Chương 7: The Uninvited Guest
Rain fell early in the morning. It might be the time that signaled the end of summer, as a late rain season began.
-Dudududu…
The sound of raindrops beating against the window. Even the pudding-like tender heart turned emotionally soft like soft-serve ice cream.
'I feel like I'm producing female hormones.'
With a slurp, I sipped my tea while looking outside.
'Today she won't be able to come to work. It's raining too much.'
As I watched the swelling river, I thought about the maid who would be preparing to come to work. A middle-aged woman in her forties. She didn't have any special experience and was just an ordinary commoner housewife, but I hired her because her cooking tasted good.
Since I told her not to come if it rains, she probably won't come today.
I sighed while looking at the dirty bedsheets.
'Life is truly tough.'
I shouldn't have woken her for breakfast.
I should have let her sleep when she said she wanted to.
I woke up the lady with the thought of her health in mind, making her eat breakfast, but the drowsy lady eventually. She ended up faceplanting into the soup on the table. Thankfully, it was cool.
It would have been a disaster if I had served it hot.
Slurp. The cheap green tea spreading inside my mouth tasted particularly bitter today.
Today was also a day off from the adventurer's job.
I had told Hanna that we would take a break if it rained heavily yesterday.
Before I knew it, more than two weeks had passed since Hanna and I began working together.
My wallet had significantly fattened.
Now, about five days a week, I could afford to eat meat without my wallet going on strike. The laughter from the lady increased, as did my own.
I was all in all thankful to Hanna.
'Quest.'
[Q. The Short-Lived Fate of the Unfortunate Extra 'Hanna']
Being ignored by her father and servants, she constantly resents her lackluster talent.
She is parched for praise.
1. Give ego-boosting praise. (5/10)
2. Achieve an 'Affinity of 40' or higher. [Affinity: 32]
3. Defeat the 'Elite Orc Swordsman.' (0/1)
Reward: Swordsmanship Lv. 6, Strength +3 increase
Hanna: Swordsmanship Lv. 4, Beginner Aura (C)
Failure: Histania Hanna dies.]
It seems there's about a week left.
I thought even four weeks would be tight, but Hanna has been following along better than expected, making it feels sufficiently possible only after three weeks.
Of course, with Hanna's current skills, she would definitely lose 100% against an Elite Orc Swordsman. After all, not just any ordinary monster, an Elite Orwell is a special monster with an 'Elite' qualifier.
But I was confident that with about a week's training and the right strategies, Hanna could definitely catch one.
Hanna was growing fast.
She blushed even with small compliments, gaining motivation and quickly grew, making it her own.
I was proud of her for listening to every little bit of advice, improving and adopting it as her own. It felt like this is what a teacher's heart should be like.
'When I think about it, she is indeed my first disciple.'
It's the first time I've formally taught someone.
Hanna wields the sword well.
And she loves the sword.
If such passion had been shown in a family that makes a living from swordsmanship, they would dote on her and cherish such a treasure, but her complicated family story was regrettable.
'But, Swordsmanship Lv. 6.'
According to the setting guide, Level 5 is the highest realm that an ordinary person can achieve with effort.
Anything beyond that level falls into the realm of talent.
Considering characters like Michail or villains in the novel start at Level 6 after awakening, it seemed convenient.
Am I now entering the boss tier? I liked the idea that I have reached a level of martial prowess that wouldn't let me die in the streets. If I'm at Swordsmanship Level 6, I could compete even with Michail after his awakening.
I felt both a sense of regret and anticipation for the nearing end of my relationship with Hanna.
-Dududu…
"The rain's getting stronger."
Rain makes people emotional.
It's strange how water falling from the sky can stir one's heart so profoundly.
Even though it's damp and the laundry won't dry, I don't know what's so good about it.
'But the sound of the rain is nice.'
There was one more person soaked in sentiment like me—the landlord with melancholic eyes, blankly gazing outside.
"Heh… nice."
I quietly called out to Olivia.
"Lady."
"Hmmnn."
Madam villain was intently looking outside the window. Perhaps lost in a daydream of holding an umbrella together with Michail in the rain, she did not respond to my call.
I wanted to interrupt her moment.
Madam villain was laughing silly at the window. Our villainous lady isn't usually the emotional type, so does the weather change people?
