Chapter 19

Like this, I tasted and loved all kinds of makgeolli and cherished it deeply in my heart. But what’s the problem when there’s rice and water?

“Ah, it failed again.”

It’s about how many people have tried to make makgeolli at home.

“Not this either.”

As someone who has adapted to a capitalist society, I never hesitated to buy unique makgeolli with the money I’ve earned, and I’ve never thought about brewing and drinking my own makgeolli.

No, in a world where various types of makgeolli are delivered right to your doorstep if you just pay, who will sit and brew makgeolli with their tired body? If I had time to do that, I would have had another drink.

“This isn’t it either.”

What makes up makgeolli is rice and water, patience, and a strong stomach that can handle failed makgeolli-

“This isn’t the taste!”

Someone to comfort me……?

I confidently took over the kitchen with the intention of making delicious rice and brewing makgeolli, but it was not easy to make makgeolli by hand that is smoothly produced in factories.

No, it was ordinarily painful. There were two major problems.

First, I didn’t know how to make it.

Secondly, I don’t know the necessary ingredients.

At first, I tried to do it with rice and water, but after about forty-five failures, I realized that I needed to ferment. But how am I supposed to do that fermentation?

“How would I know something like that……”

The sin of only knowing how to eat and not knowing how to make it is too great. If I had known this would happen, I would have quietly learned to cook when my sister told me to.

If there was internet, I would have calmly searched for how to make makgeolli and followed along – if this was a world with internet in the first place, I wouldn’t be boiling and washing the forty-fifth jar trying to make makgeolli like this.

To ferment, you need something other than rice and water. What is it?

What is fermentation? If I had known this, I would have paid more attention in science class. My scientific knowledge, which gave up on chemical symbols, couldn’t possibly be of help now.

Rumors spread among the servants as I was stuck in the kitchen for weeks, experimenting like a ghost.

They said I was crazy, insane, out of my mind – in short, they said I was out of control.

Well, it’s not entirely wrong. If I keep failing like this, I might really go crazy. Whether I’m crazy now or on the verge of going crazy-

“You’ve been doing this for a while now-”

As a forward-thinking person, would it be better to say that I’m about to go crazy?

“Oh, Callian. Good afternoon.”

“It’s evening now.”

“Let’s put aside such trivial issues.”

“Have you eaten?”

“I guess I did.”

“But you didn’t come to the dining room.”

“Ah, I just mixed this with water and ate it.”

I pointed to the remnants of the failed makgeolli. Even if it’s failed, it’s still rice and water, so eating it won’t kill me, but Callian’s expression twisted unpleasantly. A man who often frowns or has wrinkles is not attractive.

“-Are you trying to make alcohol?”

“Right?”

“……Just with those?”

“Yes.”

“It seems like it might not be enough.”

Callian opened his eyes wide and scanned the chaotic kitchen. The pots for boiling or about to boil, a pot full of cooked rice, failed makgeolli and makgeolli that are destined to fail. Luckily, the temperature is always low in the north, or else I would have had to change clothes several times if I had gone a little further south.

“You said you were making alcohol.”

“Yes?”

“But why isn’t there any malt?”

“……Malt?”

“I don’t know the details, but isn’t it used when making beer or something? I don’t know what you’re trying to make, but-”

“Gosh, am I stupid?”

***

Why didn’t I think of that? They say imitation is the mother of creation!

At first, I definitely intended to borrow this book and that book to read, but when I was focused on rice, I couldn’t even see the thick ancient books.

I immediately called April and asked for malt, then re-read the books I had tossed next to my bed. The readability was still the worst, with indents not even 10 pixels deep.

She wanted to give Callian a grateful kiss for inadvertently giving her a hint, but making the makgeolli successfully was her first priority.

Quick-footed April bought a box full of malt syrup and gave her a piece of ice to cool her head. Especially in the cold northern autumn of the Empire, it was truly a tearful loyalty.

***

The first experiment using malt syrup, failed.

***

Tried to extend the time. Failed.

***

Reduced the time drastically. Failed.

***

Added more malt syrup, ah, we’re having potato pancakes for dinner. Thankfully, we have potatoes. Anyway, it failed this time too. Callian’s aide came to visit.

***

Tried to extend the soaking time with the ingredients in the cloth. It seemed somewhat similar, um, no it wasn’t. Callian is strange. He’s making a fuss about applying wrinkle improvement cream. Well, actually, it’s not a fuss. I asked because his face smelled different, and he said it was wrinkle improvement cream. But does it have any effect if you apply improvement cream where there are no wrinkles?

