Interlude

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I’ve hated Clear Kay since the day Aisa first mentioned him in her letters.

My life’s become utterly dull ever since Aisa left for home. The extra time I make during official business, which used to be spent with her, became everyday humdrum in which I’d absent-mindedly stare at a book. Atema was the only one who’d talk with me sometimes.

Reading Aisa’s letters was one of the few pleasures I’d look forward to during these days of mind-numbing boredom.

Whenever I wrote back to her, I’d often try and word things to make it sound like I was lonely, in hopes that she’d get the hint and come back.

One time, I finally got another letter from Aisa a full 20 days after I sent her mine. I excitedly ripped open the envelope to read her reply, only to find half the letter being about a man in the desert she saved, called Clear Kay.

From what she said, it appears that he started living under the same roof as her, despite being completely unrelated to her family. And to make it worse, Aisa clearly seemed to be concealing a favorable impression of him.

“I take strolls with Kay everyday.” “Kay is gradually learning our language.” “Kay’s cooking was so good!”

Aisa would seldom talk about her family. It was the first time I saw her focusing on a single person for this long.

News of Clear Kay reached my father through the intelligence service, and caused quite an uproar when they suspected he was a foreigner.

At the time, I couldn’t have cared less about his origins. I was, however, irked about his and Aisa’s impending visit to the palace.

***

My first impression of him was that he looked as average as any man out there, until I learned he was a chef. Of all the types of work out there, he worked in the single most bothersome field I could hope for. After the dinner party, Aisa said:

“I’m thinking of having Kay be my sakla preparator.”

I writhed over this possible turn of events since reading Aisa’s letters, and now that it reached my ears, I looked as if I’d given up the ghost.

“You already have Hagan, don’t you?” I tried to get her to reconsider, but…

“I prefer Kay.”

She wasn’t having it.

As skilled as he might be, there was no way he could be better than the head of the royal kitchen. Since then, my mind replaying that has become one of my most terrifying nightmares.

There’s no way a man who showed up out of nowhere would be made a sakla preparator as easy as that. He’s an outsider. To my surprise, however, both my father and Hagan, who’s supposed to be replaced soon, readily agreed with Aisa’s decision.

My father made him a preparator under the guise of wanting him to share knowledge of his world’s food culture, but there was no need to go to that extent. I never could understand why everyone was so eager to welcome him.

***

The night of the celebration of Clear Kay’s nomination, the worst night ever noted in my calendar, arrived. I was surprised to find his cooking actually delicious; I likewise understood how he stole Aisa’s heart, through her stomach.

Speaking of hearts, an incident that essentially stabbed mine happened after.

Upon learning that Aisa would be eaten once she ripens, Clear Kay furiously slandered our culture to a point that he even dared to criticize Aisa in front of my father. Quite honestly, I secretly rejoiced at this unexpected outcome. I had no doubt he’d be demoted from his position as a sakla preparator.

There was no forgiving what he did. He hurt Aisa, the very one who always wished for him to stand by her. She bolted from the hall in a tearful rage, and came to my room soon after.

“I’m such an arrogant person; to have yelled at him simply because he didn’t accept me,” she said with tears streaming. That wasn’t true at all.

I lost it after seeing Aisa so downtrodden, and headed straight to the official residence to give him a piece of my mind. After not finding him there, I instead encountered one of my father’s servants nearby and had him return after hearing the message he was to pass on. My father’s plan regarding Clear Kay was still a mystery, so I judged that I should transmit the message in its entirety. I hoped he’d refuse my father’s offer out of guilt, saying something like “I don’t deserve to be her chef.”

Reality, however, was never so kind.

“Right now, I in no way can accept Aisa being eaten. I’m sure there’s a better way for her to live her life. I want to see her walk that path.”

I was as angry as ever, hearing him preach some self-righteous nonsense about how Aisa should live her life. However, an unshakable resolve in his eyes left an impression that eliminated any desire to blame him further.

With that, Clear Kay’s position as a sakla preparator was temporarily rescinded; an overly lenient and foolish decision if you ask me.