It irritated me peculiarly.
-Chomping.
'Chomping?'
Right as I felt irked, I heard the lady's sound of admiration.
"Hmm… delicious."
I carefully placed my hand on the lady's shoulder.
"Lady?"
Startled, the villain's shoulder quivered.
Despite the shock, Olivia stayed rigidly facing the window, not turning around to look at me like she usually would—making me suspicious of the stubborn lady's behavior.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm guarding the house."
"Why are you guarding the house?"
"It's my job."
"Huh?"
"I've been employed since last week."
"And who's paying your salary?"
"…"
Madam villain remained silent.
I turned my head to see the villain's face.
She quickly averted her gaze.
In a brief moment, I noticed something brown smeared by the lady's mouth.
I had a hunch.
The lady was eating chocolate.
Struggling to conceal my laughter, I spoke to the lady.
"Isn't it tough guarding the house like this?"
"Yeah. The sugar level drops, and it's hard."
"Why would your sugar drop?"
"Because it's raining?"
"Hmm. Then you need some sugar, don't you?"
Madam villain twitched at the bait I cast.
She wasn't one to turn down free snacks.
The villainess nodded vigorously.
"Yes. There's a great need for sugar."
With a grave face, the villainess nodded seriously. The sweet scent had already escaped her lips, so her earnest voice was not trustworthy at all.
However, unaware of this, the villainess continued with an expectant voice.
"I think I can guard the house more reliably if I had a supply of sugar stocked up."
"Is that so?"
"Mm-hmm."
I said to the lady.
"But, lady."
"Huh?"
"Aren't you having a bit too much sugar for it to be dropping?"
Startled, the lady shook.
Madam villain remained motionless as if seeing a ghost. She appeared to lack talent in acting.
"What do you mean? What did I eat?"
The lady gave her all to her feigned excuse.
I felt thankful every time like this that the lady didn't have a grand ambition in acting. If she did, she would have been a villain with merely one trick.
The lady was noisily moving her jaw joint. I restrained my smile while grabbing her shoulder.
"I'm going to seize it, no matter how you managed to steal it."
"No! I saved it up!"
"As far as I know, saving is quite foreign to the lady, isn't it?"
"No, I got along with saving since yesterday."
While mumbling incoherently, the villainous lady stretched out her hand to push my face away.
The chocolate from her fingers smeared on my face.
It was sweet.
There was no clearer culprit.
"Hand it over."
"I don't have any!"
"Your hands seem to suggest otherwise; they're covered in too much of it."
"Really?"
The lady looked at her own hands.
She nodded and accepted it.
It seemed she realized it was too blatant.
Olivia fumbled through her pockets.
It was the chocolate bag I had brought.
Olivia, whose clumsy hand skills had deteriorated, grabbed a handful of chocolate and made eye contact with me.
She tried to pull off a pitiful expression, but she switched tactics in the face of my stern look. Olivia gulped down her saliva.
"Ricardo. Do you know what we have to do first when the tax auditor comes for an investigation?"
"Huh? Suddenly?"
"Evidence destruction."
-Gobbling.
The lady shoved the chocolate in her hand into her mouth.
"Lady!"
"Huhuhuhu."
I burst out laughing at the sight of her chuckling wickedly like a malevolent villain.
"No… Pffft, really!"
The villainous lady munched away with passion, not offering any to her butler, eating it all herself—an offense that brought my hand to poke Olivia's side.
"Stop, that tickles!"
"Aren't you the one who said that eating too much sugar would rot your teeth? Especially since you hate brushing."
"Let me go!"
"I'm not letting go until you hand over all the hidden chocolate."
After battling a fierce tickling, Olivia sulkily began to spit out her concealed stash.
Like a corporate executive having embezzled funds confiscated, the look on the villainous lady's face was of sheer despondency.
Somehow, she looked sadder than when she was dumped by Michail.
Beneath the pillow.
Under the sheets.
And.
"Why would you hide it there?"
"Just because. It didn't seem visible."
Olivia said, pulling out the chocolate between her breasts—a lot of it melted.
I repositioned myself.
As Olivia held out her hand with the chocolate, I brushed her offering aside while speaking.
"Don't put it there."
"Why? It's a great hiding spot."
"It's uncomfortable for me."
