Chapter 7

“Who are you, exactly?”

I felt unjustly accused by the cautious gaze of the youngest Imperial Knight Commander. 

Oh, and I haven’t even touched your chest yet! It’s not a sin to get caught up in a romance novel!

I took a step back, matching the narrowed stride of the Knight Commander, as I thought about what to say.

Why are the character designs in this novel so predictable? I mean, there’s even a Northern Grand Duke with black hair, so why not a Knight Commander with a big chest?

But how can I make him believe that?

The protagonist might have an undesirable setting, but don’t be disheartened just because of your chest size?

“Perhaps—”

“Yes, that’s right! Actually, I approached you with impure intentions because I secretly love you!”

“…Yes?”

“Just kidding!”

When I raised the corners of my mouth cheerfully, the knight’s face turned grim. However, with my level of familiarity with Callian’s attitude, I couldn’t inflict more than a fingernail’s worth of damage with his facial wrinkles.

“Give up your suspicions a bit. I just took a shot. It’s a common setup in romance novels these days, isn’t it? A noble knight and the one and only lady he protects!”

Well, not really. The trend is more about a hidden crown prince with a secret identity and a determined commoner girl.

“And besides, gray hair is the trademark of the male protagonist, isn’t it? Achieving success and love at a young age!”

The male lead is usually known for his flamboyant golden or deep black hair. At the very least, it’s fiery red.

Positions like a Knight Commander usually sacrifice themselves for the female lead, along with their pure love, and then exit the story.

“I’ve been really into romance novels lately! That’s why I imagined it. How could I have known you were a real Knight Commander?”

I’ve gone this far, so let’s just move on.

The wary gaze and the imposing chest of the Knight Commander were pressuring me, and I was getting annoyed by the excuses I was making in a hurry.

This is not the time for this. I need to search the market quickly. Who knows if they have grains or liquor that are not found in the North?

With just rice, I can cook rice, make sikhye, and most importantly, brew makgeolli. …I don’t really know how to do it, though.

“Aren’t you trying too hard to fit in?”

“If you don’t want to believe it, then don’t. I know about romance novels…”

“Yes?”

“I did ask who you were, didn’t I? I just arrived from the North today. I’m planning to attend the upcoming birthday celebration of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Ah, yes. You certainly seem like a lady who’s fallen for romance novels.”

This guy? I gave him a hint, and now he’s treating me like a complete fool. His gaze has strangely become calm, and it annoyed me. It’s like looking at a younger sibling who’s expecting me to marry a prince from a neighboring country in a time when arranged marriages are a thing of the past—

“Can you at least tell me your name? Now that I know you’re the youngest Knight Commander of the Empire, what’s your name?”

“I’m Lian. Lian Bernhardt.”

“Yes, Lord Bernhardt. My name is—”

?Ah.

My sister came to mind involuntarily. More precisely, it was her round tone when she called my name.

“I won’t tell you my name. It wasn’t a pleasant meeting, but I appreciate your concern at the beginning. Well then, goodbye.”

I slightly bowed my head and swiftly crossed the square faster than anyone else.

If that conceited knight wanted to capture me, someone as unskilled as me, he could have easily done so. But there was no reason for that.

Running vigorously with my inadequate core muscles made me quickly out of breath.

I hadn’t done anything, yet the sun was already setting.

I had arrived at this place around the time the sun started to cool down, so it hadn’t been that long, but…

My thoroughly wet hair felt a bit chilly in the wind.

The lights of the shops were slowly coming to life—one by one. A world where gas lamps, candles, and magic-illuminated lights coexisted.

The Empire, at a glance, looked like London, a bit deeper down it resembled France, and the longer I looked, it felt like Korea.

For instance, even though we wore shoes inside the house, it was customary to remove them on the bed.

Is it the same in Europe too? Honestly, I’ve never lived in another country, so I don’t really know. My knowledge is just a mediocre mix of information, images, and fantasies, after all.

“Ah, I want to drink makgeolli.”

How was makgeolli made again? I should look up how to make it instead of just settling for what’s available. Well, who would have imagined living in a place like this? There are so many delicious and new types of makgeolli in the world, and here I am trying to make it from scratch.

First, I need rice, right? Makgeolli is made from rice. Fermentation… How do I do that? Oh well, let’s first find some rice.

If I have rice, I can at least cook and eat rice, and when I have rice…

“I’d love that.”

I want to eat warm soup with white rice! Oh! If I have rice, I can also make rice cakes! And with rice cakes, I can make tteokbokki… Gochujang ××!

Even though I searched and searched the markets in the North, I couldn’t find a single grain of rice. I’m tired of pasta, bread, and soup. They say a hearty stomach makes for a hearty mind. Without a proper meal, my spirits have dwindled.

There are Korean restaurants all over the world, but if the author is Korean, there should be something mysterious and soulful from the East in the fantasy world, right?

The night market was bustling with people, selling various trinkets, cute knitted dolls, and all sorts of things. But what truly moved my heart remained unseen.

Maybe that knight with the large chest from earlier resonates with my heart even more. Oh, the pain… Oh, even upon reflection, he truly had a splendid physique. With thin clothes, that silhouette, oh…

“Excuse me.”

“Chest?”

“Uh… yes?”

“Oh, no, no! It’s nothing, really! What can I do for you?”

Argh, darn it. They say a healthy mind resides in a healthy body, but here I am, unable to eat the food I want, only consumed by thoughts of that chest.

I was relieved when the sun set. If not, my blushing face would have been embarrassingly obvious.

