"My lady, what are you making?" Rachel asked worriedly. It wasn't the first time Ellendise has entered the kitchen to make something. Although she trusted the young lady, she couldn't help but worry since the young lady still struggled from grabbing items and stirring bowls.
Such was the stamina of a ten year old child.
"Don't worry, Lady Ellen! I'll stir the bowl for you so you won't get tired!" Jill energetically said. Ellendise heaved a sigh of relief and instructed her how fast she needed to stir.
"Gently please. " She requested while thinking that it would be nice if they had a mixer. Unfortunately, this world was too dependent on magic so machinery development was quite lacking.
Ellendise was somewhat miffed at how slow they were taking so when she was fed up, she finally took the initiative to use wind magic to stir. This was also good practice for her and helps her concentrate.
"Wow! Lady Ellen, I didn't know you could use magic like that!"
"My lady, please be careful."
Jill and Rachel were really opposites. The other was very excited while the other was filled with worry.
"Please relax. I know my limits." She reassured while concentrating on her work.
After busying in tbe kitchen for two and a half hour, Ellendise finally finished. Her stamina was truly lacking which made her worry.
"Lady Ellen, what do you call this?" Jill's eyes were sparkling while eyeing the dessert she made.
"This is called tiramisu. As you can see, it is a coffee-flavoured dessert. It is made of ladyfingers dipped in coffee, layered with a whipped mixture of eggs, sugar and mascarpone cheese, flavoured with cocoa. Here, please have a try." Ellendise placed two plates infront of them.
She sat down and grabbed her own spoon to sample her work.
"Mm.." Ellendise proudly patted herself on the back. She still hasn't lost her touch.
"Oh my! This is good! Really good!"
"My lady, this coffee flavored dessert is amazing."
Jill and Rachel eyed their plates with a kind of fanaticism.
Ellendise smiled.
It would be nice if she could open a pastry shop and live her life comfortably profiting from baking.
However, she was in a very difficult position. Additionally, Ellendise wasn't a coward who would take the easy way out. She wanted endless possibilities now that there was nothing shackling her.
A free bird would want to enjoy its freedom and roam the wide sky, right?
During the night, Ellendise was enjoying a late snack of coffee jelly. Inwardly, she was really disappointed that this world was too far behind in a lot of departments because of too much reliance in magic.
Even making this simple dessert was enough to make her maids crazy.
Ellendise sighed, trying to calm herself by eating bite after bite. Staring at the moon outside made her calm down and feel a sense of serenity.
If only she could pass the days in peace like this, Ellendise would feel satisfied. She didn't have that much freedom when she was Rianne.
As Ellendise, she was able to move freely without anyone obstructing her.
Although there were unexpected dangers, Ellendise was confident that she could muddle through or else die trying.
The worst case scenario was dying again.
She wasn't afraid of death. She was more afraid of living an unfulfilled life. This was her second chance so she would naturally make use of it without holding back.
Though she was worried, since she somehow provoked a bigshot who was a villain in the making.
Speaking of villain..
Ellendise set her spoon down and carefully wiped her mouth in an elegant manner.
"This is the third time that my bedroom has been intruded upon by an unwelcomed guest." Ellendise glanced at the balcony door.
A dark cloak slowly entered her vision, two gloved hands opening the door calmly.
The figure entered in a very calm manner as if he owned the place.
"Rabbit girl."
Ellendise smiled.
In reality, she wanted to flung the spoon towards him. Was her name so hard to pronounce?
"Hello, please refrain from associating me to a fluffy, white herbivore with two wide ears. My real name is Ellendise Ariadne Mielle Vitron. I prefer to be called Ellen so please do well to remember. " She said in a polite manner as if she was talking to a respected guest but her eyes stared with complete indifference.
The masked figure started to laugh.
"Rabbit girl, don't get mad. Don't you miss me? " His huge hand patted her head in a familiar manner while completely ignoring her words. With his actions, they really looked like they were close and knew each other.
"This past week, I've been hunting for a dragon. Luckily, I managed to catch a drake and a basilisk. Both monsters are ferocious and not small in size. I extracted their teeth and made it into a display. My servants were so frightened that I had a very peaceful week since." He shared happily as if he was reminiscing a childhood memory.
Ellendise was no longer surprised that the Goddess Mortia herself bestowed a curse on this guy during his 25th birthday. He was an insane yet sane psychopath.
He didn't converse like normal people and viewed the world differently. His egocentric personality made it possible for him to believe that his well-being and needs needed to be put first.
He viewed others as sparse entertainment and chess pieces that could be discarded and replaced.
Ellendise was sure that she was just one of the many pets he had which was why he was making an effort to visit.
The novel didn't really said much about the Archduke. Except that he was the Emperor's only brother, the youngest Tower Master at the age of 18 and a fire and ice mage who made the Empire a military powerhouse because of his countless ideas and decisiveness in advancing their magic faction.
He was also the one who became the supporter and backer of the Scholar of Creations. The Archduke was an eccentric man and it was said that all the people who crossed him 'magically disappeared.'
Of course, it was simply the author's way of sugarcoating the truth. In fact, it was easy to see that those people who went against the Achduke became one with the soil and served as decorations in his dungeon.
The Scholar of Creations was the only exception since he was a man who was both an asset to the Archduke and the country despite his hateful personality and prejudiced views.
Unfortunately for the Archduke, Ellendise has already drawn Valrug to her side with the help of Letia. Not to mention that she did him a favor by waking the Viscountess up.
A hand suddenly grabbed her neck.
"Rabbit girl, where's the collar that I gave you?"
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