Chapter 12

“I’d rather rephrase that. Is there anyone who can hate him?”

Blake was nice, innocent and cute. standing next to him make me feel nice.

“Many people despise him.”

“Those are just people who are blinded by false rumors. But you like him, too.”

The emperor’s eyes grew bigger when I smiled.

“…That’s rude. That kid is the heir to the curse.”

“Despite that, he’s your son.”

“Why are you so sure that I like him?”

Tenstheon’s eyes flashed like a sharp knife. But because it was an expected reaction, I laughed innocently.

“You can’t send gifts to your daughter-in-law when you hate your son.”

“It was only a compensation for Marquis Hamel’s treatment.”

“You forgive me for being so rude yesterday?”

“So, you remember it?”

“Hehe, I can’t remember it fully, I’m so embarassed.”

I had a lot of worries. However, I couldn’t think of a way to deal with the “abdominal” case. So I have no choice but to insist on partial memory loss.

“This impertinent thing…”

Tenstheon burst into a low laugh as he scolded me…

“Hehehe.”

I laughed too. Laughing was the best way to overcome the embarrassing situation.

“Listen.”

Tenstheon’s courtiers serve me many food. My eyes were focused on the colorful desserts on the table.

“Thank you for the meal.”

First of all, I put the cake with red strawberries in my mouth.The soft and fresh cake melted in my mouth.

“It’s delicious!”

“Really?”

“The Crown Prince will love it, too.”

“…Send it to the Crown Prince’s palace.”

“Thank you!”

I bowed my head. I wanted to solve all the problems and restore the relationship between Blake and his father, but this is the first step. First of all, it was important to build the trust of the Emperor.

“I’ve heard that you are well versed in Eastern culture.”

You researched about me in advance. If you haven’t paid any attention so far, it’s even more strange.

“Not too much, but I’m interested.”

“It must be hard to find the data.”

The East was an unknown territory. There was no exchanges and only a few books are related to it.

If I say, ‘I saw the materials in the Count’s library,’ others will just let it pass. Each family had their own unique knowledge after all.

However, if it’s emperor, who collected data from the East for Blake’s treatment, would know that it is difficult for a 10-year-old girl to have such diverse knowledge.

“It’s only for you to know,…”

I got off the chair. Tenstheon was puzzled by my actions, but when I tried to whisper, he bowed his head.

“I’m actually a polygot.”

“Polygot?”

“Yes, I know all the languages in the world.”

In fact, I once visited the Imperial Palace library to find out about the world, the Goddess, and the information about the East. That’s where I found out that I could read not only the Imperial language but also the languages of all the countries in the world.

“Is that true?”

“Yes. Father.”

Tenstheon’s eyes grew bigger. He seemed to be more surprised than when I said I’m a polygot.

You look a lot like Blake when you widen your eyes like that. Will Blake become so cool like him when he grows up?

“…What did you just say?”

“I’m your daughter-in-law, so you’re my father.”

In the original novel, Tenstheon wants to hear Blake say ‘father’. But Blake only calls him “Your Majesty” and never called him his father.

He may look strong and cold-hearted, but he has a deep affection for his family. He will be more pleased with the title of “father” instead of “Your Majesty.”

“I see.”

Tenstheon had a faint smile.

“You must have faced a lot of trouble getting married so suddenly. If you need anything, come and see me anytime.”

He didn’t cry out for propriety. Rather, he allowed me to enter the palace in a comfortable manner.

I grinned broadly.

“Yes. I’ll visit you often.”

I was the only one invited today, but one day Blake and Tenstheon will sit down together and have a pleasant conversation.

Will it be Diana who sits next to Blake then?

Suddenly, I felt lonely.

***

“Hot!”

Blake put scorched rice in his mouth and was startled. I quickly passed cold water to him.

“You’ll have to blow on it first.”

“It’s very tasty.”

“I hope you’re satisfied with all the meal today.”

The emperor sent all kinds of desserts to the Crown Prince’s palace. There were various types of desserts, ranging from basic shortcakes and apple pie to unique desserts.

Desserts specially made by the imperial chef were fantastic not only in shape but also in taste, they had a flavor that you would only think of in a dream.

To commemorate the arrival of the cauldron, I cooked rice. And the result was ‘Sungneung’*, which was boiled with water in the cauldron.

