My Lady Chef { La Vita Series } - Volume 1

Extra Chapter: Fairy Cupcake

Royal Palace of Illios
Dranvelle

Belmont's POV:

After fulfilling my duty and finishing off the ceremony to inaugurate Elliot as the new governor of Guthrie.

Here I am, ready to report to my father on the entirety of the Guthrie campaign's success.

The throne room is filled with nobles as usual. Ladies dressed in their finery and the men dressed in their best formal clothes.

All eyes were on me.

"Welcome back, Prince Belmont. You may begin your report."

"Yes, Your Majesty. The Guthrie Campaign was a success. Its corrupt ruler is dead, personally taken care of by Duke Aisenburg during the siege."

Everyone was impressed at this because of how strong Guthrie's walls were.

And yet in just a year, it fell because of the Duke's strategy and military might.

Murmurs of approval and grudging remarks about how fortunate Illios was in having the duke as a vassal of the Holy Kingdom made my father's face twitch.

"And...how about the aftermath? The duke is not known for being delicate. How are the casualties? The structural damages? The people's attitude towards their liberator?" The King asked.

"When the royal entourage arrived. The people were well fed and cared for. The Aisenburg knights helped rebuild most of the damage after the siege and the food donated by the nobles has been used to feed the poor and hungry people. Overall; the duke's actions of non aggression towards the people have resulted in a smooth annexation into the Holy kingdo-"

"I see. Good. The duke has once again made the Holy Kingdom even richer." His tone was flat but he smiled graciously to the ones present in court. "A reward ceremony must commence at once. Send a messenger to His Grace; this calls for a celebration!"

This time, his words caused everyone to clap and cheer.

I remained in place, my mind working in a different direction.

He is displeased again. Everytime.

Every victory earned by Ezran.

He has always been like this.

Soon after a few more reports were given. Father dismissed the court for lunch.

The moment the last noble left, my father stood up and gave me that look.

It was the "follow me quietly" look.

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"How did he do it? My advisors estimated that he would have trouble besieging the high walls of Guthrie. That fool king of theirs spend so much blood and sweat fortifying those walls! I was so sure it would put an end to his winning streak."

Contrary to the visage of a wise ruler he projects to his court.

This whining and insecure blathering he was giving in his private study, which was enchanted to mute out our exchanges is his real self.

I have grown used to it.

"It is all in the reports, Your Majesty. He employed a clever strategy of starving the city by burning their fields outside the city walls. A brilliant move that caused chaos because it affected the greedy nobles who often sends people outside to gather food." I sighed to his darkening face.