Aisa, do you really want that man to cook you? Aren’t you afraid he’ll say no once you ripen? You should reconsider.

I always wanted to convince her otherwise with such words, but could never bring myself to confront her. I could only hope she’s already considered the risks in selecting Clear Kay as her preparator.

***

A long time passed since Clear became a royal chef. One day, Aisa says:

“Kay’s going to make the miso. Come make it with us, Isela.”

Miso was apparently a traditional seasoning of the world he came from. He visited the market with Aisa, utterly unforgivable, the other day and bought the ingredients from a legume store.

I couldn’t imagine myself standing in the same kitchen with he and Aisa working together and gave back a vague reply, intending not to show up. Eventually, I lost to my curiosity and ended up visiting the kitchen as soon as I finished with work.

Even Clear was astonished, asking what I came for. Shut up! I didn’t want to go either! I can’t say no to Aisa, though.

***

I found my first dish, if you can call it that, repulsively fun to make.

It looked like a lump of mud that could get under my nails at first, but it wasn’t long before I was completely absorbed in the process of mixing with Aisa.

As disrespectful as it might sound towards ingredients and food, I felt like I was playing a game. I had plenty of toys and dolls as a child, but I never had as much fun with them as I did that day.

At one point, I checked to make sure Clear was nowhere near me, only to find him watching us with a smile as he made dumplings from a giant lump of beans. Revolting. And yet, I enjoyed it up until we finished, and even wished it could’ve lasted a bit longer.

***

“I can’t wait for the miso to be ready,” Aisa proclaimed with a cheerful voice when we left the kitchen, despite being down in the dumps when she heard she had to wait six months.

I nodded in agreement. I was already looking forward to the miso to finish fermenting once I tasted the white wine and grilled fish Clear said we were cooking with it.

It was at that point that my father’s decision to integrate Clear and the food culture of his world began making sense. The knowledge of his world would inevitably affect our country in a good way.

From then on, I’d slowly grow to realize that Clear wasn’t a bad person at all which, by the way, I found hateful.

I couldn’t stand the way he’d pretend to be an adult in front of Aisa and me, but he had a benevolent attitude and thoughtful way of teaching.

He’s courteous with other chefs, too. The more I learn of him, the more I see that how he’s treated in the palace is a reflection of how he treats everyone else.

While it’s true he was the one who cut Aisa so deep, he’s still a good person. My feelings towards Clear Kay became hazy as time went on. Eventually, I no longer found myself hating him.

There was even a time father scolded me for acting so cold to him. He ordered me to return his greetings, were we to pass each other by, and surprisingly, I obediently accepted without a hint of displeasure.

I still couldn’t bring myself to quite like him, though… I never thought how I saw him would change, until a certain event happened close to Aisa’s 14th birthday.

***

“I want you to teach me how to make sweets.”

“With pleasure.”

Clear seemed genuinely astounded when I asked for his help.

The sixth month of the 486th year of the monarchy calendar. A few days before Aisa’s birthday, I had Clear teach me how to cook for the first time. I only asked due to what happened that morning.

I woke up and checked the calendar. The few things that came to my mind when I did were my duties for the day and Aisa’s birthday present, which I still hadn’t decided on.

I always worry about what to get Aisa when her birthday comes around. She gave me this last year, so I should give her that this year. But then, what do I give Atema? It was puzzling, but fun to think of the presents we give each other.

“Clear will be taking charge of Aisa-sama’s birthday celebration,” Hagan declared at the breakfast table.

I think I inadvertently frowned when he said it, but that shouldn’t be a surprise since he’s the next sakla preparator.

“I’m sure he’s not a bad person…”

“I know.”

Hagan seemed to be aware of how I felt about Clear. I mean, I don’t hate him as much as I used to, but… that’s all it is. It’s not that I like him now. Maybe I’m just mad I was interrupted while wondering what to get Aisa.

“What do you think of Clear Kay as a chef, Hagan.”

