Chapter 38

“Heh, heh, heh. You have a good eye for people, Ramona. Some still ask if I’m Adrian’s older brother when I take him to gatherings. What can I do? I just happen to look a bit young.”

Adolf, in a cheerful mood since morning, praised Ramona for her sharp judgment. Adrian, still seeing his father as someone who had abandoned his conscience, shook his head in dismay.

“Come here often from now on. In fact, you’re welcome to live here permanently.”

Ramona, who had captured Adolf’s heart, smiled warmly as she tended to Raon. Adolf watched her intently, then turned his gaze to Adrian. Seeing his son, who seemed to be eating but kept smiling at Ramona and Raon, Adolf’s lips twitched involuntarily.

After the Aria Neyno incident, he thought his son would be terrified of women. That’s why he stopped introducing him to any. But it was intriguing to see his eyes fixed on Ramona.

“Our little prince, you need to eat your vegetables to stay healthy.”

“But I don’t really like these…”

Seeing Raon push the vegetables served alongside his steak aside, Ramona took a bite herself.

“They taste perfectly fine.”

Ramona, who believed that food prepared by others was the most delicious in the world, cut the asparagus into bite-sized pieces, speared them with her fork, and brought them to his lips. Only then did Raon put the asparagus in his mouth and chew it slowly.

“Hmm, maybe they taste good because Mom gave them to me.”

“Right? Then how about trying some onion and carrot too? I’ll feed you this time, but from lunch on, our little prince has to eat by himself. Understand?”

“Yes!”

The moment Ramona chopped the food into small pieces, Raon opened his mouth wide like a baby bird. He chewed each bite thoroughly, as if he couldn’t remember when he’d ever refused to eat.

“If you’re going to eat so well, why did you suddenly start throwing a tantrum? Look at Dad! He’s eating all his vegetables too…”

“Heh heh.”

Adrian, who had been pushing the carrots aside to eat only meat, hastily stuffed his mouth full. Adolf burst out laughing at the sight.

Even as a child, his mother had never been able to cure Adrian’s carrot aversion. It was so bad that before she died, she had begged him to please make her grandson eat carrots.

It was absurd, and even amusing, to see her son, who had been so picky, suddenly gobbling down his food in a hurry at her words. If the Late Duchess had seen this, she might have immediately claimed Ramona as her granddaughter-in-law, regardless of her status.

“Raon’s father ate a whole plate of vegetables too. You should follow his example and stop being a picky eater, even when I’m not around. Understand?”

“Yes, I understand. I’m a boy, so I won’t be a picky eater.”

Adolf didn’t know what being a man had to do with not being a picky eater, but he smiled contentedly as he watched his grandson, who had been eating a balanced meal thanks to Ramona.

“Ms. Ramona? Or should I call you Mrs. Ramona? What do you prefer?”

“Just call me by my name. Titles like ‘Mrs.’ don’t suit me.”

Since she was divorced, Ramona couldn’t be someone’s wife with a man’s surname. She answered Adolf’s question lightly.

“Then I’ll call you Ramona. Ramona, I feel like we’re imposing on you too much. Would you mind doing me one more favor?”

“Yes? What is it?”

“Could you pack me a lunchbox? I need to lure out a runaway.”

Adolf smiled as he made his request. Despite being in his mid-40s, he looked so youthful and handsome that Ramona wondered if Adrian would look like this when he got older.

“If it’s a request from Raon’s grandfather, I’ll do my best. I’m not a great cook, so don’t expect too much.”

When Ramona said she needed to use the kitchen, Adolf ordered Adiel to prepare in advance.

“Mom, are you going to cook? I’ll supervise. I’m a great taste-tester.”

“Raon, even supervisors have hierarchy. Since you should be studying, your father will go and supervise instead.”

Seeing the father and son brimming with anticipation, Adolf cleared his throat.

“Ahem. My son—no, my dear son—should have work I entrusted to him, shouldn’t he? So you should go do your job diligently. You must be a father your child can be proud of.”

“Father, where is your conscience?”

“Gone. If I had such a thing, I wouldn’t have become a Duke. Anyway, Ramona, I may not be a gourmet, but I have an exceptional palate. Don’t worry.”

“Ho ho ho.”

The servants, witnessing the three generations vying to supervise them, could only tremble their shoulders in silent awe. Before Raon arrived, this place had always been stiff and rigid. But after Raon and Ramona mingled, it softened into something sweet and smooth, like creamy ice cream.

The sight was so heartwarming and pleasant to watch, the servants couldn’t help but wish the scene would continue forever.

