Honkai: Oh No, I’ve Become the Herrscher of Corruption?! - Chapter 70

Extra : The Burnt Chiffon Cake

January 21, 2001

As usual, Enoxia glanced at the items Sirin had bought.

“An electric mixer, a flour sifter, a rubber spatula, a manual whisk… Does she want Bella to make her a handmade cake again?”

Enoxia didn’t dwell on it and went about her business.

January 31

All of Sirin’s purchases had arrived at the villa, and Bella was already eager to start.

“My Queen, what kind of cake would you like?”

To her surprise, Sirin looked flustered and pulled Bella closer.

“Bella… Umm… Could you teach me how to make a cake?”

A question mark slowly formed in Bella’s mind, followed by a jolt of panic—Had her recent cooking failed to satisfy the Queen?

Seeing Bella’s alarmed expression, Sirin patted her head. “No, that’s not what I meant. I just…”

Bella blinked, then smiled.

“Understood. Follow me, my Queen.”

Once everything was prepared, Bella began her instruction.

“First, crack the eggs and separate the whites from the yolks.”

Sirin picked up an egg, tapped it gently, and carefully poured the white into a bowl. But the yolk kept threatening to slip in, making her impatient. With a slight squeeze—crack!—the entire shell shattered in her hand, yolk and white oozing everywhere.

Bella quickly wiped Sirin’s hands with a wet towel and cleaned the mess on the floor. Sirin, discouraged by the initial failure, slumped slightly.

“Don’t rush, my Queen. Take your time—I’ll handle any mishaps.”

After countless eggs, Sirin finally managed to separate a bowl of egg whites and a bowl of yolks. Bella took the whites and placed them in the fridge.

Following Bella’s guidance, Sirin added a bit of milk and oil to a third bowl, stirring until the mixture resembled thin yogurt.

Next, she sifted in the right amount of cake flour and cornstarch, then mixed with a manual whisk. Bella taught her to draw “Z” shapes repeatedly until no dry flour remained. Staring at the lumpy batter, Sirin frowned.

“My Queen, add the yolks and mix them the same way. It’ll look better.”

Sirin nodded uncertainly but followed the steps. After a few stirs, her movements slowed—her initial enthusiasm was fading.

Bella could tell Sirin was getting bored.

“Should I just finish the rest and say it was the Queen’s work? After all, what’s mine is hers, and what’s hers is… still hers.”

Just as Bella was about to suggest taking over, Sirin suddenly sped up again, as if remembering something. Bella dismissed her earlier thought and continued assisting.

She took the chilled egg whites from the fridge and preheated the oven. Once Sirin finished mixing the yolks, it was time to whip the whites.

“My Queen, the electric mixer requires some technique… Would you mind if I guided your hands?”

“Oh… Sure.”

Bella eagerly handed her the mixer, then gently held Sirin’s hands, guiding the motion.

“To whip them evenly, keep moving the beaters and don’t be afraid to scrape the bowl… Just like this. See? You’re a natural, my Queen!”

At this moment, Bella finally understood what it meant to be distracted—or rather, multitasking.

While teaching Sirin, her mind was elsewhere:

“The Queen’s hands… So soft… So nice to hold… Hehehe…”

Sirin pretended not to notice Bella’s flushed face and barely concealed thoughts.

“So this is why Bella takes so long to make cakes… She’s worked hard. If she enjoys this, I’ll consider it a reward. Her hands do feel nice, though… But if she lowers her head any further, her horns are going to poke me!”

Under the guise of teaching, the two were indulging in something far more playful. After a while, Bella lifted Sirin’s hand—the whipped egg whites now formed stiff peaks, staying firm even when the bowl was flipped. This step was done.

“Bella…”

Bella turned to see Ivan calling her, having witnessed their entire “lesson.”

“Ivan? What is it?”

“We’re out of red craft paper…”

Bella hesitated, glancing at Sirin.

“It’s fine, Bella. Go with her. Didn’t you say the remaining steps are in that book? Just leave it with me.”

“But, my Queen—”

“I remember the steps. I can handle it. Trust me.”

“Alright…” Though uneasy, Bella handed her the book and left with Ivan.

…

Once alone, Sirin flipped through the book, then confidently placed her hands on her hips.

“Just mix the egg whites and yolks together? Easy!”

She poured the yolk mixture into the whites, folding them with a spatula while rotating the bowl. Soon, the batter was smooth.

“Heh, nothing to it! Now, the final step!”

She poured the batter into the cake pan and placed it in the oven.

“Let’s see… 150°C for 45 minutes… Done!”

With that, Sirin left the kitchen to watch TV in her room.

45 Minutes Later

When Sirin returned, Bella and Ivan had just come back. Sirin grinned triumphantly.

“Perfect timing, Bella. The cake’s ready.”

But when she opened the oven, her smile froze.

The surface of the cake was burnt. While not as charred as Siegfried’s infamous “black coal,” the unappetizing color was still a blow to Sirin’s pride.

Bella checked the book.

“My Queen… You used slightly less batter than the recipe called for, so the baking time should’ve been adjusted. The color would’ve been better if—”

“No need. Even if we remake it, it’s too late now. Let’s just… wait for her.”

That Night

When Enoxia returned, the atmosphere felt unusual. Sirin stood awkwardly in front of her, and on the dining table sat a slightly burnt chiffon cake.

“What’s going on?” Enoxia was puzzled.

Sirin took a deep breath.

“You really don’t remember what today is… Back in Siberia, you mentioned your birthday was January 31st. I never forgot.”

Enoxia was stunned—she’d only mentioned it in passing.

“From Siberia to here, from reviving Mama to celebrating my birthday… You’ve always been the one giving, and I’ve done nothing in return. I wanted to do something for you… But you’re better than me at everything—fighting, daily life… Without Bella, I can’t even bake a proper cake. I…”

Enoxia looked at the cake, then at Sirin. “You made this for me?”

Sirin nodded.

“Just the thought alone makes me happy.”

But Sirin shook her head. “You’re the one who pulled me out of hell, gave me a home, reunited me with my family. You’ve done the most yet received the least. Like you always say—you didn’t have to do any of this!”

Enoxia was speechless. To her, everything she’d done was voluntary, nothing extraordinary. But hearing it laid out like this, she realized just how much she’d contributed.

“I want to do something for you too… Even if I’ll probably mess it up…”

Just as Enoxia was at a loss, Ivan ran over, holding a red paper crane.

“Aino-nee, this is for you! We’re family, but you always seem lonely. I don’t know why, but I hope you can be as happy as Sirin-nee on your birthday!”

The crane was simple, but the pure sincerity behind it warmed Enoxia’s heart.

Then, the holograms of Cecilia and Alexandra appeared in the living room.

“Don’t tell me you two also—”

“No, no,” Cecilia laughed. “As digital beings, we won’t embarrass ourselves in front of the Herrscher of Corruption. But like Sirin said, you’ve done so much for us, and we’ve never repaid you. You built this family. We’ll always be yours.”

After exchanging glances, everyone turned to Enoxia in unison:

“Happy Birthday, Enoxia!”