“How to put it…”

I asked a question that flashed in my mind. Hagan replied while caressing his white beard:

“He’s an astute person, I’d dare say. And an earnest one, to boot. But I believe his greatest attribute to be his insatiable curiosity for our world’s food culture.”

He didn’t seem to be lying, as Aisa said the same thing. According to her, Clear started cooking for her family before he could even speak our language. As soon as he recovered, he wasted no time learning of Asilia’s culture.

“He must’ve been an expert back in his world.”

“…I bet so.”

I was a complete novice in culinary arts, but I at least knew that much. He would be the perfect royal chef for the palace if his beliefs towards the sakla culture didn’t get in the way. I guess that’s why he captured the hearts of everyone who tasted his cooking.

“Perhaps it was God who chose him to come to our world…”

“…That is possible.”

Hagan agreed, albeit somewhat reluctant sounding.

Through Clear’s culinary skills, he is able to stand by Aisa’s side. I always hated him for this, but doesn’t that mean…

“I’m jealous… aren’t I?” I subconsciously muttered in a low voice.

Immediately, I came back to my senses. Hagan was staring at me with a snarky grin on his face. He probably heard that.

“You didn’t hear anything,” I said, trying to put on a serious face while I was turning red.

I lifted my spoon to take a sip of the soup before it cools. The flavor of the strained potatoes along with the saltiness of root crops and the hint of fishiness spread in my mouth. It wasn’t strong in flavor, but had a delectably creamy texture.

I took bites from the bread, cheese, and the pickled skin of shilda melons together with sips of the soup. It was a joyful time, until Hagan called me.

“Miss Isela.”

“Yes?”

“How about you try cooking something for Lady Aisa’s birthday?”

“Me… cook something?

“Yes, you.”

All of my presents to Aisa were handmade. The first one I remember giving her was a crown I made by braiding Asilian flowers. Two years ago, a caricature. I couldn’t attend last year, so I thought I’d practice an instrument before she returns and play for her. While doing so, I received a letter from her talking about Clear.

Actually, I’ve never given her a food-type present. She gets to eat whatever she likes from Hagan and Clear’s cooking, after all. Everything edible in this place is prepared by either of them.

That was the main reason I wasn’t sure about food for a present. There’s no way I could cook better than the royal chefs.

“You think I could make something better than Clear Kay if he taught me?”

“How about you make sweets?”

“Sweets…”

“Right… We plan to entrust everything for this year’s birthday to the regular pâtissier. Perhaps you can take that position.”

“I shall talk with him so you can take over his position if you wish.” Hagan added.

“I’ve heard that it’s popular for young ladies to confer their handmade sweets in celebrations.”

“…I wonder if I can do it. I mean, I’ve never cooked anything before…”

“Did you not make miso with Lady Aisa just the other day? I’m sure you can handle it,” Hagan explained as if to bolster my lack of confidence.

He’s supposed to be like a strict military commander in the kitchen, yet he acts like a kind grandfather when dealing with Aisa and me.

I recalled the day we made miso, it was a lot of fun. I even wished it could’ve gone on longer. Besides, thinking that I could make Aisa happier by having her eat something I helped make felt somewhat satisfying.

“I’ll give a try, Hagan.”

Softly clenching my fist, I committed to it. Hagan gave a delighted smile when he heard that.

***

“So, why’d you come to me…?”

Clear looked to be at a loss for words while I recounted the whole story.

“Hagan was planning to have the regular pâtissier assist him in making simple sweets.”

“I think that’s fair.”

He had the same reaction as Hagan when I told him I’d ask Clear for help, wondering if everything was okay upstairs. Well, considering my cold treatment of him in the past, it’s to be expected.

“Should I have not come? Am I not good enough?”

“N-Not at all. I’d be more than happy to teach you the way to make sweets… I just don’t personally specialize in baking, so I figured you’d be better off asking a more experienced royal chef in case you want to make something traditional or-”

Explaining that far, he halted, seemingly noticing my point. He opened his eyes wide.

“Would you teach me how to make sweets from your world? I want to surprise Aisa with something she’s never tasted.”

He finally seemed to catch on.

