The Journey (2)
In the end, I didn't sleep a wink that night.
By the time I managed to settle my chaotic heart, the sun had already risen.
“Ha, shit….”
I swallowed the curse before it could leave my mouth.
To wake myself up, I left my room and headed straight for the bathroom on the first floor.
My confused emotions and thoughts had more or less sorted themselves out. I still couldn't precisely define what I was feeling, but I realized that the young master was at the core of it. His words and actions had shaken me. I had never felt this kind of emotion in this life or my previous one. The intense emotional turmoil of experiencing it for the first time left me unable to collect myself.
When I first felt this emotion, it hadn't been this severe. But today—no, last night—why had it been like that? My feelings had surged particularly strongly. I couldn't control my swelling heart.
Why?
The more I recalled what happened at night, the greater the confusion grew.
Entering the bathroom, I washed my face with cold water. In the chilly winter, the cold water spread a sharp chill across my face.
“Ugh.”
It felt like my mind snapped awake. Addicted to the thrilling cold that reached even my brain, I splashed water on myself repeatedly.
“Hoo.”
After finishing washing my face, I dried it with a towel and came out. I was awake, but the fatigue hadn't completely gone.
“I didn't think I'd stay up all night.”
I still didn't understand my emotions, but one thing seemed clear. Young Master Maximilian was the problem. There was no one else who shook my emotions, mood, and heart. If only Young Master Maximilian weren't around, there really wouldn't be any problems....
“It's all, all the young master's fault.”
Anyway, it was all the young master's fault.
Having refreshed myself with cold water and cleared my head, I headed to the kitchen.
What could I do? He was the master of the house, so he could occasionally drink and... my teeth ground together...... have women around him. That was what noble men did....
Not quite to the point of being unconscious...? Anyway, since he had drunk a lot and would be suffering from a hangover, I decided to make hangover soup for him.
From early morning, I prepared vegetables in the kitchen.
By the way, I was sleepy.... I had woken up, but should I say I was tired? Or that the repetitive actions were boring?
After roughly finishing the vegetables and standing up, Sister Mary appeared.
“Ju, Julian?”
“Ah, you're up?”
“What are you doing?”
Sister Mary spoke as if scolding me.
“I'm making hangover soup.”
“I could have done that.”
“I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone.”
Sister Mary let out a deep sigh and came over to help.
“So, did you see him come back?”
I nodded.
“He had drunk a lot. Said it was because of some gathering.”
Even if I wanted to talk about it with a smile, I couldn't smile.
“Don't take it too hard.”
Take it hard?
“I-It's not really like that?”
I didn't understand why Sister Mary was smiling like that. I felt like my mood was about to sour a little.
We cooked together and set the table.
“By the way, did you really have to use those spicy spices?”
“Why?”
“Well, the smell alone stings the nose.”
Well, spicy flavors are hard to eat if you're not used to them.
“I was fine with it.”
Sister Mary looked at the soup I made with a doubtful expression.
“You'll change your mind once you try it.”
This spicy, refreshing soup is so delicious!
“Oh my, another feast for breakfast today.”
Priest Daniel appeared right on time and said.
“Yes, made by none other than the Saintess's own hands.”
Priest Daniel looked at me with wide eyes.
“What? First time seeing me cook?”
I often helped Sister Mary......
“That's not it. I was just wondering what brought you to cook.”
“Just, there's someone who will foolishly suffer from a hangover.”
“What a blessed person that must be.”
I shrugged. Blessed just for cooking? Come on.
It was time for breakfast, but Young Master Maximilian hadn't come down.
“I'll go wake him.”
I was about to go, but Priest Daniel moved first.
“Please do.”
I was worried the soup would get cold in the meantime......
A clattering noise came, and....
“S-Sorry for being late.”
Young Master Maximilian, looking tormented by his hangover, appeared breathing heavily. Priest Daniel stood behind him, grinning. He kept smiling at the young master as if something was so funny.
Seeing the young master sit down still not fully with it, I held out a cup.
“Here, drink some cold water and clear your head.”
I made ice water with magic and handed it over.
“Th-Thank you.”
The young master gulped down the water and panted heavily.
“Well then, let's eat.”
“Yes, please go ahead.”
The young master's condition still didn't look good. Why drink and suffer like this?
I ate the soup I had cooked to my taste for the first time in a while.
“Ah, nice.”
“Yeah, it's been a while.”
My older sister also moved her spoon without hesitation, since she often ate this spicy, refreshing soup with me.
It's delicious even plain, you know?
Sister Mary hesitated, took a bite, then looked puzzled and repeated tasting it.
“It's more edible than you thought, right?”
“Y-Yes, it's not that spicy.”
If you eat a lot of the ingredients raw without cooking, it's insanely spicy. But mixed into the broth and heated, the spiciness decreases. So it leaves just the right amount of refreshing heat and spiciness.
“It's a unique dish.”
Priest Daniel also started slurping it as if it suited his taste. As for Young Master Maximilian....
“Aren't you eating?”
“Yes, well...”
His expression wasn't good, probably because of his stomach.
