Chapter 9

‘This is bad!’

Tears once again gathered in Hyerang’s eyes.

Just then, the Jae-in’s gaze turned toward the table.

It was the watchful gaze of someone checking whether she had eaten her food properly.

“Hic! I-I didn’t do it on purpose…”

Hyerang spoke in a trembling voice, frightened, when the Jae-in suddenly raised her hand.

Startled, Hyerang shrank back and squeezed her eyes shut.

But then—

Pat.

She felt a soft hand gently stroke the top of her head. A warm, pleasant fragrance wafted from somewhere nearby.

Hyerang, still huddled up tightly, cautiously opened her eyes.

The Jae-in smiled sweetly.

“Do you like cucumbers?”

“Wh-What?”

“You seem to like cucumbers.”

The Jae-in pointed toward the table, which was filled with cucumber dishes.

“Th-That…”

Hyerang rolled her eyes hesitantly.

Would she get angry if she said she hated them?

Just as Hyerang lowered her head in fear, the Jae-in turned her gaze toward the maidservants.

“Even on such a cold day, the Ink King’s Palace is filled with precious cucumbers, isn’t it?”

“His Highness specifically had the cucumbers prepared and sent for the young lady.”

“His Highness himself?”

“Yes. They are precious foods that others can hardly get enough of. And yet, she so disrespectfully leaves behind His Highness’s kindness.”

The maidservants chattered excitedly.

The Jae-in smiled pleasantly.

“You’re right. Each and every one of those cucumbers must contain the blood and sweat of the people. How could anyone leave them behind? You truly are maidservants with deep loyalty.”

“Of course, Jae-in! You understand our hearts! We indulged the young lady too much, and now her picky eating has become a real headache for us.”

The corners of the maidservants’ mouths stretched into smug smiles as they looked proudly at Hyerang.

“Hic!”

When Hyerang’s eyes met theirs, another hiccup escaped her mouth.

Just then, the Jae-in looked down at the cucumber salad scattered across the floor and spoke.

“The food His Highness prepared for the Gunjui has fallen on the ground. Shall I have it brought out again?”

The words struck Hyerang like a bolt from the blue, and she froze.

“No. Come to think of it, bring out all the cucumbers.”

Bring out all the cucumbers.

Hyerang’s vision went dark.

[Report on Civilian and Military Horse Losses Caused by Monster Attacks along the Northwestern Border]

Seoheon pressed his temple as he read the report.

‘I was gone for only a few days, and the monster attacks have already increased again.’

Whenever he was absent from the Ink King’s Residence, the monsters in the Valley of Monsters would often cross over.

‘Although I taught the Seon Sword to the Seonwi Guards, I’m still the only one who can properly use it.’

That was why he, a man who could not even speak, had become the feudal king of the Ink King’s Residence.

His very existence suppressed the monsters.

‘If only I could communicate with words, I could pass the Seon Sword on to the Seonwi Guards more quickly…’

Once again, his throat felt constricted.

The suffocating sensation that seemed to grip his airway became unbearable, so he opened the window.

Just then, a long shadow landed by the window.

A crow?

But there was a red string in the crow’s beak.

‘What is that…?’

A red hair ribbon embroidered with begonia flowers.

It was unmistakably Hyerang’s.

‘Why does that bird have Hyerang’s belongings…?’

At the moment an ominous feeling began to creep over him, the crow carrying Hyerang’s ribbon flew high into the sky.

Hyerang remembered the nightmare she often had.

She would wander around looking for her mother and father, only for the Ink King, wearing a terrifying mask, to appear before her.

The Ink King would approach her like a ghost before slowly removing his eerie mask.

The true identity hidden beneath the mask was—

A cucumber monster!

‘It’s so scary!’

The cucumber monster, with its green face, would suddenly shout, “Wah!” and swallow Hyerang whole in a single bite.

And now, there was a mountain of cucumbers spread across the table.

‘A whole mountain of cucumbers…!’

There were enough cucumber dishes to rival even the grandest feast.

