Chapter 119:  The Greatest Feast (2)

Harris Yekaterina.

He had never appeared at any public events, nor was there any clear record of his whereabouts.

And yet, he was the eldest son of one of the Empire’s most prestigious families—second only to the Grand Duchy of the North.

Even I, who had served as the chief secretary of House Luton, knew very little about him.

And now I found out the reason was that... he was a chef?

I stared at the blond man, his face smudged with dirt, my expression filled with disbelief.

He climbed out of the passenger seat first, looking somewhat troubled.

“I’m sorry. I’m not very good with words, so I didn’t even introduce myself properly.”

He offered me a polite apology again.

I shook my head, saying it was fine.

“It’s nothing to apologize for.”

“I’m Harris Yekaterina. Helena’s older brother.”

The blond chef extended his hand for a handshake once more.

As I grasped it again, I began to sense an odd sort of refinement in his grip.

Bloodlines truly were something special.

“How did the two of you end up arriving together?”

“My carriage was stuck in the mud, and he kindly helped me pull it out.”

Helena gave me an appreciative look as she introduced me.

The Western Grand Duke’s daughter then stared at me with a peculiar expression.

“That’s surprising. You helped a complete stranger? Don’t tell me you knew he was my brother and decided to act all noble about it?”

“Of course not. Just an old habit from my secretary days.”

I replied with an innocent expression.

Helena, as sharp as ever—true to her reputation as a savvy businesswoman—caught on quickly.

“Well, in any case, both of you, come on in. Father’s in the dining room on the second floor. Let’s head up together.”

“I’ll come up after I move the ingredients. They’re not in the best condition, so I should get them into the freezer right away.”

Harris moved diligently, in a manner quite unlike a noble.

He smoothly handed over the ingredients to the family’s chefs and the maid who had accompanied him.

Helena and I watched the scene unfold.

“I think I understand now why the Western Grand Duke handed the family over to him.”

“Yeah. My brother’s an idiot who knows nothing but cooking.”

She let out a long sigh.

She, who always kept a cold demeanor, used an affectionate term to refer to her older brother.

Probably because...

He wasn’t a competitor fighting over the family legacy.

Just like the Northern Grand Duke’s children who used to look at Echina with nothing but fondness.

“Let’s head up. Father’s waiting.”

Helena motioned for me to follow her.

Leaving the busy elder son behind, I followed her into the splendid Yekaterina estate.

――――――

True to its ties with the Imperial family, the Western Grand Duke’s residence boasted a lavish interior.

Unlike the solemn and austere Grand Duchy of the North, here I was greeted by elegant platinum-colored decor.

‘There’s even a painting by Deyan... and the architect clearly worked exclusively on royal buildings. A master’s touch.’

I instinctively assessed the value of the estate and the cleanliness of its upkeep—just an old habit from my time as Chief Secretary.

Perhaps it looked as though I was admiring her family estate, because Helena gave me a soft, lingering look and said,

“What do you think? Quite different from House Luton, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it certainly is.”

She elegantly swept her voluminous golden hair to the side.

As we climbed the stairs together, she seemed to expect a satisfied reaction from me.

However—

“The material choices aren’t cost-effective. If you finish the ceiling like that, you’ll need to repair it every year.”

“……”

Her expression quickly turned cold, like a sulking lioness.

Rather than being impressed by her family’s wealth, I was analyzing it with a stern look.

“If it were me, I would’ve at least lacquered it for preservation. It’s a shame, really.”

“Well, if you’re so brilliant, why don’t you stay here and manage it yourself?”

As I continued my cool analysis, that single remark made me glance up at her.

“…Pardon?”

But Helena strode forward and pointed at a massive door ahead of us.

As if she had no intention of repeating herself.

“It’d be best not to say things like that from here on.”

Her smooth, white shoulder blades stood out prominently as she turned slightly toward me.

With eyes like a proud queen, she gave me a sharp warning.

“My father is going to be the most difficult man you’ve ever served.”

The maids, looking tense, opened the door.

And there it was.

A table as long as the one in the Grand Duchy of the North.

Dozens of chairs were arranged with eerie precision at even intervals.

