Chapter 47
I couldn't answer right away.
Those were the Emperor's words.
When the Emperor asks whether something is possible, it usually means you're expected to make it possible.
I had no idea what would happen if I said it was impossible.
I had even less idea what would happen if I said it was possible.
I only had one neck.
But before I could open my mouth, Elysia stepped forward.
“Your Majesty.”
Her voice was quiet, but strangely firm.
She was standing much straighter than usual.
Her face was calm, but her eyes did not waver.
The Emperor looked at her.
“Speak.”
Elysia bowed respectfully.
“I beg your pardon, but Kyle Pratt is Maison Monbel's head chef.”
The drawing room grew even quieter.
I thought to myself,
‘My lady, if you say that to the Emperor now…’
But Elysia did not stop.
“Every meal served at Maison Monbel and all its kitchen operations revolve around Kyle. If he leaves now, the restaurant cannot continue operating normally. And Maison Monbel is the foundation for House Monbel's recovery.”
She took a very slow breath.
“Therefore, it would be difficult for us to accept sending Kyle Pratt to the Imperial Palace.”
Marie swallowed behind us.
Uncle Bernard did not move either.
I honestly felt my heart sink.
Elysia was openly opposing the Emperor right in front of him.
Of course, she had maintained proper etiquette and chosen her words well.
But the meaning was an unmistakable refusal.
Several possible futures were already flashing through my mind.
The Emperor gets offended, and the Imperial Guards move.
Then I would be dragged to the Imperial Palace whether I liked it or not.
Maison Monbel would somehow keep operating, but its food wouldn't taste the same as before.
Or it might even collapse amid rumors that I had fallen afoul of the Emperor.
This was very bad.
But the Emperor stared at Elysia for a long time without changing expression.
“Lady Monbel.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Are you refusing my proposal?”
A chill ran down my spine.
Elysia lowered her head.
“Yes.”
It was a short, firm refusal.
The corners of the Emperor's lips rose slightly.
“After the former Baron Monbel died, House Monbel still hasn't officially received the Imperial Family's approval for its succession to the title. You know that, which is why you don't call yourself Baron Monbel either.”
“That is correct.”
“And you say that despite knowing it?”
Even at those almost threatening words, Elysia continued looking at the Emperor with her head held high.
“I do not take Your Majesty's meals lightly. If Your Majesty wishes to eat a meal from Maison Monbel, we will prepare it to the best of our ability. However, it would be difficult to transfer Kyle Pratt into the Imperial Palace's service.”
The Emperor was silent for a moment.
“……”
The atmosphere in the room froze.
The Imperial Guards did not draw their swords, but they shifted their feet slightly, while Elysia tried to remain as calm as possible, her shoulders trembling faintly.
After watching Elysia and me for a moment, the Emperor said expressionlessly,
“Good.”
‘Good?’
The Emperor still wore a cold expression.
But there was the faintest hint of amusement in his voice.
“A good employer doesn't readily give up the people who work for them.”
Elysia's eyes wavered slightly.
“Your Majesty.”
“I understand. I will withdraw.”
The air in the drawing room relaxed slightly.
Only then was I able to breathe.
The Emperor folded the napkin neatly and placed it on the desk.
To my surprise, he'd folded it into a small crane in that short time.
“When I asked whether Kyle could work at the Imperial Palace, I meant whether he could join the Imperial kitchen. But Lady Monbel is right. If I took Kyle Pratt away from Maison Monbel, I wouldn't be bringing in a meal; I'd be ruining the restaurant.”
Marie gave a tiny nod behind me, and I nodded inwardly as well.
If I went to the Imperial Palace alone, I could probably make good food.
But it would not be Maison Monbel's food.
“Kyle Pratt.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Then would it be possible for you to come to the Imperial Palace from time to time and prepare a meal?”
This was a somewhat different proposal.
Elysia slowly raised her head.
Her eyes were still firm, but she did not immediately refuse as she had just moments ago.
She had apparently decided that there was room for negotiation.
