The moment Rensley’s consciousness returned, extinguished as if falling off a cliff, was just as abrupt when it came back.
Rensley’s eyes flickered and opened vividly. Without a single toss in the blanket, he sat up.
Due to not properly closing the curtains of the bedpost, the state of the room was apparent at a glance. The room that was bright with sunlight when he fell asleep now only had the dim light of candles, turning it dark.
Rensley swallowed his breath and hastily got out of bed. He had only intended to take a short nap, but it had turned into nighttime. Checking the clock, the small hand pointed to the upper left, indicating midnight.
Given his current confinement within the room, there was no one to blame for sleeping all day. However, he had the martial arts exam approaching soon. If irregular sleeping hours had a detrimental effect, what would he do? While contemplating whether to go back to sleep, Rensley found a small note on the table.
<I thought it was time for you to get hungry, so I came first, but you were sleeping so soundly that I didn’t wake you up. If you need a meal, call for me.>
It was a note left by Lady Samlet. Rensley frowned slightly. The word ‘meal’ triggered the hunger that had been buried in drowsiness. The sound of his stomach growling was distinct in the silent room.
However, it was too late to call the lady at this hour. She would probably come if he called, but what if she was asleep? It felt too burdensome to disturb her in the middle of the night.
Rensley circled the same spot, pondering the dilemma, then made a decision. He put on a dress over his sleeping attire. After the day the Duke helped him with the waistband, Rensley had asked Lady Samlet to prepare several outfits that he could easily put on from the front. Putting on an outer garment made his makeshift dress attire look reasonable.
Wearing a veil, he stepped into the corridor. Two guards who were patrolling tonight, unlike the first time, did not seem particularly surprised and accompanied Rensley without hesitation. When they arrived at the entrance to the underground laboratory, the guards, as before, maintained a perplexed expression and returned without further comment.
But tonight, Rensley did not knock on the door of the laboratory. Instead, he went back up the stairs and surveyed whether the guards had indeed retreated far enough.
The dark hall on the first floor seemed devoid of any sign of life. Rensley held his breath and sneaked through it like a thief. Nevertheless, having made excursions outside several times, he somewhat knew the structure of the castle. The location of the kitchen, where he had played the role of a laborer the day after arriving in Aldrant, was especially familiar.
After that day, he had met with those guys a few more times. Lately, due to keeping his promise to the Duke, he had been quietly detained and hadn’t met them at all. However, now that he had suddenly hidden his tracks, they might be curious about his whereabouts.
Rensley sneaked into the kitchen. It was empty, but thanks to the warmth from the oven, it wasn’t cold. After neatly arranging his veil, outer garment, and dress in one place, Rensley, really like a thief, relied on a single small candle to explore the kitchen here and there.
A variety of vegetables such as shallots, carrots, beans, and potatoes were gathered in one place, along with a chicken bone broth used for making soup. Although he thought about refraining from being greedy about stealing food, the hunger that had been buried in drowsiness made his stomach ache just from the word ‘meal.’ The gurgling sound was clear in the silence.
However, it was impossible to find tomatoes. Even though they were a common ingredient in Cornia, they seemed nowhere to be found in this cold place. Perhaps it was a material not used at all in Aldrant.
As hunger worsened to the point where even the energy to move disappeared, Rensley reluctantly gave up searching for tomatoes and rekindled the fire in the oven. As the flames grew, the kitchen, which had been dark, became bright red.
Worried that someone might notice his intrusion and come in, Rensley, who had been quietly listening outside, soon began cooking. Greasing the iron pot on the oven, he sautéed the finely chopped bacon. Next, he added shallots, a bit of herbs for fragrance, carrots, potatoes, and beans one by one.
As he sprinkled salt, the sweet and savory aroma emanated from the sautéed vegetables filled the kitchen. Just the smell made Rensley happy, and without realizing it, he found himself smiling. Suddenly, he became aware of the reality that he could be discovered by someone else.
Although he wanted to sauté the vegetables a little longer, he was a food thief now. He reluctantly poured in the broth and waited until it boiled vigorously before removing the pot from the fire. Gripping a large wooden spoon, he generously scooped up the still-hot soup, blowing on it lightly before swallowing.
“Wow!”
Forgetting that he needed to be quiet, Rensley couldn’t help but exclaim in delight.
“How long has it been?”
Unexpectedly moved, his eyes were on the verge of tears. It felt like it had been several years since he had tasted something that made him think it was delicious.