I was unable to get up from my seat for a while.
***
The lady and I looked out the window again.
This time we observed the outside in a daze, armed with cheap green tea and cheap snacks.
"Ricardo."
"Yes?"
"It tastes bad."
"…"
Olivia closed her eyes tightly and dumped the green tea into her mouth.
With a gesture that felt like crushing her hopes, I refilled the empty teacup with green tea.
"It's good for your health."
"…"
Wondering if my concern reached her heart, Olivia's warm gaze fixed onto my hands.
"Jerk."
Time seemed to pass quicker than I thought.
Maybe because two idiots with great chemistry were present, the persistent rain didn't feel as bad.
It continued to rain heavily, and there were no guests arriving at the house.
We took turns sipping our tea, showing troubled frowns and emptying our cups, playing rock-paper-scissors to determine who would pour the next round—the company of fools.
It was fun.
"It's raining heavily."
"If I go out now, I might burn up all my sugar."
"Gaslighting won't help; today's snack will be tiled in green tea."
"Hmph."
Outside, a torrential downpour raged on.
The river had risen significantly.
The guards could be easily seen retreating to their homes after suspending their patrols.
Once the rain stopped, I would have to go up onto the roof for some repairs, but for now, I looked up at the sky hoping the ceiling wouldn't leak.
"Ricardo."
"Yes?"
"There's someone coming over there."
Olivia pointed towards the bustling part of town with her finger. I didn't believe it. In this weather, there couldn't possibly be a noble soul crazy enough to come to our house. Probably she mistook a soaking wet puppy for a visitor, I assumed.
In order to clear up the lady's misunderstanding, I replied lightly.
"No, that's just a dog."
"A dog?"
"Yes."
I gave a slight nod and.
Olivia grew quiet again.
So did I, turning to look out the window once more.
"Ricardo."
Olivia pointed somewhere again. Her pointing came a bit closer than before now.
"Someone's coming there."
"Are you bored?"
"A little?"
"I'll tell you a scary story in a while."
"Eek…!"
Olivia clammed up.
I followed Olivia's finger with my gaze.
'What is that?'
Indeed, something was there.
Something brown was quickly moving towards our house.
"Huh?"
It was then.
The swiftly approaching entity stopped in front of our mansion's front gate.
Olivia looked at me.
I nodded slightly—we both knew.
In this kind of weather, the only kind of person who'd visit our house would either be a ghost or a thief.
With trepidation, I peered at the main gate more closely.
'Who is it?'
A woman, head hung low, spinning around in front of the mansion's doors.
She seemed familiar.
Brown hair.
Wearing leather pants and looking like a drowned rat with slumped shoulders.
"Huh?"
Olivia glanced up at me slyly.
"Is it a person?"
"It seems so. I'll go down for a moment."
"Mm."
I ran quickly toward the main gate, grabbing my coat and umbrella, and headed towards the person standing drenched in the rain.
There was a soaked woman standing in front of the gate.
A familiar woman.
I had seen her yesterday.
I remembered she had left with a bright smile on her face.
She was struggling to knock on the door.
"Is anyone there?"
"Uh…"
A weak voice reached my ears.
"I missed the taste of green tea and came here."
Hanna had come to our house.
***
"Hoo…"
Hanna blew on the hot green tea. Clasping the teacup from which white steam arose with her freezing hands, she took a hesitant sip and shivered.
Smiling awkwardly and with an apologetic look, Hanna said,
"I'm sorry for being so abrupt. It's just my personality… if I crave something, I need to have it right away."
A retort came to mind, but I didn't voice it.
I felt pity for the drenched girl before me.
And it was sad that she came all the way here just to drink this lackluster tea.
"The lady is quite picky, so I learned a special tea-brewing technique seven years ago in the East. I thought that might be why she felt that way since this technique enhances the tea's flavor."
"Ha… is that so? It did taste unusually better."
"I'm glad you think it tastes good."
It was a lie. In truth, East or not, I just served the tea once it turned green. The lady, whose taste veers toward the cheap, prefers cocoa over any fancy tea.
I lied so as not to embarrass her.
I watched Hanna closely.
Swollen eyes.
Her eyelids, reddened as if after a bout of tears, weighed down my tongue.
It felt more fitting to comfort her by asking if she was okay, rather than why she came here.
