Raised in Dungeon

The maids were taken aback by Allen; their surprise was evident in their expressions. However, this time was different from before; their astonishment stemmed not just from Allen himself but from the notable change that had occurred around his presence. Their curiosity and bewilderment grew as they observed the person who was stuck next to Allen.

"What are you looking at?" asked Margareth to the maids, who kept watching her.

"N-nothing! Please excuse us!" The maid immediately bent down and ran out.

"What's wrong with them? Looking at me strangely like that, I hate it."

"Yeah, no wonder... It's because you suddenly got close to him like that," muttered Bertoph behind her.

'I can't focus on studying if Your Highness is here,' Rachel thought.

Inside the kitchen, Allen was cooking as usual, but this time, there was Margareth beside him, who was sitting near Allen, looking at him cooking. She was dressed in usual peasant clothes and wore an apron because occasionally she would also pick up ingredients for Allen.

Bertoph was also more relaxed. He sat behind Margareth while reading a book and eating an apple.

"Ah, it smells good; do you mind if I taste it?" Margareth asked.

"No problem, but it's quite hot, so be careful," Allen replied.

Margareth then opened her mouth in front of Allen.

"Hmm?"

"Why were you silent? Feed me."

"?!!!" the maids behind her could only stay silent, guessing a million possibilities about what happened between them.

"The spoon is also hot; take it carefully," Allen said while feeding Margareth with a casual face. Margareth, meanwhile, smiled contentedly as Allen fed her.

Seeing that scene, the maids roughly realized what might be going on between them. Especially after some of them saw Allen and Margareth sitting in the pavilion until the evening.

'Allen...'

'We didn't want to say this...'

'But you're a...'

'WOMANIZER'

The maids thought simultaneously. Although they knew that Allen did not do it on purpose, it was precisely for that reason that he became a dangerous male flirt, someone who unconsciously flirts with other women.

'This is bad...' Rachel thought.

'Of all the love rivals, why must it be with one of the princes? And it's also the most dangerous. Princess Margareth is in the academy; even though they are in different batches, they will definitely meet often at the academy.

Princess Margareth was also the type of girl who never gave in, even if Allen didn't reciprocate her feelings. And she was definitely the type of person who would use any means to make Allen hers.

But the main problem wasn't just that.

If Princess Margareth tried to keep Felicia away from Allen, the first thing she would do would be to find information about Lady Felicia. If she knows that the lady doesn't know about Waldo's death yet, she can use that as a weapon!'

Rachel kept thinking about it, so she didn't focus on learning how to cook at all. Especially since she wouldn't be allowed to accompany Felicia to the academy, she couldn't do anything if Margareth planned something there.

'I can rely on Allen, but he may not always be by my lady's side during school,' Rachel thought.

"Ugh, after you closed the quiver, I immediately realized that this place really stinks. I'm surprised you can stand working here; I hate the smell," Margareth said while covering her nose with her handkerchief.

"I'm already used to it. Besides, the smell you smell is not the smell of dirt but the normal smell of cooking ingredients. If you sit in the kitchen for a few days, I'm sure you'll get used to it."

"Unfortunately I don't plan on doing peasant work. Instead of doing this, I would rather learn archery. Oh right… I remember the academy also teaching things like this."

"Hmm? The academy also has cooking classes."

"Yeah, the academy has almost all kinds of classes. As long as there is a demand from multiple students, they will call in teachers from outside. Why are you asking? Are you going to join the academy too?"

"I think so; isn't that right?" asked Allen to Rachel.

Rachel, who immediately broke out of her reverie, replied, "Y-yes, your highness. Allen will be going to the academy as a lady's knight as well as a student there."

"I see... Then you may not have the right to join the cooking class."

"What does that mean?" asked Allen.

"Knight who is also a student must choose the same class as their lady. I'm not sure if Lady Felicia will choose that class."

"I see..." Allen didn't take it too seriously. As for Margareth, an idea immediately popped into her head.

"By the way, since I saw you cooking, maybe I'll take a cooking class too."

"Don't lie; you're not even interested in cooking," Allen said.

"Maybe, but I'm sure it will be useful for me in the future.

So...

If you become my knight, you can choose any subject you like, especially cooking class."

Rachel immediately looked at Margareth's sly smile with fear.

