Chapter Six

Camilla stared wordlessly for a moment at the two people — no, two ghosts — who stood watching her, smiling.

[What's wrong?]

[Is there anything you'd like to tell us?]

At her gaze, Chef Ferrol and the butler, Derrin, scratched their heads. Did they do something wrong?

"Okay, now tell me."

[Tell you what?]

[What do you mean?]

"What do you want from me?"

After dealing with ghosts for more than 20 years, she's realized something.

It's that: 'There are no ghosts wandering the netherworld who help people for no reason.'

'It includes them, too.'

Is there any difference between them?

"I'm going to need your help in the future as well."

It's too much to hope that bringing flowers to the office and cooking a meal will change her image.

"So tell me what you want."

She was planning on listening to anything. They're the ones who can tell her how to avoid her death, even though they can't do anything about it.

[…]

[…]

At Camilla's words, Ferrol and Derrin looked at each other, then burst out laughing at the same time.

[I only want one thing.]

"What is it?"

[Cooking.]

"…Cooking?"

Camilla looked perplexed.

Cooking? Was he asking her to hold an ancestral rite with homemade food? Is there such a culture where rituals like that are held?

'I'm not particularly good at making food either.'

It wasn't even her who was cooking in the kitchen a while ago. Ferrol's hands possessed her two hands and did the cooking instead.

[My wish was to cook food again. There's nothing better than seeing someone enjoy the food I made.]

Ferrol answered unexpectedly.

"Your wish is to cook food?"

So, he was telling her that he wants to do the cooking himself.

Seeing her puzzled expression, Ferrol let out a small laugh.

[Thank you.]

"…"

[For allowing me to cook again.]

He didn't think he'd ever touch a kitchen utensil again, and neither did he think he'd ever be able to showcase his homemade dishes again.

It still seemed like a dream. That he could stand before the fire again.

He was so happy to be holding a knife and pot again, even if it was through Camilla's hand.

"I see…"

Camilla nodded with a shaky expression.

It would be foolish to keep asking, even when there appeared to be no other wishes.

Though, she was nervous to do so, as she had no experience in accepting help from others without paying for it.

[Me, as well.]

Under Camilla's gaze, the butler ghost Derrin also smiled faintly.

[I was happy to bring the gypsophila back into the lordship's office.]

…What? You call that happiness?

[It's a great feeling to be able to help people with what I know, thank you.]

Camilla was a little embarrassed to see the two ghosts thanking her.

'These guys…'

In other words, they were wandering around the netherworld because they wanted to please others.

She's met all sorts of strange people in her life.

'Well, that's fine with me.'

They're saying that neither of them have anything in particular that they want, right?

Camilla clasped her hands together, then turned to face Ferrol and Derrin and bowed her head respectfully.

"I look forward to working with you in the future."

She didn't know what would happen later, but as of now, she's in a position where she's getting help without paying for it. She was more than happy to be polite and courteous.

[…]

[…]

Ferrol and Derrin's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected greeting.

But soon, soft smiles spread across their lips again.

* * *

"Y-You know how to make this as well?"

Chef Jellard's eyes widened as he looked at Camilla's finished product.

The red sherbet. It was a dessert with wine that his late mentor also loved.

After putting on the finishing touches, Camilla turned her head to look at Jellard.

"…"

"…"

Swoosh.

After exchanging glances with her for a moment, Jellard casually bent his outstretched knees.

It wasn't until she lowered her gaze that Camilla spoke.

"You don't know this recipe?"

"I-I know it."

It's just that the ones he made didn't come out in such nice colors.

He's been watching her for over ten days now, and Camilla has done an amazing job every time — and she only made the dishes his mentor Ferrol used to make.

'No way…'

Naturally, he had his doubts.

'Is there some kind of recipe book that my mentor left behind?'

Did Miss Camilla find it?

'No, no!'

But he quickly dismissed that idea.

This isn't a problem that can be solved by knowing the recipe. That skill was never something that could be demonstrated by having a recipe book.

'Besides, what's with that sight?!'

It's as if she's been working here for decades as she scoured the kitchen for utensils and ingredients.

"Excuse me… Miss Camilla… the leftovers here…"

"You can eat it."

"Okay!"