I hesitated for a moment.
Honestly, I never imagined she would come here. It made no sense for her to traverse this downpour to a mansion that resembled a ruin. After all, our house was so visitor-less that I thought she was a ghost.
The current time was 7 p.m.
It was about time for the sun to set.
The sky, drearily overcast, bore the ongoing downpour outside.
I didn't need to think hard to know.
That a noble young lady showed up at the house unannounced, during early evening, and for bland green tea of all things? It was an undeniable fact.
Quite likely, Miss Hanna had run away from home.
Creak. The sound of Hanna scraping an old teacup with her nails reached me. She bit her lip, deep in thought.
She seemed uncomfortable with the awkward atmosphere.
"It's really coming down, isn't it…"
"Yes, it is."
"I'm worried the laundry won't dry."
Our eyes met. I answered with a small smile, choosing to stay silent.
Would she answer if I asked what had happened? Probably not. Instead of prying questions, right now she seemed to need time to just think.
When I ran away from the orphanage, I needed that time. Back then, I spent time with homeless men at the subway station, but since there were no places like Seoul Station, a hub of encounters in this other world, she probably sought refuge here.
Perhaps this place served as a subway station for Hanna.
Quiet and sheltered from rain—a hideaway.
Seeing her in my past, I didn't feel bad. Rather, I wanted to be kind to her.
Slurp. I sipped my tea while looking outside.
"Tea indeed is best when it rains."
"It does seem to calm the mind."
"Would you like more?"
Hanna declined firmly.
"No, thank you."
Indeed, it must be that the green tea at our house lacked flavor.
If only I had expensive tea leaves, I was confident I could present heaven's flavor, but unfortunately, I had already sold those at secondhand prices.
"I'll serve you better quality tea next time."
"It's already quite nice."
Twitch. Hanna shivered, her lips looking pale, cold to the eye.
Perhaps the outer clothing I provided was insufficient.
Feeling it might be time to offer her a bath and a change of clothes, I contemplated as I looked out the window.
Underneath the translucent underwear.
She might catch a cold.
Worried, I gazed out the window.
As time passed, concern piled up on Hanna's face. It seemed her problems weren't easily resolved.
I thought time would help her unravel them, but it appeared to be a matter more in need of a conversation than time.
The day was cold.
The temperature dropped.
And Hanna's complexion grew worse.
By the time the tea was nearly finished, she started picking up the puddled rainwater she had brought in, preparing to leave the estate.
Her figure, crouching to clean up, looked pathetic.
A musty smell rose from the old floorboards. Unable to watch, I reached to snatch the rag she was using.
"Uh-oh?"
Our hands unintentionally overlapped.
I had inadvertently grabbed Hanna's hand, feeling terribly embarrassed. I wasn't trying to make the guest do anything; perhaps I was just too hasty.
Hanna…
Did not react at all and held the towel tightly.
With a calmness hiding her troubled heart, I spoke.
"Just rest for now."
"No, I need to go back home immediately."
"Do you intend to leave me jobless?"
Despite being a runaway teen, taking a butler's work was unforgivable, but it was low-ranked butlers who made their guests clean the floors.
And I didn't want to impose such a task on a runaway teen.
"Please, have a seat."
"Still, I made it dirty. I should clean it."
"It's alright."
Hanna gripped the towel firmly.
She demonstrated strong determination not to let it go.
I waited patiently.
Until she loosened the strength in her hand.
Hanna hung her head low.
After a brief time had passed, and the warmth from my palm began heating her cold hands, a drop fell. From the back of her hand holding the towel came a warm sensation.
Tiny water droplets. Not from the rain-drenched hair, but a slightly heavier drop, carrying more emotion.
"You know, Butler."
Hanna's voice resonated lowly in the echoing mansion.
"Yes."
I responded softly.
"Today is my birthday."
"Oh… Happy Birthday."
"But why can't I get celebrated?"
Hanna looked down at the floor.
Even without seeing her face, I felt as if I knew what expression she wore.
A birthday.
Not a particularly big day, but one day when one wishes for rest and celebration. I too wanted to make sure the lady lacked nothing on her birthday.
It was the same in my previous life.
Even if I was swamped with work, I would buy a cake to celebrate my birthday. And the gift cards my friends presented, though not much, meant the world to me.
