Chapter 28
IV.
“I will visit again once the Erios Festival is over. Since Kinamun’s influence has not yet waned, please keep your body pure.”
The Erios Festival had begun. Which meant that the dual-personality perverted High Priest who had been tormenting me for six days had left, and I was temporarily free.
Since I didn’t know when Kallist would return, I decided to savor this fleeting freedom. No matter how blissful the romantic escapades with the male leads might be, as an introvert, I absolutely needed my alone time.
Rolling around in bed, a full two days passed in the blink of an eye. All I did was eat, sleep, and zone out, yet time flowed like water. It was an even more satisfying rest precisely because I did nothing at all. Let me say it again—confinement suits my constitution perfectly.
If there was one thing that had changed, it was that reading novels had become boring. I suppose it’s because the actual people who could appear in romance novels are living and breathing right before my eyes, making the male leads in print feel less stimulating. It probably seems even more so because Kallist and Ruasil are crazier than I ever imagined.
Perhaps that’s why, after exactly two days, my mouth began to itch for conversation. I needed someone—anyone—to chat with. Not that I wanted a long talk; about ten exchanges would be plenty.
Fortunately, there was someone suitable for that level of conversation waiting outside my bedroom. I planned to casually strike up a conversation when he came in to bring dinner. These days, he wouldn’t say a single word unless I spoke to him first.
Creak—right on cue, the door opened and the sweet scent of butter and sugar wafted in. Other than fruit, sweet foods had never appeared before, but today the tray was loaded with an array of sparkling desserts. My eyes naturally widened in wonder.
“There’s a lot of sweet food today.”
Zeke briefly offered an explanation.
“It’s because of the festival.”
“Ah.”
So this must be that Erios Festival thing Ruasil mentioned.
Usually I’m not one to enjoy festivals since they’re crowded, but looking at these colorful desserts made my heart flutter with excitement. Not that I actually wanted to go to the festival—watching from afar would be enough.
With my cheeks flushed pink, I asked casually, “Did you perhaps get these especially for me?”
Zeke just stood there blankly, neither confirming nor denying. He seemed somewhat troubled. It was just a throwaway comment, but who knew he’d be this flustered? Just then, the sound of fireworks popping could be heard from the direction opposite the window. My gaze lingered on the solid gray wall.
He, who had been standing there vacantly, opened his mouth.
“Are you curious about the festival?”
“A little?”
“Please eat your meal first.”
“……Huh?”
My head tilted at his ambiguous response. Zeke pointed toward the ceiling with his fingertip.
“If you accompany me, you can at least go up to the top of the castle. We’ll just watch the fireworks and come back down.”
‘Wow, that sounds amazing!’
Fireworks when I was getting slightly bored? This was the perfect change of pace for me right now.
I don’t think this scene existed in the original story, but somehow my relationship with Zeke seems to be progressing subtly differently from the original. There’s a sense of… human-like fondness, perhaps? It could be my imagination, but I decided not to overthink it and just enjoy the moment.
I smiled shyly and responded to his kindness.
“Thank you, Zeke.”
Zeke nodded, tilting his face slightly downward. Deeper shadows fell over his already deep-set eyes, making him look like a statue lost in contemplation. His characteristically gloomy atmosphere meshed perfectly with Drémoor Castle.
Taking advantage of the silence, I took a big bite of bread slathered with chocolate cream, filling my mouth completely. The worldly taste I hadn’t experienced in so long was electrifying. It felt like fireworks were going off on my tongue.
“Mmm~”
I unconsciously started humming. Festival food really is delicious anywhere in the world(?). It wasn’t as refined as the food made by the Imperial Palace chefs, but the rough, stimulating flavors were exactly to my taste.
I devoured everything from meat skewers to sugar candy without discrimination. Before I knew it, Zeke had looked up and was watching me with fascination.
“The food seems to suit your taste.”
“Yes. It’s delicious, isn’t it?”
I replied as if I didn’t understand why he’d ask, then suddenly remembered the fact that I was a princess.
Ah, right, okay. Now I understand why he was looking at me like that. I must have looked like a third-generation chaebol heir going crazy over tteokbokki. Well, that’s understandable.
t/n:
chaebol (재벌) – korean term referring to large, family-owned business conglomerates in South Korea.
Tteokbokki – Spicy rice cakes
I laughed awkwardly and added something I didn’t need to say.
“I think this is the most delicious food I’ve had since coming to Valencha.”
“If you’d like, I can bring you more.”
“No, I’m full.”
The conversation cut off abruptly again. I’m not exactly gifted with words either, and Zeke is undeniably taciturn, so it was only natural.
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