"This is the one I was afraid of."

...

That afternoon, everyone gathered in front of the manor house to see off Princess Margareth. For inconvenience reasons, Reynold changed Margareth's carriage to a better but not as flashy one.

At the moment of her departure, Margareth silently looked at the pavilion where she was talking to Allen.

"Lady, everything is done; we can leave immediately," said Bertoph.

Margareth then turned her body around, looking at everyone.

"Thank you for letting me rest in this residence; I don't hate it," she said as she lifted her skirt slightly and lowered her body slightly as a token of her gratitude.

What she did was a natural thing for a guest but not a natural thing for her to do, so it made everyone spontaneously return the favor by placing their hand on their cest.

"I hear you're quite interested in our cook," Reynold said, with a hint of curiosity in his voice.

"Yeah, a little. I don't hate him," Margareth replied.

"If you want to take him on as a knight, I'll gladly give it to you. Think of it as a token of our good relationship from now on," Reynold said.

'Lord Reynold... it turns out you really mean to keep Allen away from Lady Felicia!' Rachel thought. 'But...'

Margareth, looking at Allen, and gave him a small smile. "There is no need," she said. "I have no desire to add more burdens. You think how much money I've spent on this big guy in the back."

"I... I see," Reynold replied. 'I didn't expect her to answer it with a little joke.

"Allen," called Margareth

"Yes?"

Margareth leaned closer to Allen, her mouth almost touching his ear. She whispered something softly.

"What does that mean?" asked Allen, perplexed.

With a smile, Margareth responded with an enigmatic reply. "You'll understand later," she assured him, leaving a sense of anticipation in the air. "See you at the academy," she added confidently. "I'll be waiting for you at the top." Although baffled by her words, Allen nodded in silent agreement.

Even though he didn't understand, he nodded.

Margareth gracefully boarded the carriage and departed into the distance.

…

"Lady, you really changed overnight. Does this mean you're going to retract all your evil plans?" asked Bertoph.

"Huh, how could I? Even though I want Allen to be mine, my desire to destroy this kingdom will never fade. The hatred within me still burns and will never be extinguished."

"That's good," replied Bertoph. "I thought you'd turn into a good woman overnight; I'd leave you immediately if that happened." But yeah, I thought you'd take the boy with us, especially after Lord Boldenville offered it."

"I won't."

"Why is that? The previous you would have done it in the first place; even if you don't like that boy, accepting the offer will give you an advantage by having a good relationship with the Boldenville Family."

"If I force him to come, Allen will hate me. I don't want him to hate me."

__Three hours ago, Allen flicked the head of Margareth, who was trying to get close to his face.

"Don't tease me like that; I won't come with you just because of the cooking class. I've been doing this as a hobby from the start."

"Ouch, flicking one of the princes; in this world, you must be the only one who can do it."

Allen ignored her and continued, "Besides, I can't suddenly become your knight. I'm Felicia's knight, and I can't leave her-NO-I can't possibly leave her after all the things I've done."

That's when Margareth realized that no matter what she said to Allen, he would not change his mind and become hers instantly.

"Maiden of Eden Garden, out of all the girls, I got a troublesome rival instead."

…

That night, Allen looked after Felicia again. He told Felicia what he had talked about with Margareth, including how he had offered to become Margareth's knight.

"There's no way I can accept that Margareth, she's more annoying than you. Taking care of you is already difficult, let alone a girl like her.

But, as long as you sleep, I will probably never feel such hardship. So just a little bit, I feel happy when Margareth becomes my friend; I remember the days I spent with you when I was with her."

Allen then looked at Felicia's face again and continued speaking.

"All this time, I've always thought that maybe you shouldn't get up. Because I still didn't dare to look at your face.

But right now, when I'm with Margareth, for some reason, I want to see you again and want you to talk to me again. Maybe I'll tell you a lot of lies once you wake up, but that's okay; it's my punishment for what I've done to you."

That night, Allen fell asleep while looking after Felicia.

Then

The next morning,

when Allen woke up.

"Ah! I overslept! Why didn't Rachel wake me up?!"

Allen immediately stood up and went to the door.

Suddenly,

"Allen?" a very familiar girl's voice was heard behind him.

Allen, with his heart racing in shock, slowly looked back.

"Felicia?"