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Chapter 20
Bellaxina scoffed.
“Why would I bet with someone who has nothing?”
“Then it’s a win-only bet for you.”
He had a point.
Avalkin didn’t really want anything from her, but she had a list of favors she’d love to ask for.
Maybe I should ask him for some money?
Just 100 more gold would give her a much better range of miracles to choose from.
It was a long shot, but asking for permission to visit the Outbayan tomb might be worth a try too. Nothing to lose.
“Fine. What’s the bet?”
“If I cook something you find edible, I win. If you can’t eat it at all, I lose. The winner gets one favor from the loser—within reason.”
Bellaxina smirked. This was basically a guaranteed win.
Even if Avalkin somehow made something decent, all she had to do was say she didn’t like it.
“Get ready to lose.”
“That remains to be seen.”
Avalkin smiled confidently as he lifted a large pot. He scooped up clean snow and placed it on the stove.
As the snow quickly melted and began to boil, he dropped in a bundle of pasta.
The noodles fanned out in the pot like a sunflower—it actually looked kind of nice.
“Normally, I’d add salt here, but…”
Bellaxina was watching him cook from over his shoulder, pretending not to care when he turned around.
“…salt is rare in Yeshken. Salting the water and then throwing it away is wasteful. I’ll season it later with the sauce.”
“I–I see. So, what sauce are you using?”
“This.”
Avalkin held up a jar of anchovies—small fish preserved in salt and stored in oil.
Bellaxina wrinkled her nose.
“You’re making pasta with salted fish? Not tomato or cream?”
“In the north, we avoid ingredients that spoil easily. You’ll have to get used to it.”
Ugh, so poor.
Bellaxina pouted.
I hate the smell of fish.
In her mind, delicious food meant thick red meat roasted in the oven with butter—not fish.
“Well, it’s decided then. I’m not eating it.”
“Suit yourself.”
Avalkin transferred the now-cooked pasta into a pan.
The anchovies had melted into a rich, savory sauce, and the herbs covered up any lingering fishy smell.
It actually smells… not bad.
After all, a single water biscuit didn’t do much to fill Bellaxina up. The scent of that well-cooked pasta was extremely tempting.
Grrrgle!
“…!”
Her stomach growled loudly, and her face turned bright red.
A noble lady making that kind of noise? She wanted to melt into the floor.
“Would you like—”
“I said I’m not eating it!”
She snapped before he could even finish.
She knew she was being stubborn, but eating now would hurt her pride too much.
Avalkin put half the pasta on a plate, looked at her silently, and said,
“Suit yourself.”
Bellaxina’s face crumpled like she’d just experienced deep heartbreak.
Ugh, he really won’t give me any?!
If she wanted some, she could just ask—but her pride wouldn’t let her.
Avalkin leaned against the counter with his plate in hand and began eating. There was no table in the small kitchen, so it looked natural—except that it placed the plate right in front of her face.
He’s really not sharing?!
Watching him enjoy the pasta made Bellaxina feel conflicted.
He knew she was hungry. How could he be so cold?
Still, another voice inside her shouted, If you eat, you lose the bet! Stay strong!
Grrgle…
Even so, Avalkin ate the whole plate without offering her a bite.
As he reached for the rest of the pasta, Bellaxina instinctively stepped forward.
“Ah!”
If he ate the rest, there would be nothing left for her!
Her body moved before her pride could stop it.
“What’s wrong?”
“…Nothing.”
She still couldn’t lose the bet.
To Avalkin, she looked like a black bunny—small, stubborn, and fierce against the snowy backdrop of the north.
He twirled his fork and thought for a moment.
Should I let her win, just this once?
Maybe Bellaxina acted this way because everyone always gave in to her.
Whether they were afraid of her status, trying to avoid her temper, or simply fond of her, she was used to getting her way.
But this time, Avalkin’s reason wasn’t any of those.
Is it a pity?
Maybe he just felt sorry for her—someone who lost everything overnight and ended up a slave.
But letting her win wouldn’t help fix that nasty personality.
Still…
Oh well.
In the end, Avalkin placed the rest of the pasta down and quietly left the kitchen.
“Where are you going?”
“My room.”
“But there’s food left in the pan!”
“I ate it all.”
You did not!
A full portion of pasta still sat in the pan.
Bellaxina looked between the food and his retreating back—then quickly grabbed a fork.
Normally, she’d never eat someone else’s leftovers. But right now, she didn’t even care.
He’s always going on about how the north is poor—and now he’s wasting food?
She imitated his voice mockingly and dug in.
“Wow!”
The anchovy pasta had a strong, savory flavor—different from sweet tomato or creamy sauces, but just as satisfying.
She devoured the whole plate, then mumbled in satisfaction,
“Hmph. So even this poor, frozen wasteland has something edible.”
On the other side of the kitchen wall, Avalkin crossed his arms and sighed after overhearing her.
Unbelievable.
She erased his sympathy the moment he felt it.
But maybe that’s a good thing.
He thought for a moment.
If Bellaxina were a fragile, kind-hearted girl who had been wrongly accused and lost everything…
Would she really sneak into the kitchen for a midnight snack?
Would she have the strength to survive a harsh northern winter?
Then again, eating too fast in the cold could upset her stomach…
With that thought, Avalkin casually flicked his fingers.
A faint shimmer of pink and blue light glided across the shadows and touched Bellaxina’s feet.
Tonight, once again, Bellaxina would stay perfectly healthy. Without even knowing why.
****
The next morning.
Because she went to bed late, Bellaxina woke up much later than usual and flinched at the freezing cold wash water.
As Alicia gently wiped her face with the softest cloth she had, there came a knock.
“My lady, it’s Ingrid.”
“Come in.”
Ingrid entered the room, already dressed and ready for the day—unlike Bellaxina, who had just woken up and still looked groggy.
“Did you sleep well, my lady?”
“I managed.”
Her tone sounded snappy, but surprisingly, it was meant as a compliment.
“Really?”
Ingrid blinked in surprise, then quickly apologized and composed herself.
Bellaxina eyed her suspiciously.
“Of course it’s true. Why would I lie about that?”
“I suppose so… But I was honestly surprised. I thought for sure you’d catch a cold.”
A cold?
Bellaxina tilted her head in confusion.
Alicia whispered beside her,
“You’re the only lady who’s stayed in Yeshken more than three days without catching a cold.”
“What?”
“It’s true,” Ingrid added with a smile.
“Most guests hold out the first day, but by the third, they always fall ill. So we prepared mulled wine with fruit and spices, just in case—but it looks like you won’t need it.”
Mulled wine with fruit and spices, huh…
It sounded tasty.
Since she’d woken up later than usual, Bellaxina was a little hungry again.
“Well, since you went to all the trouble, leave it here. I’ll have it with a biscuit or something.”
“It contains mint.”
“Take it away.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Ingrid wasn’t offended at all—she simply moved on to her original reason for visiting.
“My lord has a message for you.”
“What is it?”
Bellaxina finished washing her face and sat down to get her hair brushed, waiting for Ingrid’s words.
“He said, ‘Bellaxina Outbayan must come and settle the results of last night’s bet.’”
“Wha—OW!”
“My lady!”
She had jerked her head in surprise, causing the brush to pull painfully at her hair.
Alicia panicked, not sure what to do.
“Did he really say that?”
“Exactly those words.”
Bellaxina chewed her thumbnail and glanced around nervously.
No way… Could he have seen me eat the pasta?!
