Tteokbokki Hangover

Blurp blurp. What the hell is going on? Why am I sleeping in the study, and what's with this blanket?

I sat up, letting the blanket slide off naturally as I glanced around. No one was there. And with the room all dark and dim, it had to be evening already.

"Haa…."

Memory cuts off right after I reached for the second bottle of makgeolli. Let me try piecing it back together.

"I was definitely drinking the second bottle when…."

At that moment, a fragment popped up from the pitch-black swamp of my memories.

[...You…! Damn! ...Dog!]

"Huh…?"

Who the hell did I say that to? I've been on my best behavior with my words since regressing.

"Urgh…."

Who who who! Then—

Knock knock.

– Lady, are you awake?

"Marie…?"

– Yes.

"Come in."

Click. Following the light spilling through the door, Marie entered carrying a tray with a drink.

"I figured your head might hurt, so I mixed some honey water for you."

Hearing that made my head throb a little. Up until now, I'd been so focused on figuring out what happened that I hadn't even noticed the pain.

"Thanks."

"No problem. Aren't you hungry?"

Gulp. I sipped the honey water she'd prepared and pondered.

Am I hungry?

Honestly, no clue. My stomach felt empty, but my brain was still half-asleep, sending no signals.

"Not really sure."

"You probably shouldn't head to dinner like this, right?"

At her words, I took stock of myself. I'd slept so roughly that my hair was a total mess.

Hmm….

Yeah, facing my parents for dinner looking like this? No thanks.

"Yeah, probably not."

"Figured as much." Marie set the empty cup back on the tray and looked at me with a gentle smile that somehow felt like how you'd eye a child. Made sense—she'd been looking after me since I was in diapers.

Basically my nanny, huh.

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠brushed off her smile and reached out my arm.

"Help me up, Mariling."

"Oh my. It's been forever since you called me that."

She took my hand and gently pulled me to my feet.

Ah. Still a bit drunk, huh.

A childhood habit of calling her that had slipped out. Heat rushed to my head, neck, and ears in an instant. If I looked in a mirror right now, finding a spot that wasn't red would be the real challenge.

"I-It's 'cause I'm not fully awake yet!"

"Sure, sure."

"Urgh…. You're starting to sound more like Rio every day."

"Lady. Even for you, that's a bit…."

"...Sorry."

"Yes."

It was a little harsh. Comparing Marie to Rio, of all people.

Gurgle—

My stomach let out a loud rumble, filling the quiet study and announcing its presence. Must be because something finally hit my gut.

I clutched my tightening stomach and spoke to Marie.

"...Marie, could you bring something light to my room?"

"Of course. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I'll let the kitchen know."

The conversation seemed over, but my body wouldn't budge from the spot. Something was nagging at me.

I grabbed the hem of Marie's outfit as she turned to leave.

"Um, Marie."

"Yes?"

"Rio…?"

I dropped my gaze in embarrassment as I said it. Marie followed my eyes with a knowing smile, meeting them head-on. That gentle look made me glance sideways. Was I still buzzed? My ears were burning.

"Don't worry about Sir Rio, Lady. He perked right up and went back to his duties."

"Mm, got it."

Good, he's fine. Relief.

…Relief?

Not sure. Him bouncing back like nothing happened felt a tad upsetting. Didn't that make me the bad guy?

"Hmmm…."

But…

Am I not the bad guy?

Well, yeah. I'm the villainess.

So what if I'm a little bad? I'll keep it up. If my guard prioritizes anything over me, I'll snap right back.

How dare he.

What's mine stays focused on me.

Meanwhile, the duke's mansion kitchen had just weathered another storm thanks to someone.

Scattered remnants of prepped ingredients everywhere.

Chop-chop-chop. A kitchen knife and someone's hand danced across the cutting board. Kitchen head Victor watched with anxious eyes.

As a chef, he shouldn't, but he gnawed his nails while staring at the boy wielding the knife so freely before him.

[Hey, Bear-man! Lemme use the kitchen!]

