CLWE 10

Chapter 10

“Ah-choo!!”

I was in the middle of diligently ladling pumpkin kalguksu into bowls when I suddenly let out a violent sneeze. Kamin, who was sitting across from me and staring down at his chopsticks with a puzzled expression, spoke up.

“You’ve caught a cold.”

What do you take me for? Sniffling, I replied,

“Nope. Just so you know, I’ve never caught a cold even once in my entire life. I’m a very healthy person.”

To be honest, back when I was Lady Riena Pond, daughter of a duke, I wasn’t that healthy. But now? I live a life touching soil 365 days a year.

With this much physical activity, it’d be stranger if I weren’t healthy.

At my answer, Kamin narrowed his eyes. He looked like someone examining an overhyped snack.

“While sneezing like that?”

It was just once. I shrugged.

“People sneeze sometimes. What, are you trying to say I’ve got a cold?”

“I don’t know why you’re responding so sensitively. People can catch colds, you know. …Is it because there’s no one to take care of you if you get sick?”

What is this guy even saying? I snapped back irritably.

“That’s not it. If I say I’m sick, I’ve got more than ten people who’d come running.”

As I said that and scooped another ladle of kalguksu into both our bowls, Louis started grumbling.

—Master, at least wipe your mouth before lying. Well, if you begged pitifully, I might stay by your side and change your cold compress.

Whose side are you on, exactly?

Pretending to cry, I tapped the handle of Louis.

“Louis, isn’t that a bit much? After I let you enjoy the joy of harvest?”

—What harvest?! There’s no blood, no sense of achievement!

“What do you mean no sense of achievement! You’re finishing the final step of producing crops right now. Don’t you know the finishing touch is the most important part?”

—I-is that so?

My dim-witted sword immediately fell for it, grinning foolishly. Judging from how it kept muttering, “So I’m the most important one,” it looked like it would be drunk on self-admiration for the rest of the meal.

After silencing the noisy Louis, I spoke to Kamin, who was still just sitting there blankly.

“But why aren’t you eating? It might look unfamiliar, but it’s really good. I guarantee it.”

At my words, Kamin tilted his head. His slightly sweat-damp hair only made him look more attractive.

“I’m supposed to eat this with my hands?”

“Why would you eat it with your hands? It’s right there. The chopsticks.”

Chopsticks roughly carved from branches lay in front of him. I slipped my own chopsticks between my fingers and demonstrated first.

“Like this. See? Like this.”

“…Isn’t there a fork?”

“Chopsticks are more convenient. Hurry up and try.”

I urged him on. After hesitating, Kamin put the chopsticks between his fingers. Naturally, they fell apart.

After staring blankly at the chopsticks for a moment, Kamin spoke to me with a serious face.

“If you marry me, you can choose forks made of gold, silver, or bronze—whichever you like.”

Eek! Gold fork or silver fork?! I burst out laughing.

“Oh my, that’s a tempting proposal. I’ll give you 50 points for originality. But I refuse. And it’s not like I can’t afford forks, you know?”

What do you take me for? I’m a major landowner who practically runs this area. I even export agricultural products these days.

As expected, Koreans and chopsticks go hand in hand.

Still, worried he might think I was deliberately messing with him by giving him chopsticks, I quickly added,

“Think of it as training and give it a try. It’s good for developing finger coordination.”

“This is training?”

“Watch.”

I picked up a piece of sweet pumpkin soaked in broth. Since the pumpkin was fully cooked and crumbly, it wasn’t easy to grab. Well—easy for a Korean, that is!

Seeing this, Kamin nodded solemnly.

“I see. This would indeed be training.”

“Wow, he believes anything, even when I talk nonsense.”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

My honest thoughts slipped out without me realizing it.

Anyway, Kamin began practicing with the chopsticks. I worried the noodles might get soggy before he managed, but fortunately, he quickly got the hang of it.

When he picked up a bite of well-cooked pumpkin and kalguksu together and put it into his mouth, his face twisted strangely. Tilting his head, he lifted the bowl and took a sip of the broth. Then, frowning, he asked,

“What kind of flavor is this? Do commoners in Postin eat food like this?”

“No. This is something you can only taste at our house.”

If you went around asking other houses to make kalguksu, no one would do it for you.

It’s a shame people don’t know about food that’s this easy to make and tastes this good.

I gazed quietly at the sweet pumpkin kalguksu I’d made. Flat, thick noodles unlike spaghetti, various vegetables finely chopped and floating in a slightly cloudy broth.

Come to think of it, I’ve been so focused on running the farm that I didn’t think of this! Wouldn’t I make a lot of money selling food like this? A so-called meal kit!

It was a spontaneous idea, but the more I thought about it, the better it sounded. Since bread, salad, and ham were staple foods here, people generally didn’t bother learning dishes with complex cooking processes.

