Savior’s First Lady

***

Before boarding the carriage home,

I overheard two policemen chatting as I walked down the hallway.

“Did you see the state of that loan shark Burke?”

“Lord Eden broke two of his ribs and shattered his arm. Isn’t that a bit too much?”

“Shh, there must be a good reason for everything he does.”

“…”

As I climbed into the carriage, I thought, Lord Eden, you could make a fortune if you started a religion…

***

The carriage started moving. I sat there in a daze, reflecting.

What on earth just happened?

‘So, Lord Eden… wasn’t angry with me.’

He had been away from home to capture Burke.

Gratitude toward Eden filled me. I felt embarrassed for having misunderstood him. Various emotions stirred within me.

But why, since earlier…

‘Why does my heart keep feeling all fluttery?’

It’s well past springtime…

***

For the next three days, Eden didn’t come home again.

Instead, I received a brief note: ‘There are more matters to handle than I anticipated, so I’ll be late.’

The next day, the newspaper featured an article about Eden cleaning up Burke’s remnants.

A righteous Holy Knight who not only excelled in his primary duties but also collaborated with the capital police to take down evil loan sharks as if it were his hobby.

The article was a glowing tribute to Eden’s heroic efforts.

I wasn’t surprised in the least by the article.

***

That evening.

After finishing work, I returned home, humming as I tied on an apron and began cooking.

Fortunately, Yoon Sihyun’s skills were returning rapidly.

Spending four hours a day in the kitchen was significantly aiding my recovery. Practical experience is crucial, after all.

Tonight’s menu was roast beef.

‘Ah, it smells wonderful.’

Carefully slicing the tender meat, I chopped the accompanying vegetables into chunks.

Then I ladled some homemade sauce from the pot and poured it over the dish.

I love my kitchen. Reorganizing it to suit my movements and filling it with my favorite spices and ingredients – it truly makes me happy.

‘When the kitchen is filled with food, I feel secure.’

I opened the pantry, an unbidden smile spreading across my face.

“What jam should I pair with the bread today?”

Orange marmalade, raspberry jam, tea jam, and rose jam. All jams I had made myself.

“Ah, I’m so happy I could burst…”

Deciding between sweet jams, I stood on tiptoes with a knife in hand, deep in thought, when I sensed someone’s presence beyond the kitchen door.

Instinctively, I turned around, gripping the knife.

Eden, in his Holy Knight uniform, stood there watching me.

“How long have you been standing there?”

I was startled. How could someone move around without making a sound?

“Happy enough to burst, huh?”

I almost choked on my words.

“Put the knife down. It’s dangerous.”

I set the knife down.

The kitchen was filled with warm, sweet aromas.

Eden looked around the perfectly organized kitchen with a peculiar gaze.

And there I stood, wearing a pink embroidered apron.

Ah, the apron was a gift from Mrs. Endwerpen.

She had made it after reading about my marriage in the newspaper, debating whether or not to send it.

“Why didn’t you come in through the front door?”

Homes like ours typically have a side door used by the servants. Our house has a small, hidden side door that leads into the kitchen.

“The door was open. I thought I’d check the security. It’s too easy to open.”

“Doing a security check right after coming home? That’s a work habit.”

I smiled and took off my headscarf.

Unintentionally, my black hair flowed free.

“You arrived just in time. Dinner’s ready. Go wash up.”

Eden’s gaze shifted to my face. I noticed a slight flicker in his eyes.

“Lord Eden? What’s the matter?”

“…Something’s different.”

“Oh, I did my hair. I didn’t go to a salon. I bought some hair treatment and did it myself. It’s much cheaper that way.”

Come to think of it, when I saw Eden at the police station, I had my hood on.

Eden’s gaze lingered around my ears and jawline.

“It’s pretty.”

He said softly. My hands on the kitchen counter trembled slightly.

That fluttering feeling in my chest started again. I tried to ignore it.

Having experienced it in a dream, I knew well what this fluttering was. It was a feeling that would soon turn into obsession.

“While you were away, I tidied up the house. Let’s have dinner in the living room tonight. The weather is nice.”

I smiled nonchalantly. In the mirror on the kitchen wall, I could see my ears were a light pink.

***

By the time Eden had washed and changed, it was already dark.

I had opened the large living room windows to let in the pleasant night breeze.

And I had turned on the lights in the living room. Eden walked around, looking at the well-organized house.

I was placing the main course on the table, setting the final dish.

“The house has changed a lot.”

Eden said quietly.

“I had some time to spruce it up over the past few days. I put in as much effort as possible without spending money, so don’t worry. The curtains… were a gift from a friend.”

I had thrown out the old, drab curtains.

The new lace curtains were also a gift from Mrs. Endwerpen. She had bought the fabric as cheaply as possible and sewed them herself.

A red carpet I found in storage was laid in the living room, and fresh flowers were arranged in a vase.

An old candlestick on the mantle, polished and set up as a decoration, looked quite lovely.

All the furniture was dust-free and spotless.

“Is it good?”

“It’s delicious.”

Eden ate the salad and roast beef silently.

Wow, he’s eating so well.

I watched in delight. Eden’s table manners were impeccable. His movements were graceful, and he didn’t get a single drop on himself.

And he ate slowly, savoring each bite until the end.

It really made me feel like my effort was worth it. I love when people enjoy my food. This must be Yoon Sihyun’s influence.

“Would you like some dessert?”

A faint look of anticipation crossed Eden’s eyes.

‘Oh, he must be looking forward to my dessert?’

It felt like taming a picky animal.

I brought out the ladyfinger cookies I baked during the day, along with rose jam and orange marmalade.

“Amazing.”

Eden’s brief compliment. He finished the cookies without leaving a crumb.

As we drank tea, we finally looked into each other’s eyes.

“Lord Eden, we have a lot to talk about, don’t we?”

“To a reasonable extent.”

“How did it happen? Why were you investigating Burke?”

Eden quietly watched as I placed the cookie plate down.

“As a hobby.”

“You catch the most notorious loan shark in the Empire as a hobby? He might retaliate.”

You read about it in the news all the time. Investigators who delve into organized crime or loan shark cases are found dead under mysterious circumstances.

Eden is too important to lose to such risks. He needs to save the world, after all.

“If it’s a very compelling hobby, one might risk their safety occasionally. But nothing will happen.”

“You know that explanation isn’t sufficient.”

“I also wanted to vent some pent-up anger.”

Cool and charming with anger management issues. I mentally re-evaluated Eden.

“Is that really all?”

“Loan sharks dragged my wife away in broad daylight, insulting and threatening her. How could I let such people go? Didn’t I tell you? From the moment we got married, protecting you became my duty.”

“But from what I heard, Burke had been under investigation many times but never caught. How did you find his headquarters in just two weeks?”

“I had already investigated Burke thoroughly.”

“…What?”

“I knew your father owed him money. It’s all in the background checks. Officially, all debts were repaid, so I had just kept an eye on it.”

“Did you… investigate me?”

“Of course. Our first meeting was quite suspicious.”

“I can understand that. But you investigated Burke just because of that?”

“Hmm.”

Eden nodded silently.

So, the rapid raid based on previously gathered intel on Burke. It made sense but…

“That’s still not enough to explain it, is it?”

Eden looked at the empty cookie plate with a hint of regret. I watched as he licked the jam off the spoon.

“Tomorrow, I was thinking of making tiramisu with these ladyfingers and some cheese.”

“….”

“Should I make it or not?”

Eden flinched.