Let’s Just Make a Child, Your Grace - Chapter 8 Part 1

Cedric’s eyebrows slowly raised. He put down the load he was carrying in one hand and examined Arne’s face with both hands.

Seeming unsatisfied, Cedric knelt in front of the chair where Arne was sitting. He held her chin and slowly turned it. As Cedric’s eyes narrowed, Arne blurted out an excuse.

“I… fell. While running to catch a rabbit.”

“Did you fall on your face?”

“Well…”

Without waiting for an answer, Cedric took Arne’s hand and turned it over. Her palm flipped over like a pancake.

“You did fall, but if you had fallen on your face, your delicate skin wouldn’t have remained intact.”

Cedric brushed Arne’s right cheek and lips. It was exactly where the Marchioness had struck. Cedric’s gaze was sharp.

“Your lip is swollen?”

“My lip was already swollen from biting it earlier.”

“No, earlier it was only the left side. You have a habit of biting your left lip. Now your right lip is also swollen, so your lips are evenly swollen.”

Arne’s eyes widened.

“You know very well. Do you always observe people this closely?”

“No, just you. Usually, people don’t go somewhere to get hit or chased when I leave them for a short while.”

“I don’t do that every time either.”

“You’ve even almost died before. You’re a pro at getting into trouble.”

“I don’t just cause trouble. I found Lady Judith’s letter too.”

“That’s right. That’s why I’m here by your side now.”

Cedric stood up and looked around the garden. The young ladies who had been secretly glancing at Cedric quickly turned their heads when their eyes suddenly met. Cedric’s brow furrowed.

Cedric reached for Arne’s cheek again. As Cedric’s upper body suddenly came closer, Arne flinched with tension. Cedric picked up Arne’s hat.

“So who was it, the person who stepped on your hat?”

Cedric’s eyes, meeting Arne’s, burned quietly and intensely.

“There are too many suspects here. You always keep your mouth shut about these things, so I was trying to deduce on my own.”

One of Cedric’s eyebrows raised. This time, as if determined to get an answer, Cedric didn’t avert his gaze.

“Knights might be ashamed to say they got hit, but… Or is today another good day for you?”

Under the persistent questioning, Arne opened her mouth.

“Today is the former.”

Cedric tilted his head at Arne’s unexpected answer. It was a completely unexpected response. An awkward question flowed from Cedric’s mouth.

“Did you win?”

“I’m going to win.”

Cedric stroked his chin. Saying she’s going to win means she lost but doesn’t want to admit it. Young apprentice knights often had that look when they lost in a duel. A day when competitive spirit and pride are high, but disappointing.

“Did you lose?”

Arne glared at Cedric. Her eyes widened, her lips quivered, and then she quickly turned her head away.

“Why, should I go and win for you?”

“No. This is my fight.”

“Hmm.”

He intended to get a name this time, but seeing her looking so upset and resentful, clutching her dress skirt and trembling, he felt like he wanted to watch a bit longer. It was like seeing a child pouting after having a toy taken away, and somehow it made him want to smile because it was cute.

“It was unfair, 2 against 1.”

“That’s cowardly. They should at least match the numbers.”

“I’m sorry about the hat you worked so hard to find for me.”

“You can just ask Ella to make you another hat.”

“I think I’m hungry now.”

At her unexpected words, Cedric shrugged and held out his hand.

“Then let’s fill your stomach.”

“After we give food to the rabbits and squirrels.”

Arne, who got up holding Cedric’s hand, quickly picked up the feed pouch and ran off. Though she had been on the verge of tears, her expression brightened immediately upon seeing the rabbits and squirrels. A smile flitted across Cedric’s lips as he shrugged.

* * *

As Cedric had said, after walking a bit further, they came across a restaurant. It must have been quite famous, as even those haughty nobles were standing in line waiting. Worry clouded Arne’s face.

“I think we should have made a reservation in advance.”

“It’s fine.”

Despite the line that seemed to require at least two hours of waiting, Cedric was strangely relaxed. He simply headed towards the lobby, bypassing the people in line.