“Am I getting in over my head, thinking I can do this as a complete novice?”

My instructor would’ve likely scolded me if he knew I was planning to get involved in something without understanding the basics.

“Of course not,” Clear giggled, shaking his head in denial.

“One of the best things about cooking is the fact that you don’t need any experience in order to get started. And your cooking will still taste good even if it doesn’t come out exactly as you hope.”

“It’s for Aisa, so it needs to come out how I want…”

“That’s what I’m here for. I’m sure Aisa would be happy with anything you make, so long as there aren’t any glaring mistakes,” He replied in a teasing manner.

“I-I won’t make any mistakes! Rather, I’ll try my best not to.”

A gentle smile crossed Clear’s face. Unlike my reaction to Hagan’s smile, I felt kind of irritated seeing this one. But since I decided to stop glaring at him for no reason, I ended up looking stone-faced.

***

With two days until Aisa’s birthday, I headed to Clear’s private kitchen at the appointed time.

I haven’t been here since the day we made miso. Four paper bags, one bottle, and a water tray were placed on the polished table.

Soaked beans were on the tray. Unlike the beans I used the other day, these were here longer and had a light crimson brown color.

“These are called yudia beans. I bought them from the market yesterday.”

“With Aisa?”

“No, alone.”

Letting out a sigh, I prompted him to continue.

“We’ll be making a dessert that has yudia beans as the main ingredient.”

The first thing coming to my mind was miso, but then I remembered it needs a long period of time to ferment. Clear placed the beans inside a copper cauldron and moved it to the range as he continued explaining.

“What we’re going to make today is an, or pastry filling. It’s basically a fried or boiled mixture of beans that’s wrapped in dough after.”

I thought of a few dishes cooked under the same concept. Perhaps they’re also a type of an.

“This time, we’re making a sweet type of an using Yudia beans. In my world, we call it anko.”

The water in the cauldron started boiling and Clear lifted it away from the range then adjusted the fire.

“Wouldn’t it boil faster if you made the fire more intense?”

“That’s not necessarily the case. Low heat is a key technique in top tier cooking.”

Clear laughed at my ignorant remark again. Isn’t he being a little rude now?

“Beans take a long time to cook, I suggest you wait for-”

“Can you let me cook them?”

He laughed again and agreed.

“Aisa asked me the same thing the other day.” He added.

Following Clear’s instructions, I stirred the cauldron every now and again until the beans were well cooked. It was a simple task compared to stirring the miso mixture before, though I couldn’t help sweating pretty profusely in all the heat.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Aisa did it too, didn’t she?”

Cooking the beans is a two step process. First, we boil them until soft, then take them off the fire and drain. Apparently, this process extracts the sourness from the beans.

We repeat a second time until the beans split, then add double the amount of water and continue boiling.

The next step was to check the taste of the beans. Clear told me to pick a single bean and taste it. It didn’t taste very sweet yet, but it was so soft.

We turned off the range and poured a little cold water at a time to gradually cool down the beans. We then poured all the water in the pot before Clear took the paper bags from the table. Opening one of the bags, he showed me what was inside. It was white powder. Each grain looked like a crystal.

“Is that… sugar?”

“That’s right. I chose coarse granules this time, as I thought it would fit the best with the anko.”

Clear lifted giant bags of sugar and sank the beans in the cauldron with them. I can’t think of any word other than ‘sink’ that would properly describe the way he poured the sugar.

“We need that much?”

“We need much more than this for traditional anko, one-eighth the amount of beans, roughly. But since many people don’t like it too sweet, I figure this much should suffice.”

To me, it felt more than sufficient. These anko sweets must cost quite a lot in using this much expensive sugar. Clear agreed as he replied almost immediately.

“The ingredient cost is indeed very high. However, you can use honey as a substitute, albeit not as sweet as sugar. There is also salt. You can make delicious anko using only salt. I’ll be making that later, by the way.”

I nodded in compromise. This was the first time I showed him my honest and impressed reaction.

