No Kissing Without My Permission
No kissing without my permission. Hanna's crying continued until dawn.
A bright morning. To prepare breakfast for Hanna, who was heading back to the academy this afternoon, I stood in the kitchen.
The young lady sat at the table with bleary eyes, rubbing them sleepily as she asked me in a hoarse voice while I cooked. "Ricardo. I conquered the chocolate kingdom today."
The young lady had finally achieved her dream. Wondering about her tale of political intrigue, I asked how it ended in the chocolate kingdom. Surely she'd resolved the conflict in some reasonable way that the chocolate kingdom's people would accept.
"Did you become a sage ruler?"
The young lady nodded. "Yeah. I ate it all."
"...?"
"It was delicious."
She grinned drowsily. "My dream is world conquest."
"...Let's drop it."
The young lady hurled her fork at me. It was mentally healthy to abandon unfulfilled dreams early. Praying the current royal family would endure forever, I placed the handmade earthenware pot I'd forged myself onto the magic stone-powered gas stove. A black earthenware pot. I'd made it myself for the young lady's hearty breakfasts, but she hated its odd shape, calling it a cursed kettle. Having loved hot soup in my past life, I used it with satisfaction.
For today's breakfast, I planned something light. Not stimulating like tteokbokki, but steamed eggs—a classic Korean dish—for Hanna after her emotional ordeal. It had been ages since the possessor returned home; serving bland food would wound my pride as a butler. To uphold the dignity of a house steward, I furrowed my brow and focused on the cooking.
"...Ricardo."
"Shh. I'm concentrating on the cooking."
"It's serious."
The young lady pointed at her empty plate, urging me to fill it. She got straight to the point. "Bread."
"You need to eat proper food."
"I'm hungry."
"Too many pre-meal snacks and you won't have room for breakfast."
She said with a grave expression. "What's for breakfast today...?"
She treated the morning menu with more gravity than future plans or political currents. I replied to her with confidence. "Steamed eggs with rice."
The young lady gripped her forks in tight fists. She seemed excited for steamed eggs after so long. I felt good thinking her greasy gut from all that meat was finally ready for revolution.
But the young lady wore a dissatisfied frown, clearly unready for revolution. "Change it to meat. The mama hen will be sad."
"The mama hen's chicks are already separated into yolks and whites, crossing the river of no return."
"...Ricardo."
She gazed mournfully at the pot. "The mama hen is crying."
"..."
"Can't you hear the mama hen clucking sadly? A grieving mother searching for her son in the coop... her cries... they're making me sad."
Rich in sensibility on the topic of meat. She repeated sulkily. "Give the steamed eggs to the mama hen, and make today's breakfast meat."
"Overruled."
"Eeeeek!! Meat! Meat! The mama hen will come haunt you, Ricardo!"
"The mama hen is fated for tonight's dinner, so just hold out a bit and she'll reunite with her chicks."
A question mark floated over her head. "Chicken?"
"Yes."
"Nice place to go. Mama hen will be happy too."
She nodded vigorously, silently honoring the clucky family that became her daily bread. As expected of the empire's top villainess—ice-cold composure.
A short while later, a scream echoed from upstairs.
-Kyaaack!! She's insane!!!
Hanna, freshly awakened. The sound of her kicking the blankets fiercely traveled down the stairs.
-Insane... insane... What was she thinking hugging me there... Ahh! Crazy bitch...!
The young lady looked up. "Ricardo, she's calling me a crazy bitch."
"...No, she's not."
"She is. She said insane."
"Sounds like she's calling herself insane."
"Really...?"
To comfort her upset expression, I placed some bread on her plate. She bit into it with a touched look. "Nom."
Her wounded heart healed with one piece of bread.
-Thud thud thud.
Feeble footsteps descended the stairs. Hanna, the star of this shy morning meal. She entered the dining room with her head bowed low.
"G... good morning?"
The young lady, bread in mouth, eyed her. "Crybaby."
Whoosh...! Hanna's ears flushed red.
"...Don't tease me."
"Crybaby. You bawled your eyes out."
"..."
"And you stole my chocolate."
Resentment lingered from last night's chocolate theft. Hanna blushed and sat, bowing slightly to me in the kitchen without forgetting her manners. I sprinkled salt onto the steamed eggs with vigorous chef motions, then turned and greeted her.
"Good morning."
"Yes... good morning... Um, Steward, last night..."
"Yes, I slept well."
The young lady poked her head into our awkward exchange. "Ricardo didn't sleep a wink last night."
"..."
"He kept pacing in and out of the room because he was worried... Why! Don't cover my mouth!"
