The chef shouted, but Mayana focused only on her work without looking back. Boiled and roasted carrots were mashed until no shape remained and hidden in a mushy soup, and the asparagus was cut into pieces and hidden under smoked ham.

The chef, seemingly ready to explode with anger, asked Mayana,

“What on earth are you expecting from this?”

Mayana quickly turned to him.

“What do you mean by that?”

“You’re trying to gain something by pretending to be devoted to Her Highness, right? Otherwise,…….”

Unable to bear his words any longer, Mayana threw the spoon onto the counter. Still heated from a previous fight with Beinti, her expression looked very fierce.

“Listen, you really say anything. People might curse the king where no one hears, but don’t you think you’re speaking too out of line while working for money in this house?”

The chef chuckled.

“Hey, I’m saying this for you.”

“For me? What exactly are you saying for me? Badmouthing a child whenever you have a chance, being upset because you can’t torment her, that’s speaking for me?”

“You, if you keep acting without distinguishing between right and wrong, you may get kicked out somewhere without knowing it.”

Mayana’s face twisted uncomfortably.

“What are you talking about?”

But the chef seemed to have no intention of saying anything more. Maybe he was just trying to tease Mayana from the beginning…….

Whether he was sympathizing or mocking, he made an inexplicable face and left. Mayana could do whatever she wanted now; he didn’t care anymore.

The other chefs in the kitchen also avoided eye contact with Mayana. The cold atmosphere was too strange. Too…….

‘What kind of messed up place is this!’
Unable to hold back her tears, Mayana suddenly thought of Ariante’s face waiting outside and let out a long breath. Then she personally took Ariante’s meal out.

Sitting at the table, playing with the napkin, Ariante looked at Mayana with a puzzled look and asked,

“Where have you been?”

Then she saw the dishes Mayana was holding.

“Why did you bring that?”

Mayana replied with a bright smile, placing the plate and soup bowl in front of Ariante in order,

“I checked to make sure it hasn’t cooled too much.”

“Hmm…….”

Ariante’s suspicious glance quickly scanned the plate. Whether there was something she didn’t want to eat, something strange……. Mayana watched Ariante out of the corner of her eye with a slightly tense face.

“Lately, you know…….”

“Yes?”

“The food seems to have changed.”

Mayana didn’t miss the opportunity and quickly shoved smoked ham and asparagus into Ariante’s mouth at once. The thick ham made of good meat was expected to more than cover the taste of roasted asparagus.

As she had anticipated, Ariante made a momentarily bewildered expression but obediently swallowed what was in her mouth. Immediately after, Mayana quickly served the soup to Ariante. It was a fragrant soup filled with potatoes, lobster, finely chopped oysters, and cream. With plenty of mashed carrots…….

“What do you mean the food has changed? Is there something you don’t like?”

“No, it’s not that……. The things I hate aren’t coming out.”

“Then that’s a good thing, isn’t it?”

Ariante scrunched up her nose with a puzzled look on her face.

“That’s true, but…….”

That’s when it happened.

“Mayana Dawson!”

A voice, firm yet filled with anger, startled both Mayana and Ariante. Mayana put down her fork and stood up from her chair.

“Head Butler Joslyn, what…….?”

—Slap!

It was as if fire was shooting out of her eyes. A sharp smell came from her nose, and Ariante’s voice calling her name seemed to echo from far away as if from an aquarium, and her mind went blank.

Holding her burning cheek and turning her head, Mayana and Joslyn’s furious eyes met.

“You worthless thing. His Grace the Duke took you in without a single recommendation, and you don’t even know that favor. You only pick the wrong things to teach the princess.”