I didn’t need to hear any polite words about how delicious it was.
Given Jeok Igeon’s personality, he wasn’t the type to say such things anyway, and the completely empty bowl already spoke for him.
“Then I will take my leave now.”
Cheon Gang had advised me to refrain from speaking in front of Jeok Igeon, but from what I’d experienced over the past half day, he actually tended to demand explanations from time to time.
I was still nervous, but from now on, I intended to say what needed to be said.
I didn’t want to die just because I failed to answer.
…Huh?
Then why isn’t this lifting?
I had already said I would take my leave, so it was time to carry the tray away.
But for some reason, the tray wouldn’t budge.
He had finished the noodles, and even the ice water was gone, so it should have been lighter than before—yet it felt as if it had turned into a slab of stone.
“…Y-Young Master?”
It wasn’t hard to find the cause.
Sure enough, Jeok Igeon was pressing down on the tray.
With just one finger.
He wasn’t even applying force—just lightly resting his index finger on it—yet the tray might as well have been nailed to the floor.
Flustered, I stood there awkwardly, gripping both sides of the tray and facing him.
As expected, he was glaring at me again.
If you want something, just say it, you bastard!
What do you even have a mouth for?
Do I have to read minds now too?
All kinds of curses swirled in my head, but at the same time, I frantically tried to think.
What was Jeok Igeon trying to say right now? What did he want?
Wait… could it be that?
Jeok Igeon was nineteen.
In my world, that would make him about a high school senior.
At that age, one bowl of kalguksu wouldn’t be enough.
Wasn’t that the age when boys could devour multiple packs of ramen in one sitting?
And Jeok Igeon used his body constantly.
I didn’t know any athletes personally, but I had heard they ate enormous amounts.
“Um… would you like me to bring more noodles?”
Jeok Igeon neither nodded nor replied.
He simply lifted his finger. That silent gesture was enough—a command to bring it immediately.
‘Seriously…’
The Jamigwan sisters are going to lose their minds over this.
Carrying the tray, I ran. Judging by his expression, something bad would happen if I was late.
Fortunately, there was plenty of Dak Kalguksu prepared, and I returned to the pavilion in time.
Jeok Igeon resumed his noodle slurping.
Just in case, I had brought nearly twice as much as before—and he finished all of it in no time.
Yet not a single drop of broth splashed, and the way he ate remained impeccably neat. His elegance seemed innate.
After finishing the second bowl, his face looked thoroughly satisfied.
For a while, it might be a good idea to serve different kinds of noodles for lunch.
At least he wouldn’t pin down the tray again.
As if to prove my worry unnecessary, the tray lifted easily this time.
Finally freed from Jeok Igeon, I felt genuine joy as I quickly stepped away from the pavilion.
There were still dinner and late-night snack to get through, but just finishing lunch safely made me feel much lighter.
Let’s get as far away from here as possible.
For the sake of my mental stability, even a brief escape was necessary.
“It seems the Young Master has quite the appetite today.”
At one side of the training ground stood a large zelkova tree with a thick trunk.
Cheon Gang, who had been watching Jeok Igeon from beneath it, approached me with a faint smile.
Oh… my favorite is smiling at me.
This morning he looked at me like I was hopeless, but this was a huge improvement.
“He must have been very hungry. What about you, Cheon Gang-nim?”
Since I had something to give him, I set the tray down and asked.
“I didn’t see you eat breakfast or lunch. Aren’t you hungry?”
“You need not worry about my meals. You are the Young Master’s maid, so you only need to attend to him.”
“Yes, that’s true. But people need to eat to work. How can you do anything on an empty stomach? Especially as his bodyguard, shouldn’t you take care of yourself even more?”
“No, I…”
“Here, take this. I got it from a friend at Jamigwan—please have it.”
What I held out was the rice ball So-ok had given me.
She used to give me some from time to time to eat at the laundry area, and it tasted incredible.
Clumsy as she was, her cooking skills were exceptional.
“It’s really delicious. Just one will fill you right up.”
“I’m truly fine. Your friend gave it to you—I can’t take it.”
“I didn’t say I’d give you all of it.”
“…What?”
“I have one too.”
I pulled out the remaining rice ball from my sleeve to show him.
I wasn’t exaggerating—one was enough to fill you up.
“To be honest, what you told me this morning helped me a lot. This is my way of thanking you, so please don’t refuse. You’re making it awkward for me.”
If I said this much, he’d accept it, right?
Who could understand this desire to feed something delicious to my favorite?
“…Alright. Thank you.”
Yes!
Moved by my earnest tone, Cheon Gang finally gave in.
He accepted the bundle with a smile and immediately took a big bite right there.
Wait—he’s eating it here?
I had assumed he’d quietly eat it indoors alone, but it seemed I had misjudged him.
He was far more easygoing than I thought.
“You weren’t exaggerating.”
After swallowing a bite, Cheon Gang’s expression had clearly changed.
“This is the best rice ball I’ve ever had.”
“Right? My friend’s skills are no joke.”
Before I knew it, the rice ball in his hand was completely gone.
And in his eyes, I caught a clear hint of regret.
Yes! Feeding my favorite: success!
I never imagined I’d experience the joy of making an offering like this.
“I’ll bring you more next time.”
“I’ll be in your debt.”
Normally, Cheon Gang would have refused, saying he couldn’t trouble me, but it must have been that delicious.
Food really is the best way to win people over.
“Well then, Cheon Gang-nim, I’ll be going now. I’ll see you at dinner!”
I was short on time—I still had to clean Geonyeonggak again.
According to the booklet Madam Gwak gave me, Jeok Igeon’s obsessive tendencies required cleaning twice a day.
Honestly, he was a lot of work.
Carrying the tray again, I trudged toward the training ground exit.
Then, just as I turned my head to see what Jeok Igeon was doing—
“……!”
I nearly dropped the tray on the spot.
What… what now?
Why is he glaring at me like that again?!
I didn’t know since when, but Jeok Igeon was staring straight at me, practically shooting lasers.
The intensity was so terrifying that even from a distance, it felt like my neck was being sliced.
It was a miracle my heart hadn’t stopped. My entire body prickled as if I were about to break out in hives.
The fact that I didn’t lose consciousness was nothing short of luck.
Did I do something wrong again?
It was true that Jeok Igeon had a habit of glaring like he wanted to kill someone, but there was usually a reason behind it.
But no matter how hard I thought, I couldn’t figure out the reason this time.
You just devoured two bowls of kalguksu—what’s your problem now?!
As expected, Jeok Igeon was someone I could never let my guard down around, not even for a moment.
I had thought things had loosened up a bit because of the food, but that was nothing more than my arrogance and delusion.
Right… this is Jeok Igeon.
There was no way he would become docile so easily.
If I wanted to stay alive, I had to remain on guard at all times.
Realizing that once more, deep in my bones, I fled the training ground as if running for my life.
That brief, beautiful moment with my favorite had already faded far into the back of my memory.
