I Didn’t Lull You to Sleep Only for You to Be Obsessed With Me - Chapter 103

RP: Haebaragi_syk

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Chapter 52.2

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Claude left Lilies of April and headed straight for the imperial palace.

Although he hadn’t scheduled an audience in advance, as a member of the Winterville family, he had the privilege of meeting the emperor at any time. Even Claude knew how to show proper respect to the emperor. So, he masked the fury simmering inside him and offered a formal greeting.

“Well, Duke. What brings you here today?”

Claude spoke in a low whisper.

“There’s a rat in Your Majesty’s kitchen.”

“A rat?”

A knowing smile tugged at the corners of Claude’s lips.

“May I take care of it myself?”

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The next day, The Stanley Newspaper published another article about Lilies of April.

What is Sachertorte, the cake that even the Duke of Winterville praised?

Sophia was so ecstatic when she saw the article that she nearly passed out. She even bought a copy of the newspaper for each cafe employee and handed them out.

And the good news didn’t stop there.

More customers flooded into the cafe after reading the article, eager to try the very cake that Claude, the Duke of Winterville, had praised. As a result, Sophia had to bake Sachertortes with barely a moment to rest.

It seemed like a busy yet peaceful time was passing.

That was, until the head chef showed up again during afternoon tea time. This time, he came alone, dressed in plain clothes rather than his usual chef’s uniform.

“Get the owner out here! Tell her to come out right now!”

‘What kind of trouble was he causing this time?’

April let out a sigh and was about to step outside when Edmund blocked her path.

“I’ll go.”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll handle it.”

However, there was no need for April to step forward. It was as if Claude had anticipated this, as he appeared with Lloyd by his side.

“What’s going on?”

“Th-this…”

The head chef’s face turned beet red the moment he spotted Claude. He looked like he wanted to unleash a string of insults, but his status held him back.

Claude, on the other hand, was as calm as ever.

“Let’s go outside and talk.”

“Hah… No need for that! Let’s talk right here!”

But despite his protests, the head chef was practically dragged outside by Claude. April wiped her hands on her apron and quickly followed them.

The head chef, seemingly oblivious to her presence, raised his voice at Claude.

“Just because I made a little fuss at the cafe yesterday doesn’t mean you have the right to fire me, Your Grace!”

Claude crossed his arms arrogantly.

“Why are you assuming I was the one who fired you? Do you really think I have the authority to meddle in imperial affairs?”

“Well, I ran into you yesterday, and today I got fired!” the head chef snapped.

April could already guess what had happened.

‘Claude must have had the head chef fired in retaliation.’

He might have denied having the authority, but no one would believe that. With his level of influence, getting a royal chef fired would be easy for him.

Still, April couldn’t bring herself to feel entirely pleased.

He caused a scene, but getting someone fired is a completely different matter…

She was about to intervene when Lloyd, who had been watching quietly, placed a firm hand on her shoulder. He shook his head.

“Please trust the Duke.”

Just then, Claude gestured to Lloyd, who handed him a thick envelope.

Without hesitation, he then tossed the envelope at the head chef’s feet, causing a stack of documents to spill out. The head chef, though seething with anger, gave a slight nod and bent down to pick up the papers. As he scanned the pages, his face slowly drained of color.

“This…?”

“It’s a record of your embezzlement.”

“Embezzlement?! I would never—”

“Are you really trying to lie to me? There are even records of the bribes you’ve received from suppliers.”

“T-That’s…”

The head chef’s hands trembled violently as he turned the pages. It was clear that everything in the documents was true.

Claude continued.

“A head chef, responsible for His Majesty’s meals, engaging in corruption within the very Imperial Palace that demands absolute integrity. How could I possibly face His Majesty after this?”

“….”

“Do you still have anything to say?”

The head chef collapsed to his knees. His cries echoed down Beris Street, lingering in the air for a long time.

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That night, as usual, April made her way to Claude’s bedroom.

“Um… thank you for today.”

She spoke quietly as she took his hand.

Claude, reclining with one arm behind his head and his eyes closed, cracked one eye open. It seemed like he was silently asking what she was thanking him for, so April continued.

“Well, you got rid of that troublemaker for me. And you made sure everything was handled properly until the end.”

“He was making a scene over nothing and causing trouble. Of course, I had to step in.”

“Even so…”

When she hesitated, he spoke again.

“And besides, I hate it when someone messes with my person.”

‘…My person.’

Such simple words, yet they carried a weight that made April’s heart skip a beat. Wasn’t that practically the same as calling her his woman?

For a moment, her heart raced in her chest.

“Um… when you say ‘my person’…”

“Exactly what I said.”

However, Claude’s voice, as dry and indifferent as always, snapped her out of her daydream and pulled her back to reality.

“Right. Since I was hired by the Duke, that makes me your person. Now, please give me your hand.”