Although he thought he had become accustomed to Aldrant’s cuisine and wasn’t forcing himself to eat as he did initially, it turned out that everything was just an effort to survive. No matter how hungry he was, there was nothing delicious about it.
Rensley filled a dull bowl with soup. Sitting on a low stool used to poke the fire, he absentmindedly slurped it down. If there were tomatoes, it would have been closer to the taste of Cornia, but even without them, it wasn’t bad.
After hastily filling his stomach in the dim kitchen, Rensley gradually felt more relaxed. Now he planned to savor the remaining soup slowly. However, while considering moving the soup to another bowl, an odd thought crossed his mind.
‘Would Gezell still be in the laboratory today?’
From what he observed, the Duke often stayed alone in the laboratory studying or lost in thought until late at night. Perhaps today, he hadn’t gone up to his bedroom yet.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
If the opportunity arose, Rensley wanted to let him taste Cornian food. It wasn’t merely about repaying the debt with a simple vegetable soup, but providing a different experience for the Duke. Even a simple soup could be a novel experience for him, different from Aldrant’s cuisine.
The contemplation didn’t last long. Rensley prepared a new bowl and spoon, transferring all the remaining soup. Placing the bowl on a tray, he retraced his steps, returning to the path he had stealthily taken to avoid making noise.
Standing in front of the basement door, he pressed his face against it. Despite listening attentively, the interior was silent. However, since Gezell was naturally a quiet person, being alone might not make much difference in detecting his presence. It seemed certain that there was no one else around.
Tap, tap. He gently knocked on the door, but there was no response. Rensley, halfway giving up, pulled the door handle with a glimmer of hope. The door was not locked.
“Your Grace…?”
Rensley whispered as he slipped through the crack of the door.
In the fireplace, logs were burning, and as he took a few more steps inside, he saw Gezell sitting in the cozy chair. Now, it was a familiar sight, like a picture ingrained in his eyes.
However, Rensley couldn’t get closer to him and stayed silent, holding the tray without offering it. The laboratory’s atmosphere was usual, but there was a slight difference. Rensley stood there, not putting down the tray or offering it to Gezell.
Gezell Jivendad was asleep. Even with the saying that he slept well in front of the fireplace, it seemed true. Sleeping with his head tilted slightly and long eyelashes resting on his cheeks, he looked peaceful.
His black, long hair and thick eyelashes looked soft and smooth like leaves, yet they also appeared firm and sturdy, like branches in a windless place. Whether it was because of his high nose or the sharply defined jawline, even with closed eyes, his impression remained that of an uncompromising artist’s sculpted creation.
‘Strange. Why am I staring at His Grace’s face like this? I feel like having a drink.’
Staring absentmindedly at Gezell, Rensley suddenly regained his senses. He slightly moistened his lips and silently placed the soup bowl next to the table. Stealthily approaching the chair, he diverted his gaze to the book lying on Gezell’s knees.
Was the book that good? On the day he had spent a night in the Duke’s bedroom right after the wedding, he had opened the window like a fool, causing the bed to become cold, but it was still large, soft, and comfortable. It was challenging to understand why he, with such a luxurious sleeping arrangement, would choose to lie down on a makeshift bed or a simple chair in the basement.
Rensley bowed his head to peer into the book Gezell was reading. Ignoring the unintelligible diagrams, he followed each letter with his eyes.
<…And thus, I now seek to deny the commonly accepted principles of the creation and operation of elements among philosophers. They have always asserted that matter is controlled by the human mind. However, the source of the working of magic is not the human mind or spirit, and matter is nothing but matter. We now need to examine magic and ontology separately…>
While he could read the words, he didn’t understand the meaning. Now that he had become a genius, he thought he could understand anything quickly, but had only his memory improved?
“…When did you come?”
“Ah!”
Caught off guard by the sudden voice, Rensley, who had been crouching next to him while peering into the book, exclaimed unintentionally. Avoiding an awkward collision, he quickly raised his head, only to be met with Gezell’s eyes, now a warm pumpkin color, looking down at him as if just waking up. Rensley promptly stood up and took a few steps back.
“I’m sorry. I was curious about the book you were reading… I thought, now that I’ve become smarter, I might understand such a book quickly, but I guess not. I have no idea.”
“A book…? Did you come down because you wanted to read a book?”
“No, not exactly.”
