‘There’s got to be some snacks with makgeolli.’

There were many best snacks for makgeolli.

Among them, my top pick was potato pancakes.

‘Plain potato pancakes are delicious, but these days it’s essential to add bacon and snow cheese for that trendy touch.’

Fry the minced bacon and thinly sliced batter as if deep-frying, and sprinkle snow cheese at the end to melt smoothly.

A faint steam escaped from the freshly opened lunchbox.

Looking at the bright yellow color with finely chopped pink bacon, it was like seeing flowers blooming in a golden field.

“Let’s see, the crispiness is… really still there. Amazing.”

When I poked it with chopsticks, the outer edge was quite alive.

Actually, what I was using as a lunchbox was a case with preservation magic cast on it.

‘I found it in Eileen’s room.’

Items with magic cast on them were extremely rare.

I couldn’t hide my proud feeling.

‘It would be truly sad if potato pancakes weren’t crispy.’

Coincidentally, there was a round full moon hanging in the balcony.

It’s the perfect night for drinking makgeolli.

“…Is this your idea of comfort?”

“Yes. You asked for food before, didn’t you?”

It was even specified in the contract.

‘Was it too sudden?’

Well, he probably didn’t expect to receive a drinking table at the banquet hall.

‘But snacks are essential with makgeolli.’

I didn’t want to give even a bite to those who were mean to our princes, but Kashar was different.

“I made it just for you, Duke.”

He was using me too, but gratitude was gratitude.

‘It’s all thanks to Kashar that I could be with the children and Emma.’

I didn’t want to give the twins new trauma.

“Have a bite before it gets cold.”

I tore off a piece of the steaming potato pancake and brought it to Kashar’s mouth.

“Ah-”

“…Ah?”

I took this opportunity to land the potato pancake in his mouth.

When delicious food enters the mouth, saliva pools and you start chewing.

‘While the oiliness and saltiness are still there.’

I hurriedly poured makgeolli into the glass.

The moment he swallowed the potato pancake was the perfect timing.

“Come on, let’s cheers. Us.”

After handing him a glass, I poured my share too.

Clink-!

The sound of glasses touching was pleasant.

“To our romance!”

Watching him put the glass to his lips, I also took a clean shot.

“Ah- good!”

It’s nice to eat snacks and rinse your mouth, but drinking makgeolli first and then chewing the greasy pancake was also excellent.

‘It’s delicious no matter what order you eat it in.’

I made it, but I really made it well.

I was about to pour makgeolli into the empty glass when I glanced at him.

“Ah, the glass is empty. I guess I’ll have to fill it alone, sadly-”

The fun of makgeolli was in the giving and taking.

There was no way to get drunk on just one glass, so I wasn’t afraid of him.

‘…That’s a lie.’

Kashar was staring at me intently.

His unreadable expression was very frightening.

‘Did I overdo it?’

Or were the potato pancakes or makgeolli not tasty?

Whatever it was, I must have crossed a line due to my mood.

I hurriedly picked up the makgeolli glass.

“Ah, actually, drinking alone is my hobby. Really. Drinking by yourself is fundamental. Yes.”

Phew, who forces others to pour drinks these days?

As I was hurriedly trying to fill the glass, Kashar took the makgeolli away.

“Here.”

The empty glass filled up whitishly.

Kashar’s eyes were languidly curved.

“Well, shall we drink?”

Although I had never been in the military, ‘Yes, sir’ came out automatically.

As I put the glass to my lips, he smiled. It became a shot naturally.

“Ah, so good.”

The cool night breeze was blowing. As I drank the warm potato pancakes and cool makgeolli, my body, tired from childcare, relaxed comfortably.

The snacks and makgeolli soon showed their bottoms.

‘What a shame.’

I ended up just chewing on empty chopsticks for no reason.

I glanced at him, rolling only my eyes.

‘I wonder if it suited his taste?’

