BPCV 30

Chapter 30

Steam began to rise from the pot on the stove. Alina ladled a generous serving of thick pumpkin soup into a shallow brown dish.

She didn’t forget to prepare some bread to accompany it.

“Eat well.”

“Thanks.”

Richard tore a piece of soft white bread into bite-sized chunks and dipped it deeply into the steaming soup.

After a moment, the bread, soaked in the rich, creamy orange soup, emerged, glistening.

He popped it into his mouth, chewing slowly, and his eyes half-closed.

“This is so good, Alina.”

“Be careful, it’s hot. Blow on it slowly.”

“Yeah.”

Richard scooped some pumpkin soup with a wooden spoon and gently blew on it.

As he let the soup cool to a perfect temperature, the nutty sweetness of the cinnamon-infused pumpkin filled his mouth.

Closing his eyes to savor the taste, Richard spoke to Alina.

“I feel like my body’s melting.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Alina smiled at his comment.

It was a day cold enough for one’s breath to be visible. On top of that, it was raining. On days like this, hot soup was perfect.

She had made a generous amount to serve as an appetizer to the guests, and she was glad there was still some left.

Alina rested her chin on her hand, watching Richard enjoy the soup.

“Earlier, you said you liked pumpkin soup, right? Looks like you’ve found another favorite food.”

“Don’t you remember?”

“Huh?”

Richard gave her a slightly hurt look.

“This was the first thing you ever made for me. That’s why I like it.”

“Wasn’t it pancakes?”

“Along with that. You left me eating pancakes and went to get the pumpkin soup from the kitchen.”

“Oh… right.”

Alina blinked slowly. Richard, blowing on his soup as she instructed, continued.

“My favorite food is anything Alina makes. Your cooking warms not just my body, but my heart too.”

Richard’s gaze fixed on Alina as he lifted a spoonful to his mouth. It was a look that could hold someone captive without words.

Feeling caught in his gaze, Alina turned her head and awkwardly changed the subject.

“How’s everyone at the royal palace? Now that you’re the commander, has Captain Klaus retired? Isn’t he still young for that?”

“Didn’t Kaiden tell you?”

“I purposely didn’t talk to Kaiden about palace matters.”

“Hmm. How did you keep in touch with him, then?”

“I ran into him six years ago when I was trying to leave the palace. When I said I had to go, he said he’d open a shop for me with his own money.”

Richard smiled gently at her story.

“I see. But how did you manage to keep that talkative Kaiden quiet for six years?”

“I didn’t say much. I just told him it’s a secret that I’m here and asked him to keep it. If others knew, I’d have to close the shop.”

“I see now.”

Richard understood immediately. The idea that she might no longer be able to eat her cooking was probably the most effective threat to Kaiden, even if she never intended to threaten him.

“That must have worked out well… for you, Alina.”

Alina asked again, noticing Richard’s bittersweet smile.

“Tell me. What happened to Captain Klaus? Is Lilith doing well?”

“Isn’t there something you’re curious about… about me?”

“I am.”

“What is it?”

Richard’s eyes lit up at her response. She asked her second question with a serious expression.

“You said the Academy has an eight-year curriculum, but how did you graduate in six years and become a commander?”

“Oh, that?”

Richard, who had been eager, looked slightly disappointed at such a mundane question. He took a spoonful of soup before answering.

“I graduated in four years.”

“You skipped a grade?”

Richard nodded slightly.

“When vacation ended and I returned to the palace, you weren’t there. So I graduated as quickly as possible.”

Could that really happen just like that?

Alina tilted her head. Lilith had said the Academy gathers the empire’s greatest scholars. The education there must be rigorous, and graduating would not be easy. Skipping grades would likely be even harder. Yet Richard spoke of his achievements as if they were nothing.

“And becoming commander… It’s more helpful to be a commander than a powerless second prince if you’re trying to find someone. And I think you wanted me to become commander too.”

Becoming a commander isn’t something one can just choose.

Alina pictured Klaus and the knights training fiercely in the practice grounds, rolling her eyes.

“You really worked hard.”

Richard put down his spoon and looked Alina straight in the eye.

