Chapter 10

Recently, I've been feeling strangely good.

For a while, I was so shocked by the fact that my destined partner had run away that I couldn't eat or focus on anything... but perhaps my sadness is gradually healing.

"Your Highness, you should take a break."

As the Crown Prince, my work has been progressing more smoothly than before.

Lately, I've been so engrossed that I forget the time, so my secretary, Conrad, often reminds me to take a break.

I sit on the sofa in the office and start eating the cake brought by the maid.

But... for some reason, it feels unsatisfying.

The cake in front of me is a top-notch creation by the court's pastry chef.

Everything, from the taste to the shape and decoration, is refined...

Yet, the taste of the homemade cake I had at the summer palace keeps lingering on my tongue.

—"I heard the prince was here, so I baked a cake. Please, everyone, have some."

For some reason, I can't forget the taste of the homemade cake the princess made at the summer palace.

In terms of color and shape, the cake I'm eating now is far superior.

I don't even like carrots. Even though it was well disguised, I could faintly taste the carrot in that cake if I paid attention.

So why do I keep craving that cake?

"Is something wrong, Prince Alexis?"

"No... I was just thinking about the cake I had when I visited the summer palace."

"Oh, the one made by Princess Adelina..."

When the topic of the princess's cake comes up, my personal knight, Gordon, who had been standing by, interjects.

"Yeah, I heard you and Conrad had the homemade cake made by Princess Adelina. I wish I could have gone too."

"You should have taken your vacation on a different day."

"That's true, but recently, Danforth has been bragging a lot. He says Princess Adelina is kind and a great cook, and that his current workplace is heaven. Apparently, during breaks, she often serves homemade sweets..."

"What... did you say...?"

I almost dropped my fork.

While I, who am so busy with tedious official duties, can hardly taste her homemade sweets, Danforth gets to enjoy them so frequently?

No, that's not strange.

Danforth is Carolina's personal knight, and I arranged for him to be in that position.

He spends much more time with her than I do, so he probably gets to taste her cooking more often.

I understand that logically, but... I can't help feeling annoyed.

Why is Danforth leisurely eating my princess's homemade sweets while I'm swamped with difficult official duties?

It's unfair. It's unequal. This needs to be corrected.

"I'm going to the princess's place now."

As I declare this and put down my fork, Conrad, who was elegantly sipping tea, starts coughing.

"Right now!?"

"Is there a problem? I thought all the urgent work was done."

"That's true, but please wait while I send a messenger to the summer palace."

"No... that's not necessary."

If I send a messenger, she will dress up and prepare properly before welcoming me.

To be honest, when Carolina is dressed up, she exudes an indescribable beauty, almost like a different person.

I was so taken aback that I couldn't even manage the usual pleasantries.

But more than the well-dressed her, I wanted to see her as she was when I first visited the summer palace—wearing casual clothes and riding an alpaca.

I don't know why I feel this way, but...

◇◇◇

"Prince, next time, please let us know in advance when you're coming... It would be very helpful..."

When I visit the summer palace, the princess is in the kitchen kneading bread dough.

Strangely, Danforth is also wearing an apron and energetically kneading the dough.

Have you forgotten your duties as a knight?

Carolina, wearing an apron and looking shyly down, made me feel surprisingly elated.

She is undeniably beautiful when she's dressed up, but seeing her like this, so natural, gives me a great sense of relief.

"I made pumpkin pudding this morning. Would you like to try it?"

"Yes, I will."

As I taste the long-awaited homemade sweet made by the princess, Gordon says, "Your Highness, Princess Carolina will make a great wife," as if he's talking in his sleep.

Hey, she is technically my wife.

"Prince, are you okay with pumpkin?"

"...Do you think I'm a little child? I can eat most ingredients without any problem."

As I take a bite of the pumpkin pudding, Carolina's expression relaxes with relief.

"Since my sister, Ella, has always had trouble with vegetables, I thought the prince might be the same..."

"So, you started coming up with these creative dishes to get her to eat vegetables?"

"Yes, a kind neighbor taught me—"

Being at this summer palace makes me feel strangely calm.

Time seems to slow down, but in reality, the time to return comes all too quickly.

"Your Highness, please let us know in advance next time you visit..."

Listening to the princess's plea, I left the summer palace with an unusually clear mind.

It wasn't until that night that I realized I didn't feel any flutter in my heart when I heard about the princess, Ella.