A relieved smile seemed to appear on Ishar’s face, but it quickly faded away. It was an unnatural transition of emotions, like deliberately creating holes in an inflating ball to let the air escape.
However, Liz, engrossed in tasting again, didn’t notice at all.
‘She really likes it spicy.’
Ishar looked at Liz, who was eating with relish, with a fascinated expression.
He had tasted the sauce on the back of his hand while ladling it, and he felt his tongue tingling.
It was spicy and stimulating to the point where one might wonder if it was okay. However, on the other hand, he thought that it had to be this spicy for this woman’s palate to enjoy it.
“It’s really delicious. Among the things I’ve eaten in my past life… no, in my current life, this seems to be the most delicious.”
It was a somewhat peculiar statement, but the message that I had satisfied her was clearly conveyed.
He was also convinced.
This was undoubtedly the only thing that Emperor Hersis could not offer her. It felt like power was squeezing into his hands. Driven by the desire to expand that power, he naturally followed through in his own way.
“Is there anything else you’d like to have?”
“…….”
Liz was not the type to deeply contemplate other people’s emotions. She did not doubt that the favor shown by this cold man, which began to appear at some point, was of the same kind as the favor shown to her lord.
So, she thought about what she wanted to eat without any hesitation.
‘Well, there is one more thing I want to eat… um…’
After a brief contemplation, Liz tilted her head.
“I don’t have any.”
Ishar half-closed his eyes and said after unfolding them.
“I know you’re lying.”
“…….”
‘He’s truly a formidable man.’
Liz inwardly clicked her tongue.
Even though Ishar was a genius chef, there was one thing he couldn’t create. It was because it had a peculiar taste, unfamiliar ingredients, and a complicated preparation method. For example, it needed to undergo a fermentation process underground for a certain period…
“That… it’s a bit too difficult, so I said that.”
“Haven’t you already seen it? There’s nothing difficult for me.”
He was full of confidence.
Maybe Liz thought it might be possible, so she spoke up.
“Well, it’s… um…”
“Am I going to disturb you if I come in right now?”
Just as she was about to explain, a deep voice suddenly reached them. Both Liz and Ishar turned their heads simultaneously. Hersis, with his fist clenched, was leaning against the doorframe.
Ishar stood up from his seat.
“Greetings, Your Majesty.”
“Stay seated.”
Hersis approached as he spoke. Liz, who was in the middle of standing up, could just sit back down. However, it wasn’t easy for Ishar to follow the command due to his position. He remained standing until Hersis took a seat.
As soon as Hersis sat next to Liz, he communicated with the child.
“Hello, Kane.”
He greeted while affectionately stroking the belly and even aligning his lips with it. Meanwhile, Ishar took his seat. His expression seemed somewhat stiff.
“Is this the food you like? It looks really spicy.”
Hersis looked down at the dish as if fascinated, then spoke. Liz stabbed a piece of food with her fork.
“It’s spicy but delicious. Would you like to try it?”
“I’d like to, but… I’m not good with spicy food.”
“Well, that’s true.”
They had forgotten for a while.
Liz lowered the fork she had raised to give it to him. She could have taken it with her own mouth… but somehow, it felt like she would choke if she ate it now. She just had that thought.
“Ishar is indeed good at cooking. There’s nothing he can’t make. If you have something you want to eat in the future, feel free to ask. He will make it for you. Right, Ishar?”
Although Ishar had thought so until a little while ago, hearing Hersis say that suddenly made him not want to.
It felt similar to the feeling of having one’s enthusiasm crushed when someone tells you to work when you already want to work.
“When I have time.”
Ishar said in his usual blunt tone. Since that was Ishar’s usual demeanor, Hersis didn’t feel anything strange.
“By the way, it’s really an unusual dish. Did Ishar make this skillfully just by hearing your explanation?”
“Yes, the taste is exactly as I imagined. It must have been difficult to find the ingredients. Isn’t that amazing?”
“Really amazing.”
Hersis said once again with a smiling face.
“Amazing, Ishar.”
In Hersis’s smiling face, Ishar could glimpse a language known only to the two.
‘I taught her the secret.’
He was communicating with his eyes.
To him, it felt like having the flexibility to lose in one or two events on purpose, even though he could dominate all the events before the match, just because it would be less fun.
And Ishar felt all over his body the uncomfortable feeling that an opponent who couldn’t compete with him might feel.
“I’ll get up first. There’s something I need to take care of by today.”
Ishar stood up from his seat.
The room, which had felt refreshing just a moment ago, now felt cramped like a secret chamber.
Liz expressed her thanks, and Hersis tried to stop him, but he only accepted Liz’s thanks.
With polite farewells to both, Ishar left the room.
As soon as he stepped outside and took in the fresh air, it felt like his mind cleared up.
Then Ishar could finally look back at himself objectively.
‘This is inappropriate.’
He no longer denied his feelings towards Liz.
He couldn’t be sure when the annoying woman had started to catch his attention, but he admitted that his feelings had changed. That was the important thing.
However, that didn’t mean he harbored hopes that things would go well between them. He swore that much.
Empress Liz was just a woman he should be satisfied with observing. It was appropriate to stop at discovering aspects of himself he hadn’t known before, such as realizing he could have such feelings.
Harboring animosity towards Hersis was an even more absurd thing to do.
He knew too well that it was pathetic. But he kept having impure thoughts as if fate itself were urging him to turn away from the lord…
Ishar left the garden. Perhaps it would be better to leave the palace today.
It happened as he casually passed between the two guards with bowed waists, just when he turned the corner toward the carriage storage.
“It’s been a while, Duke Valdemion.”
A person who appeared suddenly blocked Ishar’s path.
“If you’re not too busy, can we have a brief conversation? We… surprisingly seem to communicate well, I think.”
Duke Montanerre, standing before him, flashed a sly smile.
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
