MDWRC 06

6. A Warm Last Supper

Rattle, rattle. Squeak—

Chirp, chirp!

The peaceful sound of morning birds and the rolling of cart wheels echoed through the forest. I didn’t even know how I was walking; my throat was parched with anxiety.

‘Everyone looks so happy.’

Except me.

The cheerful chirping of the birds felt annoying. I kept glancing at Kashar as we walked.

‘He didn’t come here to kill Louis and Evan, did he?’

That was impossible. There was no connection between them yet.

‘But you never know.’

We soon arrived at the kitchen door. It was wide open. Kashar, who had been following me silently, finally spoke.

“By the way, what did you hit me with?”

My eyes naturally landed on the kitchen wall. There, rows of unused stone pots (ttukbaegi) were on display.

“Um… that.”

I pointed carefully. His gaze followed my finger to the pots.

“…A bowl?”

Yes. The ttukbaegi was a famous Korean dishware known worldwide. Watching his expression change, I had a dark thought.

‘If I just hit him one more time…’

Maybe everything would be okay? But a miracle like him getting hit by a pot twice wouldn’t happen.

‘What do I do?’

It was the time when the children should be sleeping. My heart was burning with nervousness.

“If you’re trying to buy time, you should stop,” he warned, as if reading my mind.

“Ugh, Eilein?”

Just then, a young voice caught our attention.

“Louis?! And Evan…”

The children, who I thought were sleeping, were standing at the end of the kitchen in their pajamas. Louis rubbed his sleepy eyes and tilted his head at Kashar. Evan, wary of the stranger, pulled Louis closer to himself.

‘I’m doomed.’

The three people who should never meet were now in one room.

While I was panicking, Louis ran up.

“Big brother, who are you?”

Every time his innocent eyes blinked, my heart dropped. Please be quiet, Prince! I begged internally, but Louis couldn’t hear me. Kashar seemed speechless at the absurdity of the situation. After a moment of thinking, Louis clapped his hands.

“Ah, I know! Brother, are you Eilein’s boyfriend?”

“…Huh?”

It was a completely wrong guess. Before I could deny it, Louis reached a conclusion. He stood proudly in front of Kashar.

“Eilein belongs to us!”

He looked so brave. Kashar’s brow furrowed, and one eyebrow shot up. His expression said he wouldn’t want me even if I were free. My face turned pale.

“Louis, wait. It’s not like that…”

I tried to stop him with an awkward smile, but Louis misunderstood again.

“Oh no! Are you a villain who came to bully us? I won’t let a villain get away!”

“Louis!”

Louis was now holding a ttukbaegi like a weapon. Seeing the pot—the same kind of object that had just knocked him out—Kashar’s eyes turned cold.

‘This is bad.’

No one would care if abandoned princes died. Kashar could kill us all and cover it up if he wanted to. Since things were already a mess, I decided to bet everything on acting crazy.

“That’s right! Boyfriend!”

“What?” Kashar asked.

He was shocked, but I had already decided to act like a madwoman. I grabbed Kashar’s arm and clung to him.

“Honey, relax your face. You’re scaring the Princes.”

“……”

“Why did you even come here? You’re making me shy. Hohoho.”

My fake laughter filled the kitchen. Among my many part-time jobs in my past life, I had done wedding guest acting and background acting. I decided to use all my acting skills now.

“Is he really Eilein’s boyfriend?” Louis asked.

“Of course. So Louis, put that pot down quickly.”

“Really? Truly her boyfriend?”

“Yes, I said so!”

Please put the pot down. Please. Every time Louis moved the pot, Kashar’s eyes twitched. I just wanted to die. During the suffocating standoff, Evan stepped in.

“Louis. Give it to me.”

“No, I have to protect Eilein!”

Evan snatched the pot from Louis and moved it far away. Louis looked ready to cry, but I celebrated inside.

‘Nice, Evan!’

I wanted to kiss his chubby cheeks, though he would probably hate it. I peeked at Kashar. He was just standing there.

‘Maybe he’s actually nice?’

Even if the book described him as cruel, maybe there was more to him. I tried to push him toward the exit.

“You should go for today and come back…”

“You’re going to make me look like this and then just send me away?” he growled.

“I… was going to say let’s go inside! I’m preparing breakfast!”

I led him to the dining room as if I hadn’t just tried to kick him out.

“You’re up very early today. Princes, go back to sleep!”

“No, I’m going to inspect him!” Louis shouted, sticking to my side and glaring at Kashar.

‘Why isn’t Evan stopping him this time!’

We all moved to the dining room. Seeing the twins and Kashar sitting together was a total comedy.

“Ha… hahaha.”

“Oh my, do we have a guest?”

Emma came out and stared at Kashar with wide eyes.

“Emma, I have to make breakfast, so please serve him for me.”

Before leaving, I whispered to Emma, “Don’t leave the three of them alone. I’ll be right back. If anything happens…”

“I can hear you, so stop whispering,” Kashar’s beast-like ears caught every word.

“Oh, it’s not like that.” I laughed awkwardly, and he gave me a crooked smile.

“I don’t kill children while I’m sane.”

“Of course! You’re such a kind person!”

“Kind? I’ve never heard such nonsense…”

“Oh, you’re so funny!” I waved my hand dismissively. He smirked—the smile of a very handsome killer.

“You’d better hurry. Let’s see how ‘great’ this breakfast is.”

Emma stepped forward to help. “Duke, I will serve you.”

Good job, Emma!

I ran to the kitchen. I needed an explanation for this situation, or I was dead. I looked at the ingredients I brought from my dream yesterday.

‘Dried pollack (Buk-eo).’

I had brought it because the kids liked Korean food and I wanted some refreshing soup. I picked up a wooden pestle.

“I! Wish! You! Lost! Your! Memory! Why! Did! You! Break! Into! My! House!”

Whack! Thud! Whack-whack-whack!

I beat the dried fish with the pestle. It wasn’t violence; it was cooking. I started cooking with the softened fish, sesame oil, and garlic.

‘It’s an easy dish, so it’ll be done soon.’

Soon, the smell of Dried Pollack Soup (Buk-eo-guk) filled the kitchen. I prepared rice, the soup, and some side dishes for everyone. I put Kashar’s portion in a stone pot to keep it extra hot.

I headed to the dining room with the tray. The atmosphere seemed okay. I looked at Emma.

‘Any problems?’

‘Tons,’ Emma mouthed, shaking her head.

“But, but. Big brother, why is your hair like that?” Louis asked.

I locked eyes with Kashar.

“Ah, this,” he said, touching his messy hair. “Someone knocked me out and tried to dump me.”

A lazy smile crept onto his face. But Louis wasn’t done.

“Oh! Did Eilein break up with you?”

Louis looked so cute I wanted to cry. Kashar let out a hollow laugh.

“If you call that a breakup, then I guess it was.”

It wasn’t a breakup; it was a beatdown, his eyes seemed to say to me.

“W-When did I do that, honey?” I stuttered.

“You said with your own mouth you were going to dump me.”

“Oh, so it was right before the breakup!” Louis clapped.

I felt like I was losing my mind.