But the meatball was not so easily eaten. As soon as I pricked it with a fork, it took an unexpected force and flew into the air.

I followed the parabola of the meatball with trembling eyes.

And it flew right into the direction where the Duke was sitting and hit the Duke’s cheek!

Thump, thump, thump…….

The sound of the meatball hitting the Duke’s cheek and then falling lightly to the floor rang out.

‘Gasp!’

I stiffened in the pose I had picked up the meatball. It was desperate.

‘Why, why there of all places….’

Everyone seemed to be stunned by what had just happened, and for a moment, silence filled the room.

The one who broke the silence—chilly for me—was Clemens.

“Uh……. Father, are you okay?”

Upon Clemens’ words, a servant who had also frozen like me hastily brought out a handkerchief.

“My Lord, are you alright?”

The Duke silently accepted the handkerchief offered by the servant.

“Your Grace…….”

“…….”

“I, I didn’t do that on purpose…….”

“…….”

He silently wiped off the cream sauce that was on his cheek.

“So, sorry…….”

I hurriedly apologized before he could say anything.

Whether fortunately or not, a major disaster of sauce getting on the Duke’s expensive clothes did not happen, so he quickly returned to normal.

No, actually a major disaster had already happened.

My mind went blank. And this had to happen in front of Clemens, who greatly admired the Duke!

‘I’m going to disappear without a trace now….’

I waited for my fate with a disheartened mind, and the Duke muttered with a cold voice.

“You must have been very hungry.”

I did not have the courage to look at the Duke. He was obviously staring at me angrily.

Despite the feast in front of them, no one started eating in the heavy atmosphere.

Clemens seemed quite flustered, and did not speak first.

I, of course, was so tense that I couldn’t lift a finger.

Before long, it was the Duke who first picked up the utensils.

The Duke silently picked up one of the meatballs I had pricked.

Seeing that, I unknowingly gulped down a dry swallow.

‘Why did he pick that up?’

I stared hard at the Duke with an uneasy heart.

Then, the Duke called me in an indifferent tone.

“Diane.”

“……?”

“Oh, yes.”

At the Duke’s words, I inadvertently opened my mouth slightly.

Then something warm and savory quickly entered my mouth. I instinctively chewed what had come into my mouth.
I opened my eyes slightly, curious about what was happening.

The duke was nonchalantly cutting the chestnut he had spooned onto his plate. Then he suddenly thrust the small piece he had cut in front of my face.

“Here.”

“?”

“Mouth.”

I opened my mouth blankly again. The chestnut on the duke’s fork slipped into my mouth.

‘What?’

I chewed the meat full of rich juice and watched the duke.

“Your Grace.”

“Why.”

“That…….”

A question asking if he was trying to get revenge on me reached my throat.

Before the words sprang out, I barely shut my mouth.

I might have changed the duke’s mind by asking a question unnecessarily.

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

The duke chuckled at my words and repeated the action he had just done to me.

After cutting the chestnut for me several times, the duke asked nonchalantly.

“What’s next?”

Startled by the sudden question, I pointed to an eyecatching fish dish.

“This?”

The duke picked it up with his fork, just like he had cut the chestnut earlier.

He brought it to my mouth again.

‘Is this a warning not to do that again?’

I carefully picked up the fork again.

“It was a mistake earlier. I can eat by myself.”

“Just eat.”

While speaking, the duke popped the fish flesh into my mouth.

‘…It’s convenient to be fed.’

I suddenly caught Clements’ eye.

Clements had an unsavory expression.

The duke was suddenly offering food again. I glanced at Clements and shook my head.

“I’ll eat my own.”

The duke raised one eyebrow but quickly put down his fork, accepting it. I picked up my fork again, and another piece of food suddenly popped up in front of my eyes.

It was something Clements had picked out for me. When I turned my head, his earlier expression was gone, and he was smiling as usual.

I was confused. Why is he suddenly giving this to me?

‘It’s not something that’s been fired, right?’

Like poison, poison, or poison…….

That’s when the duke saved me.

“Clements, that looks too spicy for Diana to eat.”

“Is it?”

Clements withdrew his fork. Then the duke, whom I thought had given up, offered me chicken with white sauce again.

While eating it in surprise, I saw Clements also pick up another food without red sauce and offer it to me.

I declared urgently.

“I’ll eat my own!”

As I spoke firmly, the two finally slowly withdrew their forks. I thought to myself in embarrassment.

‘…I just want to eat alone.’