In my memories, a birthday was both the happiest day and strangely the loneliest.
Hanna spoke.
"Today, you're the first person to wish me happy birthday."
"This is… quite an honor."
"Right?"
Hanna shook her head. No matter how much she pondered, it seemed that she was unable to find an answer to an unsolvable problem.
"Tell me, Butler. What did I do so wrong?"
Hanna gripped the towel even tighter.
"I want to be praised by my father too, to be a sister that my brother and sister can be proud of."
Hot tears fell onto her hand.
"Is it a sin to have no talent?"
Her voice, frail and soft, echoed through the mansion.
Feeling the heat of Hanna's tears on my hand, my heart grew heavy.
"I told my father today that I would beat senior Michail."
She buried her forehead into the back of my hand.
"Can you guess what he said? He told me to not entertain thoughts above my station. You don't think so too, do you? Not you, right?"
Hanna kept her head down.
"Couldn't a father at least offer empty words of encouragement?"
I've never had parents, so I'm not completely sure, but I'm aware that typical parents don't act that way. That's how the parents I dreamed of in my past were like. Offering praise and encouragement, a support that was all my own.
I wasn't confident to offer comfort.
I hadn't comforted or been comforted much, so I was afraid I might say something hurtful.
Nevertheless, at this moment, I felt as though I had to do something—anything. Although I didn't know much about Hanna during the short time of two weeks.
I decided to tell her what I had learned during that time.
"Miss Hanna, I—I don't invest in endeavors without potential."
"…."
"I'm rather materialistic. I calculate everything, and if the answer doesn't add up, I give it up."
"…."
"I'm truly sorry to say, but if I had thought you lacked talent, I wouldn't have even proposed the bet."
Hanna cautiously opened her mouth.
"Do I have talent?"
"Yes. I swear it by the goddess."
"But I have less talent than my brother and I'm not as good as my sister…"
"Are those people my concern?"
Hanna raised her head to look at me.
A look of incredulity was on her face.
But she seemed to like my resolute words.
[Hanna's affinity has increased by +15.]
Hanna looked up at me.
Her expression had calmed down from before, and I felt relieved. It was much better to see her like this than crying.
"I am selfish."
"I know."
"Saying it that way makes me sound very bad, doesn't it?"
"Pfft… That's right."
"Well, I am. So quickly defeat Michail and fill my wallet with a thousand gold."
"…"
"We will make it possible."
I took the rag from her hands and, as I patted her head, I said:
"I happen to be quite skilled in baking. Why don't you have some birthday cake before you go?"
Hanna looked at me.
Her gaze was somewhat naïve, and seeing her dressed that way was awkwardly stirring. I quickly turned my head away upon glimpsing her exposed underwear.
"I… have plans."
"The plans have been canceled."
Her plans were not my concern. Perhaps she had intended to go to the adventurer's guild.
Nothing helps get rid of restless thoughts quite like swinging a sword.
Perhaps this day was destined to be Hanna's last in the original story, maybe gambling in a state of resignation.
However, I intended to have her stay at our house tonight. I wanted to make her friends with the lady of the house as well.
"Stay tonight."
***
It's been a long time since we had people gathered in the dining room.
The round table, though luxurious for just three, brought back memories as we huddled together reminiscent of old times.
Olivia and the head of the family.
The co-head and the lady of the house.
Though we used to bicker daily, it was a somewhat harmonious time. Sitting at the dinner table, eating face-to-face had been a long-lost experience.
It's been about a year.
Since eating at the table.
I've typically dined with the lady in her bedroom, but it was nice to sit at the table again after such a long time. It stirred excitement within me.
I asked the landlord with an elated heart,
"How does it feel to be back in the dining room after such a long time?"
Olivia's expression was a bit withdrawn. The lady seemed somewhat displeased. She wasn't woken from a nap, so why the long face? I thought she would have been pleased to have a visitor.
Olivia's gaze was fixed on Hanna.
To be precise, on the pale blue pajamas that Hanna was wearing.
"Isn't that mine?"
"Yes, it is."
"Then why is she wearing it?"
Hanna shrunk her shoulders at the lady's gaze. Perhaps she felt like she had stolen her favorite clothes.
Concerned that I had upset the landlord by taking her clothes, I frankly confessed to Olivia.
