novelraw Chapter 176 : Cindy: You Smell So Good
Chapter 176 : Cindy: You Smell So Good
Chapter 176: Cindy: You Smell So Good
“This steak tastes better with a bit of lemon juice.” Cindy pushed the large portion of steak in front of her toward Angelina. “I’ve already sprinkled it for you!”
Angelina looked a little embarrassed, as this went completely against the table manners she had learned since childhood.
But before Angelina could politely and gracefully refuse, Cindy had already snatched the steak away from in front of her — using her hands no less, without even taking the plate — leaving Angelina to simply stare at the now empty plate before her, and the one next to it, which now held the steak sprinkled with lemon juice, its aroma mixed with a faint acidic scent.
“Ahem.”
The personal maid standing behind Angelina gave a soft cough in reminder.
But hesitation was written all over Angelina’s face.
According to the etiquette classes she had been taught, she should be refusing at this moment. However, as she watched Cindy run back to her seat with the steak she had taken, her nostrils flared slightly at the scent. In the end, what came out of her mouth was, “Thank you.”
Then she picked up her empty plate, intending to hand it to Cindy, but when she saw Cindy place the steak she had snatched onto another plate that already had several pieces of steak on it, she blinked in disbelief.
She cautiously glanced at the others’ plates. Each had only one piece of steak.
Clearly, Cindy’s plate was the exception.
Another act that completely overturned her understanding of table etiquette!
Yet seeing no one else reacting or stopping Cindy’s behavior made Angelina feel quite puzzled.
In fact, it wasn’t just Angelina who was surprised and stunned.
Everyone at the table wore the same astonished expression.
Cindy’s large appetite was no secret in the lord’s manor, but whether it was Lily, Yam, Ion, or the other bloodline knights, this was the first time they had ever seen Cindy actually share food with someone!
Normally, even Liam couldn’t snatch food from Cindy. If she got mad, she would genuinely bite. That’s why mealtime with Cindy was usually the most worry-free — as long as no one touched her food, she would quietly eat at the table until her share was finished before leaving.
But today, she was actually sharing food with Angelina?!
Of course, maybe it couldn’t be called sharing, considering she took Angelina’s portion. Still, it was the first time Cindy had initiated food-related interaction with someone else since she began eating on her own.
At that moment, everyone had the same thought: was Cindy really that close with Angelina? Wasn’t today their first meeting? Even if they had gotten acquainted since Angelina arrived at the lord’s manor, they’d only spent a few hours together at most, right?
However, Dean Seia, the chief knight commander of the Kasein Family, was also present at the table, so no matter how unusual Cindy’s behavior was, Yam couldn’t allow anyone to get the impression that Cindy was uneducated in manners.
“Cindy!” Yam spoke in a low voice. “Did you forget your table manners?”
“Nope.” Cindy replied without even lifting her head. “But I haven’t started eating yet, so it doesn’t count!”
“Didn’t the pre-meal etiquette teach you what to do?”
“Well, it didn’t say I couldn’t do this either.” Cindy muttered, “If it didn’t say I can’t, then I can.”
“You…”
“All right, all right,” Ion suddenly interjected. “Cindy is still young, and she hasn’t had a formal etiquette instructor yet. As long as she understands this isn’t appropriate, that’s enough.” Then he turned to Dean Seia and smiled. “Apologies, Sir Dean, you must find this amusing.”
Since Angelina had come alone, with no one from the Kasein Family accompanying her, Dean Seia, as both a household knight and the chief knight commander, naturally assumed the role of her elder. Though it was clear to everyone that the older maid by Angelina’s side was the one truly guiding her, no one paid her any real attention.
The reason was simple.
Her status did not warrant it.
“Sir Ion, you jest. I was initially worried whether Miss Angelina would be able to adjust, coming here alone. But seeing how well she gets along with Miss Cindy puts my mind at ease.” Dean smiled and continued, “When I return, I’ll be able to report truthfully and set Miss Monica’s mind at ease.”
Though he was a Fourth-Tier Bloodline User, at this moment, Dean represented the Kasein Family for the matter of the marriage alliance, and thus his position was that of Angelina’s elder.
Ion, on the other hand, was the most senior member of the Soderbell Family. Since the one Angelina was to marry was his grandson, and she herself was the great-granddaughter of Marquis Visen, Dean Seia’s role represented the second son of Marquis Visen, making him equal in generation to Ion — it wasn’t hard to imagine that Monica and Angelina’s father might have considered not attending in person to avoid being of a lower generation than Ion.
Such was the realistic nature of noble etiquette: this marriage alliance wasn’t like Baron Hess trying to marry off Anna to the Kasein Family. The Soderbell Family wasn’t the one seeking a connection with the Kasein Family, so naturally, the Kasein Family’s attitude and approach were different.
With just a few words, both sides had moved past Cindy’s breach of etiquette and turned to other topics, and the atmosphere at the table became much more harmonious.
Although the White Mountain Territory was now considered prosperous, tonight's banquet was more of a family gathering than the kind of soirée-style banquet frequently held by the Kasein Family. After all, neither the Bole Family nor the Soderbell Family had the influence or status to invite many nobles.
