Scrounging a Meal at the Crestfall Manor
Prince Ashworth gave them a look like a disappointed father, puffing out his chest. "What is with you two? Did you hear a single word I just said?"
Cassidy and the Fourth Princess both looked down and mumbled, "Yeah, we heard you."
It wasn't often he saw them this cooperative, so he cleared his throat, ready to launch into a full-blown lecture.
The Duke of Crestfall, who had been standing off to the side, had seen enough. Had these people really come all the way to his home just to gossip?
"Since the man confessed that the servant, Leo, has a lover here in Argent," the Duke cut in, his voice clipped, "allow me to send my men to find out who she is. Once we have a name, I will invite the three of you back to discuss our next move. How does that sound?"
He glanced at the darkening sky outside. "It's getting late, and you've all worked hard today. Why don't you go home and get some rest? If there's any news, I'll be sure to notify the Prince and Princess immediately."
Cassidy rubbed her stomach. "It's already dinnertime. Aren't you going to invite us to stay?"
Didn't a high-and-mighty Duke understand basic manners?
Prince Ashworth's eyes lit up. He'd never eaten at Crestfall Manor before. "That's right," he boomed. "I've been working my tail off on this case. Is the Duke really not even going to offer us a meal?"
The Fourth Princess couldn't figure out why Cassidy and her uncle were suddenly trying to freeload a meal, but she was too embarrassed to be left out and nodded along anyway. "With a mansion this huge, surely you can whip something up for us, right?"
The Duke of Crestfall was speechless. *How can such shameless people exist?*
His jaw tightened, his teeth grinding together.
He wanted nothing more than to commit treason and physically throw them out, but he forced a vaguely polite smile.
"My household keeps things simple," he said, his voice strained.
"Just plain tea and rice. I'm afraid it's not what distinguished guests like yourselves are used to. You're all high-born nobles, accustomed to the finest foods. I doubt our simple broth and side dishes would be to your liking."
He thought he'd made his point crystal clear. Unfortunately, the people sitting in his main hall seemed incapable of understanding him.
Cassidy just rubbed her stomach again, completely unfazed. "That's fine. You have cooks, don't you? I know how to order."
The Fourth Princess copied her, patting her own stomach. "I'm so used to fancy food, I've never even tried plain stuff. This is the perfect chance to try it at your home, Duke."
Prince Ashworth snorted. "Do you take me for a fool, Duke? The last time we were at the cockfights, you dragged me aside to brag that your cooks were famous chefs you hired from Ardoria for a fortune.
You said they were the best in all of Argent and that nobody could find food this good at any regular banquet."
He practically drooled just thinking about it. "You also said your ingredients were all rare treasures, the fish and shrimp caught fresh this morning, the vegetables from your own private estate, and even the tea was the finest First-Flush Goldenleaf."
Hearing this, Cassidy shot to her feet, suddenly looking energized. "Duke, that's not very nice! You have all this amazing stuff and you lied, saying it was just plain food. Are you trying to get rid of us so you don't have to feed us?"
The Duke thought, *Finally, she gets it.* He was just about to find a polite way to say that, yes, they were very much not welcome.
But then Cassidy pointed a finger at him, her eyes widening as if a horrifying thought had just struck her. "Wait a minute. Are you trying to send us away so you can go kill Leo's lover? You snake! Are you trying to silence another witness?"
"What?" Prince Ashworth roared, his hand flying to the hilt of his sword. "You old scoundrel, you've got some nerve! Poisoning one person wasn't enough for you? I'll deliver justice myself, right now!" He whipped the blade from his belt and pointed it straight at the Duke's chest.
The Fourth Princess shot up too, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You poisoned someone and then framed my uncle's restaurant? That's horrible! I'm telling my father!"
The Duke of Crestfall just stood there, completely dumbfounded.
This was an absolute disaster. Being stuck with these maniacs from the Sterling family, it felt like heaven itself wanted to see his entire estate burn to the ground.
He swallowed his rage and grit his teeth. "Fine," he bit out. "Since you distinguished guests don't mind my humble fare and insist on staying, then I can't very well refuse."
He took a deep breath and shouted to the steward outside, "Go! Tell the kitchen to prepare extra dishes tonight. Make sure to serve the Prince and the two Princesses well. Spare no expense!"
Prince Ashworth tapped his fingers on the table and started ordering as if he owned the place.
"Duke, last time you were bragging about how amazing your chefs' Braised Venison Shanks were.
Bring me a plate. Oh, and that bottle of Aged Elderflower Wine, make sure you warm it up before you bring it out."
Cassidy and the Fourth Princess immediately jumped in, rattling off several more dishes without a moment's hesitation.
The Duke stood by with a thunderous expression as they finished ordering and started chatting among themselves like he wasn't even there.
One minute they were accusing him of trying to poison a witness, the next they were speculating that he'd storm Ashworth Manor in the middle of the night to "take care of the problem."
His vision started to go dark at the edges. If it weren't for his family's reputation, he would have gladly fought all three of them right there and killed them one by one.
Thankfully, the food from Crestfall Manor arrived quickly, finally shutting up the three terrors.
Cassidy and the others not only got a free meal but also had the kitchen pack up a bunch of leftovers to go. After ordering the manor's guards to escort the burly man and the bailiff to the Great Dungeon, they left the gates feeling incredibly satisfied.
The Fourth Princess had discovered the pure joy of freeloading. Before heading back to the palace, she made sure to tell Cassidy to call her the next time something this fun happened.
Back at the manor, Cassidy was lying in bed, wide awake.
She kept replaying the interrogation in her head, so impressed with her own cleverness that she wasn't the least bit tired.
She leaped out of bed and practiced a few fighting forms right there in her room before turning to her attendants, Auspicious and As-Desired, who were standing nearby.
"Today, outside The Food Cauldron, wasn't my questioning just brilliant?"
she said, striking a pose. "Every question was perfectly aimed. That guy and the bailiff were totally speechless. They couldn't argue with me at all."
She sighed dramatically. "Oh my gosh, how can one person be so cool, wise, *and* sharp?"
Before her attendants could even answer, Cassidy couldn't hold it in anymore. She bounded out of her room, marched straight to her father's study, and burst through the door.
"Dad! I'm too keyed up to sleep!"
Prince Ashworth was in his study with his steward, brainstorming how to get back at the Duke of Crestfall tomorrow. When he saw his daughter rush in looking so thrilled, the corner of his mouth twitched. "What is it now? Did you find money on the street or something?"
Cassidy leaned in, pulling on his sleeve, her eyes sparkling. "Dad, you want to know what really happened today?"
He looked up at her, confused. "What truth?"
Cassidy held out her hand, palm up. "Fifty dollars, and I'll tell you everything."