“I had to. Everything I’ve done until now was for you, Alina.”

“I’m not someone worth going that far for.”

“To me, you are.”

Richard reached for Alina’s hand. She looked down at his large hand. Richard’s hands, already bigger than hers when they were children, were now about twice the size of hers.

Alina gently pushed his hand away and smiled softly.

“Thank you.”

“I did it because I wanted to. You don’t need to thank me.”

Richard said casually and used the remaining bread to clean the bowl.

“Thank you for the meal.”

“Yeah. I’ll clean up the dishes.”

Alina, holding the empty bowl and walking to the kitchen, paused, recalling Richard’s polite words.

In the past, she had taught him this:

“When you eat, say ‘thank you for the meal.’ It’s polite.”

Richard remembered that. Not only that—he even remembered everything they said to each other when they parted, as if he had treasured every memory of her.

“I’m really not someone who would do that much.”

Alina took a deep breath upon entering the kitchen, feeling she might cry again if she didn’t.

Richard had spent the past six years searching for her. It must have been lonely and difficult, yet he endured, focusing only on her, waiting desperately without knowing when they might meet.

Alina clutched her chest, thinking of Richard sitting alone in the palace courtyard, waiting for her.

As she calmed herself, Richard followed her inside.

“I’ll clean up since I ate.”

Alina quickly composed herself and pushed him away.

“You’re a guest, Richard. This isn’t that kind of restaurant.”

“Then I won’t be a guest.”

Richard squeezed past her, rolling up his sleeves, showing off his strong, veined arms, and grinned.

“I trained hard to do well at the things you ask me to. See? Dependable, right?”

“Barely.”

Alina chuckled and stepped aside. Richard washed the dishes skillfully, asking her:

“What time does the market start tomorrow?”

“Ten o’clock.”

“So you’ll start preparing at least from eight? I’ll come back in time to help. I should help too.”

“What?”

Alina’s eyes widened at his words.

“It’s past ten at night. Even if I leave the palace and come here, I can’t make it before eight. It’s impossible.”

“Impossible? Don’t be ridiculous. I can do it. I want to help you.”

“But…”

The sound of heavy rain made Alina turn toward the window. The drizzle that had been falling earlier had become quite intense.

She furrowed her brows.

“Riding out in this rain is impossible…”

“I’m grown up now. I can handle it.”

“Don’t say silly things. Adults can get sick too.”

“Then I’ll stay in front of the shop overnight. That’s best. I can see you early in the morning.”

Richard smiled, thinking he’d found a solution. But Alina was horrified.

“Stay outside overnight in this freezing winter?”

Thinking of Richard shivering in the rain until morning made her anxious. She shook her head firmly.

“No.”

“Then what should we do?”

Richard looked troubled. She sighed at his childish stubbornness despite his grown-up appearance.

“Alright, let’s go upstairs to my place. This is the second floor.”

“Gah!”

As soon as Alina spoke, Richard dropped the cup he was washing. He quickly caught it before it hit the floor and swallowed hard.

“Ah, Alina.”

He placed the cup on the counter, hesitating, then glanced at her.

Alina flinched at his flushed cheeks.

“What is it? What are you thinking?”

“What? Nothing. I wasn’t thinking anything.”

Richard replied hastily. Alina put her hands on her hips, raising one finger at him.

“Don’t get any ideas. You’ll sleep in the living room. Never come into the bedroom.”

Richard nodded quickly.

“Of course. I won’t go in. I’ll protect you from outside.”

“That’s not why I let you in. Just sleep well.”

“No, I’ll protect you.”

Richard nodded like a loyal dog guarding his master. His golden eyes shone as he said:

“I’ll protect you, Alina.”

Alina’s apartment on the second floor of the shop was a cozy space with a small bedroom, a living room, and a kitchen.

As soon as Richard entered, he examined the front door’s lock with a dissatisfied expression.

“This is way too flimsy. Is this even a proper door? It looks like it would break with a single touch.”

“It’s sturdy. Why?”

“You lived here all this time? By yourself?”

Richard covered the lock with his hand, and even without a spell, a blue light radiated from under his palm.