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Chapter : 03
A Moment Later
“Really… is it okay for me to eat this?”
Calib murmured quietly as he stared at the table I had set for him.
I placed a spoon in his hand and replied.
“Of course. You can eat it all.”
Though it was nothing but potatoes—boiled potatoes, potato soup, potato potage, stir-fried potatoes, potato pancakes—it was still a proper meal.
There was no helping it.
Who would’ve thought the only thing in the house would be potatoes!
“Anyone who says nonsense like that is no teacher! Don’t listen to or believe a single word they say!”
“But she was a candidate we carefully selected through multiple interviews at House Indigentia…”
“This isn’t a ducal estate. It’s my home. So just sit down.”
“That’s not proper…”
“No, it’s fine. It’s totally fine. And I’ll make you an amazing dinner! Back at the dojang, no one could cook better than me!”
Given how proudly I said that, it was pretty embarrassing how pitiful the result looked.
Calib still stared blankly at the table in front of him.
Feeling a little nervous, I asked cautiously,
“Do you not like potatoes?”
“That’s not it. I was taught never to be picky with food, and I actually like potatoes. But…”
The rich aroma of buttery mashed potatoes and sizzling oil made Calib swallow as he turned to me.
“How did you even do this?”
“Huh? Do what?”
“You didn’t seem to use magic… so how did you make all this in such a short time?”
In his crimson eyes, I caught a flicker of awe and admiration.
I scratched my cheek, feeling a bit sheepish.
Honestly, it was true—back at the dojang, nobody could out-cook me.
“Well, I’ve just gotten used to it over time. Come on, dig in.”
“Used to it… I see. Then I’ll gratefully eat.”
Still, Calib looked unsure if he was really allowed to eat.
When he tried to skip dinner entirely, I coaxed him by saying he’d never grow tall that way.
I must’ve said it at least ten times—that height affects how clothes fit, and that being short makes even the slimmest person look shabby.
And that now was the key time for growing taller.
Whether he was touched by my passionate persuasion or just got hungrier from arguing, I didn’t know.
But by the eleventh time, Calib finally gave in.
Now he was clinking his spoon as he took a bite of the potato soup.
“Mmm…”
His crimson eyes relaxed slightly, looking quite satisfied.
“The pepper’s a bit strong, but… it’s not bad.”
Well, pepper’s a must in potato soup.
“Try the other dishes too. Oh right, I make amazing potato pancakes. Every time it rained, people would beg me to make them.”
It was a shame we didn’t have any soy sauce, but since the potatoes were fresh, they should taste fine.
I sliced a pancake with a fork and held it up to Calib’s mouth.
“U-uh, I’ll eat it myself.”
“Oh, come on. Open up.”
I lightly tapped his lips, and Calib blushed slightly as he opened his mouth obediently.
That irresistible smell of frying oil—it’s impossible not to eat it, right?
Plus, the crispy edges!
Smiling to myself, I popped the piece into his mouth.
Crunch. Crunch.
Calib chewed.
“How is it?”
“…It’s a strange taste. But I really do think I’ll crave it when it rains.”
He spoke while carefully dabbing the oil from his mouth.
And apparently, he liked the pancake, since he started elegantly cutting it up with a fork and knife.
“Eat as much as you want.”
“Okay. Mm.”
Once he got going, maybe because he was really hungry, Calib started guzzling the potato soup like water and grabbed a boiled potato with his bare hands.
“Ah! Hot!”
“Geez, be careful.”
I quickly picked up the dropped potato and blew on Calib’s reddened palm.
“Slow down. The food’s not going anywhere. If it’s not enough, I’ll make more. You know I cook fast, right?”
“Yeah…”
Looking sheepish, Calib wiped the potato crumbs from his lips.
I blew on the boiled potato to cool it and broke it into bite-sized pieces in front of him.
“Thanks.”
“You’re going to be stuck with me for a while anyway.”
I said casually, spooning some soup into my mouth.
It tasted good, but… too much like potato.
And the whole table being potato-themed still bugged me.
Hmm, maybe I should go hunting in the forest tomorrow.
Meat, fish… anything that isn’t potato would be good.
If I’d known, I would’ve looked into wild greens near the dojang’s market beforehand.
I sighed at the thought and pushed more pancakes toward Calib.
The Next Day
Calib woke with a drowsy expression.
