Chapter 15
“…Wow.”
The next morning.
Eloi’s eyes widened as she entered the dining room.
I placed the last dish on the table and shrugged slightly, feeling a bit pleased.
Lamb tomato stew cut into neat squares, lamb cream soup with finely chopped meat in a creamy sauce, grilled lamb chops, lamb steak served with various vegetables and potato salad…
The dishes filled the table to the point they were hard to count.
It had been so long since we’d had a proper meal like this—who would have thought such a day would come again so soon?
My sister-in-law’s jaw dropped.
“Did you make all of this, sister-in-law?”
“No. Alec helped me.”
“My brother? How?”
“Exactly. I thought he couldn’t even hold a kitchen knife properly.”
I began setting plates and utensils on the table.
I had been so shocked when I came to the kitchen after waking up.
It was as if Santa Claus had come—lamb, neatly butchered by cut and portion, was displayed in a clean, shining state.
Suspicious, I went up to the second floor where Alec’s room was. My husband had just come out of the bathroom in a robe.
I walked up to him, completely astonished.
“Darling, did you really butcher the lamb?”
“…Ah, yes. You’ve already seen it.”
“Oh my goodness.”
I was speechless in admiration at his unbelievable skill.
Even though I hadn’t expected much when he said he would handle the lamb…
While I was struggling to cook it clumsily, he even came to help me.
“No, Alec. Even if you butchered it, how could you possibly cook it too? Just go back to your room and rest a bit more. I can at least handle cooking—”
“Should I just grill it?”
“….”
Honestly, I thought it would already be a miracle if he didn’t ruin the meat.
But I couldn’t refuse his sincerity in wanting to help me.
“Then… can you follow my instructions, Alec?”
Fortunately, even though he had never cooked before, he perfectly fulfilled the role of my assistant.
Who would have thought I’d be cooking side by side with my ducal husband?
Finally, the family all gathered around the table.
“Did everyone sleep well last night?”
I asked brightly, forcing an energetic expression.
I was worried that something might have happened to the others after the candles kept going out on their own last night.
My sister-in-law simply nodded with an “Mm,” as usual, and my mother-in-law silently picked up her utensils.
“There’s quite a lot here. Let’s try it.”
I smiled in satisfaction.
They all looked peaceful, as if nothing had happened at all.
“Seems like nothing happened. Then everyone, enjoy your meal.”
I took a spoonful of lamb stew with sparkling eyes.
Our first meal made by our own hands.
I never thought we could accomplish anything like this, but we had managed to prepare such a feast.
I swallowed a bite with tearful emotion.
“….”
“It’s edible, I guess.”
“It reminds me of the chefs at the ducal house. Can’t we bring them back?”
My sister-in-law and mother-in-law gave their evaluations one after another.
Tears of emotion welled up in my eyes.
It wasn’t bad. But still.
‘I don’t even know if it tastes good because I kept tasting it while cooking…’
So this is what cooking is like.
Still, after not having meat for days, the texture felt especially satisfying.
I held back tears and asked Alec.
“How is it? Is it edible?”
He had just taken his first spoonful.
He set down his utensils and replied.
“Yes, it’s delicious.”
“I’m glad…”
I felt relieved seeing him finally eat a proper meal after giving him nothing but terrible bread all this time.
“It’s all thanks to you. Thank you so much for butchering the lamb and helping with the cooking.”
As I looked at him for a moment, he met my eyes.
I was genuinely, deeply grateful.
Even if he didn’t seem to love me, what kind of duke-husband would help with cooking like this?
He soon looked away and spoke casually.
“It wasn’t that difficult. You worked hard from early morning, Madam.”
“Oh, no, Alec. That’s—”
“Alec? What is this supposed to mean?”
My mother-in-law’s voice cut me off mid-sentence.
Alec looked at her in confusion, while my sister-in-law continued eating as if she didn’t care about the conversation.
Then my mother-in-law spoke coldly.
“You helped with cooking? Butchering the lamb is commendable, but I hope you never do something like cooking again.”
“Pardon?”
“No matter that your title was taken by a tyrant, you are still a duke. How could a duke possibly cook?”
“….”
“For now, let’s leave it to Louise. We can’t keep eating such poor food. We should look for a chef to hire.”
She finished speaking as if she had concluded the matter and took another bite of stew. After savoring it, she murmured quietly.
“There’s no depth of flavor, probably because it’s peasant cooking.”
“….”
Ah, I see…
My appetite was starting to disappear.
My mother-in-law, who criticized the food I had worked hard on, did not stop eating.
I let out a soft sigh and spoke.
“If we’re going to hire a chef, that’s also worrying. Your tastes are so refined and elegant, Mother-in-law. Would we even be able to find someone that skilled in this remote area?”
“….”
“I truly feel upset that I can only offer you such food.”
So please just eat it without complaining, madam.
I put on an exaggeratedly regretful expression.
Then my mother-in-law let out a scoff.
“What do you mean there’s no chef? We’ll just rehire Alberte, who used to work for our ducal house.”
“….”
We’ll see if that’s really possible, Mother-in-law…
I simply stayed silent and continued eating.
From early morning, I had been exhausted preparing everything, and I hadn’t expected to be criticized instead of receiving thanks or praise.
‘Shouldn’t I be the one bringing up the divorce?’
A surge of resentment welled up.
I had been holding on for Alec, but in the end, we didn’t even love each other.
As his wife, I was only receiving that level of polite consideration.
And with my mother-in-law around, even that couldn’t be expected.
He was a devoted son who could never go against her.
Even now, after she insulted me, he remained silent as if his lips were sealed with honey.
Suddenly frustrated, I tightened my grip on the knife cutting my meat.
Alec coughed lightly and called out to her.
“Mother?”
“…?”
I looked at him in confusion. So did my mother-in-law.
Only Eloi continued eating, indifferent to everything.
I watched lazily, wondering what he would say, lifting my fork.
He would probably side with his mother.
He wiped his mouth with a napkin and spoke.
“I think it is unfair to say that Louise should handle all cooking for now.”
“…What?”
“Pfft!”
My mother-in-law’s eyes widened, and my sister-in-law spat out her food.
“…?”
I slowly raised my head toward him, unable to believe what I had just heard.
What did he just say?
My mother-in-law asked sharply.
“What do you mean, unfair? Ah, I see. So even you think Louise’s cooking is inedible. I also find this situation very unfair. Naturally, cooking should be done by skilled servants like Alberte—”
“That’s not what I meant, Mother.”
My sister-in-law, who had been eating quietly until now, suddenly cut in. She glared at Alec with a pout.
“Brother, are you saying Louise unnie should be the only one preparing meals?”
“Yes, that is correct. As Eloi said.”
“What?”
“…?”
Even I widened my eyes at the shock.
He continued calmly, ignoring our reactions.
“Madam has been preparing meals alone since the inn. With me, Mother, and Eloi here, it is unfair for her to continue doing everything alone.”
“….”
My mother-in-law’s jaw dropped.
My mouth also fell open, but for a completely different reason.
My sister-in-law slammed her fork down.
“Then who’s going to do it? Me, who can’t do anything? Or Mother, who has always been served? We were nobles just a few days ago!”
“….”
Hey, I was a noble too…
At her sharp rebuttal, Alec turned his gaze toward her.
He looked at her silently with emotionless eyes.
“Don’t worry about not being able to do anything. Everyone starts from the beginning. There’s nothing you cannot do, neither Eloi nor Mother. Have confidence.”
“….”
It felt like his calm gaze was saying: “Fighting.”
