Chapter 21

“Is it already night?”

How long did I sleep?

A whole day flew by in an instant.

Stunned, I swung my legs off the bed and asked Eloise.

“How long did I sleep?”

“I don’t know. I also took a nap and woke up well past lunchtime.”

“……”

“If you’re up, come out and eat. The food is ready.”

With that, Eloise left briskly.

I supported my heavy forehead with my hand and looked around.

I looked for my outer clothes but found them already on my body.

Did I just lie down on the bed without taking off my clothes?

I was sure I was organizing the candlestick and vase, but how did I end up taking a nap?

Still in a daze, I went outside and down the stairs, where I saw my mother-in-law sitting on the living room sofa.

Even though it was almost evening, she looked perfectly immaculate, with her legs elegantly crossed.

The moment I saw her, she looked up at me with a gaze that was clearly not warm.

“……Did a ghost who couldn’t sleep cling to you? Are you just getting up now?”

“Um, I guess so, somehow…”

I awkwardly mumbled an excuse.

My mother-in-law frowned as if she couldn’t stand the sight of me.

“Since you are dawdling, our esteemed Duke Brent had to prepare the meal in the kitchen.”

“What?”

Alec is preparing dinner?

When my sister-in-law said the food was ready, I wondered what she meant, and it turns out Alec made it?

Leaving my mother-in-law behind, I hurried to the kitchen.

My heart pounded strangely.

The closer I got to the kitchen, the more the delicious smell of soup wafted through the air.

The scent of well-cooked corn and potatoes, combined with a tangy yet sweet tomato aroma, made my mouth water.

I unknowingly swallowed my saliva.

Eloise was setting the table with plates, which seemed almost ready.

I wondered why she was helping with the meal and turned around.

Was Alec’s declaration in the morning effective?

Well, since I said I wouldn’t cook anymore, she must be helping out begrudgingly.

“……Ah.”

I couldn’t take another step.

I ran into Alec, who had just entered from the dining room.

He was carrying a silver tray with a sauce that looked like simmered tomatoes and long noodles… was it spaghetti?

I stared blankly at the silver tray before looking up at him.

Seeing his incredibly handsome face made all my lingering sleepiness vanish.

“……You’re awake now. Are you feeling okay?”

* * *

Alec carefully observed Louise.

He had been waiting for her to wake up.

After he enlisted Gideon as his servant spirit, he nullified his own performance.

However, his family didn’t wake up immediately.

Wondering what was going on, he asked Gideon, who said they just wanted to keep sleeping.

Gideon’s enchantment only puts them to sleep without any addictive effects like carbon monoxide.

Fortunately, his mother and Eloise woke up in the afternoon, but for some reason, Louise didn’t wake up until the sun had completely set.

Was something wrong?

When Alec went to wake her, he stopped a few steps from the bed.

Breathing softly.

Louise, with her lush and tightly curled silver hair spread across the bed, was sound asleep.

She looked like a holy painting, and he couldn’t bring himself to disturb her rest.

It felt like stepping into a scene from a classic movie now considered legendary.

Was this the feeling of being in a different world?

That might be part of it, but Louise looked so peaceful that he couldn’t bear to interrupt her rest.

‘She must have been very tired lately.’

She had slept on hard beds at the inn, and the stress from the family’s downfall must have been considerable.

Alec quietly left the room.

Luckily, the rest of the family seemed unaware of what had happened while they were asleep.

They woke up stretching and went back to lying on the sofa, saying, “I slept too much.”

Of course, he couldn’t tell them he had caught a ghost.

Would Louise be okay?

Holding the silver tray with the spaghetti, Alec asked her again.

“……You’ve slept for a long time. Are you alright?”

“Oh, yes. I’m fine.”

Louise finally replied, snapping to attention.

“I guess I’ve been really tired lately. Sleeping on a soft bed after staying at the inn must have made me oversleep.”

“I see. You must be hungry; please have a seat.”

Alec gestured towards the table with his eyes.

Judging by her reaction, Louise seemed no different from the rest of the family.

Louise looked at the almost set table and then back at him before answering.

“Yes, I will.”

* * *

I turned towards the table with a feeling of disbelief.

As I cautiously sat down, I saw that the table was filled with numerous dishes.

There was a salad neatly arranged with chopped vegetables and tomatoes, boiled eggs with their shells peeled, leftover lamb from the morning roasted and cut into bite-sized pieces, soup with corn and potatoes, and more. It was a simple but abundant spread.

Alec placed the dish he was holding in front of me.

Steam rose from the pasta mixed with tomato sauce.

I looked at Alec and Eloise in disbelief.

“Who made all this?”

Eloise immediately answered my question.

“I boiled the eggs and chopped the tomatoes! Everything else was done by my brother.”

“…What? Alec made the spaghetti?”

“Yes.”

Surprised, I looked at him.

“You all worked really hard. But Alec, how did you manage to make all this…?”

He answered my question as he took his seat.

“I saw it being made before and just tried to imitate it. I’m not sure if it tastes any good.”

Where did he see it before? In the kitchen of the duke’s house, perhaps?

Anyway, I quickly replied.

“It looks delicious. I’ll enjoy it. Thank you, Alec.”

Alec glanced at me for a moment, then awkwardly nodded and looked away.

I also gave Eloise a short thanks.

“Eloise, you did well too.”

It was a sight to behold, the proud young lady of the duke’s house boiling eggs and chopping tomatoes herself.

“So, you have to make me something tasty from now on.”

“Alright, you did well.”

I looked at Eloise with an affectionate gaze.

After all, Eloise wouldn’t help out like this without a reason.

Just then, my mother-in-law walked in, shaking her head as she picked up a fork.

She didn’t like the fact that the duke himself had cooked, but she had no choice but to eat it.

Everyone picked up their utensils, and I looked down at the appetizing pasta.

How did this man come up with making something like this?

I didn’t know how it would taste yet, but it looked incredibly convincing and heartfelt, and I was deeply moved.

It had been a burden to think I’d have to prepare every meal, but waking up to such a bountiful table was overwhelming.

I picked up my utensils, trying to swallow my emotions.

The delicious aroma made me want to eat it while it was still warm.

It wasn’t a difficult or special dish to make, but it was the first dinner my husband had ever prepared for me.

I never imagined receiving such consideration in our married life.

And even Eloise’s unexpected involvement.

I twirled the pasta with my fork and put it in my mouth, feeling emotional.

How would it taste?

Even if it didn’t taste good, I was sure I could eat it with the utmost enjoyment.

As I took a bite, a sweet, tangy, and savory flavor spread in my mouth.

The well-seasoned tomato sauce and perfectly cooked pasta blended wonderfully.

I couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration as I swallowed.

“My goodness, it’s really delicious.”

My praise was followed by exclamations from my sister-in-law and mother-in-law.

“Amazing.”

“Alec, you had such talent?”

“……”

Our reactions made Alec feel awkward for a moment before he finally spoke.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“Thank you, I’ll enjoy it.”

Who knew my husband could cook so well?

It seemed he had a hidden talent for cooking, which we hadn’t discovered because he never had the chance.

I started eating earnestly, and Eloise silently did the same.

Even my mother-in-law, who had initially disapproved, raised her eyebrows in approval and finished her plate.

I couldn’t help but feel deeply moved by him once again.

The food was so delicious it felt like my taste buds were coming alive, and it made my affection for him grow even more.

* * *

Ding.

Meanwhile, Alec, who was eating, almost dropped his utensils.

He was relieved that his family was enjoying the food so much, but then an alert sounded, and letters appeared before his eyes.

[Congratulations!]

[Affection has increased by 1.]