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The time I intended to enjoy some lightly seasoned skewers was instantly transformed by the enticing aroma of seasoning boiling over the fire, all thanks to those twisted folks who usually knew Gobanio.

Bringing a bunch of sausages was just the beginning.

A sack of unsold bread from the bakery.

Spicy stir-fried dish made from leftover meat and vegetables from the restaurant.

Monster blood gathered by the adventurers.

A small barrel of wine brewed from the family estate.

A tart leftover from making too much the previous day.

And jerky made from dragon meat, among other things.

The small forge turned into a banquet venue of unknown origins. But hold on.

“Isn’t it daytime? Aren’t there any businesses open?”

“Well, there are hardly any customers since it’s winter, so who cares!”

“Wow, what kind of seasoning is this? It tastes amazing!”

What could I really say to that?

While Gobanio and the butler were distracted, Karem grilled some skewers, tearing them apart, and tasting the food brought by others.

Once my stomach was sufficiently satisfied, I stuffed a few items into the wooden box I brought and sneaked out of the forge.

“Gobanio. You remember the order, right?”

“Yeah! But—Hey! Eat those skewers properly!”

It wasn’t exactly the same, but it was still pretty good. Karem lightly stepped forward with the wooden box in hand.

The other food consumed at the forge was quite decent too.

‘So it isn’t that I’ve set up a residence through gambling.’

The inner castle is a residence for those who have wealth before status.

With a heavy pocket prioritizing quality over price, and enough time to enjoy leisure, any shoddy product would quickly be weeded out by rumors.

And if you consider that high-ranking individuals residing in the inner castle will likely visit as guests, it makes sense that every product had to be constantly scrutinized.

Thus, having enjoyed an unexpected feast with purpose, Karem arrived at Winterhome.

“Karem. Are you returning this time?”

“Yes. Thank you for your hard work. Here, take this.”

“Oh, I just happened to be feeling a bit peckish.”

As the gatekeepers concealed tarts in their pockets and nibbled on sausages and jerky, Karem peeked inside the castle gate.

From the entrance, the commotion of the castle was apparent, unlike when I first left and briefly returned. Servants were moving luggage, and maids were decorating the castle everywhere.

“Are they preparing for a festival or something?”

The memory of the last Wintersend eve came to mind. There shouldn’t be a festival planned.

“Ah, well. They can’t help but be busy to welcome guests.”

“What kind of guests are coming that requires all this preparation?”

“Well, the messenger who came earlier had the royal crest of the king on his chest. It seems like a Grand Sword Noble is visiting.”

“The king… of the Kingdom of Seophone?”

“Aren’t there any royal families in this country besides the Yeats family?”

The King of Seophone, the Yeats family.

I was still a bit confused, but if I thought of the former as a title and the latter as a family, it became reasonably clear.

“But wait, a Grand Sword? Is that the same Grand Sword I know?”

“They call him the Grand Sword Noble because he runs around delivering orders with the Grand Sword given by the king.”

“What, does he cleave the heads of anyone who defies the royal will?”

“I heard he takes off heads.”

The gatekeeper spoke indifferently, and the other gatekeepers nodded. Karem was momentarily stunned by the violent implications.

“Anyway. Thanks for the snacks.”

“Take care.”

Karem waved the gatekeepers off and entered.

‘But it’s a messenger delivering the royal decree, right?’

Even if it’s a noble with the authority to cleave the heads of those who oppose the royal order, there shouldn’t be a need to prepare so grandly for him, right?

Or perhaps it’s to demonstrate that I’m honoring the king to this extent. Like the Confucian order of East Asia in my previous life.

But it just felt too strange to brush it off as a simple Confucian relationship.

Nobles were basically like kings in their territories, and I had heard even the king had to be cautious around a duke within the duke’s domain.

But a Grand Sword noble expected to come and cleave the heads of nobles who oppose him?

Unless it was absurdly outrageous for a duke to be given ‘orders’…

“Is it to convey such an important message?”

As Karem crossed the plaza of Winterhome, numerous thoughts ran through his mind, but in the end, he shrugged it off.

Worrying about it was just a waste of time until the facts were revealed, and even though it was quite famous, there was no reason for a mere cook to be concerned.

He could simply ask around later. He had a Divine Power lesson with Elder Iona coming up, so he could ask then.

Unlike the bustling Winterhome estate, which was somewhat noisy except for the occasional explosion, Karem entered the always peaceful Wizard’s Tower.

“Ah, K-Karem. Is your business finished?”

“Yes. I’ve returned. I brought some snacks. Want some?”

“What do you have?”

Among the leftover snacks taken by the gatekeepers, Narque pondered deeply.

Ultimately, he picked up a tart and a mince pie.

“B-but it seems a bit noisy outside?”

“Well, they’re busy preparing to welcome a guest.”

“A guest?”

“They say a Grand Sword Noble is coming.”

“Umm… Ah.”

Receiving Narque’s questioning glance that seemed to ask if he knew something, he took a bite of the pie and swallowed.

“I heard the Duke Your Grace studied in Kingsland when he was young.”

“…Does the Duke Your Grace have any siblings?”

“I believe he’s an only child.”

“The Duke’s family sends the heir off to study overseas like that?”

Why? Narque shook his head at that gaze.

As in “I also don’t know.”

Creak—

“Haaah… I’m completely spent.”

“Sir Atanitas! You’ve come…?”

Karem was bewildered by the sudden situation.

Just a while ago, Catherine had been full of energy.

But now, she seemed entirely the opposite.

Her face was heavily laden with fatigue, much darker than when she’d taken overnight shifts last winter, and she stumbled in, using her staff to support her irregular steps.

Only Mary, carrying a basket, looked perfectly fine, though I had never seen her looking otherwise.