“Um, excuse me, but do you happen to know where this place is? I’m not very good at reading maps…”

“I’m new here too, but let me think for a moment… By the way, where exactly are we?”

It wasn’t difficult to figure out if the map the stranger showed me was the place he wanted to go. I was good at finding my way even on unfamiliar streets and skilled at interpreting maps. My instincts were sharp too.

Moreover, the capital had well-maintained administrative signage, even better than in the north. The directions from here were straightforward, just a matter of telling him verbally—

“Oh, it’s a shop that collects grains from all over the world!”

“Uh… yes?”

“They trade not only with the Empire but also with grains from other continents, I’ve heard. They call it collecting, but the scale is so large that they even supply to other upper-class establishments or shops. Just ordinary wheat or corn—”

“Let’s go together.”

Until just now, I thought he looked like someone I wouldn’t recognize even if we passed by each other on the street, but now he seemed to emit a radiant aura. I held the hands of the person who had given me new hope and spoke earnestly.

“It turns out we’re headed the same way.”

Although I just decided to do it.

“Yes, uh?”

“I’ve also wandered for months trying to get to this place.”

I only found out today.

“Uh, excuse me? Is this place really that hard to find? Is the route very complicated?”

“No, no! It’s really simple! I think you could find it with your eyes closed! Shall we try walking with our eyes closed?”

I really walked with my eyes closed, bumping into people about three times before stumbling once. Only then did I open my eyes again. The person who had entrusted me with the map was anxiously following me.

It seemed they slightly regretted asking me for directions. But what did it matter? After all, life is a series of regrets, and within them lies the joy of discovering romance.

Oh, God of this world. I’ve only followed a church because they offered snacks when I was an elementary school student. I thanked God, whether they existed or not.

“Wha, wha, what is this?”

“This? Rice! It’s called rice. Let me see, where did you get this from-“

“No, I’m not curious about that. How much would it cost to eat this much, this much, three times a day, for about a year?”

I gestured with my hands, folding the amount in half from what I usually ate. In a corner with grains neatly displayed from all over the continent, there was rice that both I and my sister knew. Rice!

It’s fortunate that the name is rice even here. If it were something like ‘Chokatemecri,’ I would have felt repulsed.

“That much? You want to eat this as a staple, even in stocks?”

“Yes! That’s right! Is there no problem with supply? Can it be delivered to the North? Is the quantity sufficient?”

Even as the shop owner was busy counting, I didn’t stop asking questions. Goodness, rice! Not some weird name like Chokatemecri, but rice!

Tears welled up slightly. Sniff, I’d have to think about how to cook it, but there’s a big difference between putting eggs on bread and putting eggs on rice.

“Because the production quantity isn’t high, if what the customer said is correct, it’s about this much.”

On the paper the owner presented, there was an astounding amount written, even I, who wasn’t well-versed in local prices, was surprised. But who was Adriana? She was the daughter set to inherit an enormous fortune from Duke Magnolia and the only spouse of  Grand Duke Winter.

Even if she wasn’t directly tied to a powerful figure, Adriana had a colossal mine at her disposal. A golden mountain grander than dawn and mightier than protection!

“Alright, alright. Very good.”

“Yes?”

“For now, would you be willing to work here for a season, like flying by? This is the down payment; I’ll pay the rest when it’s all done.”

As the owner pulled out money from their pocket, the jingling sound of silver coins couldn’t have been more pleasing. While it might have been better to have the servants move the rice since we had come this far, dragging these tired folks on a long journey still pricked my conscience.

“Oh, yes. Of course. Um, then, where should I send you?”

“To the Grand Duke’s residence. …There’s only one Grand Duke’s residence in the Empire, right?”

“Yes? Then, um, guest, no – uh,”

“Ah, right. Send to Adriana. Adriana de Winter, towards the Grand Duchess.”

“You look happy.”

“Of course, why wouldn’t I be happy? Callian, good evening?”

“You are-“

“I’m currently feeling the best I’ve ever felt in my life here. If you’re going to talk nonsense, bring some wine and start. You said there’s a cellar here, right? It’s good to have stuff from the North, but trying something brewed in the capital is also worth it-“

“Adriana.”

“Why?”

“You are-“

She had just bathed, feeling fresh and pleasant, but Callian muddled the end of his words with an ambiguous expression. Adults should make their intentions clear. Proper orders, proper handling. Of course, he wasn’t my superior, but still.

“Could you kindly speak your mind, complete with all the essential sentence components? Even if you look at me with such a meaningful gaze, I still won’t know. Despite deducing your identity from various clues, from your status to your name, if you have something you want, just speak up without playing games.”

“Is it that again?”

“What are you talking about?”

“This prank seems to be lasting a while.”

“Ah, what nonsense. …I told you, I’m not Adriana. Callian is the one who didn’t believe it.”

“You always-“

His alcohol-soaked voice made me feel like a fool, as he muttered quietly. His pale, long fingers slowly approached me. ××, there was no room for misunderstanding.

I picked up a rose from the vase next to me and placed it behind Callian’s ear.

“Don’t make a fuss.”

“What is this?”

“Don’t make up stories. I may not know if you’re really in the early stages of becoming the Northern Grand Duke, but I’m not particularly interested. Didn’t I say not to have a crush on me?”

Don’t build a narrative on your own, you rascal! I’m not interested in a man over thirty!

“I said not to like me, anyway.”

“What is this?”

“Yes?”

“Saying that I like you. I- I, as if I would…”

The Grand Duke, who had stopped speaking, remained still for a moment like a statue, then roughly swept his hair back and stormed out of the drawing room.

…? Did I just set a flag with my own hands?