“I made it for your hangover, so hurry and eat.”
When I pushed the plate, the young master closed his eyes with an uneasy expression and lifted his spoon.
“I-I'll eat.”
The young master took a spoonful of the soup I made. His face, which had been frowning, soon widened his eyes.
“This is...”
“You have to eat plenty for it to cure the hangover.”
“Y-Yes.”
Realizing it was fine, the young master also ate the soup diligently. Seeing him eat well made the morning's effort worthwhile.
“One more bowl, please.”
The young master quickly emptied one bowl and received another plate.
“It's good, right?”
“Yes, I didn't know there was a taste like this.”
I was glad everyone seemed to like it.
“I'm glad you like it. I'll make it often.”
When I said that with a smile, everyone went quiet. Why?
After finishing breakfast, I briefly explained yesterday's events.
“So such rumors are circulating. Then we can't delay.”
“Yes, so when will you leave?”
The young master answered immediately without hesitation.
“How about three days from now? Waiting for winter to end is worrying with the rumors.”
“Is that okay?”
“Yes, yesterday's drinking party was like a farewell party.”
Hmm..., I didn't particularly believe it... but I accepted for now.
“Then let's prepare and leave in three days.”
The schedule was set so easily.
Sister Mary went to clean up the food, and my older sister went to help. Priest Daniel suddenly said he had urgent business and left, leaving just the two of us.
“A-About last night, I'm sorry, sorry.”
The young master spoke as if he was about to kneel right then.
“It's fine. A man can drink with women around. Noble men all do that, right?”
“Ju, Julian? That's a prejudice.”
“Prejudice... really?”
“W-Well, I can't say there are no such people, but not everyone does it. And even though there was a woman next to me, I only drank healthily.”
“Hmm...”
It didn't seem like a lie. And meddling too much in others' affairs would be a nuisance.
“Yes, yes, of course.”
“P-Please believe me.”
“I'll believe you.”
The young master approached with a desperate expression.
“I-I won't do it again.”
The young master spoke with such a desperate and pitiful expression. But is this something to be like this over?
“You don't need to. It's the young master's business, and nobles socializing, drinking is fine, and women can be next to them.”
If it were my person who did that? I wouldn't have endured it. I would have told them to get lost right next to me. But I can't do that to the young master, right? If it were Priest Daniel, I would have immediately sent a letter of the heart to the temple to take him away.
“Then please ease your anger a bit.”
“I'm not angry.”
“I-Is that so...”
Looking at the flustered young master made me feel uncomfortable too.
“Rather, speak confidently. Saying it with that 'I did wrong' face makes me uncomfortable.”
“I'm sorry.”
I asked the young master to teach me in detail what he did yesterday.
“At first it was a light tea party. Then getting involved with Academy classmates was the problem.”
Talking with Academy classmates, winter social season was ending, and though a bit early, there were people returning to their territories.
“So a farewell party was held to catch up.”
Since the young master also had plans to return, he attended and drank......
“I never thought the married ones would call women.”
The farewell party was held by renting a building in the red-light district, and who would have thought! They would bring women from nearby taverns......
“O-Of course, I only received the drinks they poured and didn't even touch them.”
That means...
“So there were people who did touch them?”
“Well...”
The young master started rolling his eyes and gauging my reaction. It is hard to talk about to a woman, right?
When I looked at him with suspicious eyes, the young master sat up straight.
“P-People who hit it off take them to a nearby room.”
The women called from the tavern were for that purpose from the start, or something? Since the partners were nobles, they could get paid handsomely for a one-night stand and were proactive.
“Of course, I refused.”
“Really?”
“Yes, I'm not that kind of person.”
Hmm, he seemed more sincere than last night. Then I have no choice but to believe him, right?
“I'll believe you.”
The young master looked greatly relieved for some reason.
“If I had known it would turn into that kind of place, I would have left midway...”
Cunningly, the young master's friends pretended it was a normal drinking party at first and brought in the women midway. Listening to the young master say the atmosphere was already heated and he couldn't ruin it by getting angry so he quietly endured...
“Hmm, you had a hard time.”
“Yes, that's why I was careful about meeting friends...”
“But as a noble, isn't that kind of socializing necessary?”
“Well, if you're a central noble or have a lot of ambition, maybe. But our family is fine with just one territory for now.”
No intention of connecting to the center or growing power? Should I say he has no ambition? Or is loyal? I don't know.
Still, after having an honest conversation with the young master, the things that bothered me disappeared and my heart felt at ease.
“Ugh, I didn't sleep, so I should take a nap.”
I stood up and stretched.
“You couldn't sleep?”
The young master followed behind me with a face that looked somehow happy. I said nothing.
“D-Did you worry?”
Looking at the young master who asked so blatantly made me feel quite bad. Why is he smiling so brightly......
Certainly, I was so bothered by the young master's matter that I couldn't sleep. But thinking that the young master noticed made me embarrassed.
“W-What are you talking about? I didn't worry, okay?”
I quickened my steps and fled from the young master.
Why does it suddenly feel like heat is rising to my face?