“Weren’t we just supposed to eat snacks and chat?”

“Snacks… chat…”

Karem asked, puzzled.

At that, Catherine’s anger flared suddenly.

‘Thinking about it, that kid seems to be a big part of this.’

Catherine was rather confident in her speeches and persuasion.

Well, she had to be confident.

For countless discussions, she had prepared papers to break free from Olivier’s hold and had been battered by questions during her presentations.

Unlike the logical and rational questions faced earlier, the emotional bombardment from questions now was something she had never experienced before.

No, to be precise, every time that old man Olivier rubbed her wrong way, he had shot magic at her.

It would have been better if it was Olivier or some mercenary. Managing emotional logic that only came from good intentions and curiosity was tricky. Especially given Elizabeth’s high status.

Right, that kid definitely had a big share in this. Elizabeth’s incessant questioning and rumor-spreading were all due to that kid’s connection.

As Catherine’s frustration began to boil over, it shifted towards Karem, who seemed oblivious.

It was about to explode into a torrent.

“…Guhhh.”

“Hmm?”

“Quiet! Set out the snacks!”

Catherine yelled as she staggered back up the stairs.

As Karem watched her thundering footsteps, he felt wronged. If she wanted snacks, couldn’t she just ask instead of yelling? Had something frustrating happened outside?

“Mary. Mary.”

“Yes?”

“What’s gotten into her?”

Mary was her usual expressionless self, but Karem somehow felt like she was smiling.

“Something like that happened. But what’s in that box?”

“Oh, these are snacks I got from a feast at the forge.”

“Hmm.”

Glancing at the wooden box, she seemed disinterested and headed toward the stairs. As expected. The desserts had all been eaten.

But just when Mary was nimbly climbing the stairs, she pivoted and came back down.

“Do you have something to say?”

Mary silently snatched the wooden box away as if responding to the question.

“I nearly forgot this.”

*

*

*

On the tray just out of the oven, the sweet and nutty aroma wafted up from the copper cup filled to the brim.

The soft milk and sweet sugar combined with a hint of coffee flavor teased the appetite, but it was far too hot to eat right now.

However, people aren’t always rational beings.

A thick hand boldly grasped the copper cup.

The outcome was predictable.

Chi-i-i-i-i-i—

As soon as the hand gripped the copper cup, white steam surged up explosively from the cracks in all directions.

But that was just for a moment.

The lukewarm haze quickly settled down.

In its place, as if to say “there’s something else,” a chilly aura began to seep from the hand, revealing the contents of the cup.

The clear light brown surface sparkled like a moonlit pond.

The clear, light brown surface shimmered like moonlight in the night.

Clang!

Ignoring everything, the hand flipped the cup onto a small plate, letting the not-yet-solidified light brown caramel liquid flow down.

Then, the cup was gently tapped a few times and swayed softly.

Pong—

With the light hitting it, the thick caramel sauce flowing from the bouncy light brown pudding slowly pooled onto the plate.

Chwa-r-r-r-r—

The hand that set the cup aside reached for white sugar and sprinkled it over the pudding.

And from the side, a bright red chef’s knife approached.

Chi-i-i-i-i-ik—

The sugar melted into the caramel sauce for just a moment.

The heat caused the sugar to bubble up in no time.

Finally, when the knife was pulled away, a dense layer formed, dark brown and solid.

“Is it over now?”

“Yup. It’s done.”

“Finally.”

As soon as those words landed, according to Catherine’s will, Mary lifted the pudding plate.

“Ah, wait a second.”

“What did you forget?”

“With this little spoon, you do it like this.”

Gripping an invisible spoon, Karem lightly tapped downward.

Watching closely, Mary used a spoon to knock the surface of the pudding.

Tap—

“Hooh.”

“Yes. You may eat it now.”

Catherine immediately accepted the spoon Mary handed her and took a bite.

The crunch of the hardened caramel.

Thick caramel sauce mixed with butter.

The gentle sensation of soft custard.

Not to mention the alluring aroma of roasted Alraune.

The sensation that melted the hardened stress into a smooth flow finally smoothed out Catherine’s furrowed brow.

“Are you feeling a bit better now?”

“No.”

Catherine distinctly cut him off.

Yet, she seemed to enjoy the pudding mixed with roasted Alraune and crispy caramel, continually savoring it.

“Oh, right.”

As Karem watched her with satisfaction, he finally remembered the question he had intended to ask.

“By the way, can I ask just one thing?”

“Go ahead.”

“I heard the Grand Sword Noble is coming.”

“Yes.”

“There’s no reason for preparation to go this far, right? And I’ve heard that ‘being a Grand Sword Noble’ means something about cleaving heads, right?”

Thinking again, it seemed quite strange.

It seemed far too extravagant just to welcome the royal messenger. It looked like they were setting themselves up to lose.

There might be some elaboration, but even so, a Grand Sword Noble would split heads for defying the royal command.

“Well, yeah. It might not be something you know for sure.”

Mary looked at the now-eaten caramel sauce while Karem took a moment to think.

“Your lord had studied abroad in Kingsland, right?”

“Oh, I heard that from Narque earlier.”

“Back then, Inamark Yeats, the current King of Seophone, made an alliance and has kept in touch ever since.”

“Yes. Is that so? Who was with whom?”

“You heard correctly, kid. Cup.”

Ah, right. At Catherine’s words, Karem focused his powers to cool the copper cup.

Chi-i-i-i-i—

“And it’s said that the Grand Sword Noble coming this time is the younger brother of the current King of Seophone.”

“Oh.”

So, they weren’t merely welcoming a royal messenger; a close friend’s younger brother was coming, and they were excited enough to prepare thoroughly.

Finally, Karem understood the current situation in Winterhome.

 

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