Realizing his initial intention, Rensley went to the table, not forgetting to ask.
“Would Your Grace like to have supper?”
“Not particularly. I finished dinner a while ago, and I don’t eat much at night.”
“Ah, I thought so… But still, would you like to taste it? If you don’t want to eat, I can have it.”
The soup still emitted a warm aroma. Gezell looked at the bowl with an expression that asked what it was.
“Well, I took a nap during the day and woke up just now, so I missed dinner. It’s late to call Lady Samlet, and even though it’s risky, I borrowed the kitchen secretly. Don’t worry; no one noticed. It’s a Cornian vegetable soup I made, and it’s quite delicious. It’s not a grand dish, but I thought Your Grace might not have had the chance to taste food from another country, so I brought it to share if you’re okay with it.”
As Rensley extended the tray, Gezell stared at the bowl with an unenthusiastic expression. Even if he had put a lot of effort into making it with the intention of serving him from the beginning, Rensley wasn’t offended by his indifferent attitude.
“Thank you. I’ll have a little.”
Gezell, aware that his true feelings were already evident, politely thanked him and picked up the bowl and spoon. The soup, with broken pieces of potatoes scattered in it, looked appetizing even without tomatoes.
Gezell took a spoonful of soup. Rensley watched, not blinking, as Gezell’s expression remained unchanged. Waiting for praise or feedback, Rensley eventually had to ask.
“How is it?”
After swallowing a spoonful, Gezell, holding the empty spoon, remained silent. If it hadn’t suited his taste, he would have put it down immediately, so at least it wasn’t inedible, but his expression was more akin to suspicion than someone enjoying a tasty meal.
After tasting a few more spoonfuls, unable to contain himself, Gezell looked at Rensley as if he couldn’t take it anymore.
“Did you use magic?”
“Huh?”
Surprised by the question, Rensley laughed, realizing he might have made a joke.
“I’m not a magician, and I don’t know how to use magic. Is it to your liking?”
“It’s not about whether it suits my taste or not. It’s not that kind of problem.”
The laughter slowly faded from Rensley’s face. He had laughed, thinking it was a joke, but Gezell maintained his serious expression.
Although a few moments ago his expression clearly indicated he had no appetite, this time, his face displayed a mixture of astonishment and curiosity. Even in his usually expressionless demeanor, a hint of surprise lingered, making it seem as if he was slightly taken aback, at least momentarily.
Rensley laughed inwardly. At first, Gezell’s expression had seemed consistently straight, but it no longer appeared that way. It was amusing to realize how easily people could be misunderstood. Whether Gezell was aware of this or not, he spoke firmly.
“I’ve never tasted anything like this before.”
“Well, it’s Cornian cuisine. It’s different from Aldrant cuisine. We can’t get all the ingredients here, so it’s challenging to call it perfect Cornian cuisine, but…”
“Then, are other Cornian foods also different in taste?”
Rensley hesitated to answer. It varied. Strictly speaking, Rensley couldn’t be sure if the food he had been eating since arriving in Roudken was ‘Aldrant cuisine.’ It just felt like outdated royal cuisine, similar to the dishes served in the old palace.
In the inns he passed by within Aldrant territory, the food wasn’t outstanding enough to be considered delicious, but it wasn’t bad either. Rensley moved closer to him and asked.
“Do you like it?”
“It’s delicious.”
Gezell repeated Rensley’s words as if he were a child learning a new word. He wrinkled his forehead slightly, giving a faint smile that seemed bitter.
“It seems so. No, it really is delicious.”
“Your Grace.”
This time, Rensley raised his eyebrows. Aldrant, situated on harsh terrain and relatively isolated due to the imperial-centric system, had a reputation for being both vast in territory and powerful in military and economic strength.
This didn’t make sense. How could a ruler of such a powerful nation not know what good food was until now, at this age?
“Your Grace, I’ll make you more dishes! I have many recipes I can prepare. I’ve always been bad-mouthing the royal family, so your image of them might be bad, but Cornia is a good country. It’s known for its good weather, tasty food, and excellent drinks. People are warm and lively, and there are many places where you can enjoy festivals late into the night. So, later…”
Excitedly extending his words, Rensley suddenly stopped talking, as if forgetting the additional story.
“Later, if you’re bored, I can tell you stories about Cornia.”
Even if there was a chance to miraculously return, the Grand Duke had no reason to accompany him to a distant southern country.
