Chapter 18 Now, It Seems Like Spring Has Arrived
“I’m sorry, Miss Evelia, but the master has said that you’re not allowed to cook for the time being.”
“Huh?”
Evelia, tying the cat-themed apron, paused for a moment.
She had thought that the previous successful omelette rice would allow her to show off her cooking skills again, but she was stopped by the kitchen staff.
Wasn’t it delicious?
Evelia muttered in her heart.
But now that she thought back, it seemed that she had eaten the entire plate of omelette rice herself, and Alman hadn’t touched a bite.
But wasn’t it delicious?
Evelia silently repeated in her heart.
Having never tasted such a sweet and sour flavor before, Evelia was quite fascinated. A few days ago, it felt like she had opened the door to a new world and had completely fallen in love with the taste of tomato sauce, to the point where she was drinking it straight without any additional ingredients.
While other servants might bring out small pastries for snacks during their breaks, Evelia unusually took a bag of tomato sauce and started sipping it until she realized, “I can’t let myself go any further!” before contributing the few unopened packets back to the kitchen.
As for Alman’s tastes, although he wasn’t very picky, he avoided overly greasy foods and overly stimulating flavors due to issues with his stomach. He was used to eating light, so it was no wonder he always chose watered-down drinks when he indulged.
Watered-down beer doesn’t have a strong flavor and doesn’t easily get one drunk.
“Miss Evelia, I know you care about the master, but our master doesn’t like fancy dishes.”
The words sounded sincere, with a hint of regret and helplessness in the seasoned chef’s tone.
Those who were assigned to the Alman family must have been high-level chefs, capable of creating those extravagant night banquet dishes, but Alman was someone with a light palate who couldn’t appreciate grand feasts. It could be said that all their skills went unused. Although he could make some light but fancy dishes, Alman clearly preferred simple foods; compared to pearl and jade soup, he preferred plain porridge and broth.
However, this benefited the servants and knights in the manor.
Because this old chef loved cooking, whenever he made too many simple dishes, he would feel restless. So when he couldn’t help but wanted to show off his skills, he would whip up some good dishes for the servants and knights, earning him the title of “Number 1 Most Popular in the Manor.”
“…”
Evelia looked at the old chef’s troubled expression and hesitated for a moment.
Although she typically wouldn’t care about others’ opinions, she felt that since she planned to win Alman’s favor, she shouldn’t make things difficult for those under him.
“I understand.”
With that, Evelia took out her prepared condiments from her apron pocket and, like the previous batches of tomato sauce, “donated” them to the kitchen. Then she untied her apron and patted her black-and-white maid dress.
“Thank you for your understanding, Miss Evelia.”
“…Hmm.”
Evelia lightly replied and walked out of the kitchen with her apron.
Could it be that she was disliked?
Evelia returned to the large tree where she had been reading her novel; during this time, it had basically become her little base.
She thought it would not be too difficult a task and would likely be completed soon. However, when she looked up, she found that the barren tree she had seen before now had tender buds secretly sprouting.
…Spring.
Recalling the coldness from not long ago, Evelia instinctively wrapped her long hair around herself, but this time, she felt a bit warm.
At the beginning of her arrival at the manor, the cold wind was biting, but now there were waves of warmth.
“…Hah.”
She exhaled as she had when she first arrived, but this time there was no feeling of frost in the air.
The girls coming and going had gradually changed from their autumn-winter work attire to spring-summer styles, and Evelia was no exception. Although her outfit was different from the usual maid attire, it was still a style that did not go beyond the knee.
To look a bit cuter, Evelia also followed the example from the novel and put on a pair of white stockings, and as backups, she bought a whole box of them, making them single-use items—one pair thrown away after use, and the next day she would wear a new one.
The mid-calf white stockings clung solidly to her legs, and through the pure white layer, a light skin tone could be seen beneath.
In the areas not covered by the frilly dress, because she was not of a scrawny figure, a close look revealed that the snug white stockings created a curvy line around Evelia’s thighs. Beneath that white layer, she wore a pair of black maid shoes, adorned with a matching black satin bow.
As for other parts, like under her skirt or inside her clothing, Evelia had of course decorated herself well. After all, she believed that it was often what was underneath that could capture a man’s heart and attention, so she had undergone strict selection for her underwear—only she knew what styles they were.
Of course, she didn’t mind if Alman knew later on.
The branches swayed with the wind, appearing eager to sprout from the dry limbs. Evelia had never had the habit of appreciating scenery, yet inexplicably, she found herself captivated by the tender green welcoming the spring breeze.
So far, she didn’t know how many springs she had welcomed.
Yet today’s wind felt a bit different.
What could it be?
Evelia’s orange-golden eyes reflected the dry branches, and beyond the branches, the sky.
The shadows of the branches cast down, making it look like they were slicing Evelia’s likeness into pieces.
Since she had become accustomed to wearing a cloak and hood due to her occupation, how long had it been since she had gazed at the sky like this?
The sky that was obscured by the hat… so out of reach…
“…”
But soon, she lowered her head again.
She looked at the maid outfit she was wearing, realizing that she was still on a mission.
The vast sky felt so far away.
It was precisely because she often found herself coveting the impossible that she hated to think.
Without those boring thoughts, she wouldn’t have such unusual feelings.
Was she sad? Was she disappointed?
Perhaps yes, perhaps not.
Because Evelia felt she shouldn’t have such thoughts, as nothing belonged to her, including those thoughts.
“Next… if I can’t cook, I should find another way.”
Evelia muttered to herself as she walked toward the main building, letting complicated plans occupy her mind.
“Let’s find another way…” Evelia murmured, “like physical contact or something…”