The Emperor continued,
“Once or twice. It might not be a large banquet, or it might be a very small dinner. My relatives and I enjoy quiet meals.”
“……”
The Emperor added in a very dry tone,
“It is not an order, but a request.”
That was more frightening.
If it were an order, it would at least be clear. I would have to do it even if I didn't want to, and the responsibility would lie with the Emperor.
But if it was a request, I had to answer.
I had to calculate whether to accept, whether to set conditions, and how to respond with proper courtesy.
Elysia spoke first.
“If Your Majesty calls it a request, House Monbel will consider it on that basis.”
The Emperor looked at her.
“Are there conditions?”
“Kyle's schedule and Maison Monbel's operations must take priority. In addition, we must decide the personnel, ingredients, and preparation time required for any visit to the Imperial Palace.”
The Emperor did not even blink.
“The cost?”
Elysia paused briefly.
“That will depend on the level of service Your Majesty desires.”
“It will be expensive.”
“This is Maison Monbel.”
It was a brief reply.
I almost laughed, but desperately held it back by biting the inside of my cheek.
The Emperor did not laugh.
But for just a moment, the atmosphere eased faintly.
“Good. Do it the Maison Monbel way. However, the threshold of the Imperial Palace is a little higher than this one.”
I made a joke without thinking.
“I'll be careful not to trip over it.”
The Emperor stared at me with an expressionless face.
‘Fuck.’
Fortunately, the Emperor answered my joke with a joke of his own.
“Then hop when you come in.”
As he left the drawing room, the Emperor caught his foot on the threshold and staggered for a moment.
“……”
A carriage was already waiting in front of the mansion.
Before getting into the carriage, the Emperor cast Elysia another look.
“Lady Monbel.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Your refusal did not offend me.”
Elysia lowered her head.
“I am honored.”
“Words used to protect someone often resemble rudeness. Today, you did not cross the line.”
Those words were heavy.
Elysia seemed to know that as well and fell silent for a moment.
“I will keep that in mind.”
This time, the Emperor looked at me.
“Kyle Pratt.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You have a good employer.”
For a moment, I couldn't decide how to answer.
If I made another joke, my neck would be in danger, but if I responded too stiffly, the atmosphere would become strange.
In the end, I lowered my head.
“Yes. I believe so.”
Elysia looked at me, but I did not look at her.
I felt it would be awkward if I did.
The Emperor nodded almost imperceptibly.
“You would do well not to forget that.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“And it needn't necessarily be only your employer…”
The Emperor let the end of his sentence trail off, then smiled faintly and got into the carriage.
Only after the Imperial carriage had disappeared did the air in the mansion return to normal.
Marie nearly sank to the floor against the wall.
“We survived.”
“Yeah.”
“We really survived.”
“Yeah.”
Thomas sat down in a chair, and Nina still could not let go of the cloth in her hand.
Uncle Bernard said quietly,
“We got through today well.”
“We did?”
“Yes.”
“I thought I was going to die about three times in there.”
“Then you got through it well.”
Uncle Bernard's standards were strange sometimes.
Elysia was still looking toward the road.
“My lady. Earlier…”
I searched for the right words, then finally lowered my head.
“Thank you.”
Elysia slowly looked at me.
“For what?”
“For protecting me.”
“I didn't protect you.”
“Then what did you do?”
She was silent for a moment.
“I protected my people.”
I couldn't answer.
Marie coughed for no reason from a distance.
Uncle Bernard naturally looked away.
Elysia looked as though she had belatedly realized how her words might sound.
“I mean, the people of Maison Monbel.”
“Yes.”
“The head chef.”
“Yes.”
“Someone important to the business.”
“Yes.”
“That's what I meant.”
“I understand.”
I answered as seriously as I could.
Marie laughed very quietly behind her, and Elysia shot her a glare.
“Anyway, everyone worked hard today. I'm going in first.”
Elysia went inside first.
After taking a breath and composing myself, I sighed as I caught the scent of peach lingering on my hand.
“Phew.”