Chapter 20

In the end, last night, I returned home in the grand carriage of the castle.

The next day, Eleonora woke up as usual early and tended to the small field.

(Yesterday, I got to eat the pie, but I couldn't eat Ham's ham! I really wanted to eat that ham.)

In the field, the cute flowers of the carrots were blooming. Some carrots were left unharvested to bloom and produce seeds.

(Flowers are so cute. I hope we can grow delicious carrots again next year.)

In the field, not only carrots but other vegetables were also being grown. Eleonora called it a small field, but it was so small that it looked like a flower bed to others.

(Vegetables are great. If you put in the effort, they will respond accordingly.)

Eleonora touched the carrot flowers lovingly.

(I'll make delicious carrots again next year!)

After finishing the field work, she took off her hat. When she untied her hair, the sun made her golden hair shine brightly. Her white skin was slightly flushed, and she opened her well-shaped mouth slightly, letting out a sigh.

(The field work is done! Next, I'll do the embroidery Sofia asked me to do.)

After finishing the field work, Eleonora changed clothes, had a quick breakfast, and took out a silk handkerchief. As she was embroidering, a one-horned mouse climbed onto her lap.

"Be careful, little one. It would be bad if you got pricked by the needle!"

She tried to put the one-horned mouse down, but it wouldn't listen.

"Well, little one, you're so clingy."

Eleonora put the handkerchief and embroidery needle on the table and played with the one-horned mouse.

"Oh, you're so cute, so cute. Little one, you're so cute."

The one-horned mouse chirped as if in response.

"But, Ham is the cutest. Oh, I'm sorry, little one!"

She inadvertently spoke her true feelings and apologized to the one-horned mouse.

(Yesterday, I saw the Emperor, who looked a lot like Ham, but Ham was a better kid.)

Eleonora was supposed to spend the day alone, but she was called to the main house by her father.

(What's this? I told him not to come to the main house, yet he calls me. Besides, I've never seen that father work. As Mr. Roman taught us, the nobility, being the ruling class, live off unearned income, but my father really does nothing.)

She was grateful to the excellent butler who had served the previous head of the household.

(If it weren't for that butler, this house would be in debt.)

While thinking about this, Eleonora headed to her father's study. When she knocked on the door, her father told her to come in.

"…Excuse me."

When she bowed slightly in greeting, the butler standing next to her father also looked satisfied with her elegant appearance.

"For some reason, the Emperor has called you, not Sofia. Probably because you used your charm. Well, it doesn't matter. Just make sure not to be disliked by the Emperor."

Without any greeting, her father only stated the matter at hand. Eleonora asked:

"…Perhaps he has mistaken me for Sofia."

(Yesterday, the knight who escorted me home said he was asked to guard the daughter of Duke Purpureus, not me. It might not be me.)

Last night, she rode in the carriage with the knight who escorted her home, but they didn't talk. Eleonora rode alone in the carriage, while the knight rode alongside it.

"No, this letter says that the Emperor wants to continue the conversation with Eleonora. What did you talk about?"

(I only talked about Ham and the pie with the Emperor.)

Eleonora lowered her eyes, thinking about how to answer. Seeing her confusion and worry, the butler came to her aid.

"Sir, Eleonora probably doesn't know the reason either."

Her father, though dissatisfied, couldn't argue with the butler, who had saved the family's assets when they were nearly lost in a bad investment.

"Anyway, Eleonora, go to the castle tomorrow. Don't make any mistakes."

With that, he waved her away as if shooing a dog, and she returned to her quarters.

(I have to go to the castle again tomorrow! What a hassle.)

Eleonora felt disheartened at the thought of wearing a dress with a tightly laced corset.

(What did I do? I only talked about Ham and the pie. By the way, the Emperor said to dispose of the pie, but later changed his order, saying it didn't need to be disposed of. He must like pies but is pretending he doesn't! He even asked about the types of pies. Okay, I'll make the best pie for him! And I'll make him admit he likes pies!)

Eleonora started preparing pies for the next day. Fruit pies, cream pies, and meat pies.

By the time she finished making five types, it was already dark.