*TL Note : Sungneung is a traditional Korean infusion made from boiled scorched rice.

“This tasted the best!”

“You’re lying because I made it, aren’t you?”

“Ancia’s cooking is the best.”

Blake smiled brightly. I was glad that he ate so well. Besides, Sungneung was delicious.

As expected, I really miss Korean food. The dessert was really delicious, but I felt warm inside after drinking the warm Sungneung.

Huh?

Suddenly I felt strange. I looked back. But there was no one.

That’s weird. I’m sure it felt like someone was watching us.

“Ancia, what’s wrong?”

“No, nothing.”

I shook my head. Maybe it’s an illusion.

***

“What’s going on?”

Tenstheon glanced at me. He was working in the office even though it was so late at night.

“You told me to come anytime.”

“Hmm.”

“I didn’t know it would be this fast. What’s the matter?”

It was only a few hours since the tea time, so he was surprised. However, it was the first day I used the cauldron.

“The East’s cooking apparatus, the ‘Cauldron’ came today. That’s why I made this dish. Go ahead and try this.”

I handed out the water from the pot to the emperor in a teacup.

The emperor stared at the unfamiliar food for a moment, then carefully opens his mouth.

“It tasted unique.”

“Don’t you like it?”

“No. It’s alright. But you’re very good at this.”

He took another sip.

“It was more delicious when it was still hot, but it cooled down a little on the way to the palace. If Your Majesty could come to Amoria Palace, I could make you something more delicious…”

“Amoria Palace” was the official name of the Southern Palace where the Crown Prince lived.

Amoria means love in imperial language. Did the name “Amoria” affect the emperor’s choice of residence for Blake among the numerous palaces?

But after hearing me, the Emperor froze. Anyhow, I had to stop here today.

I still have a lot of time, so let’s do this slowly.

“I’ll come often if you don’t mind.”

“Yes, come often.”

There was a warm smile on Tenstheon lips.

***

When he was chased by the troops with an arrow, Eunhan thought he was going to die.

However, he was lucky to meet a great master. Although he was his shadow that could not be revealed, there was no complaint. He took this path for himself.

He was not supposed to be known to the outside world. If he did something wrong, he could have done damage to his master, who saved him.

Eunhan faithfully fulfilled the emperor’s orders. Tenstheon himself, cared for Eunhan, and did not order him any dangerous or hard work.

When the emperor left for the valley of Chaos, he was a bit disappointed because he left him, but he had no choice but to follow his orders because he knew how much his master cared about his son.

He stayed at the Crown Prince’s palace every day to guard Blake. But that was the beginning of his pain.

Eunhan has been suffering day by day these days.

“Today’s dish is soybean paste stew!”

“I made a mushroom egg roll!”

“I made beef radish soup today. It’s still hot, so be careful.”

Ancia made Eastern cuisine every day. It was a little different from his hometown dish, but I could still imagine the flavor.

I thought I had forgotten the past now. However, as the food of his hometown was there in front of him, it made him miss the taste.

‘It looks delicious…’

Whenever Ancia cooked, he desperately suppressed his instinct to eat.

He was only a shadow. But he couldn’t stand his instinct.

Eunhan followed Tenstheon and tasted all kinds of delicacies that the emperor ate. But I didn’t feel any better.

He has often infiltrated aristocrats’ parties for missions, but he has never taken a glance at the food.

But why is the simple dish of the Crown Princess so mouth-watering?

I knew that she said she would make a cauldron, but I didn’t know that she would have implemented the shape so perfectly. Eunhan stroked the black cauldron carefully, taking advantage in the absence of people.

I suddenly thought of my dead mother. She used to cook those dishes for me.

People laughed at him saying that the emperor’s concubine was cooking herself, and that she was making such a nasty food, but she didn’t care at all and rolled up her sleeves to cook for her son.

Eunhan was filled with the memories of the past.

Returning to the Crown Prince’s palace, Ancia began to cook rice in a cauldron. When I saw the glossy white rice, my mouth was watering.

But it was not the end. After eating, Ancia poured water on the brown scorched rice and began to boil Sungneung.

Until now, he can put up with delicious dishes made with meat and seafood. However, Eunhan’s patience ran out.

He grow up fast, but in the end he was only a 14-year-old boy. At first he lost his purpose and wandered around the cauldron.

‘Only one sip.’

But his plan failed.