table.

“From now on, increase the steak portions. I told you to base the meals on steak, lentils, eggs, spinach, and tomatoes, didn’t I?”

“Ah—yes! We did use those as the main ingredients, Your Grace!”

“How was the taste, Dalia?”

“…It was good.”

She forced herself to add more.

“Really good.”

That was the most sincere gratitude Dalia could manage at the moment.

Knowing her well, Leonald smiled, satisfied. At his glance, Rosine quietly left the room.

“I read in a book that pregnant women crave tangy flavors.”

He pulled out a chocolate cake topped with raspberry jam from the cart.

“It’s made with milk chocolate imported from the Kingdom of Tirieri. They filled the layers with raspberry cream and jam.”

“Anyone would think you were a pâtissier. Your explanation’s spot on.”

“Try it.”

The cake, neatly cut like how only a sword master could manage to do, was placed in front of her.

Dalia stared blankly at the tempting cake.

Sometimes, it really felt like Leonald could see straight into her heart.

The problem was, he saw even the parts she didn’t want to show—the ugly parts.

“…Thank you.”

She picked up the fork and barely managed to murmur her thanks.

The fork sank softly into the cake, and even that simple motion conveyed the difference in quality from the dry cakes back at the Noirose estate.

Unable to resist any longer, Dalia took a bite.

The sweet and tangy raspberry jam, the smooth raspberry cream, and the rich chocolate all swirled together in a perfect harmony of flavor.

“Not bad, right?”

Reading her expression, Leonald smiled warmly.

“It’s really delicious.”

“You can even scoop it with a spoon. You don’t have to follow those idiot customs from high society here.”

“Idiot customs?”

“Leaving food on the plate, I mean. It’s wasteful and disrespectful to the chefs who put their effort into making it.”

He added, half-boasting on purpose.

“So eat all you want. That’s the rule here.”

So that’s what he really wanted to say.

His overflowing kindness left her unsure of how to respond.

‘Too kind for his own good…’

Meanwhile, Dalia still couldn’t meet his gaze out of guilt.

She gave him a small smile. But her expression was beginning to cloud.

“Are you bored?”

Leonald brought a small stool and sat in front of her.

His eyes brushed over her lips, where a bit of raspberry cream lingered.

Without a word, he took out a handkerchief and gently wiped her lips.

Dalia, unaware of what he had done, simply accepted his touch.

He then handed her a cup of warm milk.

After rinsing her mouth with the steamed milk, Dalia hesitated, then glanced up at Leonald.

“…I wish I had something to research.”

After all, just spending her time like this felt wasteful, and even if it was only a little, she wanted to earn some research funds to add to her dowry.

“You don’t have to.”

Of course, Leonald just shrugged lightly.

“I do have to.”

“And if you do?”

“I know my research earnings aren’t much. But still…”

She bit her lip.

No one understood better than Dalia that this wasn’t about pride.

But at the same time, she didn’t want to be further indebted to him.

“Dalia.”

Leonald gently took her hand.

Her hand, always warm, felt unusually cold today.

He abandoned the idea of holding it with one hand and wrapped both of his around hers.

His warmth spread from his large hands into hers.

Slowly, Dalia looked up and finally met his gaze.

“It’s okay to be comfortable. At least here.”

His soft voice calmed the anxious storm in her heart.

“Here—I brought some fairy tale books that are good for the baby.”

Leonald clapped his hands lightly, shifting the mood. Then he placed a few books from the bottom of the cart onto the nightstand.

“Can I read them to you?”

“…You?”

“I did some studying. Apparently, a man’s low voice transmits better to the fetus.”

“Really?”

“You really don’t know anything, do you? I think you need to study more than me, Miss Noirose.”

“…Ha. Then lend me that book—the parenting encyclopedia or whatever it was.”

Though she grumbled at his teasing, Dalia mustered her courage to speak her mind.

Leonald blinked, surprised, then broke into a wide smile.

“I’ll bring it right away.”

He stood up immediately. Just as he was about to leave the room, Dalia called out softly.

“Lancaster.”

“Hm?”

He turned his head slightly to look at her.

Dalia hesitated, then spoke in a trembling voice.

“…I’m sorry.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry for.”

Leonald smiled gently and replied.

“This is our situation. It’s only right we take responsibility together. I’ll go get it now.”

With those words, he left the room.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Leonald rubbed his face with both hands, his face bright red.

“…Okay. This is good.”

Then, smiling with joy, he murmured softly:

“…For now.”

His steps on the way to fetch the book from his room were light and carefree.