NOVEL NEXT Chapter 392
Godwin, after showcasing an astonishing weight gain that shocked Elizabeth, found himself subject to her constant dietary interventions.
He didn’t mind it too much, though. After all, thanks to her, that restricted diet was at least semi-enjoyable.
However, saying he had no complaints meant that smaller grievances were inevitably piling up.
You see, when the slightest hint of weight gain reared its ugly head, Elizabeth would swoop in to control the menu—morning, midnight snack, you name it—for what felt like years!
But in recent months, those complaints had vanished.
Thanks to Elizabeth’s morning sickness, of all things.
Honestly, it did feel a bit absurd to be pleased about it, but Godwin couldn’t suppress his joy-fueled appetite.
After all, with Elizabeth practically sealed off in her room, wracked with nausea at just the thought of food, Godwin was having a veritable feast!
It felt like damming a river only to let it burst; “Hey, who did this?!”
The freedom he’d gained—to eat whatever he wanted—was like a treasure stolen away!
Whenever there was a hint of weight gain (by Elizabeth’s standards, of course), the oppressive meal restrictions would be violently lifted.
“First Prince. Are you really not regretting eating like this?”
“Shut it, Viktor. You eat this too.”
“Ha, I did warn you, you know.”
No one could stop Godwin.
After all, the Felwinter family’s higher-ups—like Alfred, Iona, and the Giants—had no issues with gaining weight, and there was no way anyone below them would dare to offer contrary advice.
Worrying about that seemed trivial compared to Elizabeth’s morning sickness dilemma.
Even inquiries about it, like Viktor’s polite ones, were merely formalities.
Thanks to this, Godwin tasted freedom.
The freedom to devour pancakes fried in bacon grease, generously topped with butter and served with bacon!
The freedom to dip freshly fried seasoned fried chicken into ranch sauce!
The freedom to savor the tender leg meat of Ship’s Claw Crab, dipped in melted butter infused with spices!!!
The taste of freedom was sweet. And greasy.
“Oh my God, Godwin!”
However, that sweetness didn’t last long.
After regaining her senses during a banquet on Memorial Day, Elizabeth could not accept the reckless culinary spree that had undone her efforts.
“Just how much weight have you gained!?”
“Oh dear, I thought you were just passing by quietly.”
“What did you just say?”
In truth, Godwin had gained weight, but not excessively—it was about the same level as before he began his diet.
To be fair, he had even started exercising, just in case, by visiting the Giant.
“While I was neglecting myself, I ended up like this!”
“Ahem, ahem. Elly, it’s just at a good level to look at.”
“I believe the Duke’s words are right, my lady.”
“See, I’ve been ensuring our Prince exercises regularly—”
“Everyone from Iceland, zip it.”
With Elizabeth mimicking a locking gesture with her fingers, Alfred, Iona, and the Giant hurriedly shut their mouths.
“Mother, I really haven’t gained that much—”
“Drop what you’re holding, that bacon.”
“Oh dear.”
Godwin, clutching vanilla syrup-soaked crispy bacon, looked utterly dejected.
While Iona and the Giant eyed it longingly, Elizabeth proclaimed with a stern face.
“We’ll resume the diet until your body returns to its original form.”
“W, mother!”
“Well, you should have been more careful about what you ate!”
At those words, Viktor, who had been lurking a step behind, sighed.
“Viktor! You’re no exception!”
Taken aback by the sudden jet of sparks, Viktor managed to keep a straight face.
“Hmm, personally, I think the Duchess’s reaction was hasty…”
“I can hear you.”
“If you aim for slow adjustments rather than rushing into strict control again, the pent-up desires will burst forth as they have now.”
Coming from a former smuggler who once reigned over the aristocratic appetites, it had an air of credibility.
“So, please regulate, but temper the intensity of your restrictions.”
“Certainly, that’s not incorrect.”
However!
“That will be after I lose weight again.”
“Suit yourself.”
Thus, Elizabeth’s diet season 2 commenced once more, changing Godwin’s meals back to their exotic nature.
Of course, considering they were European, it wouldn’t have helped much if their pancreases were as small as those in East Asia; but for the people of Europa, it was enough to shed the pounds.
“…So, are you secretly eating this?”
“Secretly, you say?”
This is just a snack.
*
*
*
Godwin said this and proceeded to take a hearty bite of the cold lamb ribs, leaving only the bones behind.
“But, your Highness.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
He didn’t discard the bones and began nibbling at the meat and crispy membranes still clinging to them.
“Doesn’t this mean it’s all for naught?”
“Just a sliver of knowledge doesn’t grant you the whole truth.”
Godwin lightly shook the bone he’d been gnawing on instead of using his fingers.
“While I’ve been adjusting my diet, I’ve realized—”
“To be precise, something was imposed upon you.”
“Do you really have to point that out?”
“If I don’t swoop in right now, I’ll face reprimands.”
None other than the Duchess! Though he kept it to himself, it seemed everyone present understood who he was referring to.
“Regardless, meat leads to less weight gain than grains.”
As if he’d uncovered some grand secret, Godwin spoke in earnest, draining the energy from Catherine, who shook her head.
“Your Highness.”
“No, it’s true! It really is!”
Everyone from the workers enjoying the grilled lamb to Viktor and Catherine sent him looks that screamed, “If you say so, then that must be the case.” But Karem silently agreed with the sentiment.
