Chapter 012
The moment I stepped inside, the magic mirror lost its light along with the sound of a displeased click of a tongue.
Were they mid-communication?
When I blinked, the Vice-Captain shook his head as if it were nothing.
“Please, come in.”
I nodded. Hearing that it wasn’t braised short ribs, I headed toward the Captain, who had already taken a seat at the table. I set the tray down in front of him.
“It’s consommé and cabbage rolls.”
The consommé will warm the body, and the cabbage rolls will help with detoxification and blood circulation. For the filling of the cabbage rolls, I used nutrient-rich beef and beans packed with amino acids.
‘It’s a special meal for energy recovery.’
The Vice-Captain glanced at the Captain with a troubled expression.
“Young Lady. Food that raises body temperature is problematic.”
“His body temperature has been elevated ever since he was struck by the curse, hasn’t it?”
“You knew?”
He looked at me as if asking why I would prepare such food knowing that.
“It’s because the dantian, where mana gathers, has been encroached upon by cold energy. The body raises its temperature to drive that cold out.”
Cabbage, beef, beans, and the main ingredient of the consommé—walnuts. They were all ingredients that helped expel cold from the dantian.
“It will be very good for your body if you eat it consistently.”
“I see.”
The Vice-Captain looked relieved. However, the Captain just stared silently at the tray.
‘Ah.’
I quickly approached the Captain.
“Are you disappointed that it’s not braised short ribs?”
At that, the Vice-Captain let out a small chuckle.
“The Captain has no likes or dislikes regarding any food, except for Myeongjeong grass.”
“Is that so? I was planning to make braised short ribs tomorrow. I guess I’ll have to make something even healthier instead.”
But it was strange. The Captain looked at the Vice-Captain. For some reason, it looked like he was cursing him with his eyes, so I tilted my head in confusion.
It must be a misunderstanding. Even the Vice-Captain, who had served the Captain for a long time, didn’t seem to think much of it. Perhaps the Captain was hesitating, wondering if Myeongjeong grass was in it.
“Captain, I didn’t put any Myeongjeong grass in.”
“You didn’t include the Myeongjeong grass?”
When the Vice-Captain asked, I confirmed it.
“This morning was a sandwich, so he could eat it without the Myeongjeong grass, but before that, he wouldn’t touch his food at all.”
Myeongjeong grass soup.
Steamed fish with Myeongjeong grass.
Myeongjeong grass pasta.
He wouldn’t even lay a finger on food with a strong scent of Myeongjeong grass.
“He needs to eat first to recover his strength, so I left it out.”
“Understood.”
Having heard our conversation, the Captain picked up his utensils.
‘Good. He’s going to eat.’
Then I should get to work on other things. Seeing him start to eat, I lowered the large backpack I had carried on my back. From inside, I began pulling out all sorts of items.
Seeing the objects, the Vice-Captain asked.
“…What on earth is all that?”
“Preparations for nursing the Captain.”
“…All of that?”
“Yes.”
His expression asked just how sincere I was being.
They were a bit surprising, to be fair. A large water canteen, a basin, towels, blankets and pillows, jars of various ground or dried herbs¹, jars of snacks like dried fruits², jars of tea leaves³, oil, a kettle, cups, books, wind chimes that made a clear sound… and so on.
When Antonio saw these items, he asked, ‘Is that bag some kind of holy relic?’ He wondered how everything fit.
“I’m grateful that you are working so hard, but I’m not sure the Captain will need those things. In fact, the amount of food you brought is quite large. The Captain tends to eat small portions….”
Turning to the Captain as he spoke, the Vice-Captain froze. In that short interval, the Captain had completely cleared the plate. He then pushed the dish to the edge of the table.
I jumped up and spoke.
“Would you like more?”
Just in case, I pulled another cabbage roll out of a jar⁴ I had brought. When I placed it on his plate, the Captain began to eat silently again, and the Vice-Captain wore a bewildered face.
* * *
After the Vice-Captain returned to the castle with a dazed expression, silence fell over the Spiral Tower. Having finished his meal, the Captain was looking at documents without a word. I stood awkwardly by the wall, watching him.
‘He does nothing but work.’
After I asked if he wanted dessert and he replied, there had been no conversation at all. After staying silent for quite some time, the Captain spoke while keeping his eyes fixed on the papers.
“Do you intend to stay?”
“If it’s uncomfortable, should I wait outside the door?”
“Why?”
“Pardon…?”
“Is there a reason for you to spend your time in that spot, even being careful about your breathing?”
I spoke hesitantly.
“I had some things I was curious about, so I was going to ask when you had a moment…. I’m sorry.”
“Is it a difficult thing to answer if asked?”
“Yes?”
“I mean you may ask.”
My face brightened, and I quickly moved closer to him. I had wondered if I should just watch him eat and observe his preferences, but this was a relief. Having him answer directly would be much more helpful.
“Um… but there are quite a few. Will it be alright…?”
“Go ahead.”
“Thank you!”