After the meal and a brief tea, Ramona went into the kitchen. Adolf followed her, ostensibly to train the kitchen staff, but really to prevent anyone from making a mistake with her.

“But who ran away from home? What did they like?”

Knowing your opponent is the key to victory. So, Adolf pressed for details about the preferences of the person who had taken the bait.

“Ramona would know too. The man who taught Raon. He’s my foster brother. I spent years searching for him, and to think he’d been teaching my grandson right under my nose… it’s unbelievable.”

“Ah, I’ve already heard from Raon’s father. He said he taught the Young Duke swordsmanship.”

Knowing that Freire was the one likely to take the bait, Ramona immediately began preparing the meal. Adolf watched her intently, unconsciously swallowing hard.

“U-um, Lady, is the food you’re making Southern Continent style? I’ve tried it a few times before, but this is my first time seeing it being made. It’s fascinating.”

Stello, the head chef of the Cassius Ducal Estate, found himself asking Ramona, who was visiting as a guest of the family, a question.

“Yes, it’s one of the Southern Continent’s dishes.”

Adolf was horrified by the amount of garlic Ramona was mincing and adding to the pork, but as he saw the finished dish, his mouth began to water.

“Would you like to try some?”

Stello had been carefully observing Ramona make omurice a few days ago and knew she was no ordinary cook. But seeing her skillfully prepare Southern Continent cuisine, he nodded behind the Duke.

“This is the spicy stirfried pork that teacher likes. It’s a bit spicy, so please be careful.”

Stello put a piece of meat and vegetables from the small plate into his mouth and exclaimed.

“M-My, this is delicious! It’s amazing you can create such a flavor with pork. It’s a bit spicy, but it’s a pleasant heat, wouldn’t you say?”

The chef, after taking a bite of the spicy stirfried pork—seasoned with diagonally sliced Cheongyang chili peppers for an added kick—immediately reached for water. At first, he didn’t notice, but as time passed, a fire began to burn in his mouth.

Adolf, who had been watching intently from behind, asked for permission to try a bite and exclaimed in delight. It reminded him of a taste he hadn’t had in ages, and it felt strangely nostalgic.

With Adolf’s approval, Ramona immediately prepared other dishes and assembled a three-tiered bento box, which she handed to him. Adolf rushed straight to where Freire was.

“Huh? So it really happened… The Young Duke must have said something.”

Freire, who hadn’t seen his foster brother in a long time, frowned instead of showing joy, revealing his feelings with a quiet sigh.

“Is that all the reaction you’ve got? After all this time?”

“Should I have run over and greeted you with a hug instead?”

Freire, who had been practicing swordsmanship alone, immediately retrieved his sword and went inside the house. Unfazed, Adolf followed him. Freire, who didn’t stop him from entering, drank cold water and looked at Adolf.

He had been so innocent as a child, but now he carried a dignified aura that made him look even more striking.

“Why are you here?”

Even though they were sworn brothers, Adolf was a Duke. Yet Freire didn’t use honorifics in private.

“Why else? I missed you too much.”

“I don’t miss you. I just want to live the rest of my life in peace.”

Being near Adolf always seemed to drag him into trouble and accidents. That’s why Freire, who longed for a leisurely life even in poverty, eyed Adolf with disapproval.

“From now on, I’ll make sure you can live comfortably. I’ll give you a room in the mansion… or, if you prefer, I’ll buy you a house elsewhere. I’ll also assign someone to make sure you’re comfortable…”

Freire remained firm, unmoved by Adolf’s barrage of promises. But his expression softened immediately when he saw the bento box Adolf offered.

“This is Ms. Ramona’s work, isn’t it?”

After opening the three-tiered bento and taking a bite, Freire looked at Adolf with a look of pure bliss. He felt too shameless to enjoy it all by himself.

“You should try some too. Ms. Ramona’s cooking is incredible.”

“That’s probably why Raon’s mother’s cooking has spoiled him. He says most things are delicious. Ahem, I suppose I should have a bite myself.”

Freire handed Adolf an extra set of cutlery. Adolf then put on a face as if he were trying it for the first time.

“Oh, this is delicious. I’ve never had this before, but it really sticks to the tongue, in a good way.”

Freire shook her head at Adolf, who was acting completely innocent.

“Adolf Cassius, you’re not trying this for the first time. Stop playing games. Do you really think I still don’t know? You followed me secretly when I didn’t return to the Cassius Ducal Estate right after becoming a knight.”

“W-what?”

“You were trailing me like a shadow back then, and I pretended not to notice you eating everything I tried. Your acting skills are top-notch, aren’t they?”

Adolf, once the rising star of the stalking world, cleared his throat and avoided Freire’s gaze.