We then cooked the mixture of beans and sugar while adding a fixed amount of water until it finished. I let out a sigh of relief, and Clear exclaimed in excitement.

I watched him put the mixture in several containers and finally take a spoon, scooped a spoonful, and handed it to me.

“Being the first to taste a dish is a privilege for the one who cooked it.”

He gave the spoon to me. It looked like a dark red version of the miso, but with a sweet smell.

“it’s still a little hot, so be careful not to burn your tongue.”

“I know.”

Fuu, Fuu. Blowing at the spoon, I moved it into my mouth. It was sweet… oh so sweet. It was as he said. The sweetness wasn’t overbearing, but instead merged perfectly with the tender flavor of the beans, creating a fine balance. The sugar grains had a unique taste, and the entire mixture was thick. It was a sweet taste that filled my mouth and brought happiness to my worn out body.

“… We… We made this, didn’t we?”

“That’s right. You made this, princess.”

It was indeed an exceptional taste. I knew that I made some inevitable mistakes, but his words about the result still tasting good despite that were correct.

Clear tasted the mixture after me. His expression implied that everything was alright. I stroked my chest and let out a relieved sigh.

***

The next task was to make the dough that we’ll fill with the anko mixture. It wasn’t too time-consuming to do, but it was definitely the most challenging.

Mixing wheat flour, eggs, and a whitish wine which Clear made from rice, we created, or rather, he created, a wet dough that he says may come out hard for someone inexperienced. After that, he poured the mixture into a buttered skillet and put it inside the range.

As a result, the dough was baked till dark brown. I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t have turned out like that if I baked it myself. It would’ve probably come out partly raw and eventually end up in a tragic state when I returned it to the range.

Clear taught me many tips for baking. He described the amount of dough that should be baked at once, the thickness expected from the bread, when to flip it, and many other things. In the end, he concluded that I would get used to the process through experience and by learning from my faults.

When it was my turn to try baking the bread, I made several fruitless attempts. By the time I managed to bake it into a clean color, I was clenching my fists in embarrassment while Clear applauded me from behind. It goes without saying the pile of failed dough came from me.

We poured honey on two loaves of anko bread and ate them together with two cups of torj blossom tea Clear prepared.

The baked anko bread was surprisingly soft from the inside despite its roasted outward appearance. Most of the anko loaves of bread smelled and tasted sweet. And by most, I mean that some of them did not taste as good.

“Sorry for taking your time for something like this…”

“Not at all. It’s not bad, really. You did well for a beginner.”

I bit into one of my self-made anko and chewed it.

I get it now. It doesn’t… taste as good as it could. It’s bitter, hard, and lacking a sweet smell. But for some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to call it bad. Perhaps it’s due to the connection that came from having made it with my own hands.

“I will make something good for Aisa’s birthday, for sure. Just wait.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Clear picked up another burnt anko and ate it. At that point, his smile no longer irritated me.

***

My father couldn’t attend Aisa’s birthday due to a council meeting, but that didn’t stop Clear from exhibiting his culinary skills by filling the table with various dishes. From the day he taught me to cook, I came to sincerely enjoy his meals.

Today, Aisa and I sat next to each other and appreciated the food.

However, I got up and left before long, calling a bathroom break. Then…

“You made this, Isela?!”

“That’s right…”

Waiting for Atema and the maids to finish serving, I went to my room and brought the sweets I baked. Aisa widened her eyes. Her reaction unexpectedly went far beyond how she reacts to Clear’s cooking.

The plate had round-shaped fruits dipped in a bittersweet fruit juice on top of the anko I made together with Clear.

Thanks to his training, I was able to bake the dough to a beautiful color. I won’t deny that I messed up twice, but that’s still quite the improvement.

“Can I eat some?” Aisa asked permission with large, glistening eyes.

“Of course,” I answered as she thrust her fork into the fruits and yudia bean anko.

“Itadakimasu… So… good!! Isela! It’s so soft, and… I’ve never tasted these beans. They’re so tasty!”

“…T-Thanks. I guess it was worth all the effort.”

Her honest impression warmed my chest in gratification.