Though his chopstick skills were awkward, he seemed to be eating well.

I looked up at Kashar with sparkling eyes. Perhaps because of the makgeolli, his lips were moistly wet.

‘Looks so delicious…’

Slurp.

The saliva pooling in my mouth was because of the potato pancakes, not because I was a pervert.

While I was trying hard to control my salivary glands.

“It’s delicious.”

“Eh?”

The words I wanted to hear flowed from his mouth.

“Really?”

“If I were to add flowery words, the edges are crispy and the inside is savory and salty. It seems like there’s meat inside… and the faint taste of cheese blends well.”

“That’s right, exactly that!”

Our Duke, nice expression!

I couldn’t help but clap at the perfect praise that made me clench my fists.

Though I could see Kashar trying to hold back his laughter.

‘If you want to laugh, just laugh.’

In the first place, he was someone who showed interest because I was funny, so there was nothing more to say.

‘Praising food is a duty to the person who made it.’

Suddenly, a childhood memory came to mind.

‘If our daughter says it’s delicious, mom feels like she could fly around the world.’

Mom used to run a small side dish shop in the market. It gained quite a reputation, but after mom passed away, we had to close it.

The reason mom could raise me alone was because of people’s praise and encouragement.

‘I guess I’m the same.’

When someone ate my food well and even praised it, I felt really energized.

I smiled back at Kashar.

He sighed after shaking for a while.

“Aren’t you afraid of me?”

“I’m scared, but you’re handsome.”

“…What does that have to do with anything?”

Kashar’s eyes narrowed, but I was confident.

“It has everything to do with it!”

Being scary was just scary, but if someone was scary but also handsome and had a good body, that changed things a lot.

“Ah, it feels good!”

I stretched towards the sky. The night sky looked especially beautiful today.

‘A handsome man and beautiful stars!’

After the alcohol went in, the brakes didn’t work well.

Plus, the handsome Kashar praised my food as delicious, so I felt like I could fly.

‘But I should probably go in soon, right?’

I was also worried about leaving the children inside for too long.

We’ve shared drinks, eaten delicious food, it was regretful to turn back, but this was quite excellent for a first date.

“Shall we go in now?”

It was when I was about to clean up and leave.

“Hm?”

A large hand was pressing on the door.

“Aren’t you going out?”

When I looked up blankly, he smiled. It was a languid yet dangerous smile.

“Why stop comforting halfway.”

As Kashar’s face in the deep shadow drew closer, I put my hand on his forehead.

“…What is it?”

“Ah, sorry. I was wondering if you might have a headache.”

I should have thought of it before drinking, but I forgot that this man was a patient.

‘He’s even taking poison, can he drink alcohol?’

Was there a drinking scene in the story? I racked my brains urgently, but nothing came to mind.

“…Do I look sick?”

His eyes narrowed. For a moment, I felt foolish.

‘Only his closest confidants would know that Kashar suffers from headaches.’

Even the fact that he was taking fruit as medicine was top secret.

“Ah, I was wondering if you had a headache. You know, it’s a common disease? The incurable disease of modern people!”

The only one who could cure Kashar was Elsius.

‘I guess he has to meet the female lead at least once.’

Thinking that he had to suffer in pain until then made me quite concerned.

‘Is there no other way?’

It wasn’t in the story, but just maybe.

I made up my mind to look for a way to cure his illness.

“I’m fine now.”

“Ah, that’s a relief.”

It seemed he did have headaches, but not 24 hours a day.

I removed my hand from his forehead.

The hand blocking the door was already gone.

“Then shall we go out together…!”

At that moment, a shadow flickered beyond the glass door.

“Oh my-!”

As I stepped back, there was a knock.

Kashar, who had been looking beyond the door, soon gave permission.

“Open it.”

“Excuse me.”

Standing in front of the door was Kashar’s adjutant.

“Sir Mihail?”

“We meet again, Miss Hallen.”

