IITYVA 18

Chapter 18

“Huh?”

I blinked up at him, confused and wide-eyed.

Eliaye reached out and playfully ruffled my hair.

“I want you to do what you like, but no matter how I look at it, I just don’t like that guy.”

“What?”

“That shady brat… Honestly, even giving you someone more polite, prettier, gentler, cuter, and more obedient wouldn’t be enough.”

Eliaye muttered with a frown.

His voice was so low and quiet that I couldn’t quite make out what he was saying.

“Eliaye? I didn’t catch that. What did you just say?”

When I looked up at him again with wide eyes, he casually pulled his hand away like it was nothing.

“You said you were hungry, didn’t you? Humans need timely meals. Let’s head down to the kitchen.”

“Oh, right. Food.”

I tidied my messy hair and stood up.

Now that the tension had worn off, a wave of intense hunger hit me.

I went straight to the kitchen and scooped myself a bowl of stew.

It had cooled down a bit, but it still smelled amazing.

So, As made this… right?

I narrowed my eyes as I walked to the table, staring at the stew.

A child—no, a young noble boy—had made this dish himself?

Visually, if I just sprinkled some parsley on top, it would be Instagram-worthy. The aroma alone made me hungry.

Especially for a noble—surely he’d never even touched water in the kitchen.

What was I doing at that age? Did I even know how to cook ramen…?

I stopped that line of thought; it was getting depressing.

I sat down and took a spoonful. The savory, slightly spicy flavor of the meat spread across my tongue.

This taste… It was perfect for someone like me, who couldn’t stand greasy food thanks to my Korean palate and memories.

“A kid actually made this?”

I stared at the stew in disbelief.

It was surprising enough that a noble child cooked this well, but to make something that matched my unique taste so perfectly?

“This… is possible?”

Suddenly, I felt a little down…

He cooked this after trying my spicy stew just a few times? Was this what they called talent?

As could totally become a chef someday…

Half in awe, I spooned more stew into my mouth—then glanced up and saw Eliaye sitting across from me, chin resting on his hand, watching me eat.

Noticing my gaze, he spoke.

“What?”

“It’s just… It’s been a while since you showed up like this out of nowhere. Was I in that much danger?”

I smiled sheepishly, and Eliaye sighed like a parent looking at a foolish child.

“If I hadn’t come, you’d be dead.”

Oof. That stung. It hit right on target.

Feeling guilty, I averted my eyes and pretended to focus on the stew.

Honestly, I had panicked and overused healing magic because I was terrified the child might die from my mistake…

“I still don’t like that brat… But you like him so much, I can’t just kill him…”

Eliaye muttered under his breath while staring at me.

I didn’t quite hear, but I felt like a child getting scolded by a parent. I peeked up at him, and he sighed again.

“Whatever. Not that I like the other guys either. Him or anyone else, they’re all the same.”

“Him or the other guys? What are you even talking about?”

“I wish you were a spirit.”

Like a child abandoned at the temple steps.

Eliaye murmured wistfully.

The random comment made me tilt my head. But since he said bizarre things now and then, I went back to eating the stew carefully.

“Anyway, even if you didn’t come with a plan, it’s not going to be a problem if you visit again, right?”

I asked cautiously, a thought suddenly occurring to me.

Eliaye answered simply.

“As long as nothing major happens while I’m away.”

“No way! Then you should go back right now!”

Problems always come without warning.

My darkest moments happened unexpectedly, and even the war with the Semel tribe broke out when no one expected it!

Even the plague during Lee Heesoo’s reign started just like that…!

I shot up from my seat in panic and shouted.

Eliaye chuckled softly.

“I’ve got time to watch you eat.”

“…So you can still visit, right?”

“Yes.”

“Really?”

“I said yes.”

Only after his repeated assurance did I smile with relief.

“This morning was terrifying, but I’m glad I get to see you more.”

“I don’t want to see you like this. Take care of yourself.”

Eliaye shut that down instantly.

I drooped like a wilted flower.

“Okay…”

As I stirred my stew with a dejected expression, Eliaye—silent for a moment—spoke slowly.

“It’s not that I don’t want to see you. I just don’t want you getting hurt so badly I have to come.”

That made the corners of my mouth lift up automatically.

Of course, I knew he said all this because he was worried about me.

But it’s so cute when Eliaye tries to explain himself like that whenever I act all sulky.

He’s probably thousands of years older than me, but in that moment, the spirit king just looked… adorable.

While I grinned like an idiot, Eliaye sighed—then chuckled too.

“If that As brat ever steps out of line, call me. I’ll take care of it.”

His tone suddenly serious, the lightheartedness gone, Eliaye gave a warning like he was truly prepared for danger.

I tilted my head.

Step out of line…? Like talking back?

But As was such a polite, sweet kid—regardless of status.

Smiling innocently, I said,

“As would never do that. He’s so kind and obedient.”

“…Forget it. I forgot how black-hearted that kid really is.”

Eliaye muttered, pressing his fingers to his forehead like he had a headache.

Hearing that, I suddenly felt déjà vu—like I’d heard something similar before.

That’s right… Harnen warned me to be careful of As too.

I frowned.

But As was the one who wanted to go to the festival with me… who said, “Please don’t hate me.”

“Even if you let me sleep here… you won’t hate me, right?”

He was so afraid of being disliked, he’d practically begged for affection. How could anyone call that child “black-hearted”?

And today, he even made me breakfast!

Now I was really mad.

“Eliaye, do you know something about As?”

“What?”

“Why do you talk bad about someone you don’t even know? It’s not like As did anything wrong.”

I lifted my chin defiantly and questioned him. Eliaye froze for a moment.

His calm, lake-like eyes met mine.

He stared for a while, then abruptly looked away without a word.

“…No use raising a kid, after all.”

He murmured tiredly.

I had no idea why he said that, but something told me to stay quiet just then.

So I silently kept eating stew, sneaking glances at Eliaye.

…Some things never change. Like my timid nature.

* * *

After watching me finish breakfast, Eliaye quietly returned to the spirit realm, looking oddly drained.

I felt a little bad—maybe I’d been too harsh on someone who just came out of concern—but I couldn’t forgive anyone calling such a kind, adorable child “black-hearted.”

As, who had woken up early to make me stew!

Black-hearted? Really?

“Come to think of it, Harnen also bad-mouthed As.”

Eyes sharp, I clenched both fists.

“Just wait till I see Harnen. I’m gonna give him a truckload of nagging!”

Even thinking about it again made me mad.

“Calling him a ‘vicious little wolf cub’? That’s way too much to say about a kid!”

Grumbling, I stomped toward As’s room.

Sunlight streamed through the window as I entered.

A cool breeze flowed in through the half-open window, and the white chiffon curtains fluttered like gentle waves.

As was still fast asleep, lying in the golden pool of morning sunlight.