‘Meat doesn’t cause weight gain.’
No need to delve into the scientific reasons behind how protein leads to less weight gain than carbohydrates.
Looking at the dishes served in Winterhome, the scenes of American dining, where people enjoy food as if health insurance is free, came to mind.
Cakes, snacks, muffins, Castella—stacks of refined carbohydrates generously topped with butter and sugar, or sauces reminiscent of pure oil.
‘Is this how they cope with stress?’
Though the weather was harsh, and he consumed plenty while also exercising, he still barely doubted if he was even human.
‘Must be some genetic thing as well.’
After eliminating dishes heavy on sugar and fats, it was only natural that he started losing weight.
If we think that meat doesn’t make us gain weight, let’s contemplate this.
When eating pork belly, do we really eat just the pork belly and ssam?
Are we not prone to getting another snack afterward?
“Catherine, let’s think differently.”
“Differently? About what?”
“Wouldn’t these grilled meat skewers or ribs be less fattening compared to the sugary bread and pastries filled with butter and sugar?”
Even without concrete nutritional labels in this world, it’s common knowledge that oils and sugars make you gain weight.
Catherine couldn’t bring herself to deny that point.
“Then, Sir Atanitas, would you like to try some?”
“…No, I’ll politely decline.”
“Eh?”
From Karem’s mouth, which had filled with visions of dripping sauces, a deflationary sound slipped out.
“Weren’t you going to eat that?”
“Would you really think of eating that after seeing it?”
Catherine pointed toward the charcoal stove.
“Oh.”
The sight of the workers grilling meat, along with the shepherds and others gathering like a boss crashing a subordinate’s party, made for an unappealing impression.
“No, let’s head back quickly.”
Karem hastily left the sauce pot to the nearest worker.
*
*
*
As their date and brief stroll came to an end, lunch was practically predetermined.
Mix equal parts red pepper powder, cumin powder, salt, and pepper, and finally toss in the roasted sesame seeds in proportion with the other ingredients.
After thoroughly mixing this, Karem generously coated the cut lamb skewers and placed them one by one on the charcoal stove prepared on the rooftop of the Wizard’s Tower.
Sizzle-sizzle-sizzle—
After igniting the charcoal once, the leg meat, struck by the incipient heat from the dying embers, soon began to ooze clear oil mixed with meat juices.
In that pivotal moment before the hot oil fell, the spices covering the outside simmered in the boiling oil, soaking into the meat on the skewer, and as the allowed time elapsed, it dropped along with the oil.
Sizzling—as it struck the stove, it vaporized.
Leaving a brief, intense final gasp.
Yet the fragrance contained within wavered, faint but distinct, ascending toward the heavens only to pause.
It gently wrapped around the skewer, dropping oil in much the same way, as if still lingering with some regret.
“If only I could grab that and—”
“Skewers take some time to cook.”
Karem, who was grilling slightly smaller lamb ribs adjacent, calmed Catherine.
The ribs he had cooked earlier were now perfectly timed for eating.
“Let’s eat the lamb ribs first. Sauce?”
“Sure, let’s see how that beloved sauce of yours tastes.”
Catherine leaned in, watching as Karem dipped the lamb ribs he held with bare hands, coating them liberally in seasoning.
“You’re handling the hot bones with your bare hands?”
“Divine Power. Divine Power.”
“…I guess it doesn’t really matter.”
After coming this far, there was no point in arguing. Catherine leaned in patiently to bite into the rib meat.
“Mmm, for sure—hmm.”
With barely a chance to mumble, the tender flesh tore apart, releasing streams of light, rich juices that melded with the intense, spicy seasoning.
For a brief moment, as she savored the slightly charred edges, the explosion of flavor sent her nose into a delightful whirl.
“Pepper, the heat from the red pepper powder, is suppressing the lamb’s gamey taste and greasiness with the cumin.”
“I personally find this to be the most delicious, you know.”
As Catherine savored the lamb ribs and the seasoning, she quickly nodded her head.
“Grilled directly over charcoal, the taste is substantial! Plus, since it’s young lamb, it’s even more tender.”
“Right?”
After having a few more bites of the ribs, she finally began to eat the skewers marinated in the lamb fat, now cozying up in the peppery sauce. A natural question crossed her mind.
“By the way, where has Mary gone?”
Generally, Mary was the one attending to Catherine.
If someone (mainly Karem) intruded her territory, she’d glare, sometimes even throw fits.
Yet she had prepped the ingredients, made the seasonings, grilled, and fed Catherine, all the while not being seen at all. It was undeniably a bizarre situation.
However, this was just Karem’s aim.
“She must be preparing the meals for the other wizards right about now.”
“Looks like you timed that well.”
“No, to be honest, it was partly luck. Had Catherine not decided to return during that awkward snack-and-lunch gap, I would have just left it to Mary.”
The timing of their return coincided perfectly with Mary preparing ingredients for the meals of other mages. Karem, while breaking it down, could not stop himself from teasing Mary as he confidently brought cooking utensils out.
Of course, in a little while, angered Mary would come stomping up the stairs, but that was a matter for later.
“Next time, let’s grill the legs too.”
“The legs, huh? That seasoning would work perfectly for that.”
And so, autumn continued on for another day.