NOVEL NEXT Chapter 390
Winterhome, top floor of the Wizard’s Tower.
“Well, this is a bit unexpected.”
Catherine said this with surprise as she accepted a piece of hot pancake soaked in pale green divine nectar, generously spread with butter, handed to her by Mary.
“Unexpected? All of a sudden?”
Karem, still half-asleep at breakfast, replied in disbelief.
“Yeah. Is what you’re eating now chowder?”
“Well…”
Karem paused mid-bite, lowering his spoon. A large bowl was filled with a thick, white soup brimming with chunks of white cod.
“That’s right. Chowder with spicy roasted cod.”
“Yeah. I thought there would be a change in the menu after you made a fuss when you got that Fire Witch Finger a few days ago.”
“Made a fuss? Me?”
“Isn’t that the same as making a fuss? Weren’t you the one insisting I try some kimchi whenever possible? I almost thought you fed that to Princess Alicia too!”
“Well, now it’s something we can’t do without, isn’t it?”
Karem shrugged as if that was a good thing. He heard that in addition to Iceland, other countries also buy it for either warmth or spices.
“Anyway, why are you eating something so ordinary?”
“Yeah.”
“Isn’t it from the last life using sesame oil or rice?”
“Yeah. It feels like I’m saving something though.”
With a pitying expression, Karem gazed at Catherine.
“I wish I could do the same, you know.”
“Hmm?”
Garlic has always been available.
Ginger could be sourced easily.
Soy sauce, soybean paste, gochujang, and red pepper powder were made from scratch.
With rice and sesame oil on hand, why hold back?
The reason was simple. The rice they had been saving was running low, and they didn’t have much sesame oil left either.
The sesame seeds Karem cheerfully brought were just two large bags. Pressing one bag yielded only four small jars, so they currently had a total of eight jars.
Only eight “left.” Thankfully, thanks to the preservation magic cast on the refrigerator, they didn’t have to worry much about storage.
“At least it’s a relief that we can still obtain rice.”
“Um? Wasn’t it a favor from His Majesty?”
Mary asked as she wiped Catherine’s mouth. As she said, the rice Karem had consumed so far was the result of Inamark’s months of effort importing it from Servianus.
“Yes. So I asked His Majesty for more.”
“What kind of favor?”
“For the miso workshop.”
Of course, Inamark, sitting atop a pile of gold coins from the products made in the workshop, had promised to send them as they became available but had also mentioned that unlike before, he couldn’t just pay with mere rice.
However, Karem didn’t care about that.
“If we can get more rice?”
“No, couldn’t we think of a more extravagant payment? It shouldn’t tarnish the royal face. Hmm… Yeah. Since it has come to this, let’s create a new title for the Duke—”
“I think it’s time I take my leave!”
Inamark, who had hurriedly fled the castle, was shouted at from behind, but it was truly of no concern to Karem.
“Well, since I don’t know when the rice and sesame will arrive, we need to stretch it out.”
“Ha, Kingsland. Is the fee for the workshop mentioned all just rice and sesame now?”
Catherine buried her head in one hand. The contrast with the sweet and soft delight she felt was only making it worse.
“As your partner, this is a bit awkward to say, but…”
“Go ahead.”
“Can’t we indulge a little more?”
“Catherine. What on earth does that mean from you?”
“I’m not suggesting you indulge like the Bersengzeto elves or anything. For example—”
Let’s see… Right. While immersed in her thoughts, Catherine snapped her fingers, and Mary suddenly disappeared. When she reappeared, she was holding an antique glass bottle.
“Ten-Year Limited Edition Luaire Wine, the last bottle.”
“Enjoying wine has been… huh? Wait a second. What?”
Catherine’s expression, which had a sense of pride as she showed off, quickly turned bewildered as she glanced at Mary.
“The last one? Already?”
“Yes. Already.”
Catherine, resonating with the pain all drinkers in the world know, eventually redirected her fury.
“This is all Karem’s fault! It’s because of you!”
“No, why are you suddenly angry about this?”
“Of course!”
Catherine slammed her palm on the table.
“It’s because you keep making dishes that remind me of wine…!”
“No, it’s simply that you use that as an excuse to have a glass each time.”
“Quiet. Anyway.”
Thinking more clearly now, she realized that wasn’t entirely untrue. But admitting that would ruin her pride, so she rambled.
“Though I slightly deviated from the topic, the crux is this. If you can’t have leisure, shouldn’t you at least stroll around the castle?”
“It feels a bit strange to hear that from you, Catherine.”
As expected, Catherine was also the same, rarely going out unless something urgent came up. She was the very model of a homebody who stayed cooped up if there was nothing to do.
“What you don’t know because you’ve been stuck cooking— I actually wander the castle more often than you’d think?”
“Of course, the primary reason is the invitation from Duchess Elizabeth. Otherwise, I don’t think it would be that different.”
“Shut up, Mary. Don’t add strange and unnecessary remarks.”
Though Catherine spoke calmly, her hand was still gripping Mary’s head, punishing her for that thoughtless comment after a long time. But it wasn’t an incorrect statement.
‘There are only a couple of places I can find on my own.’
Excluding the Wizard’s Tower, where she could navigate with her eyes closed.