Saying that, I pulled a parchment from my dress. When I unfurled the rolled parchment, it stretched from my chest to my knees. The Captain paused for a second.
“Is it too many after all…?”
I looked at his reaction, wondering if I should trim the list. He put down his documents. It seemed he was preparing to answer in earnest.
‘Why did the game describe the Captain as cold-blooded?’
My biological father would make me stand still for days—not hours—when I failed an exam. He never looked at me, treating me as if I were just a piece of decoration. I only managed to have a conversation with him after achieving early graduation.
‘Compared to him, the Captain is a good person.’
I grinned and spoke.
“I prepared it as a ‘balance game’ so it’s easier to answer. You just have to pick one of the two. First, the ocean vs. the mountains.”
“…”
The Captain stared at me. Actually, he probably expected questions about the Myeongjeong grass. Since I was sticking by his side to help him recover his strength. I had originally intended to prepare those kinds of questions too.
‘But the fact that he hates the taste of Myeongjeong grass might be related to a trauma.’
But it was a bit much to bluntly ask the Captain if he had trauma. Many people dislike having their weaknesses discovered. Especially someone who has lived a secretive life like the Captain. So, I was trying to infer things through these questions.
‘Will he refuse to answer because it’s too trivial?’
I looked at him with a tense expression. He let out a small sigh and spoke.
“If it’s summer, the mountains.”
“Isn’t it usually the opposite?”
Oops. I had reflexively pried out of surprise. But the Captain spoke with an unbothered face.
“Weapons rust easily at the summer sea.”
“Aha. Then the next question. Salt vs. Sugar.”
“Salt.”
“Cold vs. Heat.”
“Cold.”
“A five-year-old Master Antonio vs. five Master Antonios.”
“…A five-year-old Antonio.”
“Blood vs. Pain.”
“…”
Eh? The Captain was silent for a moment.
“If you leave the questionnaire, I will mark the answers.”
“Oh, but….”
“Leave it and go.”
“…Yes.”
I couldn’t persuade him further. Because the Captain’s expression had turned icy.
“Then, just this before I go….”
I watched his reaction as I arranged the items I had packed in my bag around the room. After finishing at lightning speed, I bowed my head.
As I left the room, I furrowed my brows.
‘The part where the Captain hesitated was definitely “blood”.’
But why blood? For the Captain of an assassination squad, what could be more familiar than blood? While agonizing over the problem, I suddenly jerked my head up. Because a scene I had seen in the game flashed through my mind.
The Imperial Princess. No, the Duchess of Esgalot, who she is now—there was a scene where she received information about Aslan from an informant.
“The one who smuggled him out when he was an infant was his mother’s elderly guard. It is said Aslan learned everything from him. Walking, holding a sword, killing people… everything.”
“An elderly guard. I remember. But where is he? I feel like I’ll only be satisfied if I tear him apart with my own hands.”
“He is dead. It is said he was killed by Aslan’s hand.”
“…Why?”
“It is said he survived a great drought by drinking his master’s blood.”
“A monster-like man indeed.”
If that story was true…. If his master’s blood remained as a trauma….
‘To the Captain, Myeongjeong grass would taste like blood.’
I looked back at the door with a grim face. It was a trauma far more serious than I had anticipated.
* * *
No proper way to make him eat the Myeongjeong grass came to mind. A few days passed like that. After much thought, I finally made a decision and went to see the Vice-Captain.
“You want me to write an identification paper?”
“Yes. You need an ID to enter other cities. I was kicked out of the Andres family, so I can’t get one issued.”
“I can write it for you, but what do you intend to do?”
“I’m going to look for an herb that can replace Myeongjeong grass.”
“Pardon?”
The Vice-Captain seemed very surprised that I wouldn’t be using Myeongjeong grass. Especially since I was the one who emphasized its importance and insisted he must eat it.
‘But if he has such a severe trauma, I don’t want to force him to eat it.’
I hesitated before carefully speaking.
“To me, the taste of Myeongjeong grass feels like a truth serum.”
“What…?”
“Before I was kicked out of the family. Every day, the servants would pin my limbs down and force truth serum down my throat.”
‘Telling me to confess to the fact that I poisoned Stella.’
But since it wasn’t something I had done, the truth serum was useless. However, no one believed my words. I was forced to drink several bottles a day, even though a small amount should have been enough. It was no use even when I vomited from being unable to withstand the toxicity. They poured the serum into my mouth even when it was full of vomit.
‘So to be precise, the taste of Myeongjeong grass feels like truth serum mixed with vomit to me.’
Sour, astringent, and nauseating.
“When I eat Myeongjeong grass, those memories come back and I can’t breathe.”
It would be just as bad, if not worse, for the Captain. So….
“If it’s the same for the Captain, I don’t want to force the Myeongjeong grass on him anymore. I’m going to try to find another way.”
“…”
“Is that not okay?”
“…Is an identification paper enough? Is there nothing else you need?”
It was permission. I spoke, nearly jumping with joy.
“That’s enough. Thank you.”
“I should be the one saying that.”
“Yes?”
“I know you are doing your best. Thank you.”
