Chapter 22

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Afternoon tea had ended, and I hurried off to the kitchen.

*Pitter-patter, pitter-patter…*

"Young lady! No running, please—wait up!"

*Bang!* I flung the kitchen doors open with all my might.

"”””Whoa!!!"”””

"I... I passed! They approved~~~ I’m allowed to cook again!"

"Oh, well done~ Young lady! I’ll teach you everything I know."

Abe patted Joan gently on the head as he spoke. Despite his stern look, he was incredibly kind.

*Hug.*

"Congratulations, Young lady. I’m so happy for you."

Arthur warmly embraced me as he congratulated me, but… Abe smacked him.

"Young lady, we can cook together again, can’t we? That makes me so happy!"

Annie smiled as she gently squeezed my hand, making me feel even more grateful.

"I’ll keep training you rigorously, Young lady!"

"Yes, Master. I’m counting on you."

"Haah, haah… Young lady, I told you no running! You’ll get scolded by Mr. Gray!"

"Ah! S-sorry! I won’t run anymore, so please don’t tell Gray!"

I definitely don’t want to be reprimanded by Gray.

"”””Ahahaha~”””"

---

—Meanwhile, in Stanley’s office.

"Hey, am I the only one who thinks Joan’s changed?"

*Chomp, chomp.* "No, Stan, I feel the same. She’s different from before. She doesn’t throw tantrums or demand things anymore."

*Chomp, chomp.* "It’s not just that. Her attitude toward us, and the servants has changed too. She says thank you and even bows her head now. Before, she treated everything we did as a given."

*Chomp, chomp.* "Exactly. Ever since she fainted during the baptism ceremony, something about her has been different. Though… it feels like a positive change. But where did she even learn about cookies and dried fruits that even we didn’t know about?"

*Chomp, chomp.* "Sarah said she claimed to have learned it from books, but our mansion’s library doesn’t have anything like that. You haven’t bought any, have you?"

*Chomp, chomp.* "Nope."

*Chomp, chomp.* "And don’t you think her way of speaking has changed? She used to say ‘watashi,’ but now it’s more casual. And she always says ‘Itadakimasu’ before meals."

*Chomp, chomp.* "True. What’s with that ‘Itadakimasu’ thing anyway? Let’s keep an eye on her for now."

*Chomp, chomp.* "Agreed. Let the staff know to report anything unusual about her. Please, Gray."

"Understood, Madam."

"But Maggie, aren’t you eating too much?"

"Well, it’s for my skin! Plus, it’s supposed to help with constipation. I can’t *not* eat it, can I? Besides, you two are eating nonstop too—especially the milanges . How tired are you both trying to look?"

"I mean, we *are* tired. Right, Gray?"

"Don’t involve me. I wouldn’t be so exhausted if you and Stan just got your work done. Having said that… get back to it, you two!"

This trio—Stanley, Margaret, and Gray—had a unique dynamic. Stanley and Margaret were nobles, while Gray was a commoner. Stanley and Gray had been childhood friends and remained close. They’d even fought alongside each other in expeditions as part of monster-slaying and magic units, with Margaret also part of their circle. They were comrades-in-arms.

So while they maintained formal roles in public, in private, they reverted to their old ways, speaking and acting as old friends.