The main kitchen, Zigmeser’s private kitchen, the temple, the great hall, and the warehouse. It was an illusion. She could count them on one hand.
Yet, she wasn’t without excuses.
As many times as she had said it and thought about it, Winterhome frankly was closer to a small town than a castle.
But now, being told off directly by Catherine, there was no choice but to change her thoughts.
“So, let’s go together.”
“Huh? What?”
“A date. A date.”
Catherine, who had been throwing iron claws at Mary, blinked rapidly at the unexpected date proposal.
*
*
*
Despite the grand wording of “date,” it wasn’t about going to watch a play, listen to a bard’s song, or visit an auction.
As proposed, it meant wandering around Winterhome.
Considering that a date is generally about spending time together as a couple, this still counted as a date.
“So, where are you thinking of going?”
“I plan to just walk around for now.”
“Without a destination?”
Naturally, Mary, who hadn’t caught on, decided this was the moment to stay in the tower.
“I don’t even know what there is in Winterhome before thinking about where to go.”
Thus, it was essentially a walk masquerading as a date. Since moving to a new area, she had spent the last few days wandering around to see what’s nearby, checking for restaurants and whatnot.
“We’ll just scan the area overall.”
“Isn’t it a bit late to be saying that now? You’ve been my attendant for almost three years now.”
Honestly, Karem felt a bit guilty hearing that.
“Please be thankful for my finally doing it.”
“Impulsive fellow.”
Karem subtly averted his gaze under Catherine’s thinly narrowed eyes. This time, she prodded him in the side with her elbow.
Yet denying it was hard given his track record.
“Well, it’s indeed a bit late.”
“Right?”
Catherine, who stopped pushing him, crossed her arms.
“But can’t you spare the dramatics a bit? I’ve mentioned it before, but seriously.”
“Honestly, should I call it unavoidable on my part? It feels like reason has flown out the window… though it was delicious.”
“Vanilla.”
Just three syllables contained the unbeatable logic.
In response to Catherine, Karem fell silent.
“Seriously. As much as your eyes go wide and the taste is great, you just shove it in!”
“…”
“I feel like I’ve said this before.”
“Cough cough. Ah, one moment please.”
Karem quickly grabbed an egg tart from a passing servant’s plate and took a bite, offering it to Catherine.
Munch munch—
“…”
“…”
“Swallow— So, what’s the intention behind this action?”
“Vanilla, it’s delicious, right?”
Catherine looked spiteful, yet she couldn’t quite deny it, glancing at Karem with a sulky expression.
“…”
“…Well, strictly speaking, vanilla should be judged based on aroma, so is it a bit different from taste?”
“Shut up and finish eating.”
That was practically a positive acknowledgment, and Karem popped the leftover tart into Catherine’s mouth, glancing down at his own hand.
“Did I get crumbs on me?”
“No. Watching you eat made me suddenly want to have some too.”
“If so, well. The maid has already left.”
“What? It was just to taste it.”
“Are you planning to go eat it now?”
Just then, Karem noticed Catherine’s mouth.
With a piece of pastry and filling sticking to it.
“No. Just a moment.”
At Karem’s words, Catherine turned to look at him, wondering what he meant. Her eyes widened as she felt a soft sensation glide swiftly past her lips—it definitely wasn’t a finger.
“…Did I put too much sugar?”
She mumbled, yet it was far from true. The sugar ratio for the filling was just right—not too sweet, but not lacking either.
Thus, what Karem was mumbling about meant something entirely different. But Catherine, caught up in her own thoughts, only later realized the gazes on them.
Coincidentally, they weren’t in the hallways of Winterhome or inside the Wizard’s Tower, but in an open area. Though it was early and not many people were around, witnesses were sufficiently present.
“You’re quite weak against counterattacks, huh?”
“…Be quiet. You! How can you be so shameless!”
Catherine’s face flushed with embarrassment, shaking her head quickly and trying to walk away. Karem, with arms crossed, was helplessly dragged along.
“There are places for this and places where it shouldn’t happen!”
Catherine was right. Given there were a handful of witnesses, the situation could spread far.
Catherine quickly turned and glanced back at Karem, who blushed as well, trying to act nonchalantly since he was also the one who instigated the scenario.
“No, I mean, you keep launching surprise attacks!”
“So you just dove right in then? Is that what you call it?”
“I thought if I saw an opening, I shouldn’t miss the chance. But I thought it through enough—”
“I told you to stop rushing and think before you act?!”
And then, halting her steps, Catherine quickly looked around. This time, there were no witnesses. So she reached out.
She couldn’t let it go.
“Hmm? Hmm!”
She grabbed him by the collar and yanked him down. Caught off guard by the sudden move, Karem was bewildered. When she released him, the silver thread connected longer before snapping.
As the sun rose, the gloomy surroundings began to brighten.
After much time had passed and both parties had their share of embarrassment, the two walked through an area they had never been to in Winterhome, pretending nothing was wrong.
“…”
“…”
Moo- Moo—
The calls of Highland cows being led by servants echoed as if asking, “What are you two doing?”
“…I heard there’s a pasture nearby.”
“…Should we go visit the pasture then?”
“Yeah.”
Catherine and Karem decided to call it a draw.