"I pilfered them."
"Aha."
Olivia nodded her head, seemingly relieved.
"Give her the pretty ones."
Olivia wasn't upset about losing a dress, but rather that I had given Hanna an unattractive one.
Hanna shook her head in understanding at Olivia, who was proud-ish of my thievery, and wore a puzzled expression at this routine of ours.
Seeing the lady calm down again, I revisited the question I had dropped earlier.
"How do you feel being back in the dining room?"
"I don't like it. It's a hassle."
"That's how one turns into a pig."
Olivia bore a confident look.
"A pig?"
With certain pride, Olivia flaunted her chest, certainly shapely, but it was hardly appropriate for a grown adult—and in front of a guest at that—to act in such a manner. Both her triumphant expression and her behavior deserved a rap on the head.
"I eat, and it goes right here."
"Don't lie. Then what are the rolls on your belly from? Greed?"
I teased Olivia as I noticed a slight protrusion on her side.
Olivia was huffing and puffing. She threw her fork at me, but I effortlessly dodged.
"Too slow."
"Eek…"
Olivia clutched at the back of her head.
It's for reasons like this that I don't give her chocolate. She's prone to high blood pressure if she eats too much. What would I do if she fell over while I was teasing her?
With my laughter, I dimmed her proudly inflated chest.
"Pig."
Despite Olivia's anguished cry, I ignored her and continued preparing our meal.
Hanna seemed unable to adjust to our behavior.
Whether it was the butler making fun of his master or the wicked lady throwing forks at her butler, neither was acceptable to her. Despite being good people, neither seemed normal.
I read Hanna's perplexed expression and smiled subtly.
"Don't worry. We're not crazy."
"No…"
Hanna thought to herself. They seem just like crazy people.
From the first time we met, with a fist stuffed in her mouth, crying, she felt like a lunatic.
The rumor of the wicked lady being teased by the butler or the wicked lady throwing a fork at the butler, neither side was normal to her.
Sure, they might be good people, but they don't seem quite sane.
As I set the fork and knife on the table, I said,
"We're not mad, so don't worry."
"No…"
Hanna thought they were indeed crazy people.
She believed them to be insane ever since she had seen the butler teasing the so-called villainess and the villainess hurling forks at the butler.
Of course, they are nice people, but they didn't seem right in the head.
I read Hanna's flustered face and chuckled softly.
"We're just excited about it, both the lady and myself."
"Excited? I can't see which part is exciting you."
"Oh, just."
I spoke while watching the gaze of Olivia, who was intently looking at Hanna.
"We're happy to have a visitor for the first time in a while."
Hanna was speechless.
What to say about this feeling?
Suddenly, my heart felt heavy.
It had been a long time since she felt welcomed.
Previously, the day known as her birthday always ended in tears.
She cried over her father's neglect, holed up in a room where nobody celebrated her, blowing out candles alone.
It felt like being welcomed was a first for her.
"Are you happy that I've come?"
Hanna asked me.
Her voice was a little muffled, a little sad.
As a butler, I was pleased to have something to do after such a long break. It was happy that she had come to this mansion because she remembered the tea I brewed.
It was an excessive concern for someone I had only known for two weeks.
It would be good for the quest progress concurrently, too.
Though it was a mercantile thought, I could genuinely answer the question she posed.
"Yes. I am happy."
"Really?"
"Of course. In that sense, may I ask you to keep our lady company after dinner?"
Hanna fell silent for a moment.
Surprised by my request, Olivia snorted steam from her nose. She seemed nonchalant but internally looking forward to having a woman's talk. It appeared as if the lady was already planning tonight's conversation topics in her head.
I worked hard to meet the lady's expectations.
And Hanna did not respond.
I had no intentions of listening to her response.
I would make her do it regardless. Nothing in life is free.
And while I'm at it, I might as well ask for other things too.
"Aren't you uncomfortable being all wet from the rain?"
"A bit, yes."
"Then, after the meal, you should have a bath with our lady."
Whoosh.
Olivia let out even bigger clouds of steam through her nose, clearly excited.
"Ah…?"
Hanna's face contorted, bewildered.
It was a good look.
"You seem better now."
"Huh?"
"You look much happier than earlier."
