I’ve Become a S*ave Bride - Chapter 70
“Here, it’s hot, so make sure to blow on it before you eat.”
“Yes!”
The first kitchen maid to sip the Dambaek-un broth opened her eyes wide.
“Oh my…!”
This maid, famous for having the most discerning palate, continuously shoveled the Dambaek-un into her mouth. Her eyes shimmered as a look of deep, moved emotion blossomed across her face.
“This is a different kind of fluffiness and softness compared to the Dambaekdan…! On top of that, the umami of the shrimp and the savories of the beans harmonize so perfectly that a clean yet deep flavor spreads through my mouth!”
As the praise poured in, the other maids quickly tasted the Dambaek-un. Even though the freshly boiled dish must have been scorching, they didn’t stop moving their spoons, constantly letting out exclamations of wonder.
“Do you think it’s good enough to serve to the Markhal?”
“More than good enough! She is going to fall head over heels for this Dambaek-un!”
“Exactly! The Markhal doesn’t like foods with strong aromas or stimulating flavors; she prefers dishes like this that are subtle yet have a deep flavor!”
Just yesterday, when they first greeted each other and began soaking the beans, these maids had been quite aloof toward her. But now, as if that had never happened, they were unhesitatingly showing Lenette their honest appreciation.
‘It’s because they are people who are truly sincere about food.’
When they see a delicious and innovative dish, their hearts can’t help but open.
“I was thinking of serving this for lunch, but I feel like dinner might be better than lunch.”
“It certainly is perfect for warding off the night’s chill!”
“Right? Then shall we serve a light dish for lunch—vegetables and Dambaekdan tossed in a sauce—and save this for the evening?”
“That sounds great!”
—
“You haven’t had lunch yet, have you?”
Lenette asked as she entered the room, addressing Kazen, who was waiting for her.
“Not yet.”
“That’s a relief.”
She lifted a ceramic container with its lid tightly shut.
“What is that?”
Lenette opened the container, revealing several neat, square white blocks inside.
“It’s a food called Dambaekdan.”
“I’ve never heard of it.”
“It’s originally an Ecaron dish, so I gave it a new name.”
“Is this the food you gave to the Markhal?”
“Yes. The one I’ve been preparing since yesterday. Let’s eat it together.”
Kazen raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“Are you allowed to bring that here?”
“I received permission.”
She gestured to the attendant in charge of them, requesting that lunch be prepared. While the attendant went to fetch the rest of the meal, Kazen approached her.
“How was it?”
It was a vague question. When she looked up at him, he added a bit more detail.
“No one harassed you, did they?”
A small, airy laugh escaped Lenette’s lips.
“No one’s liver is swollen enough for that yet.”
(Note: ‘Liver swollen out of the belly’ is a Korean idiom for being incredibly gutsy/reckless).
She was entering and exiting Karan Palace by the Markhal’s direct order; who would dare challenge her?
“At most, there was just some whispering behind my back.”
“……”
Kaizen’s expression remained unsatisfied.
“What is it? Is something weighing on your mind?”
He shook his head with a soft sigh.
“And what about you? Are you alright?”
“Me?”
“Yes. You left before dawn without getting any sleep.”
“Ah… that’s true, but I actually prefer it this way.”
“You prefer it?”
“Yes. I finally have something to do.”
Kazen looked at Lenette with a strange glint in his eyes.
“Isn’t it exhausting?”
“It is, but it’s also fun.”
“Are you saying you enjoy working?”
“Well, yes.”
“Why?”
It was a difficult question, and not one that could be explained simply. Nevertheless, after a moment of reflection, Lenette spoke in a low voice.
“Because it makes me feel like I’m finally alive.”
—
“Ophelia, can you hear me?”
A worried voice reached her ears just as her heavy eyelids slowly began to flutter open.
“Dawes…”
“Yes. It’s me. I’m right here.”
Ophelia forced her eyes all the way open, but her vision remained blurred, likely because she had only just woken up. She frowned and blinked a few times until she felt the warmth of someone tightly holding her hand.
“You collapsed so suddenly. You gave me quite a scare.”
“I… collapsed?”
“Yes. You fainted this morning on your way to the infirmary.”
“Ah…”
The memory finally surfaced—how much she had dreaded going to the infirmary this morning, to the point that her head throbbed.
‘My body felt heavy… but I didn’t think I’d actually collapse.’
Was the work at the infirmary so repulsive to her that her own body was rejecting it?
“Ophelia. I heard you’ve been struggling a lot lately.”
“……”
She lowered her head like a sinner. Seeing this, Dawes spoke.
“If it’s too hard, you don’t have to push yourself so much.”
“…Really?”
For a moment, the question slipped out with unintended sincerity. However, as she snapped her head up, Ophelia realized her husband’s expression was far from pleasant. While his voice carried concern for her, his face was somehow shrouded in shadow.
“Yes. Ophelia, this isn’t the kind of work you’re used to, so it’s understandable if it’s difficult.”
