𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩-𝐤𝐮𝐧
Looking at the ingredients for tomorrow’s meal, I hum to myself as I consider the menu.
Tomorrow’s directive is to use duck meat, but I’ve never really cooked with duck before. I could make duck nanban, but having Japanese cuisine all the time doesn’t feel right.
ㅤ
The sound of the door opening rings out, and the person who appears is a calm, handsome man who also arrived late for lunch.
ㅤ
“Thank you for your hard work. Welcome back. The meal will be ready shortly.”
“You’re still here?”
“I was thinking about tomorrow’s menu. Also, freshly fried food tastes the best.”
ㅤ
He was the only one not present for dinner and looked slightly disheveled. His knight’s uniform was dusty at the hem, and his hair was a little messy.
He must have been practicing alone.
ㅤ
I serve the leftover turnip salad for one, along with reheated soup and rice on a tray.
When I look up, our eyes meet━his a clear, light brown━and I inadvertently freeze.
A moment of silence ensues.
ㅤ
“Um, is there something you need?”
“It smells good.”
“Ah, the karaage will be ready soon. Please wait a moment.”
ㅤ
The handsome man gently lifts the tray laden with freshly fried karaage.
ㅤ
“I’m the only one here now, so I will carry it.”
“Being singled out for special treatment isn’t good. It will draw attention.”
ㅤ
It seems this man doesn’t have a very high status. Though he is certainly of higher standing than me, he might be considered lower within this context.
In that case, it’s best not to assist him too much. I bow and retreat to the back of the kitchen, but he quickly calls out to me.
ㅤ
“This is really delicious.”
“Thank you. It’s freshly fried.”
“What is Miss Norchev doing?”
“I am thinking about tomorrow’s menu.”
“Why don’t you sit here? I’d like to see the menu for tomorrow.”
ㅤ
I have no choice but to obey what sounds like a polite command. I stand slightly behind the handsome man.
ㅤ
“Why are you standing?”
“I am a kitchen maid.”
“You must be tired from cooking for so many people alone. Come, sit.”
ㅤ
The calm, handsome man pulls out a chair. And it’s the one next to him.
Why next to him?! I don’t want to sit near a handsome man!
I can’t voice such thoughts, so I reluctantly sit down with a composed face and hand him the menu notes.
ㅤ
“Tomorrow’s menu looks delicious too. Have you decided on dinner yet?”
“Embarrassingly, I’m not familiar with cooking duck, so I’m unsure about how to prepare it.”
“Duck confit and roast are common.”
“Thank you. I will prepare it that way.”
ㅤ
My previous attempt was dry, but now I have a reliable ally, Prep-kun. With Prep-kun, I can’t go wrong.
After all, Prep-kun does the optimal preparation for each ingredient. While it might not be professional-grade, it’s certainly better than what I can do.
Glancing sideways, I see that the handsome man’s karaage is all gone. His high-bridged nose is evident in his profile, which somehow seems unsatisfied.
ㅤ
“Shall I fry more karaage?”
“. . .Can I ask for that?”
“You’ve been training so late; it’s natural to be hungry. Please wait a moment.”
ㅤ
I fry all the portion that I had intended for my own late-night snack and return. Once again, the chair next to him is pulled out for me. After a few seconds of silent resistance, I give in and sit down.
Is it normal here to eat karaage with a fork and knife?
My tired mind starts to drift off, and the calm, handsome man tilts his head. Despite this gesture usually appearing calculating, it becomes captivating when he does it.
ㅤ
“Is something the matter?”
ㅤ
Realizing that I had been unknowingly staring at the handsome man’s hands, I quickly refocused. Sensing that the atmosphere wouldn’t welcome an apology for spacing out, I hurriedly searched for a new topic of conversation.
ㅤ
“. . .Was wondering if lord knights are allowed to drink or smoke in their private rooms.”
“Permission granted.”
“Thank you. That clears things up.”
ㅤ
I should prepare some fried chicken as a late-night snack later. There was someone who seemed really disappointed that there was no alcohol.
ㅤ
“I’ll take care of the dishes, so please leave them as they are.”
“Alright, I’ll leave it to you. Looking forward to tomorrow.”
“Yes, goodnight.”
“Yeah, goodnight.”
ㅤ
After the calm, handsome man left, I waited for a full minute before slumping down into the chair.
I’ve gotten quite used to the handsome man throughout the day, but it’s still exhausting. . .
Due to my ex-husband in my previous life, I tend to feel uneasy around good-looking people. However, no one made me feel uncomfortable today. Despite likely being of higher social standing, there was no air of intimidation. In fact, he was considerate.
Moving forward, I may not be as on edge as I have been. Perhaps.
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