"It's embarrassing."
"Eeeeek!!!"
Hanna couldn't lift her head from shame.
-I tried so hard, why doesn't anyone notice... Hnggg... How hard I worked...
-Don't I notice?
-...Because you keep doing that, I... I get the wrong idea... Hwaaaang...
-Don't cry. The young lady hates it.
-...Ricardo's mine...
-Hwaaaang...
I figured even I'd struggle to face her. She'd wailed in my arms like the world was ending; seeing her casually now might hurt more. Knowing her embarrassment, I gave an awkward smile, placed the steaming steamed eggs on the table without a word, and approached Hanna with a small grin. Hoping she'd enjoy the food I'd prepared diligently instead of asking why she was so sad or what made her cry.
"Egg risotto. Hope it suits your taste."
Ears still red, Hanna gingerly scooped some with her spoon. She gulped at the jiggly yellow egg, winced at the heat touching her lips, but as she adapted to the unfamiliar dish, her eyes widened round.
"It's delicious."
"Glad to hear it."
"Really..."
Hanna stared at her spoon, head bowed. "So delicious..."
Overcome with emotion, she bowed deeper. So sensitive, this girl. As I moved to discreetly leave, the young lady—watching Hanna intently—interrupted the moment.
"Crybaby."
"I'm not gonna cry!"
"Liar."
"...You're a crybaby too, milady."
"I'm the iron-blooded lady with no tears."
She said haughtily, but spotting my unbandaged right arm, her eyes welled up immediately.
"Uuuu..."
"No, why are you about to cry?"
"...Just sad."
So sensitive, this young lady.
Afternoon arrived, time for Hanna to leave the mansion. Standing at the front gate, she gazed wistfully at me, the young lady, and—
-Groooowl...!
—Gomtangi. Hanna stared at him with trembling eyes, whispering so softly even Gomtangi couldn't hear, as if she'd spotted a forbidden presence.
"A pet?"
"Yes. Found him in the Hamel Mountains."
"Hamel Mountains? What kind of dog do you find on a mountain...? Wait, isn't that... a bear?"
I answered her question firmly. "A dog."
"It looks like a bear no matter how I see it."
"A dog."
Gomtangi, liking Hanna, rubbed his fluffy crown against her calf. As the soft head touched her leg, Hanna's face twisted oddly. She flinched, shoulders trembling in fear, then eyed his plush fur longingly.
Relieved by her more relaxed complexion than yesterday, I carefully offered the paper bag I'd hidden behind my back.
"Made some cookies."
Hanna stood frozen. Touched by the unexpected gift, she just stared at the bag in her hands. Teasing her hesitation, I said, "They're getting cold."
"You gave it without receiving anything..."
I shook my head. "You can give back later."
Succeed and repay me. No freebies in this world. Imagining Hanna's future as a successful swordswoman and generous patron, I smiled warmly. "I believe in you, Hanna."
Blushing, she took the bag gingerly, gripping the handle tight as if she'd never let go. Eyes misty, she said, "I'll repay you for sure later. I'll succeed so much you can't refuse."
'Feels like that came out wrong...'
The young lady waved from her chair. "Bye, crybaby."
"Not a crybaby."
As Hanna turned to leave, she suddenly shouted back. "Steward!"
She ran toward me. Thinking she'd forgotten something, I stood still—but she kept coming.
'What's up?'
Eyes squeezed shut, she barreled up, stopped right in front, clenched her fists, and went on tiptoes. "Did you forget something...? Huh?"
Mwah. Cold lips touched my cheek. Soft sensation. Was this heaven? Stunned, I stood dazed, hand to the spot.
Grinning mischievously, Hanna said, "Th-that's just a farewell greeting, so don't get the wrong idea."
My face burned. "Y-yeah..."
The young lady clutched her chocolate tight. "Eeeeek!!! Get out!"
She was really pissed.
After Hanna left, darkness fell on the silent mansion. The young lady eyed me gravely as I lay with my head on her lap below her thighs. Flaring nostrils. Furrowed brow in focus.
I asked, "What are you doing?"
She replied solemnly. "Disinfecting."
She rubbed a handkerchief vigorously over the cheek Hanna's lips had grazed. My cheek wasn't red from the rubbing. My body wasn't that fragile. The shadow from her ample chest flushed my face. A splendid view. Far better than Hamel's autumn leaves.
Pouting, she said, "No more kissing from now on."
"Where's that rule come from?"
"It exists starting today."
The young lady was quite possessive. "Ricardo's mine...!"
I smiled at her. "I know."
I liked her like this.