Hanna touched her face. Her mouth was unreasonably upturned. It was supposed to be an unpleasant errand. She was supposed to be annoyed about doing chores, yet her smile betrayed her inner feelings.
Why was she smiling?
It had been a long time since she had smiled on her birthday.
As the awkward atmosphere lingered for a while,
The voice of Olivia, known as the mood-killer, rang out.
"Ricardo, I'm hungry."
"As expected, the Glutton Fairy."
"Is that an insult?"
With a question mark hovering above her head, Olivia wondered whether it was a jab or a compliment. I assured her with a slight smile that it was praise.
"No, it means you're as lovely as a fairy."
"I am a fairy."
"Yes, you are. You do eat more than one though. But yes, a fairy for sure."
Thwock. The fork flew at me again, but I dodged it as easily as before.
With a guileless face, Olivia asked me,
"What's for dinner tonight?"
"What would you like to have?"
The answer was written in Olivia's eyes. She always responds the same way.
"Meat?"
As always, I offered a negative response. The reason I ask about the dinner menu isn't to know her preference, but rather to play a kind of telepathic game to see if what I plan to make coincides with her desired meal.
If it doesn't align, too bad.
If it does, it's a delight.
That's all there is to it.
"No."
"Awww."
Today's menu was as I told Hanna: I was planning to make a cake.
A cake smothered in fresh cream.
My past hobby included cooking and baking, so I had enough skill in baking to avoid disaster.
The dessert is a fresh cream cake.
For the side menu, maybe some seasoned chicken will suffice.
And the food that used to drive women crazy in my previous life. No matter if they were feeling down, sad, or even happy, this food would always do the trick.
It seemed like the kind of obsession one could only have if their brain was made of rice cake. I thought that if I made this food the main dish, it could help lift Hanna's spirits, which had been quite down.
I flashed Olivia a confident smile.
"It's the lady's favorite food."
I turned around and gave Hanna a similarly assured smile.
"You'll like this too, Miss Hanna. It's a new dish for you, but just go ahead and eat. Guests are supposed to receive what's given."
Hanna wore an incredulous look.
What can she do about it? If I wanted to do this, so it shall be.
I entered the kitchen.
Soon, the spicy aroma began to fill the dining room.
***
"Tss… Ahh…"
"Aaah… Heuh."
"Tsss… Aah."
Murmurs and moans drifted through the dining room. I sat up straight. This wasn't the scene I aimed for. Did I make it too spicy?
On the contrary, it was perfect.
The exuberant sounds were enough to make outsiders think this was more than just dining – the kind of noises that arise when spicy food is involved.
Even Olivia, who was somewhat accustomed to spicy foods, seemed challenged by this dish, as she fluttered the hem of her dress.
I looked at Olivia's indiscreet actions and commented.
"Lady, you're being too sensual. Don't do that."
"Why not?! It's too hot in here."
"Still, it's overly suggestive."
'Tsk', Olivia sneakily checked my reaction. After continuous nagging, she gave up fluttering her dress and returned her focus to eating.
At the center of the table was fiery red food.
One of my best recipes from my previous life:
Having experimented with Olivia since she was young, I wondered if this spicy taste would appeal to people in this world, too. Given that she liked it more than I expected, I thought it would go well with Miss Hanna.
And as anticipated, Hanna was enjoying it.
"It's spicy, yet so tasty. My tongue hurts but… tss… It's strangely addictive."
She seemed to have taken a liking to it.
A smile naturally crossed my face.
"Do you like it?"
"It's incredibly delicious!"
Her sweating face as she continued to eat reminded me of myself in the orphanage, always snatching up the fish cakes.
A true gourmet.
In this world where fish cakes don't exist, I tried substituting with ham – and it turned out quite well.
Hanna picked out just the ham pieces from her tteokbokki, and I was quite moved by this act.
Of course, Olivia's affection for Hanna was falling in real-time.
"Eek! You stop picking out just the ham!"
"But the Lady is eating only ham, too."
"This is my house!"
"I'm a guest!"
"Eeek."
Olivia's near-hypertensive reaction had me calming her down by sorting out the ham onto her plate.
Hanna looked at me with eager eyes.
"This is the first time I've tried this dish. It's good, isn't it?"
"It's a pretty expensive dish."
"Huh?"
Hanna was momentarily shocked.
