CLWTSE | 10

                                                                          ~Chapter 10~

“Achoo!!”

While I was putting pumpkin knife-cut noodles into a bowl, I suddenly sneezed hard.
Carmine, who was sitting across from me and staring at his chopsticks with a strange look, said,

“You’ve caught a cold.”

What does he take me for? I wiped my nose and replied,

“No way. Fun fact, I’ve never once had a cold in my life. I’m a very, very healthy person.”

To be honest, back when I was Lady Riena Pond, I wasn’t that healthy. But now? I live every day working in the fields.

‘If I weren’t healthy with this much physical activity, that would be stranger.’

Carmine narrowed his eyes, like he was looking at a bag of snacks that was obviously overfilled with air.

“And you say that while sneezing like that?”

It was just one sneeze! I shrugged.

“People sneeze sometimes. What, do you want me to be sick with a cold?”

“I don’t understand why you’re so sensitive. People can get sick. …Or is it because there’s no one to take care of you if you fall ill?”

What nonsense. I snapped back.

“That’s not true! If I said I was sick, more than ten people would come running to help me!”

As I said that and scooped more noodles into our bowls, Louis buzzed.

—Master, say that after wetting your lips with some honesty. If you begged desperately, maybe I’d at least change the wet towels for you.

Whose side was he on?

I pretended to cry and tapped his handle.

“Louis, how could you? I let you taste the joy of harvest today.”

—Joy of harvest, my butt! There’s no blood, no glory in this!

“What do you mean? You just played the final, most important role in producing crops. The ending is always the most important, don’t you know?”

—R-really?

My silly sword fell for it right away and grinned to himself, muttering, “I’m the most important,” over and over. Looked like he’d be drunk on self-praise through the whole meal.

With Louis quieted, I turned to Carmine, who was still just staring.

“So why aren’t you eating? It may look strange, but it’s really good. I promise.”

He tilted his head. His slightly sweaty hair actually made him look even more attractive.

“You mean… eat with my hands?”

“Why with your hands? There, look. Chopsticks.”

In front of him lay chopsticks I had whittled from branches. I slipped my own into my hand and demonstrated.

“Like this. Like this.”

“…There’s no fork?”

“Chopsticks are better. Hurry and try.”

I urged him. He hesitated, then picked them up—only to drop them right away.

After staring at them a moment, he looked at me very seriously.

“If I marry you, you can use gold, silver, or bronze forks, whichever you like.”

Yikes! A golden fork proposal? I burst into laughter.

“Oh wow, that’s a fresh proposal. Fifty points for creativity. But no thanks. And for the record, I didn’t give you chopsticks because I couldn’t afford forks, okay?”

I was a big farmer in this area, thank you very much. I even exported crops these days.

‘Still, for a Korean, it’s gotta be chopsticks.’

But just in case he thought I was tricking him, I added,

“Think of it as training. It’s good for your finger coordination.”

“This is training?”

“See?”

I picked up a soft piece of boiled pumpkin soaked in broth. It crumbled easily, which made it tricky to grab—unless you were Korean.

Carmine nodded gravely.

“Indeed. This could train the fingers.”

“Wow, you really believe everything.”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

Oops, slipped out.

Anyway, he started trying. I worried the noodles would get soggy, but he caught on quickly. Soon he managed to grab noodles and pumpkin together, and when he ate it, his face twisted strangely. He sipped the broth and frowned.

“What is this flavor? Do commoners in Postine eat this kind of food?”

“No. Only my house makes it like this.”

Other houses wouldn’t even know what to do if asked for this dish.

‘What a shame, such an easy but tasty food.’

I stared at the flat noodles, the slightly cloudy broth, the chopped vegetables.

‘Wait. Why didn’t I think of this? This could sell well! A ready-to-cook meal set—like a meal kit!’

Since bread, salad, and ham were the main diet here, people avoided complicated cooking.

‘But a meal kit is so easy.’

Not possible during the busy farming season, but maybe later I could try this as a business. I stored the idea away in my mind.

Meanwhile, Carmine tasted more broth, tilting his head.

“The soup is salty and heavy. Not healthy at all…”

Wow, he noticed right away. Knife-cut noodles were indeed loaded with salt.

‘But you can’t leave the salt out!’

And he proved it himself.

“…But I keep wanting more.”

“Exactly. That’s the magic of pumpkin knife-cut noodles.”

Yes! You think it’s too salty, but you keep going back for another bite.

That ended our talking. Carmine fully mastered chopsticks and slurped up the noodles with gusto. Watching him eat so heartily, I couldn’t help but smile like a proud grandma.

‘No wonder old ladies keep feeding people nonstop.’

I got up and mixed my precious ice with cold water to make a red drink. When I brought it out, Carmine had just emptied his bowl. I handed him a glass.

“Here. I don’t give this to just anyone, but you ate so well.”

“What is it?”

“Omija tea.”

He frowned again—of course, he didn’t know what omija was.

“Don’t worry, there’s no poison. Look.”

I took a sip in front of him. His face grew stiff.

“I wasn’t frowning because I suspected you.”

“…?”

It was just a joke, but he was dead serious.

He sniffed at the glass, then drank. And without meaning to, I stared.

‘Wow. His Adam’s apple…’

His slim neck bulged as he swallowed, and I finally understood why some women swooned over men’s throats.

‘Oh no, why am I staring like this?’

I quickly covered my face, feeling my cheeks turn hot. It was all because of his ridiculously handsome face.

‘Wait, he’s not even wearing a hat. Isn’t that bad in this sun?’

I peeked at him again. His pale skin was turning red under the sunlight.

‘Of course, he’d still look good even tanned. But fair skin does suit his blond hair and blue eyes.’

‘Should I share my hat with him…?’

I was still debating when his eyes met mine. I flinched, and he tilted his head.

“Where did you get ice from?”

Ah, that’s what he wondered. I shrugged.

“I made an ice cellar. I get hot easily.”

“An ice cellar? How?”

“How else? I dug it with a shovel.”

I flexed my arm to show off my muscles, but Carmine just frowned.

“Next time, let me help with things like that.”

“Huh?”

Why was he suddenly being nice?

“I’ve managed just fine alone. And don’t try using marriage as an excuse to make me dig all day.”

“This time I mean it sincerely.”

“Uh-huh. Well, I don’t need help anyway. I already have Louis.”

“You really are…”

His blue eyes glimmered strangely.

“…a unique person.”

“Really? I think I’m normal.”

I scratched my head. His gaze made me feel like I was some rare animal.

“I…” Carmine began.

—But then Louis screamed,

—I’ll never turn into a shovel! Never!!

I burst into giggles and hugged him.

Meanwhile…

Carmine Marechal was confused. His daily life often went like this:

“Oh my, I think I drank too much. Could you help me walk?”
“My shoe heel broke…”
“My handkerchief blew away. It’s precious to me.”

Every time, his younger sister Susan would smack his back and scold him.

“They’re all tricks! Don’t fall for it!”

“Pretending to be in trouble?”

“Yes! Otherwise how could they talk with the emperor, their older brother?”

“You’re overthinking. If it’s just tricks, and later I find out they were fooling me, how would they explain themselves to my anger?”

“They must think they can soften your body and heart.”

“Hmph.”

The more he thought, the less he understood.

‘Do I look like a man who can’t tell work from personal feelings?’

Even if a relationship started that way, how could it ever be true love when it was built on lies?

‘I don’t understand what they’re thinking.’

When he told his other sister, Liz, she only said:

“Just laugh it off. That’s the fate of an emperor.”