However, this kind of gathering-style banquet was better at bridging relationships and closing distances, making people feel more sincerity.
Before long, Dean had already blended in with the others at the table, engaging in lively conversation and laughter.
Even Jinna, under Lily’s guidance, successfully joined in a few topics. After all, she was Aches’s mother, and Aches also carried the Soderbell surname, so naturally, they had to consider the feelings of one of the key figures in the marriage alliance.
“Do you want to try one with honey on it?” Cindy, seeing that everyone was chatting, turned her head and asked Angelina in a low voice.
At tonight’s table, Ion sat at the central main seat. To his left sat Yam at the first seat, followed by Lily, Jinna, Aches, Sherry, Roda, and two Bloodline Knights stationed at the lord’s manor. On the right, Dean took the first seat, then Angelina and Cindy. Originally, Cindy should have sat next to Lily, but she had rushed early to take the seat next to Angelina, leaving Lily’s left side empty.
When Cindy spoke to Angelina, she happened to be chewing something and was startled like a frightened fawn, which caused her to choke.
Before anyone else could react, Cindy had already dashed behind Angelina and reached out to pat her back.
Seeing Cindy’s greasy, sauce-covered hand, Angelina’s eyes widened in terror. She wanted to refuse, but the choking sensation in her throat was overwhelming. She was already patting her chest in an effort to swallow quickly so she could stop Cindy’s grasping hand.
Unfortunately, Cindy’s speed was clearly beyond that of a typical seven-year-old. She was faster than Angelina, and her dirty little hand had already landed on Angelina’s back, catching her light gray hair in its messy grip.
The personal maid standing behind Angelina looked at the hair now stuck together, and the several dark red handprints on the white dress, her gaze toward Angelina filled with sympathy — having lived with her for over two months, she knew well that this girl, now her mistress, was a clean freak.
The others at the table, watching this show of friendly affection between Cindy and Angelina, all smiled warmly.
Dean even commented, “Looks like Miss Cindy isn’t the only one who needs to relearn table manners.”
Angelina, who had just managed to swallow her food, froze, and a look of grievance appeared on her small face.
But what Cindy said next made her even more distressed.
“I know you like sweets. You looked so happy when I said it had honey, but you didn’t have to eat so fast.” Cindy spoke softly. “I can’t promise other things, but if it’s sweets, I can definitely find lots for you.”
“I—I didn’t.” Anxious, Angelina tried to refute, but her tone on the first word rose slightly above her usual soft voice, and she quickly lowered it again. “I don’t like sweets!”
“But you said they were tasty this afternoon.”
Recalling how she had been fed a honey cake earlier by Cindy and had commented that it was beautiful, Angelina’s face immediately turned red.
But she didn’t know how to argue back. In her fluster, she could only press her lips together and remain silent. Still, the grievance in her heart made her eyes well with tears, giving her a pitiful and wronged expression.
Unlike earlier that afternoon when only Cindy had seen her like this...
There were many people at the table now, and it was the first time they saw this fawn-like girl showing such a tearful expression. Everyone looked shocked, even Aches froze with a dazed look. Only Jinna was especially delighted. After all, this stunning beauty was her son’s fiancée. She even felt glad that she had strongly opposed her son associating with that commoner woman.
...
Before the banquet had ended, Angelina had already left early.
She simply couldn’t bear the sight of her hair stuck together and her entire body a mess.
But before she could return to her room, she was intercepted by Cindy halfway.
“You—you, what do you want now?”
“Let’s bathe together, Angelina,” Cindy said cheerfully. “Our house has a huge bathhouse. You can even swim in it. It’s super fun... Liam’s a boy, so he can’t bathe with me. I always had to play in there alone. But now that you’re here, we can play together!”
Angelina originally wanted to refuse, but suddenly, she couldn’t find the words.
She stared blankly at Cindy, then finally asked, “Have you always been alone?”
“Most of the time, yeah,” Cindy replied casually. “Sometimes Liam visits with Uncle Akar, but Liam usually doesn’t stay long. Two or three months at most. When he comes next time, I’ll introduce you!”
“Okay.” After a moment’s hesitation, Angelina nodded.
“Yay, let’s go bathe!”
Angelina froze.
Wait, weren’t we just talking about Liam’s introduction? That’s why I said okay, wasn’t it?
But Cindy obviously didn’t give Angelina a chance to react or refuse. She grabbed her hand and started running.
The personal maid could only hurry after them.
As for preparing clothes — that would have to wait until she figured out the way back before calling someone.
...
Soon, the women’s bathhouse that had been renovated after Lily rose to power welcomed its fifth user.
But this time, the atmosphere was very different from before.
The peaceful bathhouse soon erupted into a chaotic commotion.
Amid the misty steam, the splashing of water and diving sounds filled the bath, mixed with Cindy’s intermittent giggles, until Angelina finally couldn’t hold back and let out an exasperated cry.
“Cindy!”
“Hehehe!”
“Wait! What are you doing?!”
“Wow! Angelina, you smell so good!”