Everything I made was a far cry from what other chefs or Clear could make. The best thing I could do was to try and not fail. But that didn’t matter to Aisa at all, as the sweets just genuinely seemed to make her happy.

“But… is this…”

Aisa suddenly stopped to look at the ingredients, her face suddenly looking curious.

“It’s kinda similar to the white wine Kay made… I’ve never seen these beans, either. Could it be…”

I shivered at her sharp intuition. I wasn’t trying to hide the fact he taught me, but it’s not like I necessarily wanted to bring it up…

“Kay, this sweet…”

“Hm? What is it?”

Aisa’s question was obvious, but Clear insisted on feigning ignorance. I glanced at him for an instant and addressed Aisa:

“Um, Aisa…”

“Yes?”

“The truth is, I actually…”

I knew I had to say it, but…

“Clear taught me to make them,” I spilled the truth with tightly closed eyes.

“Isela… and Kay…?”

“Yes…”

All I did was work under his instruction; everything was thanks to his wisdom in baking. I felt pitiful despite being the one who came to ask him in the first place.

“Isela.”

Hearing my name, I slowly lifted my head and opened my eyes to see Aisa jumping at me for a hug.

“Thank you so much! I’m so happy right now! I’m really, really happy!” She yelled close to my ear.

“Ah…”

“I can’t believe you asked Kay to teach you how to make sweets just for me! I’m incredibly happy! Thank you, and I love you… Isela? You feel a little hot. Are you okay?”

Sensing something off, she took a step back.

Aww, too bad…

That was the first thought to cross my mind when Aisa stepped back

“Thank you too, Kay.”

“You’re welcome.”

Sharing her gratitude to Kay as well, she shifted her sight back and forth between the both of us.

“Kay and Isela are getting along now, right? Let’s celebrate this, too!”

Aisa joyfully clapped her hands, returning me back to my senses as my eyes met Clear’s.

Getting along, huh… I mean, I was under his care the other day; and while I don’t hate him now, I can’t get rid of this strange feeling. He appeared to be nervous as well. Well, for the time being…

“…Thank you. Thank you so much, Kay.”

“You’re welcome, Isela. I told you, you can make delicious sweets if you try.”

Regardless of whether you might call us friends or not, that was when I started calling him by his actual name.

***

“Hoh… hm, very delicious, Isela.”

“T-Thank you.”

I shared some of the sweets with my father afterward, when he returned from the meeting.

Most had cooled down already, but my father was still pleased and praised me as he ate them. Contrary to being nervous when I presented them to Aisa, right now I was afraid he might outright refuse them. I’ve never seen him eat sweets.

“I hope you thanked Clear Kay for teaching you to bake something so delicious.”

“Yes. I need to thank Hagan, too.”

“Hagan?”

My father reacted with an unnoticeable twitch. When I explained to him that everything was due to Hagan’s suggestion, he went quiet for a brief moment, then nodded as if he understood everything.

“Father?”

“Yulem… Your mother used to enjoy making sweets, too.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I still remember the days when she used to make sweets for your siblings and the maids.”

I heard that my mother passed away as soon as she gave birth to me. All I know of her is her face, from portraits around the palace. As far as I can remember, this was the first time father told me anything of her hobbies or personality.

“She was a young lady like you when I took her for my bride. Before she gave birth to you, she would often talk about having a daughter and teaching her to cook sweets. Alas…”

She died in solitude, not being allowed a proper ganzara. Could it perhaps be that Hagan made that suggestion because he knew about her ungranted wish?

“Father…”

“What is it?”

“No, it’s nothing. Nevermind.”

A little time passed as we sat, silently drinking from our teacups. Maids were on standby to refill.

I’ll learn to pour tea next, I decided while taking a sip.

Around the time I finished, I stood up to leave father’s room. I had to hurry and meet with Aisa before she goes to sleep. Just as I was getting ready to leave, my father called me, seeming oddly formal this time.

“Your sweets tasted wonderful. I’m sure Aisa loved them, too.”