The interrupted tale was patched up, and soon enough, the soup bowl revealed its bottom. It was the most unfamiliar scene since meeting Gezell.
Although they hadn’t dined together often, Rensley had never seen Gezell show any interest in food, considering his dull life spent studying in a sun-deprived laboratory.
However, Gezell was also a human being. It was understandable that he lacked a strong appetite, given his secluded study life. Nevertheless, the ruler of such a powerful nation should not be ignorant of what delicious food was. When Rensley looked at the clean bowl, he felt a slight sense of despair. Rensley, who knew the Duke’s mind could not return to Cornia, felt a small pang of sorrow.
Without the possibility of returning to Cornia, practically being expelled, Rensley’s situation was as good as the Duke’s. Even if a miracle happened and he could return, the Duke had no reason to accompany him to a distant southern country.
“Where did you learn cooking?”
“In the kitchen. I grew up closer to the servants than to the royal family members. Since I couldn’t dine with those noble beings, I often ate in the kitchen. The cooks and kitchen workers used to entertain me a lot. It’s amusing. The royals might have thought they were living by eating the most delicious things, but in reality, about six out of ten times, they set aside the most delicious part for me. If I got caught by the head chef, I would get scolded, but deep down, they liked me. Otherwise, they would have reported me to the education officer long ago. Anyway, hanging around the kitchen naturally led me to learn how to cook.”
“We should be grateful to them.”
Gezell gestured for Rensley to come closer. While Rensley was tidying up the dishes and spoons, Gezell’s face, now stained with candlelight, felt even softer than when he was asleep.
“Even if you fail the knight’s test, you can work as a chef in the Grand Duke’s residence. Then you can make me these dishes every day.”
“A chef?”
Rensley chuckled for a moment. Even if Gezell learned about Rensley’s chatty nature, he had no intention of denying it. Nevertheless, Rensley had a sense of pride that he was not just someone who spoke with their mouth.
“About the story I told you during the day.”
“The story from the day?”
“To prepare for the martial arts test, you need a place for training and opponents, right? I’ll arrange it starting tomorrow.”
Rensley’s eyes widened.
“You’re helping with the training too? But for sparring, you need an opponent…”
In the Grand Duchy, only three people knew about Rensley’s true identity: Knight Commander Anton, Chamberlain Samlet, and the Head Magician Larcof. Anton, who did not seem to like Rensley even if you saw him upside down, did not seem likely to be the training partner. Larcoff was a magician, not a swordsman or martial artist. Then, perhaps…
“Is Lady Samlet a hidden master?”
“What are you talking about?”
Gezell closed the book on his knee and placed it on the small table.
“I’ll be your sparring partner, Sir Maelrosen.”
“What?”
Rensley’s voice reflexively raised. Gezell met his eyes as if asking what the problem was.
Rensley swallowed dry saliva. Words rushed to him, but he exerted every effort not to spit them out.
‘Your Grace, surely you are much taller and sturdier than me. However, being bigger does not necessarily mean winning in swordsmanship or martial arts. If that were the case, wouldn’t all the kings of every country fill their armies or knight orders with giant individuals? Even if Your Grace, who sits here every day reading books and devoting yourself to academia, wants to seriously engage in martial arts with an aspiring knight, how can I freely swing a sword with all my strength? Even if Your Grace were to get injured by my hand, I would become a sinner who cannot even move a finger in front of you, feeling like a living statue. Please, reconsider your words.’
‘… How can I turn this around to decline the duel without hurting the Duke’s feelings?’
While Rensley stood in silence, Gezell, thinking the conversation had ended, spoke first.
“So, go back to your bedroom now and get some rest. You need to be well-rested to start training tomorrow.”
“…Alright.”
“The empty dishes don’t need to be cleared by you. I’ll instruct the servants tomorrow.”
In the end, Rensley couldn’t utter a single word and had to return to his room.
You can have your husband swooning over you with just a simple late night supper 😘.
Someone said it right ‘The way to the husband’s heart is through his stomach ‘
Their interactions are so lovable.
Gezell is the type of person who is stoic and stiff, but when they fall, they fall hard.
Thank you so much for chapter. It was absolutely beautiful 💗
thank you for cheering me on(┬┬﹏┬┬)💛
🥰🥹🥺👍👍
Yum yum chap 🗣️🗣️💕💕👍🫂
Rensley has little to no faith kn Gezell’s martial arts and that’s hilarious