Chapter 38

On May 1st, my novel "The Quiet Duchess and the Cold Emperor" will be released by Ichijinsha Novels.

This edition includes additional content not covered on the web, such as details about the engagement period, epilogues, and the mystery of Pie (with over 50,000 additional words).

For more details, please see the activity report.

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A little while after their engagement, Eleonora had become more accustomed to life in the castle.

That day, she was having a small tea party with Alexei in the castle's small garden. The pies served were made by Eleonora herself.

"What kind of pie is it today?"

In response to Alexei's question, she smiled and answered.

"...It's a pie with plenty of ham and a dessert pie with berries."

Eleonora spoke slowly in the refined language of a young lady. After the servant cut the pies and served them to the two, Alexei dismissed all the servants.

"I've cast a soundproofing spell. You can speak freely."

"Thank you, Ham-chan."

"Ah, today's pie looks delicious too."

"Yep. The ingredients are good, so it should be delicious. Still, the servant cut it into eight perfect pieces."

When Eleonora said this, Alexei looked surprised.

"What's wrong, Ham-chan?"

"Well, Pie was always bad at math, so it feels kind of strange."

"Is that so?"

In her past life, Pie had been taught math by Ham-chan, Alexei.

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In the middle of the Enchanted Forest, Ham-chan was writing equations on the ground and teaching Pie.

"1 + 1 = 2, this is what it means."

Ham-chan placed one acorn in his palm and then another.

"See, the acorns are now two, right?"

"...With acorns, that's true. But if it's mud balls, putting two together still makes one, just bigger."

"No, you can't combine two things like that. In addition, you only add the numbers."

"...? If you mix water from two cups, you can't separate them anymore."

Ham-chan shook his head.

"In the case of water, you consider volume and weight, so it doesn't work that way."

"...I don't get it. We are one family, Ham-chan and I."

"Um, that's true. Addition works well with things like acorns and mushrooms."

"Sorry, I'm not very smart."

"No, that's not true. I learned that 1 + 1 doesn't always equal 2, too."

"Really?"

"Yep."

When Pie smiled happily, Ham-chan couldn't help but smile too.

---

"At that time, what Pie said wasn't wrong."

Eleonora put her cup and saucer on the table and tilted her head.

"1 + 1 = 2. What I said was just being picky."

"Even so, you taught me that it's not always the case."

"Really?"

"Yes. Pie was smart."

"...I was completely clueless."

Lowering her long lashes, Eleonora looked down, blushing.

"I'm happy to be praised, but saying I'm smart is an exaggeration."

Alexei shook his head, reached under the table, and took Eleonora's hand.

"Even though Pie didn't receive an education, she knew everything about life in the forest and used that knowledge very well. Even now, I remember how skillful she was."

Eleonora blushed deeply, both from being held and from the praise.

"S-Stop it. The tea will get cold. Come on, Alexei-sama, have some pie."

And so, their small tea party continued.