Chapter 15

Eleanor tried to move to the wall, just as she had done in the grand hall.

(There’s good food here too. But there’s no ham like the one Ham-chan had. Isn’t there? It’s all fruits and sweets. Of course, I don’t dislike them. I don’t have likes or dislikes. But right now, I really want Ham-chan’s ham!)

Eleanor, with her long lashes casting shadows, had a worried look on her face. She covered her mouth with a fan and sighed, then looked at the food on the table again.

(Ah, I want to eat ham. Why is it all sweet stuff?)

As she felt a slight despair over the food on the table, a certain pastry caught her eye.

(Ah! There, there’s the pie Ham-chan loved. The pie with my name! The precious name Ham-chan gave me. I practiced a lot to bake pies. I can bake all kinds of pies. If I ever meet Ham-chan again, I’ll bake a pie for her!)

Eleanor, with a light step, approached the table where the pies were arranged. She chose two pies, asked a server to serve them, and then sat down to wait for the pies to be brought to her.

However, at this moment, Emperor Alexei entered the hall again.

(Why, why, every time I try to eat something, this Majesty shows up? )

Eleanor, who was fixated on food, hid her anger perfectly and slowly stood up from her chair, bowing. She waited for Alexei’s words, thinking about the pie.

(I hope he’ll let me relax soon. I want to eat the pie.)

Everyone turned to Alexei and bowed silently. After a while, Alexei spoke in a low voice.

“Raise your veils.”

In the next moment, Eleanor met Alexei’s eyes.

(The same hair color and eye color as Ham-chan! I saw silver hair for the first time when I was born as Eleanor. Will Ham-chan grow up to look like this?)

However, she denied it and lowered her gaze to the floor.

(No, Ham-chan didn’t have such cold eyes. She had warm, gentle eyes. Completely different from the Emperor!)

“Today is a day of informality. Enjoy yourselves.”

Once again, the hall was filled with the sound of many conversations. The young ladies were excited by Alexei’s beauty. They whispered, praising his well-defined, fair-skinned beauty. However, no one dared to speak to the Emperor directly. Even though it was a day of informality, they knew better.

However, among them, Eleanor’s half-sister Sophia boldly approached Alexei to greet him, walking up to him with her droopy eyes and a slightly blushing, adorable face.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Sophia, daughter of the Duke of Purpureus. I am very honored to be invited to such a wonderful ball.”

Alexei directed a cold gaze at the expectant Sophia.

(Sophia, what are you doing! This is bad. Even our stepmother is acting so high and mighty! Look, even without looking closely, the Emperor’s eyes are terrifyingly cold!)

Eleanor, sweating coldly, watched, hoping Sophia wouldn’t say anything more.

“Lord Alexei?”

Sophia tilted her head, looking up at him, but Alexei’s face clearly showed disdain.

(You fool, Sophia! You should call him Majesty! Why did you call him by his name!)

“Your name is noted.”

With that, Alexei left Sophia’s presence. Sophia was pleased with his words, but Alexei’s statement meant he would not forget her disrespectful behavior, implying he would not forgive her rudeness.

(You fool, Sophia! He’s the cruel Emperor. Didn’t you call him the Demon Emperor in the carriage? Many people have been purged. You might be killed for some reason too.)

Eleanor’s head ached from Sophia’s foolishness, but she sat down again. As she waited for the pies she had requested to be served, she noticed Alexei approaching the table with the pies, looking displeased. Next to him stood Sergei, the prime minister who had brought Eleanor to the hall.

“Sergei, dispose of these pastries immediately.”

(What is he saying! Throw away the pies?!)

“Never bring these pastries before me again. Have you forgotten what I said before?”

Alexei pointed at the pies and muttered bitterly.

(You shouldn’t waste food! No matter how great you are, that’s not acceptable! He’s never experienced hunger, so he can say such things.)

In her previous life, Eleanor in the village was always hungry, and her attachment to food was abnormal. Moreover, since the pies were named after her, she couldn’t remain calm as usual. With the resolve to die if necessary, she advised Alexei.

“... With all due respect, Your Majesty. You must not waste pies, no, any food.”

Eleanor wanted to save the pies from being treated poorly, just as she had been in her previous life.