And at the far end—set apart from the others—was a platinum chair.

Seated in it was a man.

A middle-aged man who looked far too young to be in his fifties.

「Western Grand Duke, Harriet Yekaterina.」

A man who held nearly as much authority and gravity as the Grand Duke of the North.

With a golden mustache, he sat gripping a cup of coffee.

Drinking caffeine even at dinner, he was a man of tireless passion for work—and boundless ambition.

And he was resolute.

Anyone who didn’t meet his standards was cut off without hesitation, and he was even willing to appoint a woman—Helena—as his heir.

That decisiveness and sharp discernment were what made him the most successful man in the royal family, second only to the Emperor himself.

“You’re here, Helena.”

Though we entered the dining room together, not once did he spare me a glance.

He simply stared into the reflection in his coffee, speaking in a solemn voice.

“Yes, Father. This is Julius Roger, whom I mentioned earlier.”

“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Grace.”

I pressed my fist over my chest and offered a respectful bow.

Harriet raised one hand slightly in acknowledgment, accepting the greeting with indifference.

“I heard from my daughter. You came from House Luton.”

“Yes, that’s correct. I’m currently affiliated with no house whatsoever.”

I had to make it clear that I wasn’t a member of a rival family.

He was the type of man who normally wouldn't even spare a glance at anyone from the North.

After all, everyone knew that most Northerners were loyal to House Luton.

“Is that so? Must've been quite the decision. Distancing yourself from the Grand Duchy of the North is practically suicide in Nord.”

Helena let out a deep sigh, perhaps sensing that her father was colder than usual today.

She spoke up on my behalf.

“Father, he’s someone whose identity has been clearly verified.”

“You be quiet, Helena. I can only feel at ease when I see things for myself.”

He truly was someone who needed to personally verify everything with his own eyes.

That meticulousness must have been what made Harriet a Grand Duke.

“Yes, that’s right. I just didn’t want to end my life living in someone else’s shadow.”

“In someone else’s shadow… So now you’re saying you’ll live only for yourself?”

The Western Grand Duke looked at me with a chilling glare, clearly displeased with my statement.

If the Duke of Luton was the black lion ruling the mountain range, this man was the golden lion leading a pride across the plains.

But even so, I couldn’t allow myself to cower here.

If he was the leader of a pride, that meant he was willing to accept a capable new member.

“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean.”

Now I had to prove that I wasn’t prey—but a fellow member of the pride.

No—someone equal, or more.

Just like how animals puff themselves up in front of predators to appear bigger.

“Selfish, aren’t you? Do you really think someone like that can ever work in a partnership?”

The Western Grand Duke set his coffee cup down with a cold clink.

Then his fierce blue eyes, as chilling as the abyss of the deep sea, bore into me.

But I didn’t even flinch.

Instead, I spoke with a calm boldness, as if I had spent my life facing high-ranking officials.

“People can only afford to share with others when they themselves have enough.”

Just like Debier.

“I believe human relationships work the same way.”

“So, you’re saying that to live among others, one must at least be on equal footing.”

I nodded slightly, acknowledging the truth in his words.

Apparently somewhat satisfied, Harriet took another sip of his coffee.

“Well, you’re better than those leech-like bastards who live by clinging to others.”

With a gesture of his eyes, Harriet pointed to a chair.

Accepting the cue, I walked forward confidently and sat to his left.

“As expected.”

Helena, seeming pleased by how I handled myself, smiled faintly as she took the seat across from me.

“There are always those around me trying to snatch up wealth and honor the easy way.”

The Western Grand Duke looked out across the long table as he spoke.

“Bringing me worthless trash, asking for partnerships, claiming they’ll repay me if I help them grow.”

He clicked his tongue, recalling the mediocrities who had failed to impress him.

Then, he gestured to my narrow eyes and asked—

“You, however, are a bit different. You’ve got the basics of a deal in place.”

“In any deal, both parties must offer something of equal value for it to work.”

As a seasoned businessman, he let out a dry chuckle and nodded.

“That’s true. Thanks to your information, Helena did gain a small advantage. But, you see…”

Harriet tugged slightly at the luxurious tie around his neck.

And then, he asked me a question.

