Pajeon & Makgeolli (2)

Nom. Chomp chomp.

"Mmm."

Delicious as expected. The sweet, savory aroma that had filled the room was now flooding her mouth with its full flavor.

"...Maybe I should just fire him as my guard."

"...?"

Marie, who had been eating beside her, paused and gave the lady a puzzled look at the suspicious remark. A sudden thought crossed her mind.

What if that guy had heard it?

-Kyaaaaah!!! I'm dying!!! I'm gonna die!!!

Chills ran down her spine.

...Good thing he wasn't here.

If he had been, she might have needed to replace her eardrums today. Whether Marie thought that or not, Lucresia's mind ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was made up.

"Yeah, I should definitely fire him..."

Unable to stand it any longer, Marie dared to voice her opinion—not out of pity for Rio, but to protect her own eardrums.

"Um, milady?"

"Mm?"

Nom. Chomp chomp.

...Well, she is cute.

Marie could kind of see why Rio flipped out so much, and added,

"Is Sir Rio not to your liking, by any chance?"

Marie's sudden question made Lucresia freeze mid-chopsticks, her eyes widening round. She chewed a bit more, swallowed, and shot back in disbelief.

"...What the hell are you talking about?"

From that reaction, Marie realized she'd misread the situation, but letting the conversation die there would just make things awkwardly silent.

"What you just said. About making him quit as your guard..."

"Oh."

So Marie had overheard her slip. Flustered, Lucresia denied it.

"Ah, no, not that!"

"Then what?"

Normally, a servant wouldn't pry this deep. But after twenty years, this was fair game. Mental care was part of the guard duty anyway. Plus, look at those red ears poking out from her silver hair. How could she not ask?

In this regard, Marie was on the same wavelength as Rio.

"Just... what if I had him do some cooking instead?"

"Cooking?"

Was Rio that good at cooking? The food he'd brought didn't seem half bad.

That spread?

At Marie's question, Lucresia's eyes sparkled as she chattered on.

"Yeah. I've never seen him do a proper job guarding, but he seems good at cooking."

"Ah... khh."

"Why are you laughing?"

"Oh, nothing."

It was the kind of thing that would make Rio throw a fit if he heard, so Marie glanced down at the food he'd brought.

Wonder what it tastes like.

At Marie's curious gaze, Lucresia beamed and offered her some chopsticks.

"Wanna try a bite?"

"Sure, thank you."

Marie didn't refuse. That sweet aroma teasing her nose had been stimulating her salivary glands for a while.

And finally, a piece ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of pajeon entered her mouth. It was like an explosion of green onion's sharp, sweet savoriness.

"Good, right?"

"Yes. Really good. Pair it with something cool and refreshing..."

Unable to hide her surprise, Marie's eyes landed on the bottle Rio had left behind. The condensation on it clearly showed it was fresh from chilling.

"Milady, what's that?"

"Ah, didn't ask the name."

"May I take a look?"

"Sure."

Marie took the bottle and sniffed it, fanning the aroma toward her nose.

"Smells like alcohol?"

"Alcohol?"

"Yes, but not the usual kind we know. It's pale and cloudy."

Marie poured some into a wine glass and took the first sip. In that moment, she felt stars circling her head.

It tingled lightly on her tongue like flat beer, but with a strangely tangy twist. Not high-proof either.

"How's the taste?"

"Let me pour you some too, milady."

Without fuss, Marie filled a glass with the white liquor. And so, the two savored bites of pajeon and sips of white liquor while watching the downpour through the window.

The rain sounds nice.

The noise that had seemed so grating now felt refreshingly cool.

Meanwhile, back in the kitchen at that very moment.

A bear and a lanky mid-teen were in the middle of a heated argument.

Hey, hey, hey!

"This ain't right, you bastard!"

"Uhhahaha! Goooood!!!"

"You fucking bear cub! Give me back my pajeon and makgeolli!"

"Goooood!!!"

"Good?!"

The bear-chef didn't hesitate to flip him off. Finally, he pointed at the crime scene with a finger.

"Over there. Left a little."

There really were scraps left. Maybe enough pajeon crumbs to pick your nose with if you scraped. An empty makgeolli bottle that might yield five drops if you shook it hard.

Yeah. Literal scraps.

I couldn't hold back anymore and lunged at him.

Taat— Jump, circle behind. Arm around the neck. Chokehold.

A perfect rear naked choke. All in an instant.

But.

"Hmm. Sudden neck massage?"

He didn't budge. Not with that weight class difference.

Of course, with a knife I'd win.

But pulling a blade over pajeon and makgeolli felt a bit much...

I glared at the bear-man in disbelief. Meanwhile, the sweet pajeon scent overflowing the kitchen had my brain's rage scanner on the verge of exploding.

Then, with me dangling from his back, the bear-man spoke.

"Hey."

"What."

"Hand over the recipe."

"You smell it?"

The bear-dude tilted his head like what're you on about?

"You used my kitchen?"

"Yeah."

"Then you owe me. Hand it over."

"........."

My mental fortitude just shattered.

I could beat a plain crazy guy, but one with rock-solid conviction? Straightforward tactics don't work. Time for a new strategy.

Maybe ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠give him the recipe and snag some food?

But would he play nice? Anyway, I hopped off his back and planted my feet.

"How about a deal?"

"Nah. Can't talk with a scheming punk like you."

"Hear me out. I'll give you more recipes down the line."

"Hmm..."

A low hum carried makgeolli scent wafting away.

That was mine originally.

Hiding my tension, I casually eyed the bile-bag.

After agonizing deliberation, he spoke.

"Nah."

"Die!"

Then why the hell deliberate!

The instant I gritted my teeth and swung at the head chef—

Screeech—

The kitchen door opened, and an ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠unexpected figure appeared.

I kept my punching pose, just rolling my eyes to stare at her.

"...What're you doing. Finish it."

"Why are you here, milady..."

Silver hair swaying, red eyes glinting indifferently. Her face full of intrigue.

"Weren't you about to hit him?"

"W-Well, yeah, but..."

This was exactly that situation. Charging at your friend in a fight, and someone cheers "Fight! Fight!" from the side. Worse, my opponent couldn't care less about the brawl.

I'm just putting on a solo show.

Sudden reality check. I lowered my fist slowly and let out a massive sigh.

Bored by the anticlimactic show, the lady's eyes went back to indifferent.

That hurts, milady!

"What brings you here, milady?"

As I wallowed in her gaze, a deep voice boomed from above. (Note: I'd never heard it when we were alone.)

This damn bear.

I swallowed the curse since she was there.

"Oh, right. Can you make more of this pajeon thing?"

She held out the dish she'd brought herself. She could've sent a servant, but came personally—who knows why.

"And... this too."

She held out the bottle, looking somewhat—no, extremely embarrassed.

Ah, the makgeolli.

That's why she came down herself.

True, it's not as classy as wine.

The name literally means "roughly filtered booze." But there was a problem.

Ignoring her sparkling expectant eyes, I forced the words out.

"Um... milady."

"What."

"Can't do it right now."

"Why."

Disappointment clouded her face at the negative.

I swallowed hard, scratching my stiff lips, and explained.

"Well, I only made two bottles."

"Why."

Why?! Guard-slash-cook sourcing ingredients and brewing ain't easy, lady!

...I hated myself for not yelling it.

First to love always loses, they say.

Then, like she'd caught a hint, a flicker of hope lit her eyes.

"Wait, two bottles? Bring out the leftover one at least."

At the same time, the head chef's pupils shook like an earthquake.

You're done for, bear-man! Sayonara, bear-man~!