I scratched my head and ended up grinning. I hear the words “thank you” so much since coming here. It was always a happy thing to have someone recognize my efforts. It was a heart-swelling feeling I had never experienced in the Andres family.
“Um… I….”
I hesitated before saying with a shy face.
“I like it here.”
“…Pardon?”
“Everyone is kind. It’s like a world in a fairy tale.”
“…”
“So, thank you.”
Watching me bow my head, the Vice-Captain couldn’t say anything for a while. Only after some time passed did he finally open his mouth.
“Travel safely.”
See? I really like it here. So I have to work hard. I clenched my fists and left the castle. It had been a long time since I was outside San Miguel Castle.
* * *
But….
“An herb that acts as Myeongjeong grass? Never heard of it.”
“Go run through the mountains and fields your whole life. See if such an herb exists.”
“An herb like Myeongjeong grass? What kind of nonsense is that?”
…It was a total failure.
‘I’ve visited all sorts of apothecaries, but not a single person knows.’
I had been searching since morning, but I couldn’t find even a clue in the nearby apothecaries. Since this wasn’t a large city like the Esgalot direct territory, the number of apothecaries was small too….
‘Wait. Esgalot direct territory?’
Come to think of it, there was a place I used to drop by in the game when looking for rare items. A small hut in the forest near the direct territory. It was a place like a shelter where old herbalists would rest for a while.
‘I might be able to get information there.’
But I hesitated. Today was the second day I hadn’t returned to the castle.
‘I left the Captain’s care to Master Antonio….’
Is he doing okay?
“…So you’re saying I have to use all these things prepared by the Little Teach… I mean, the Young Lady?”
“You don’t have to use all of them. Just what’s needed. The jars labeled with ‘1’ have various snacks. They’re all sweet, so give them to him when he seems tired. If he feels hot, fan him while changing out the ice container attached to the back of the fan. It acts as an air conditioner… I mean, it’s much cooler.”
“…”
“And the jars labeled ‘2’ have herbs. You just need to mix them with water according to the memo. Also, it’s good to massage him while applying the ointment from jar ‘3’. Please do it on the correct areas according to the memo.”
“The Young Lady did all of this?”
“Yep.”
“…Is it okay if I give up?”
I had soothed his lack of confidence with snacks.
‘But there’s no time.’
The Captain’s tattoo looks like it will reach his neck soon. Eventually, I decided to go to the Esgalot direct territory. I paid one silver coin and hitched a ride on a merchant’s wagon.
Even after traveling a full half-day, it took another two hours to arrive at the Esgalot direct territory. Having been packed into a rattling wagon without a moment’s rest, my whole body felt like it was screaming. I had to move diligently to reach the herbalists’ shelter before sunset.
After passing through a rough forest, I finally arrived at the hut. At the hut, which looked like it was about to collapse, two luxurious carriages were parked.
‘It’s definitely here.’
A place where even the subordinates of high nobility sought after hearing rumors that all sorts of herbs could be obtained. Those two luxurious carriages proved that this was the destination.
Knock, knock. I knocked on the door.
“Excuse me.”
When I spoke, a hunched old man opened the door.
“Who are you?”
Looking behind him, the small hut was filled with people in lavish attire. All of them had indignant expressions.
“What do you think you’re doing in the middle of a conversation?”
“Look at this impolite person!”
They were arrogant because they were associated with high nobility. But I….
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Sir. I have come to seek your esteemed opinion.”
I bowed my waist at a right angle. My back, which had been overworked in the wagon, felt like it was screaming, but it didn’t matter.
‘This old man values the opponent’s etiquette very highly.’
If he were a person who prioritized money or power, he would have set up a proper apothecary. But he lived here receiving small requests. It meant that money and power could not move this old man.
The old man, who had been staring at me, smiled broadly.
“Please, come inside. I will serve you tea.”
“Wha-What?!”
The people who had occupied the hut before me shouted in frustration. They hadn’t been given tea, let alone a chair, and were still standing. It seemed they had pushed their way in without even receiving permission.
The old man gave me a small chair and tea as he spoke.
“Please wait a moment. I will listen to you after I dismiss the uninvited guests.”
“Uninvited guests, you say.”
Then, a man who hadn’t been visible because he was in the corner pushed the people aside and stepped forward. As soon as I saw that face, I froze. He was… that man….
“I… I really didn’t harm Stella….”
“Oh my. It seems the medicine was insufficient.”
I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Only his chilling smile, the last thing I saw, filled my head. The man who stepped out in front of the people looked at me. A flash of interest flickered in his eyes, which had widened for a moment.
“Jopis…. You know I couldn’t have done that… Because you are the teacher who taught me…. Please….”
“What do you hope to gain by digging up disgusting memories?”
The corner of his mouth curled up diagonally, just like that day I saw him in the underground dungeon.
“We meet here. …Young Lady.”
“…Baron Jopis….”
The young powerhouse who became a high official of Andres in his twenties. The man who had been my friend and teacher, and was now called the beautiful sword that protects Stella.