He stared blankly at the unfamiliar ceiling—until his crimson eyes flew wide open in an instant.
“Ah!”
He shot up in bed like he’d been shocked.
“What time is it?!”
Birds chirped peacefully outside the window. It was clearly midday.
“I overslept…?!”
This had never happened before.
In truth, Calib suffered from severe insomnia.
Though he was the legitimate heir of the ducal family, he’d inexplicably lived in an orphanage until he was four.
If the Duke and Duchess hadn’t gone against their vassals’ wishes and brought him back, Calib might’ve grown up never knowing his own lineage.
But on the way home… my parents were ambushed and killed.
And it just had to be at night.
Perhaps because he’d witnessed their murder firsthand, Calib hadn’t slept peacefully even once since he was seven.
But now… I just passed out.
He remembered Elia helping him bathe with warm water. But after that, it was a blank.
He’d slept straight through the night and even overslept into the day.
“I’m always tired, but now I feel completely refreshed. Still…”
Worried, Calib bit his nail.
Even the slightest delay in his schedule would’ve earned a fierce scolding from his etiquette teacher.
That anxiety lingered—even though he wasn’t in the ducal estate, but in Elia’s cabin.
“Wait… where is Elia?”
They had introduced themselves yesterday, so he at least knew her name and age.
He reached toward the spot beside him.
“Cold. She hasn’t just left…”
A chill of dread crept over him.
Did she abandon me…? No, no way. This is her house.
If she was going to abandon someone, it would be him, not her own home.
Calib tried to convince himself, but the unease didn’t go away.
Just as he was about to get out of bed and look for her—
“Oh? You’re awake?”
The firmly shut door opened, and Elia walked in.
“You were sleeping so soundly, I didn’t want to wake you. Did you sleep well?”
Her gentle smile and pink jewel-like eyes were endearing.
Her long silvery hair, tinged with pink at the ends, was tied back simply.
“You… went somewhere?”
“Yup. I went to get some ingredients. I’ll make you stew with meat for lunch today!”
Elia beamed and gestured at the bundle on her back.
Despite her modest appearance, Calib suddenly thought she looked radiant.
Come to think of it, Elia really was something else.
Too beautiful to be normal—she almost didn’t seem human.
She killed a wolf with one kick, carried him through the forest, treated him expertly…
And she’s an amazing cook… and kind, too.
Calib, forgetting all about his anxiety from oversleeping, simply stared at her.
Who is she, really?
Why was she living alone in a forest like this?
He watched her deftly clean the animals and fish she’d brought back.
Sensing his stare, Elia looked over with a questioning expression.
“What’s up?”
The way she looked at him, it was like she was asking if he had something to say.
Calib opened his mouth slightly.
I want to say I’m curious about her… but it’s too soon. I haven’t even shared anything about myself.
So instead, he brought up something else.
“From tomorrow on, if I sleep in, wake me up.”
“Why?”
“Because oversleeping is bad.”
At his calm tone, Elia tilted her head as if in thought.
Then, with a small shake of her head, she replied,
“Why not sleep in? It’s not like you have any appointments.”
“But…”
“And what’s wrong with a kid sleeping in?”
“I’m a duke’s heir. I’m not a kid.”
Calib pouted a little, and Elia burst into a clear laugh.
She washed her hands and walked over, ruffling his hair.
It must’ve been a habit, because a flicker of “Oops!” flashed across her face.
Looking a little awkward, she said,
“This isn’t the ducal estate. Until you go back, you’re just Calib here.”
“Just… Calib?”
“Yup. Just Calib. And just Calib is still young.”
“I’m not—”
“Hey, it’s fine. Sleep when you want, eat when you want, play when you want. No one’s going to say anything here.”
She smiled brightly.
Of course, her words were nonsense.
Calib would always be a duke’s heir, no matter where he went.
Since he was four, he had been taught to always act with maturity.
Even the smallest hint of childishness had earned him bruises from a harsh switch.
Just thinking of his etiquette teacher’s “loving discipline” still made his legs ache.
If I do as Elia says… I’ll get scolded a lot once I’m back.
But… but why did her carefree words feel so good?
Like a frozen part of his heart had thawed, warmth spread to his fingertips.
So, uncharacteristically, Calib stopped thinking too hard—
And simply smiled.