She gave up counting after exceeding fifty attempts. Despite trying various methods and conducting numerous experiments at once, it took over ten days to confirm whether the alcohol was made properly.

Ah, seriously.

The winter of the North is approaching. It’s said that to survive the harsh cold, one must warm their body with lukewarm makgeolli. From the icy face of the Northern Grand Duke, a faint scent of hibiscus emanates.

***

“My lady.”

……Oh, this wasn’t what I had planned.

“My Adriana.”

I was clearly intoxicated by the joy of successfully making makgeolli. Ah, of course, I wasn’t just intoxicated by joy, I was really drunk. Isn’t it natural? The experiment that went through the seasons finally succeeded and I could finally taste the flavor I knew!

No!

Everything is fine!

“My partner.”

Callian gently wrapped one hand around her waist and clutched her hair with the other, whispering stickily.

Ah……. Excuse me? Can’t you hear what I’m saying? Hello?

I wanted to wave my hand in front of Callian’s eyes, but it was difficult because Callian strangely restricted my movements.

“I’m thinking about kissing you.”

This guy is also drunk. When the other person got more intoxicated, I felt the alcohol in my body surge up.

Yeah, a kiss is good. ……Actually, I’m not sure if it’s good, but anyway, it wouldn’t be a bad experience to mix tongues with a man as handsome as him.

No, this wasn’t the plan.

“Um, excuse me!”

Yes, I admit that I was excited by the joy of making makgeolli. I also acknowledge that my affection for Callian, who gave me a hint called ‘malt barley’, has increased in a humanitarian way. I also admit that I poured the makgeolli I made in excitement for Callian.

“Is there a problem?”

But it’s not my fault that Callian’s body is garbage for makgeolli!

While I was regretting my mistake and resenting Callian’s useless alcohol tolerance, Callian’s mouth was steadily approaching me.

“We! Shouldn’t we be doing this?”

……I’m done now, and I want to sleep. Adriana’s body is not immune to Makgeolli, so when she drinks a bowl as usual, her head aches.

“That’s strange. We’ve been married for 5 years.”

I tried to step back, but a big hand was wrapped around my waist, and I couldn’t get away. The face fit, the atmosphere was perfect, but this genre was not romance.

“W, we are a couple…… But I, I don’t really like older men! I don’t want to do it much!”

Anyway, no, for now, no.

First, I didn’t want it, and second, I don’t want to read a romance novel that smells of Makgeolli, even if I’m the reader.

Why did he suddenly take off on his own? Was he greatly impressed by the first Makgeolli he drank? When did he secretly start to like me?

“I’m a bit old!

“It’s just a four-year difference?”

I tried to push Callian away while he was shaking his head, but his well-toned chest didn’t budge. His chest was firm and good to touch, no, that’s not it.

“Even if it’s just one year older, it’s still older! I’m a bit sensitive about that. It’s good when men are young, right?”

In fact, I can cover up to four years difference. As long as they’re not a minor! As long as I’m not socially criticized!

But even if Adriana’s body is thirty, my ego is twenty-three, and by that standard, Callian was too old.

No matter how desperate the situation is. Thirty-four, thirty-four! Even if he looks like he’s twenty-seven, inside he’s still a thirty-four-year-old man!

“So, um, oh, um, Callian is too, I mean by my standards, he’s too old……”

I don’t think a thirty-four-year-old is an old man. But considering that the deputy at the company I used to work for was thirty-three or four, thinking about Callian’s age cools down my passionate love.

No, I mean, I do like handsome men – I also like men with broad chests, and besides, isn’t Callian somewhat handsome and has a broad chest? He’s one of the few beauties in the empire, anyway.

“Anyway! I can’t!”

Although the dimension may not matter in love,

“I won’t even kiss. I hate it!”

Age does matter, you bastard!

“There is an age for love!”

I gave a big recoil to my neck and threw my head straight at Callian’s forehead.

It seemed like a loud and beautiful sound echoed, and I could see stars in my eyes. It only occurred to me after I sat down and rubbed my forehead with both hands, why did I resolve it physically right away when I could have backed off with words.

“You really are-”

There’s no way.

“Really, you’re my companion.”

There’s no way he could say such a shameless thing if he was in his right mind.