“Isn’t this essentially a betrayal of the house you once served? What made you go that far?”

Why I helped Helena by revealing information that was disadvantageous to the Grand Duchy.

I had to answer this well.

What businessmen fear the most are swindlers.

To him, I already appeared as someone who had committed betrayal once.

So, I needed to shatter that preconception.

“I have never betrayed my house.”

At my firm rebuttal, the Western Grand Duke furrowed his thick brows.

In contrast, Helena waited for my next words with a calm expression.

“At the time, I wasn’t serving the Grand Duke of the North, but his daughter—Grand Duke’s daughter Echina.”

She folded her arms, watching me like one would appreciate a fine painting.

As though she had already witnessed my finesse in handling matters.

“So in order to ensure the success of the master I served, I dealt a financial blow to a rival.”

I placed my hand over the left side of my chest.

And, with a sincere expression, I continued.

“Of course, the rival I harmed was also a child of the Luton Grand Duke. But—”

I met Harriet’s eyes with mine, eyes as dark as pitch.

Eyes devoid of gloss, the kind that would do whatever was necessary for the goal.

“I am someone who will do everything in my power for those I trust—strong enough even to strike such a formidable ‘enemy.’”

I give my all to those I believe in.

This was the moment where betrayal became wrapped in loyalty.

“……”

Harriet didn’t speak for a moment.

He simply stared at me, as if peering into my past—a past where I had eliminated countless political enemies for the sake of the Grand Duke of the North.

“You certainly are different from the greenhorns I’ve seen so far.”

Helena’s lips curled ever so slightly, as if to say, “See?”

Then, Harriet slowly nodded and signaled to the butler.

To bring out the dinner.

“Let’s eat. You won’t spoil my appetite—at least not at this level.”

“It’s an honor, Your Grace.”

Thankfully, it seemed I had passed the initial test.

After that tense evaluation, a fork and knife were finally placed in front of me.

But—

This was only the beginning.

There was no way a mere performance like this would earn me a barony.

I would need to show a more distinct achievement to satisfy the difficult man sitting before me.

As I mulled over how I might do that and waited for the meal—

――――――

Soon, the appetizers and aperitifs began to be set on the table along with a serving cart.

“Your Grace, we’ll begin the meal now.”

Helena gave the nod in place of the Grand Duke.

At her signal, the maids and the head chef began placing the dishes on the long table with practiced ease.

“Crab soup and Eastern wine,”

the head chef recited respectfully.

Harriet waved his hand dismissively, signaling there was no need for an explanation.

Then, picking up his spoon, he said to us,

“Go ahead.”

He took a sip of the wine first.

Then, he scooped up the soup and quietly tasted it.

Helena and I also began eating the crab soup slowly.

‘Impressive.’

The rich flavor of the crab and the cream’s smoothness were no ordinary combination.

It was the kind of taste you’d only find in the Eastern provinces. The chef had real skill.

“It’s delicious, isn’t it?”

Helena glanced at the Grand Duke with a satisfied expression.

But—

“……”

The Grand Duke Harriet, after tasting the soup, did not look pleased at all.

In fact, his jaw clenched as though he had bitten into a shoelace instead of crab meat.

And then—

Bang!!

With a large hand, he slammed the table.

The impact was so strong that even the candle at the far end of the table trembled.

“Chef, this doesn’t taste like your cooking.”

At the Grand Duke’s outburst, the head chef recoiled in fright.

He quickly dropped to his knees and begged for mercy.

“I-I’m sorry, Your Grace…!!”

The Grand Duke stood up from his chair with a jolt.

And he barked at the trembling middle-aged chef,

“Who made this dish?”

Helena let out a deep sigh, as if she already knew the answer.

“It… it was made by His Grace, Lord Harris Yekaterina…”

At the mention of his eldest son’s name, Harriet’s previously softened face twisted in fury.

He spoke with a face full of rage.

“I’m sorry, but this dinner ends here.”

And just like that, he left the table, expression firm and final.

The soup had been perfect in taste.

But the Grand Duke rose from his seat with unwavering severity.

‘This is insane.’

It looked like earning that barony recognition would be far harder than I had hoped.

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