ch27

[Chapter 27 - The Villain and the Taco]

The smell of something burning stung her nose.

Evelyn blinked, snapping out of her reverie and back to reality.

"Evelyn? Are you alright?"

Before Evelyn was a smoking cast iron pan. Meat turning black.

"The meat's burning! My dinner is in danger!" Grimoire exclaimed.

"I apologize, Master."

Evelyn immediately reached out and took the frying pan off the heat. Fortunately, it wasn't completely burnt. Evelyn breathed a sigh of relief. If she ruined Grimoire's delightful dinner, she would be disqualified as a maid.

"I called your name three times already, and you didn't even answer. A maid ignoring her Master is disloyal! Insolent!"

Grimoire was leaning on the kitchen counter, gazing at Evelyn. Her ruby eyes held curiosity and a hint of worry.

"I seem to have been too focused on Master's world domination plan."

"Is that so? Luckily, I am a merciful Villain, so I'll forgive you just this once!"

Grimoire's face lit up brightly. That pure smile completely pulled Evelyn out of the darkness of her past.

Evelyn refocused on the cooking.

The knife, once a tool for taking lives, was now just a tool for cutting tomatoes.

Avocado, onion, cilantro, cheese, lime… Preparing the perfect dinner for Grimoire was now the most important task in the world for her.

"Wow! That's amazing! Is Evelyn a samurai?"

Grimoire's eyes were shining with fascination at Evelyn's knife skills.

The sight was so adorable that Evelyn focused her gaze even more intently on the ingredients, afraid a smile might slip out.

That's when it happened.

"Me too! I want to cook too! I shall help! Even a great Villain must sometimes lighten the burden of her subordinates! Just tell me what to do!"

Evelyn's hand faltered slightly with the knife. A moment of panic washed over her for 0.3 seconds.

Grimoire and cooking.

The combination of those two words was a disaster.

Memories flashed through her mind of the last time Grimoire had attempted to cook. The kitchen covered in white from a flour explosion. The kitchen knife stuck in the ceiling, refusing to come down. The flames and smoke billowing from the pan. And the cleaning that had taken all day…

Cold sweat beaded on Evelyn's forehead. Ironically, she could face an S-class Villain without a problem, but she dreaded Grimoire entering the kitchen.

"Master's help is an honor, but…"

'Stay calm. I have to protect the kitchen without hurting Master's feelings.'

A plan formed in Evelyn's mind in an instant.

"As it happens, there is an important task that only Master can do."

"Hmm? Only I can do it?"

Opening the refrigerator door, she saw a package of high-end Italian prosciutto ham sitting right in front. She had deliberately prepared it for just such a situation.

"This prosciutto ham is expiring today. It's a shame to throw away such a high-quality ingredient…"

Grimoire's eyes lit up.

"Prosciutto ham!"

Evelyn prepared a plate of ham and a fork. Then she gestured towards the living room sofa.

"How about enjoying it comfortably in the living room? If you watch TV and gather information on current affairs, it will be a great help to world domination."

"A clever suggestion! A great Villain must know how to delegate tasks to her subordinates. You cook, and I'll take care of this ham!"

Grimoire grabbed the plate and headed to the living room. As she settled comfortably on the sofa, Evelyn breathed a sigh of relief.

'Phew.'

She had successfully averted the crisis with an excellent strategy.

Evelyn refocused on the cooking. As a perfect maid, she pursued perfection in every little detail.

The balance of acidity and umami in the tomatoes, the smooth texture of the avocado, the appropriate spiciness of the Jalapeno.

Tomato Salsa, Guacamole, spicy Jalapeno sauce… Each of the dishes was completed by Evelyn's fingertips.

Thirty minutes later, a table perfectly decorated with a Mexican atmosphere was complete.

Colorful tableware and small cactus decorations added to the ambiance. Taco shells and Quesadillas were artistically arranged, and layers of Nachos and cheese whetted the appetite.

On the center plate, she drew a crown-shaped 'G' mark with Tomato Salsa. It was a Villain mark for Grimoire.

"Master, dinner is ready."

Evelyn went to the living room and called Grimoire. Grimoire ate the last of the ham in one bite and got up from her seat.

"I just saw the American President giving a speech! He said he's going to impose tariffs on the whole world? But what are tariffs? Is it a tax that foreigners pay?" [TL: never thought I would hear about the tariffs from Grimoire lol]

"Tariffs are taxes imposed on goods imported from foreign countries. It's a measure to protect domestic industries."