It had been nearly an hour since the guy barged in that afternoon declaring he needed the kitchen. Luckily, the place was huge, so he wasn't in the way, but sharing space meant eyes wandered. Especially since he always whipped up something weird—and intriguing.

"What the hell are you even making?"

"Argh, stop asking already! I'll save you some later."

A spicy aroma mixed with sweet notes filled the kitchen, enveloping them. The nose-stinging scent and vivid red screamed danger in his brain, but his mouth watered, saliva already flooding toward his throat.

And just as Victor was about to bug Rio again—

"Done!"

Apparently finished, Rio sipped the broth with a spoon, killed the heat, and moved the pot to the table.

He grabbed a bowl, portioned out the contents, and plated it up. The white rice cakes soaked in sauce glowed pale red, dotted with clumps of bright red powder. Fish cakes, sliced kilbasa sausage, mozzarella cheese—all mingled, steaming invitingly.

Rio handed a plate to the kitchen head, who was lost in the new dish.

"This one's for you, old man."

"Mm."

"The rest is for the lady and the others, so don't even think about touching it."

Nod.

Someone actually said that out loud.

Rio shook his head with a wry smile, loaded the pot onto a trolley, and headed out.

Maids and servants in the hall sniffed curiously at the trolley, but Rio pushed it at top speed—couldn't care less.

Captain said she'd be in her room by now.

Hope she eats this quick and gives me that puffed-cheek glare again.

Lost in thought, he arrived at Lucresia's door before he knew it.

Knock knock.

"Lady, it's your cutie pie Rio!"

– ...Bastard. Come in.

The voice was too soft to catch clearly, but context screamed curse.

Ahh, too happy~

Rio got a thrill every time Lucresia cussed him out.

Creeeak. He opened the door and wheeled in the trolley first. A wave of unfamiliar food scent flooded the room with the outside air.

"......."

Lucresia had a hunch. Her guard brought something new again.

Gulp.

But like a well-trained border collie, she didn't lunge at the food. She was a civilized woman who knew ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠restraint.

...Probably.

The makgeolli was just a slip-up.

She couldn't tear her eyes from the trolley. By the time Rio reached her—

The intensifying aroma broke her. She finally spoke.

"Wh-what the hell is this?!"

Her mouth watered so bad she stuttered, but who cared? She just hated Rio not spilling faster.

"......Heh heh."

"Wanna get kicked out again?"

"Ah, this is tteokbokki."

"Tteokbo-what?"

"Oof."

"...?"

Rio despaired at the world once more.

No video recording! Not even voice memos! Hurry up and invent it!

This world was too damn slow. Rio shut his eyes, holding back tears.

Meanwhile, Lucresia stared at him blankly before eyeing the lidded pot.

"Whatever this tteokbokki thing is, open it already."

"Yessir! Ta-da~!"

The pot brimmed with red broth. Rio scooped out the solids with a ladle and plated them.

"...It's bright red."

"No worries! It's just the chili."

"...Not too spicy—"

That instant.

"Here!"

"—Mmph…!"

Rio speared a piece of tteok with a fork and shoved it into Lucresia's mouth.

Lucresia froze for a second. Then she chewed, the spicy-sweet ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠flavor exploding on her tongue.

"......."

Nom nom. Gulp.

"How's it taste?!"

"...Gimme."

"Huh?"

"The fork."

What followed was an eating frenzy that stunned even Rio, who'd watched her for over 15 years.

Nom nom nom gulp— nom nom—

.......

A few minutes later.

"Sss… Haa…."

Lucresia had scraped the pot clean. She stuck out her burning tongue, panting to cool it.

Rio, of course, hadn't gotten a single bite today. Tears in his eyes, he closed them tight—until Lucresia spoke.

"I want that too."

"...Huh? What?"

What now? Rio's head tilted.

And her next words? Unforgettable in his reincarnated life.

"Hair-of-the-dog! Makgeolli! Now."

"......."

She's back.

The alcoholic villainess returns.