And beyond the table piled high with cucumbers, the Ink King’s lackey was sitting opposite her.

The Ink King’s lackey sat demurely, seemingly intending to wait until Hyerang picked up her spoon and chopsticks.

“D-Do I have to eat all of this?”

Hyerang’s voice trembled as she stared at the enormous spread that looked capable of breaking the legs of the table.

“We cannot leave behind such precious food sent by His Highness.”

“B-But…”

Hyerang turned pale.

Just the smell of cucumbers was enough to make her feel like she was going to vomit.

The Jae-in tilted her head and examined Hyerang’s expression.

“Gunjui, are you feeling unwell?”

“I-I… m-my stomach hurts.”

Hyerang made an excuse with tears in her eyes.

No, actually, her stomach really did seem to hurt.

The Jae-in approached her with a worried expression.

“Oh my, Gunjui! Your lips are pale, and your hands are cold as ice.”

The Jae-in took Hyerang’s hands firmly in hers.

At that, the tears Hyerang had been holding back finally spilled over.

“Sniff… I-I don’t want to eat cucumbers…!”

The smell of cucumbers came from the sleeve where she had hidden the cucumber salad, so she could not even bury her face in her arms. Instead, large tears rolled down her cheeks.

Once again, a warm hand gently stroked her head.

“Oh dear, it seems the Gunjui is quite unwell.”

The Jae-in turned toward the maidservants.

“I don’t think the Gunjui can eat anymore.”

“What? Then what will happen to all this food…?”

“Come to think of it, don’t you want to eat it too?”

“What?”

“I should reward my loyal servants as well. Sit down.”

The Jae-in smiled sweetly and gestured toward the seats.

“B-But…”

“I said, sit down.”

The Jae-in gave a slight nod toward the chairs.

The maidservants reluctantly shuffled over and sat down.

“Go ahead and eat. These are foods you don’t often get to enjoy.”

The maidservants awkwardly picked up their chopsticks.

But before long, they began eating the food enthusiastically.

The cucumber salad was piled so high that it filled a large washbasin and even formed a tower.

The shredded pork with sweet bean sauce contained more cucumber than meat, while the stir-fried beef was also nearly one-third cucumber.

But for the maidservants, who did not dislike cucumbers, it was simply a delicious and generous meal.

‘What a luxury, having cucumbers in weather this cold!’

Their chopsticks moved even more enthusiastically.

The Jae-in watched the maidservants happily eating the food and nodded in satisfaction.

“Children who work diligently deserve blessings like this, too.”

Watching them, Hyerang stopped sniffling and wiped away her tears.

She was relieved that she did not have to eat cucumbers for the moment, but she could not understand the Jae-in’s intentions.

‘Is she doing this on purpose so the maidservants can have something delicious to eat?’

With eyes reddened from crying, Hyerang looked up at the Jae-in.

The Jae-in continued to watch the maidservants with satisfaction and encouraged them to eat more of the delicious dishes.

After some time—

The maidservants finished their meal and put down their chopsticks.

“Thank you, Jae-in. We’re so grateful that you shared this food with us…”

“Was it good?”

“Yes. It was so delicious that we ate far too much. I feel as though my stomach is about to burst.”

“Really? But there’s still food left.”

The Jae-in pointed toward the table.

Even though the maidservants had eaten until they were stuffed, the table was still covered with food.

“No, this is more than enough for us.”

“…What do you mean, no?”

The Jae-in tilted her head.

“Didn’t I tell you to eat?”

She gave a cold glance toward the remaining food.

The satisfied smiles on the maidservants’ faces began to stiffen.

What they had thought was kindness had become an order.

“Wouldn’t it be disrespectful to leave behind His Highness’s kindness?”

The Jae-in repeated the very words the maidservants themselves had spoken earlier.

“B-But, Jae-in, this food is enough to feed at least twenty people!”

“So?”

The Jae-in blinked calmly.

“Should you leave behind food containing the blood and sweat of the people?”

At the Jae-in’s gentle smile, the maidservants’ faces gradually turned deathly pale.