During their time in Clermont, Ophelia didn’t work. Unlike Lenette, who moved busily all day and constantly accomplished things, Ophelia’s daily routine consisted of nothing more than leisurely strolls around the estate or cooking. Lenette had tried to give her tasks a few times, but they never suited her, so she quit in less than two months.
Since Ophelia’s strange ability—the prophetic power to occasionally see the future—was already a great asset to the family, no one forced her to work. And frankly, Ophelia preferred a life of idle wandering over a life like Lenette’s.
However, being forced to go to workshops and infirmaries every day and facing so many people was undeniably overwhelming.
“You might just need an adjustment period. So take it slow—prepare yourself gradually before you return to the infirmary.”
‘He isn’t saying I don’t have to do it at all…’
In the end, he was telling her to start working once she had adjusted.
Was it because her health was failing? Or was her heart aching from the nurses’ constant disdain and the patients’ mockery? Suddenly, a surge of resentment toward Dawes welled up within her.
‘You never said… that I’d have to work once I became your wife….’
He had clearly spoken as if her mere presence by his side was enough. But now, as if that past version of him had been an act, he was forcing her to do something.
‘I’m hurting this much….’
Ophelia lifted her gaze to look at Daus, who was staring intently at her.
‘He’s not worried about me; in the end, he’s worried that I won’t be able to secure my position at the infirmary.’
The feeling of betrayal was so sharp that tears threatened to spill. But even so, what could she do? As an orphan, Ophelia had no family home to run back to. Her only friend had been banished to the frontier.
‘If it were Lenette… Lenette certainly wouldn’t have forced these tasks on me.’
It was a strange thing. Despite feeling such an intense inferiority complex toward Lenette and reacting to the mere mention of her name as if having a seizure, she was the first person Ophelia thought of whenever things got difficult.
Ophelia bit her lip hard and closed her eyes.
“……No. I’ll work harder to adapt.”
Was that response the “correct” answer? A genuine smile finally touched Daus’s lips.
“Thank you, Ophelia. But rest well today, alright?”
“I will.”
—
Kazen’s review of the Dambaekdan was simple.
“It’s bland.”
It was exactly the reaction she had expected.
Everyone has different tastes. While some, like the Markhal, enjoy mild and soft foods, others prefer a firm texture and rich aromas. Based on what Lenette had observed so far, Kazen definitely belonged to the latter group.
“And you’re saying the Markhal liked this?”
“Yes. She even ordered Dambaekdan to be served for lunch.”
“Hmm.”
Kaizen scooped up another small piece of Dambaekdan and put it in his mouth. No matter how much he ate, the bland flavor still didn’t seem to suit his palate.
“Well, at least it’s a relief that she liked it.”
“Exactly. Honestly, I would have been quite embarrassed if it hadn’t suited her taste.”
Whether he understood the reason behind her concern or not, Kazen let out a soft chuckle.
“After buying up soybeans in such massive quantities, I suppose you would be.”
—
It was while they were exchanging stories about the Dambaekdan and the Markhal that an interruption occurred.
“An urgent messenger from Karan Palace has arrived.”
The two stopped talking. Kaizen looked at Lenette, and she gave a small nod.
“Send them in.”
Upon receiving permission, an attendant and a kitchen maid entered. The woman was one of those who had been glued to Lenette’s side from yesterday until this morning.
“What is it?”
“I apologize for the intrusion, but the Grand Empress has issued a command, so I came to see you at once.”
The maid wore an apologetic expression for interrupting their time together.
“It’s alright.”
Lenette stood up, and Kazen moved toward the balcony with Kuz to give them some privacy.
“Is the Grand Empress looking for me?”
“She didn’t ask for you specifically, but for all intents and purposes, she might as well have.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“The Grand Empress has announced that the Emperor—Khal—will be joining her for dinner this evening.”
Lenette’s eyes widened in surprise.
‘She invited Khal to dinner?’
“So suddenly?”
“Yes. And it seems it is almost certainly because of the ‘Dambaekdan.’”
“I see. She must have ordered it to be served for the evening meal.”
“Precisely.”
If that was the case, there was only one reason the maid had come to find Lenette in person.
“You need my help.”
“Most likely… Since His Majesty prefers a diverse array of dishes on the table, we fear the ‘Dambaek-un’ we planned won’t be enough on its own.”
As she suspected, Khal’s palate was likely closer to Kaizen’s than to the Markhal’s.
“I understand. Let’s prepare it together.”
Even though it was for dinner, Dambaekdan and Dambaek-un required significant time to prepare. Furthermore, creating other dishes using Dambaekdan would require various experiments.
“Let’s leave right away.”
After nodding her agreement, Lenette explained the situation to Kazen on the balcony.
“She must have truly taken a liking to it. To think she’d even invite the Emperor.”
“I know. Anyway, I’ll be going now. It looks like you’ll have to eat dinner alone.”
Kazen looked down with a small, subtle smile.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Because saying it like that makes us sound like a real married couple.”
Lenette flinched inwardly at his words, but she didn’t let it show. She simply turned and gave her farewell.
“Regardless, I’m off.”
