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chapter 20
She couldn’t understand the last things they said, but fortunately, most of what Seorin had insisted on was already well prepared.
Lee Jeong-ah quickly calmed Oh Seorin down before she could spiral any further.
“C-calm down. Those worries are not for you to bear.”
At her reliable words, Seorin finally managed to regain her composure.
Lee Jeong-ah also gave the dazed Principles a firm reminder.
“All right, things have turned out this way so there’s nothing to be done about it. From now on, I’ll teach you—quickly—the things you must know. So memorize everything well!”
“W-what?!”
The sudden lesson finally ended well past noon.
The Principles headed together to Hyangjeokdang to fill their empty stomachs, but they were so exhausted from the intense lesson that they could hardly eat.
Lee Jeong-ah had squeezed every second out of the hour before finally letting them go.
“Uueegh!”
Thud, thud—
Some couldn’t even keep their lunch down. In one corner of the garden, Seonji was patting Shin-i’s back as she retched.
Seeing that made Seorin and her friends feel even more queasy, so they decided to take a walk around the Hyeheumwon grounds. They were circling near the central gate when it happened.
Murmur murmur—
Hyeheumwon scribes and Principles were gathered in a crowd, all looking toward the same direction.
“Wow. I-it’s the Four Flower Garden!”
Dasim glanced toward the source of the attention, then suddenly began hopping excitedly on the spot.
“The Four Flower Garden?”
It was the name Dasim and Gabi had kept shouting about. What even was that?
“You don’t know the Four Flower Garden? How could you not?! It’s the title given to the four most outstanding men of Goryeo, named after flowers! A garden with four blossoms! And three of the Four Flower Garden are right here in Hyeheumwon!”
“D-Dasim? Calm down.”
Wait—did I just walk past men that handsome and not notice? No way. I would never fail to recognize that level of beauty…
“…Don’t tell me—the examiners from yesterday and the day before?”
“Y-yes!! Those men! Over there—two of the Flowers are standing right there!”
The spot Gabi pointed to showed Lee Eunchun and Jung Junkyung leading two horses out of the stable.
“The one pulling the white horse is Plum Blossom, Lord Lee Eunchun! And the one with the black horse is Briar Rose, Lord Jung Junkyung!”
Seeing Eunchun triggered the memory of the two of them alone by the pond, and Seorin’s face went red.
“T-then who are the other two?”
“Palguansa’s Wang An-hyeok and Prince Wang Chan, but they don’t seem to be here right now.”
“I see.”
Now she kind of wanted to see all four together once.
“But we’ve been seeing them all exam long. Why is everyone suddenly so worked up about it?”
At Seorin’s question, Gabi covered her flushed face with both hands.
“Y-yesterday and the day before, we saw them as examiners… but now… th-they’re wearing casual clothes!”
“Exactly! Casual clothes are totally different from official uniforms! Ahh, the portrait of the Chief Inspector and the Vice Commander in casual dress needs to come out soon! My portrait book only has them in their uniforms!”
Just then, maybe sensing the stares, Junkyung turned and flashed a bright grin their way.
“Kyaaah!!”
The Principles screamed. Dasim nearly fainted backward, but Gabi and Seorin caught her just in time.
“Eunchun, the girls are all looking this way. Why not give them a little wave?”
“They’re not ‘girls,’ they’re the Principles of Hyeheumwon.”
As Eunchun tightened the saddle strap, he corrected him. Junkyung grumbled, “So stiff,” but still waved charmingly at the Principles.
“Kyaaaah!!”
“H-he waved at us!”
“Vice Commander! I adore you!!”
“Yeah, yeah,” Junkyung chuckled happily—until he spotted someone familiar among the Principles.
“Oh?! There’s the top scorer!”
Eunchun’s head turned before he even realized it. Standing where Junkyung’s gaze landed was Seorin, chatting with the Principles beside her.
“Seeing her again like this is nice. She looks quite cute in her academy uniform.”
“…Don’t harbor unnecessary thoughts about the Principles.”
“What did I do?! People will think I’m some kind of libertine!”
Eunchun looked at him as if to say aren’t you?, which made Junkyung splutter indignantly.
“I’m a romantic! I just haven’t met my destined partner yet! …Well, someone who’s never even had a woman by his side wouldn’t understand!”
Eunchun ignored him and mounted his horse. Junkyung hurried to mount as well.
“Euuun—chuuuun.”
He called Eunchun in an overly sultry voice.
Eunchun gave him a distrustful look. Junkyung always talked like this whenever he wanted something unreasonable.
“You didn’t forget what I asked you before, right?”
“…What are you talking about.”
“The room. The one I asked you to arrange for me here in Hyeheumwon.”
“I remember no such promise.”
“No worries. It’s not like I intend to freeload. I’ll pay proper lodging—Eunchun!”
Eunchun started his horse, leaving Junkyung to shout after him.
“Wait for me!”
The Principles stared after Lee Eunchun and Jung Junkyung until the group finally disappeared outside Hyeheumwon.
Only then did they trudge off toward Manhyangru, where the meal-prep room was located.
When they arrived, Chef Go Jang-nam stood ready with his headscarf and apron on.
Once all the Principles were inside, he immediately began handing out instructions.
“Ahem. The Deputy Chief must have already explained your situation. Consider this another part of your training and do your best. Learning by doing is fastest! Now wash your hands and put on your headscarves and aprons.”
After they finished washing and dressing, he inspected everyone’s hygiene and attire one by one, then began assigning tasks.
“You five over there—prep the vegetables. You two on the left—bring the cauldron water to a boil. The four in the back—fetch the spices from the storeroom!”
Unlike the mild image he had during the examination, Go Jang-nam in his own kitchen was like a thunderstorm, firing off instructions nonstop.
Watching him, Seorin was quietly impressed.
Could it be… he remembers all of the Principles’ skill levels?
And indeed, she was right.
The chef was placing each Principle in the exact station suited to them, based on the skills he had observed during the exam.
Wow. A chef really isn’t just anyone.
“And you three!”
“Yes!”
“Y-yes?”
“Me?”
Go Jang-nam called the last remaining three—Seorin, Gabi, and Dasim.
“You’ll assist me.”
Since they had shown exceptional skill during the cooking exam, the three of them were assigned directly to assist the chef. Watching him command the kitchen without a single wasted motion filled Seorin with growing admiration.
Their tasks involved handling tricky or delicate ingredients.
Then suddenly, Seorin wondered:
If they’re from the Great Feast Kingdom, they must be Muslim. Does Chef know about halal? That they can’t eat pork?
But of course, he did. Go Jang-nam didn’t even glance at the pork. Instead, he hauled over a large piece of lamb and set it on the cutting board.
He also pulled out brand-new cooking tools to use with it. Seeing this, Seorin relaxed.
Halal cooking required completely separate tools—and it seemed the chef was well aware.
Impressive, as expected!
With practiced ease, Go Jang-nam sliced the lamb cleanly, using a well-sharpened knife.
Seorin and Gabi received the trimmed pieces and removed the tough sinews and thick fat, cutting the meat into uniform sizes.
Looks like he’s preparing skewers?
Just then, Sous-chef Dok-su quietly approached Go Jang-nam.