After becoming acquainted through the notarization documents, he turned to Kashar.

“I’m afraid you’ll have to come with me for a moment.”

Judging by his expression, it seemed to be an urgent matter.

Kashar’s gaze turned to me. I waved my hand ostentatiously.

“Take care!”

I thought I had smiled brightly, but what came back was a sigh.

“I’m worried…”

“About what?”

Is he sorry to leave just me and the twins?

Just when I thought he had a somewhat human side.

“I don’t know who else you might seduce.”

…Again, I was the only one being sincere.

I rolled my eyes at Kashar, who was talking nonsense.

“Go quickly! Shoo, shoo!”

I pushed his back hard.

“Hurry and take this person away! Ho ho!”

“…Yes. Understood.”

It must have been my imagination that Mihail’s face darkened.

Only after sending off the two men did I leave the balcony.

‘I should go check on the kids.’

I wonder if our princes are making friends well?

It was when I was trying to calm my excited heart.

“Lady Eileen!”

Emma was running towards me.

“Emma? What’s wrong?”

“It’s terrible, the princes…!”

Emma’s face was very pale.

When I hurried back to the hall, I heard a sharp shout.

“You, you don’t have a dad!”

“No, I do!”

“You liar!”

Some noble kid was fighting with Louis.

‘What’s this about not having a dad?’

The prince’s father is the emperor, what’s with this orphan treatment?

When I asked with my eyes, Emma explained the situation.

“The young master of the Efilton family suddenly…”

The one who bothered Louis, who had been playing well, was ‘Giovanni’ of the Efilton Count family.

“If you had a dad, why would you live in such a cold palace!”

Giovanni boasted. On the floor, chocolate pies that Giovanni seemed to have stepped on were scattered messily.

Louis looked wronged, but couldn’t speak properly.

“No, it’s not true.”

“That’s why you guys cling to the Duke, right?”

Giovanni sneered.

That’s when it happened.

“Aah-!”

Giovanni screamed.

Evan, who had been quiet, grabbed Giovanni’s hair.

“Say that again.”

“Duke… cling… Aaagh-!”

Evan’s fist struck Giovanni’s face.

“Lord Evan!”

I tried to stop Evan from getting on top of Giovanni.

“Let go of this!”

“Calm down, Lord Evan!”

“Waaah, I’m going to tell my mom and dad everything!”

In the commotion, nobles gathered around.

Giovanni’s parents were mixed in as well.

“Oh my, our baby!”

“Waaah, it hurts!”

The Countess checked Giovanni’s condition.

While the child was crying loudly. The Count shouted at me.

“How dare you educate children to use violence, what kind of behavior is this!”

I was so dumbfounded that I lost my words for a moment.

‘I wonder if he knows what his child said.’

I handed Evan over to Emma and faced the Count Efilton.

‘Wait.’

Come to think of it, the name Efilton was strangely familiar.

‘He’s the noble who swung a sword at Evan!’

In an instant, my eyes turned fierce. As I glared at the Count with a murderous look, he took a step back.

“Wh-what is it? Why are you looking at me like that…!”

“The young master of the Efilton family was very rude to our princes.”

It was straight to the point.

But Count Efilton acted even more arrogantly.

“No matter what, hitting a child! It’s all your fault as the nanny!”

Even though his son had insulted royalty, the Count seemed to have no qualms.

‘No, what makes him so confident?’

While I was arguing with the Count, Louis came into my arms.

“Sob, E-Eileen.”

“Shh, it’s okay, our Lord Louis.”

While I was comforting Louis, the Count spoke.

“How could there be any fault with the prince? It’s all because of that nanny. Isn’t that right, Marchioness?”

“Hmm, is that so?”

The host of the party had already entered the chaotic scene.

Behind Marchioness Tuberosha, who was smiling subtly, Empress Wayeno was visible.

She was narrowing her eyes maliciously.