Curious gazes and surprised faces recognizing Cedric mixed as attention gradually focused on them. A servant who spotted Cedric hurriedly ran off to find someone.

“It’s an honor to see you, Lord Cedric. It’s been a while.”

The person who rushed over was Mendel, the owner and head chef of the restaurant. He was one of the top chefs in the empire, and was famous for not showing his face even at invitations from most nobles due to his high pride.

“I’ve kept you waiting. Please, this way.”

The head chef guided them to the topmost floor. The top floor was a place only accessible to high-ranking nobles or special members. At the entrance, someone could be seen arguing with the servant guarding it.

“There’s a seat empty over there, isn’t there? Why can’t we use it?”

Arne’s shoulders flinched at the familiar voice.

“I’m sorry, but the head chef has instructed us to always keep that seat empty.”

“Why keep it empty when there are no guests! Are you daring to disrespect the Marquis of Wayne!”

“How could I disrespect the Marquis of Wayne? I’m simply following the head chef’s instructions.”

At that moment, the threatening voice of the man who looked like he was about to strike the servant rang out.

“What are you saying to our mother? Call the head chef right now!”

Tension coursed through Arne’s body as she held Cedric’s hand. That back of the head was unmistakable.

“I am the head chef, but that seat already has an owner. Instead, I’ll guide you to the best seat on the lower floor. Please, follow me.”

“How humiliating for the Wayne family to be on the lower floor! Who do you think you—. Cedric?”

The Marchioness’s gaze fell on Cedric and Arne. Kale, who had been threatening the servant, also quietly lowered his hand in front of Cedric. It was because his body remembered what had happened at the Wayne party.

“The owner of that seat…”

As the Marchioness looked to the head chef for an answer, the head chef opened the door and said to Cedric,

“Please, come in. I’ve been wondering when the owner of this seat, that’s empty year-round, would come.”

“Very well.”

Cedric lightly nodded to the Marchioness before escorting Arne. The Marchioness and Kale’s gazes clung irritably to her. Arne lightly ignored those gazes and stepped inside.

Head Chef Mendel also closed the entrance door as soon as Arne had completely entered.

“There seems to have been a commotion. I apologize. This way, please.”

The seat the head chef guided them to was the empty one the Marchioness had pointed out. At that moment, the gazes of everyone on the upper floor converged. It was the first time someone had sat in the seat that was always empty.

Feeling people’s gazes, the head chef moved a prepared partition. As the head chef naturally took Cedric’s luggage, Cedric greeted him familiarly.

“It’s been a while. You seem even busier than before.”

“Thanks to you. What would you like to start with?”

“I’ll have a salad.”

Arne tilted her head curiously. Cedric faced Arne and said nonchalantly,

“Why?”

“I think you should eat meat. You’re quite active, after all.”

“It feels strange to hear such words from you.”

Cedric shrugged and smiled languidly. The head chef’s eyes quickly darted between Cedric and Arne. It was the first time he had seen Cedric smile like this.

“And for your tea?”

“Earl Grey, please.”

“The same for both of us, please.”

“Understood.”

The head chef quickly finished his greetings and disappeared. It was because he saw that Cedric’s gaze never left Arne.

As soon as the head chef disappeared, Arne poured out what she had been curious about.

“How did this happen? How are we sitting in this seat that’s supposedly empty year-round, and without even waiting in line?”

“Because I’m the patron of this restaurant. In other words, the actual owner.”

Arne blinked slowly. She hadn’t heard about this before.

“You seem to have quite a few places you secretly sponsor.”

“As I’ve said before, I’m quite greedy when it comes to people. Once someone becomes mine, I have no intention of letting them go. Anyone would feel the same about talented and capable individuals.”

“How did you end up sponsoring this place?”

“It’s hard for a delicious restaurant with a good atmosphere in the heart of the city to fail. Plus, with one of the empire’s top chefs, there’s no reason to pass it up.”

“So that’s why the Grand Duke’s finances never run dry.”

“Are you tempted?”

Cedric took a sip of water with a languid smile.

“Quite a lot, actually.”

Cough. A short cough escaped.

“Most people usually say no. Aren’t you being too honest?”