“Yes, she did…”

“Good. By the way…”

“Yes?”

I was completely unprepared for what he said:

“Wouldn’t it be okay to let Aisa know how you feel?”

***

“What in the world are you saying!?” I rushed out with my head feeling like it was on fire.

Unbelievable. I never thought he was the type to say something like that.

I don’t mind him being happy about me and Kay finally getting along, but turning every friendly relationship with the opposite sex into romance is just ridiculous! My head may as well have been an erupting volcano as I headed to my room.

“Welcome back, Isela.”

Seeing Aisa waiting on my bed in her pajamas, I started to calm down.

There’s always been an unspoken promise between the two of us, that we spend our birthdays in each other’s rooms. We’d have pleasant talks and play games until we fell asleep. That said, we do it often on normal days, as well.

I changed into my pajamas and sat next to Aisa. She was still thrilled from the party, and said with a serious face:

“Isela, your sweets were really good.”

“Thank you. I’ll make something even better for your next birthday.”

Aisa exposed a smooth grin, I followed with a smile. I was glad to have challenged myself in making sweets for her birthday.

“…Isela, I thought you didn’t like Kay.”

“I didn’t, but that’s changed now.”

“Why did you use to hate him?”

“…That’s a secret.”

While I couldn’t say that I was jealous of him for being so close with her, I was embarrassed to think of the childish attitude I treated him with.

“He’s a great chef, isn’t he?”

“Of course! I’ve been telling you that for so long.”

I believed her from the day I tasted his cooking for the first time, but couldn’t quite admit it.

Aisa laid her head on top of my lap as she always does, Her azure eyes fixed on me. Those eyes caused waves to stir in me every time I see them.

“Is it because of him that you decided to cook me something?”

“…It might’ve been.”

I’ve treated him as a rival since I first heard of him, that means he’s already been a big influence on me.

The fact I asked his help face to face means I’ve been allured by the delicacies of his world like everyone else. Due to that, I can’t help feeling defeated.

“Isela?”

“…I’m fine.”

Aisa called my name in a concerned voice. What a spoiled girl I am, I thought to myself.

I found myself ultimately unable to suppress my jealousy, despite only feeling grateful to him now. I remember doing the same thing when I was ten, troubling Aisa when Atema became her maid.

In spite of my poor personality, Aisa never changed. Using my lap as a pillow, she reached her hand to my cheeks and gently caressed them.

“Let’s stay together forever, Isela.”

“Of course, forever.”

“We’ll definitely stay together. You, me, Kay, dad, mom, brother, the king, Hagan, and everyone else. I’m always at your side.”

In a year or two down the road, Aisa will get dismembered and eaten by everyone related to the royal family. She was probably including what comes after when she said “forever,” being part of everyone who eats her.

“I won’t let you go, even if you marry the prince of another country, you know?”

“…Like that’s going to happen. I’ll never marry.”

We kept talking about trivial things until Aisa gradually fell asleep on top of my lap. It was already midnight.

I spoke to her in a low voice while she slept, so as to not wake her up.

“You say ‘with everyone,’ but…”

You said that with him in mind, didn’t-

I managed to stop myself.

I fiddled with her long hair that sank to the floor. I touched her cheeks, ever so gently, assuring she wouldn’t wake up.

Her beautiful and lovely hair, her fair skin, her azure pupils and thin lips. Her throat, emitting her vivid voice. Her fingers that touched me countless times… everything about her… will eventually…

“No man in this world desires to eat you more than I do…”

I shall bear Aisa’s body and soul for the rest of my life. That was the sole conviction I made, confident I would never sway.

an(餡): red bean paste prepared by boiling beans, then mashing or grinding them. Anko that is mentioned later is a type of an that is sweeter.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anko

Translator note: Hey, the interlude came pretty late but definitely a lot better than how it would have been if posted before edited by Galooza, the new editor who joined me in this book!

He did an amazing job at editing the previous chapters as well and I also got to proofread them later. I guess those who chose to wait for the ebook before reading have made the right choice, lol.

Next chapters to come won’t take as much time.

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