Gently pointing to the remaining wine sorbet in the glass, Jellard hurriedly brought the sorbet to his mouth with Camilla's permission.

'As expected!'

Jellard's eyes shook constantly as he ate the wine sorbet.

Why is that? What can it be?

He's sure he made it from the same recipe, so why doesn't his taste like this?

"Is it good?"

"I-It's not bad."

He still has some pride left, so he twists his words.

Looking at Jellard like that, Camilla patted the back of her neck with her hand.

Swoosh.

Jellard's gaze, which had risen for a moment, went back down again.

"Miss."

Just then, butler Rube walked through the kitchen door.

Seeing Jellard facing Camilla with his knees slightly bent as always, Rube swallowed the laughter that threatened to escape.

"Are you done?"

"Yes."

Camilla pointed to the wine sorbet that was put off to the side.

A small mint leaf garnished the top of the red sorbet in a small glass.

"Please do me a favor today, too."

"Yes, Miss."

With a slight bow, the butler, Rube, gathered up all the glasses of sorbet.

'I'm really surprised.'

Rube lifted the tray and glanced at Camilla.

'Why did she suddenly change?'

He never hated her. But he never liked her either.

Although he was well aware of her increasing isolation within the duchy, he didn't feel the need to help her.

The last thing he wanted to do was to extend a helping hand to someone who doesn't do anything for themselves.

He just watched.

'By the way…'

For some time now, Camilla has changed.

Was it really a coincidence that the food the kitchen maids fooled around with ended up in the Duke's mouth?

He didn't know how it happened but Rube has found her to be interesting these days.

'It's still like that.'

He still couldn't believe that she had turned the nasty, self-centered Jellard into something like that.

Jellard was watching Camilla's every move, sneakily scooping up the sorbet.

"By the way, are they having a meeting at this hour? The day will change in a little while, and I don't think everyone is sleepy."

That's when Rube's ears picked up Camilla's voice.

"Or did something happen?"

There weren't two sherbet prepared, as usual. There were actually several trays with glasses on them.

It was because all the vassals of the house were currently gathered in the conference room. It was a meeting that was suddenly scheduled today.

"I don't know."

Butler Rube smiled at Camilla's question.

It was the Duke of Sorpel who decided to postpone the meeting that should have taken place during the day, until now, when Camilla was bringing him a snack.

Perhaps the reason is…

"Well, I'll leave it to you."

Rube bowed his head and quietly walked out.

Behind him, several maids followed him with trays of sorbet.

"I wonder… How can you get such a color—?"

"Do you want to know?"

"Yes!"

"Then do something cute."

"L-Like this?"

"…Take your hands off your cheeks. Don't try to sound cute either."

Listening to the conversation between the two behind him, Rube hastily stifled the laughter that threatened to escape.

* * *

"I-It's refreshing to have a meeting at this time of day."

"Th-That's right, haha!"

"I've been getting less sleep lately, but that's okay."

The people in the conference room exchanged awkward smiles and blurted out a string of words.

'Why at this hour?'

'I thought you said you were too busy during the day.'

'I heard that you didn't have a particular busy day today, but—'

No one understood why the Duke of Sorpel postponed the meeting scheduled during the day to this time of day, nearing midnight.

Why hold the meeting now when there's nothing urgent in the agenda, so it didn't matter if the meeting was postponed until tomorrow?

But, of course, no one openly expressed their dissatisfaction to Duke Sorpel.

'By the way…'

'Why do you keep looking at the clock?'

During the meeting, everyone could see that the Duke of Sorpel was looking at the clock on the wall.

It's not like he had any other meetings at this time of day, right?

Knock, knock.

Just then, there was a knock on the door and the butler, Rube, had entered with a few maids.

Each of them held a long tray in their hands.

"Duke, Miss Camilla has sent you a treat again today."

"Hmm, bring it over here."

Duke Sorpel nodded lightly. 

Then, as if to make sure that everyone was listening, he spoke again loudly.

"Did Camilla make it herself again today?"

"Yes, Duke. This is a dessert that the Miss made herself. She even prepared plenty for the guests."

The vassals' eyes widened at the conversation between the two. Who made what?

"Hoho, my goodness—"

"She knows how to make something like this?"

Those who took a bite of the sorbet with wary eyes after hearing that Camilla had made it soon became genuinely impressed.