I teased her with a playful tone.
"It costs 100,000 gold."
Clang. Olivia dropped her fork.
"Yeeeek!"
Why are you shocked?
"How much have I eaten all this time?! A hundred thousand… a million?!"
"No."
"Ricardo… have I really become a money-eating pig?"
Looking incredulously at Olivia, and she at me disbelievingly.
Of course, Hanna was calmly there.
She seemed to know it was a joke.
I hastened to allay the most surprised lady's fears by correcting my statement.
"It's a lie. It didn't even cost 10 shillings."
"Phew. Almost went on a forced diet there."
Olivia focused on eating again.
Hanna nodded.
"What's this dish called?"
"It's Spicy Rice Cakes."
"Spicy Rice Cakes."
"Yes, it's a special dish I made for your visit. It's a recipe of my own creation, so likely no one else in this world can make it."
"Should you be making such a dish for me?"
Hanna's eyes widened with surprise, as if I had given her a unique dish that only exists one in the world.
I told her as a matter of fact.
"It's your birthday."
"…"
Hanna clutched her fork tightly.
"Yes, it's my birthday today."
As she quietly ate the Rice cakes, Hanna's breathing was rough.
"Guk… Why is it like this? Maybe it's too spicy. Ahahah… It's too delicious…"
Putting a cup of water next to her, I said once more.
"Happy Birthday."
"Guhh… thank you."
Apparently, Hanna was prone to tears.
***Hannah POV***
The night came.
Unexpectedly, I ended up staying over at someone else's house.
It's been a while since I spent the night elsewhere. Engrossed in swordsmanship practice, I had no friends, and any other night spent away was due to sleeping rough for a task.
Sleeping in someone else's house…
It's awkward.
Yet, the feeling wasn't unpleasant.
After eating food that completely relieved my stress and hearing words of welcome, I was grateful to the butler who treated me like a guest even though I arrived like an intruder.
The lady was still a bit scary, though.
A lot had happened, indeed.
Feeling resentment towards a family that forgot my birthday…
I ran away because I hated my neglectful father.
And I cried while eating…
"Haa… Why did I cry like a fool there!"
Hanna kicked the blanket fiercely with her feet.
'But it really was nice.'
It felt like the most enjoyable birthday I've had until now.
I felt excitement over a long-absent sensation – being recognized and acknowledged on my birthday, something I could never feel in that oppressive home no matter how much I watched my brother practice swordsmanship or was ignored even when simply saying hello.
Tomorrow, I'll rise up and shake it all off. It seemed like I had gained the strength to carry on.
Until a while ago, I wanted to give up on everything, including swordsmanship, but it felt like coming here was the right decision.
However, part of me dreaded the morning sun. I'd have to return to that suffocating home. Perhaps they hadn't even noticed my absence yet?
My father's mind was all about my brother.
He said my brother was nearing the state of Sword Expert. That's why father was too eager to teach him more.
"…I really hate it."
As loneliness crept in, so did the gloominess. Hanna clutched the blanket and curled up.
"I should've just slept by the lady's side."
Though I had asked for a separate room thinking that the lady would keep me awake with her chatter all night, I now regretted it.
Just when I believed I had enough sleep for the night.
-Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Are you asleep?"
That familiar voice came.
Hanna carefully got up and opened the door.
"Ha ha…"
Ricardo stood there wearing an awkward smile.
In his hand was a set of snacks and tea.
"I had forgotten something when I left."
"Please come in."
"Thank you."
As I closed the door and saw Ricardo's face, Hanna's face instantly flushed.
She had forgotten the fact that a grown man and woman were in a room – covered overhead with four walls about them.
Strange thoughts crept in.
Racy imaginings seemed to paint themselves in her mind.
Though ours wasn't that kind of relationship, as Ricardo took a step closer, Hanna shut her eyes tight and exclaimed.
"I'm sorry! I'm not ready…"
"Huh? What for?"
"That… we aren't in that kind of relationship…"
Ricardo laughed heartily.
He seemed grateful that she kept her voice down and reassured her he hadn't come with that intention, causing Hanna's face to redden even more.
"Then why…?"
"Ah…"
Ricardo wore a gentle smile and said,
"I don't think I gave you a birthday gift."
Hanna wanted to disappear into a mouse hole.
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