"Hmm… Then if I conquer America, there will be no need for tariffs! The entire Earth will be mine, kakat!"

"Excellent. Would you like to tell me more about your detailed plans while we eat?"

Grimoire's eyes widened as she ran to the table.

"Perfect! This is exactly what a Villain's feast should be! A meal fit for one with the King's DNA!"

Squeak-!

At that moment, two mice quickly climbed onto the table and settled in a corner. It was Darkness and White King.

Grimoire's expression suddenly sharpened.

"You two, you laze around all day and only show up when it's time to eat!"

Squeak-!!

The mice protested with aggrieved expressions, tapping their tails on the table.

"Darkness and White King have been busy patrolling the hideout's surroundings and gathering information today. They say they have brought a lot of new information."

Grimoire glared at the mice for a while, then finally nodded as if giving permission.

"If that's the case, then you deserve to eat. Here, this is your share."

Grimoire tore off a small piece of taco and handed it to the mice. Darkness and White King wagged their tails happily as they accepted the food.

Evelyn quietly watched Grimoire enjoy the food. The sight of her small mouth chewing the food enthusiastically, her eyelids slightly drooping with satisfaction, and her smile filled with joy. Her happiness was Evelyn's happiness.

"Mmm! Fantastic! Evelyn, your cooking skills are world domination level!"

"Thank you. That's the highest compliment."

Grimoire said enthusiastically, with Salsa sauce smeared on her lips.

"Oh, right! When I conquer the world, the first thing I'll do is create Taco Day! I'll make it mandatory for every country in the world to eat tacos!"

Her eyes were filled with boundless imagination.

"Besides, there'll be Chicken Day on Mondays, Pizza Day on Tuesdays, Tonkatsu Day on Wednesdays, Ramen Day on Thursdays, Ice Cream Day on Fridays, Potato Chip Day on Saturdays, and on Sundays…"

Grimoire continued to list food plans while there was still Salsa on her lips.

"Every day of the year will be a different food holiday! Like a festival every day!"

Evelyn quietly reached out and wiped the sauce from Grimoire's lips with a napkin.

"That's a wonderful plan, Master. The loyalty of your subjects will surely increase even more."

After the meal, Grimoire sprawled on the sofa.

"Ugh… I'm full… The Villain's mobility has decreased… Let's do world domination from tomorrow…"

She rubbed her stomach contentedly and lay down on the sofa.

Evelyn skillfully cleared the table. Darkness and White King also helped by carrying small dishes.

Grimoire took out her phone and started watching travel videos.

"I need to research where to conquer next! Look, this is Rome! It's a building called the Colosseum, and it's where gladiators used to fight. When I conquer it, I want to turn it into a Villain arena and imprison heroes."

Her plans always had a childlike innocence.

"Evelyn, what do you think is a good place to conquer next?"

"Wherever Master wishes to go is fine with me."

The clock pointed to 10 p.m. Evelyn could see Grimoire's eyelids getting heavier and heavier.

While watching the travel video, her phone almost fell on her face.

'It's time for her to sleep.'

Evelyn went to the kitchen and prepared a glass of warm milk. Then she returned to the sofa and handed it to Grimoire.

"Master, how about continuing to watch tomorrow? You need enough rest to make more plans for conquest tomorrow."

Grimoire nodded sleepily. She took the milk and drank it slowly.

Evelyn gently took her phone and plugged it into the charger.

Everything was a natural routine. But for Evelyn, this trivial routine was everything.

The two of them moved to Grimoire's room.

As Evelyn made the bed and spread the blanket, Grimoire, dressed in her rabbit pajamas, jumped into bed and wriggled under the covers.

"Sweet dreams, Master. I look forward to tomorrow's evil deeds as well."

Grimoire mumbled, her eyes half-closed.

"Evelyn… I'm glad you're here… You're the best maid…"

Grimoire's words grew slower and quieter.

"Even though you seem aloof… I know that's not true… If you don't know how to smile… I'll teach you…"

Before she could finish her last words, Grimoire fell into a deep sleep. Regular breathing filled the room.

A deep emotion flashed across Evelyn's face for a moment.

Joy and gratitude, and above all, a strong protective instinct filled her heart.

Walking to the window, she drew the curtains, leaving only a small light on, Evelyn quietly sat in the chair next to the bed. And gazed at the sleeping Grimoire.

Grimoire's horns shimmered faintly gray and sparkled slightly. A small smile was on her lips. She was probably conquering the world in her dreams.

'You're having happy dreams. I will make everything you dream of a reality, Master.'

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