SWS CH 30

Chapter 30

“Hahaha. I just came in recently, so there’s a lot to learn, and I keep getting lost.”

When I awkwardly made that excuse, Hatsen immediately relaxed his expression.

“That makes sense. Bloodymary is so large that just walking around the castle once can take half a day.”

“You believe me?”

“People with real skill don’t lie.”

Even though it would’ve been natural to suspect a maid wandering around freely, he showed no such sign. It was clear he truly liked my cooking.

“About that yakgwa you left yesterday. That pastry.”

“Yes. The one you didn’t like.”

When I deliberately brought up yesterday, Hatsen coughed loudly.

“When did I ever say I didn’t like it? Ahem!”

“I’ll take that as you liking it.”

“More importantly, look at this.”

Hatsen quickly changed the subject and brought out a container. When he opened the lid, a sweet scent hit my nose. It was familiar.

“Is that the syrup I made? The one brushed on the yakgwa?”

“Yes. I took the syrup you made and soaked the yakgwa in it.”

Inside the rich brown syrup, several pieces of yakgwa were submerged.

“Oh? You soaked them in here?”

“I felt it was lacking sweetness while eating it, so I tried this.”

When I lifted one out, the lightly brown yakgwa had absorbed the dark maple syrup completely, turning a deep earthy color. I stared at Hatsen in shock.

“This is called the soaking process. How did you know to do this?”

“Soaking? I’ve never heard that term.”

“You didn’t know? It’s how you get the syrup to fully soak into the inside.”

It was an essential process in traditional yakgwa.

“I didn’t know. I suppose it was closer to experimentation. There was so much syrup left that it felt wasteful.”

At that, I broke a piece of yakgwa open. Thick syrup oozed from the inside.

“For someone seeing yakgwa for the first time to figure this out right away… Chef Hatsen, are you a genius?”

This was something royal chefs centuries ago had refined through endless experimentation.

I raised my thumb at him.

“…A genius?”

“Yes. Look at this. If figuring out a recipe like this instantly isn’t genius, what is?”

The head chef of Bloodymary truly was something else.

Without another word, I pushed a perfectly soaked piece of yakgwa into Hatsen’s mouth.

The difference in texture and depth of flavor was obvious on his face.

“Alright then, shall we prepare breakfast?”

The maids who had been watching from the side all nodded eagerly.

Seeing their expectant eyes, all traces of sleep vanished instantly.

***

For breakfast, I made stir-fried pork.

The only disappointment was the lack of gochujang.

“There were dried peppers in the storage… I should make gochujang when I get the chance.”

Thinking of it made me miss the jars of fermented pastes I’d maintained for ten years in my previous life.

I pushed that longing aside, picked up the tray, and hurried out of the annex.

Since Geti had stopped watching me, I felt free.

I could walk around without worrying about anyone interfering.

Maybe because I wasn’t officially married to Docep yet, or because Francesca hadn’t made a public announcement, no one recognized me.

They only glanced curiously at my ambiguous outfit that made me look neither noble nor common.

“The weather’s really nice today.”

Bathed in warm sunlight, I walked lightly.

Going to the main house carried the risk of running into Helbern, but he hadn’t been seen for days.

Thanks to that, I could go comfortably.

“At least, I thought so.”

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Instead of Helbern, I ran into Francesca.

She approached wearing a black dress buttoned all the way up to her neck, immaculate despite the early hour.

The relaxed mindset I’d gained from joking around with the maids instantly snapped tight.

“That’s right. It wasn’t just Helbern.”

“Good morning.”

Holding the tray, I bowed deeply.

I bent almost ninety degrees, but Francesca’s expression wasn’t good.

She must have heard that I refused etiquette lessons.

Even if she had brought me in reluctantly, she might see me as a commoner trying to enjoy privileges without effort.

“…Good morning. It’s been a while since I’ve heard that greeting.”

Contrary to my expectations, her expression softened slightly.

“You’re up early.”

“Huh? Yes. I had something to do.”

I couldn’t exactly say I cooked for myself because nutritional meals didn’t appeal to me, so I answered vaguely.

Her gaze shifted to the tray in my hands.

“What is that?”

“Nutritional porridge.”

“Porridge?”

“I soaked oats and added vegetables, meat, and medicinal herbs. Something easy to eat.”

Since there was no rice here, I used oatmeal.

When I asked Hatsen about herbs, he generously handed over some he treasured.

“You made this yourself? Early in the morning?”

“Yes.”

“For whom?”

“For Young Master Docep.”

At that, Francesca’s eyes darkened with mixed emotions.

“He must be very exhausted after what happened.”

Her voice was heavy. She was probably thinking of how Nikolai had struck him.

“If you knew that, you could’ve at least sent a physician.”

But she probably couldn’t, because she had to watch Nikolai’s reaction.

What a complicated family.

“May I see it?”

“Ah, yes.”

She opened the lid.

Steam rose, revealing the porridge.

Honestly, to someone unfamiliar, it looked strange.

From a noble’s perspective, probably even worse.

For a moment, I imagined my former mother-in-law flipping the table, shouting, “You made THIS for my son?!”

“It may not look like much, but for someone who’s unwell—”

“Thank you.”

She smiled faintly.

“…What?”

She thanked me.

I froze.

Did she really just say thank you?

Seeing me stand there blankly, she closed the lid and stepped back.

I took that chance to add,

“Young Master Docep has awakened.”

She must have heard already, but she didn’t seem to have visited him.

“He’d be happy if you went instead of me.”

I offered her the tray.

Francesca slowly turned her head away.

“This is not something you should involve yourself in.”

Her face was cold again, just like when we first met.

***

Despite her cold words, Francesca went to find Karl with a dark expression.

“My lady, did you visit the young master?”

Karl asked, a hint of expectation on his face.

She shook her head.

“Why not? He must have wanted congratulations.”

“Would he?”

“Of course.”

Everyone knew Francesca had waited for his awakening more than anyone.

“That’s my position.”

She wanted to congratulate him desperately.

But now that the miracle had happened, her feet wouldn’t move.

She had been harsh for too long.

She always frowned at him.

She didn’t believe she could suddenly embrace him warmly now.

Even if she tried, Docep wouldn’t accept it.

“He’d see through me and pull away.”

Francesca regretted it.

She had treated Docep like a long-suffering burden.

Swallowing the ache in her chest, she spoke.

“Call the tailor.”

“A new outfit, my lady?”

Karl asked, but she shook her head.

“Not for me. For the girl. Her clothes looked shabby today. Have new ones made.”

The clothes Halara wore.

They looked uncomfortable and too thin, letting the wind chill her body.

Not suitable for a pregnant woman.

And for someone who was, in name, Bloodymary’s daughter-in-law, it disgraced the family.

“Yes, my lady. How many should be made?”

“At least twenty.”

“Understood.”

“And tell the maid in charge to pay attention not only to her meals but also her appearance. Walking around like that…”

Bare-faced, hair not even brushed.

“Yes, my lady. And there is something I must report regarding Young Master Helbern.”

“Let’s go inside first.”

Karl acknowledged and followed her through the lobby.