But meal kits are easy, right?

It would be hard during the busy farming season, but once the off-season came, why not seriously try this business? I gently stored the idea away in my mental warehouse.

Meanwhile, Kamin—his eyes wide at the taste of kalguksu for the first time—tilted his head again and took another sip of broth.

“The soup is thick and salty. It doesn’t seem very healthy…”

Yikes, he noticed in just one bite. Impressive. Kalguksu does contain an enormous amount of sodium.

But I can’t take the salt out!

I can’t sacrifice flavor for health. And as if on cue, Kamin said exactly that.

“But it keeps drawing me in.”

“Right? That’s the charm of sweet pumpkin kalguksu.”

Exactly! That’s why, even when you think, Isn’t this too salty? you keep eating.

That was the end of our conversation. Now fully adapted to chopsticks, Kamin began slurping down the kalguksu enthusiastically. Watching him, a motherly smile naturally spread across my face.

Oh my, he eats so heartily.

So this is why rural grandmothers keep bringing out more food. I stood up and mixed a red drink using precious ice and cold water I’d carefully saved.

Just as I brought it out at the perfect golden ratio, Kamin was setting down his empty bowl. I handed him the glass.

“Wait a moment. I don’t give this to just anyone, but you ate so well that I’ll make an exception.”

“What is it?”

“Omija tea.”

At my words, Kamin’s brow furrowed again. Naturally—he wouldn’t know what omija was.

“There’s no poison in it, so don’t worry. Take a sip.”

I said that and deliberately took a sip myself. Kamin’s face stiffened.

“…It’s not that I was suspicious and that’s why I frowned.”

“…?”

I was just joking—why so serious?

Kamin put his nose to the rim of the glass, sniffed, then took a large gulp. I was unintentionally captivated by the sight.

Wow. Look at his Adam’s apple.

As the omija tea went down, his slender-looking neck bobbed noticeably.

So this is why women develop a fascination with men’s Adam’s apples.

I never expected that moment to steal my gaze so completely. I quickly covered my eyes with my palm.

Ugh, why am I getting so conscious of it?

My face felt like it was turning red too. It was all because of that excessively handsome face.

Come to think of it, he’s not even wearing a hat—is that okay?

I glanced at Kamin again. Sure enough, his pale skin was slightly reddened by the sunlight.

You can really tell he’s a city person. Coming out in this heat with short sleeves and no hat.

He was handsome enough that he’d probably look attractive even tanned, but still, pale skin suited blond hair and blue eyes best.

Should I lend him my hat or not…

It was then that our eyes met with a sharp click. Startled, I hunched my shoulders, and Kamin tilted his head and asked,

“Where did the ice come from?”

Oh, that was the issue. I shrugged.

“I get hot easily, so I dug an ice cave.”

“Pardon? An ice cave? How?”

“How else? I dug it with a shovel.”

I raised my arm to show him. It was a fairly solid arm with a bit of muscle, but Kamin’s expression darkened.

“If something like that happens again, I’ll help you.”

“What?”

Why are you suddenly being so nice?

I frowned.

“I’ve managed just fine on my own. I’m not getting married just to make someone dig with a shovel, so don’t bother.”

“This time, I mean it purely out of goodwill.”

“Yes, yes, but there’s no need to ask for help with something I’ve always done myself. Besides, I have Louis-Louis.”

“You really are…”

Kamin’s blue eyes gleamed strangely.

“…a unique person.”

“Really? I think I’m extremely ordinary.”

I scratched my head. His gaze, like he was looking at a rare animal, made me uncomfortable.

“I—”

Just as Kamin parted his lips—

—I’m not turning into a shovel! I’ll never turn into one! Never!!

Louis-Louis screamed loudly, wedging himself between us. Giggling, I pulled Louis into my arms.

Kamin Maréchal was confused. The kinds of things he usually experienced went like this:

“Oh my, I think I’ve had a bit too much to drink. Could you help me walk?”

“My heel broke, so…”

“My handkerchief flew away. It’s one I cherish.”

Whenever such things happened, his younger sister Susan would smack his back and nag him.

“That’s all manipulation! Don’t fall for it!”

“They’re pretending to be in trouble on purpose?”

“Yes! Otherwise, they can’t even talk to you, since you’re the Emperor’s brother!”

“Susan, you’re overthinking it. If I fall for such tricks and later learn they were deceiving me, how am I supposed to respond when I’m furious over being insulted?”

“They must be confident they can soften both your body and your heart.”

“What?”

The more he thought about it, the less he understood.

Do I really look like someone who can’t distinguish between public and private matters?

Even if you did grow close that way, how could you believe the love was genuine when the relationship began with lies?

I have no idea what people are thinking.

When he told this story to his other younger sister, Liz, she replied,

“Just laugh it off as the fate of being Emperor.”