Episode 18

“What?”

I looked up at him with wide eyes, not quite understanding what he had just said.

Eliae reached out and playfully ruffled my hair.

“I want you to live as freely as you wish, but no matter how I think about it, I can’t stand that guy.”

“Huh?”

“That shady bastard… I’d rather see you with someone more gentle, proper, well-mannered, cute, and obedient.”

Eliae grumbled with a frown on his face.

His voice was so low that I couldn’t catch exactly what he was saying.

“Eliae? I didn’t hear that clearly. What did you just say?”

When I looked at him with curious eyes, he waved it off as if it were nothing.

“You said you were hungry, right? Humans need regular meals, so let’s get down to the kitchen.”

“Oh, right. Food.”

I stood up, smoothing out my messy hair.

Now that the tension had subsided, a wave of hunger suddenly hit me.

I headed straight to the kitchen and ladled myself a bowl of stew.

It had cooled down to lukewarm by now, but the delicious smell still wafted through the air.

‘So, As made this…?’

I squinted at the stew as I walked to the table.

A child, and not just any child—a young noble—had cooked this with his own hands?

The presentation was good enough that with just a sprinkle of parsley, it could be posted on social media. The smell was mouthwatering too.

And for a noble, who probably never touched a pot in his life, to make this…

‘What was I doing at that age? Did I even know how to cook ramen…?’

I stopped myself from continuing down the path of self-deprecation.

Sitting at the table, I took a bite of the stew. The savory, spicy flavor of the meat spread through my mouth.

It was the perfect balance for me, someone who, thanks to memories of living as a Korean, couldn’t handle overly rich flavors.

“Did a little kid really make this?”

I stared at the stew in surprise.

It was astonishing that a noble child could cook so well, but what was more shocking was how it perfectly suited my rather specific taste.

“How is this even possible?”

I felt a pang of inadequacy.

After only tasting my spicy stew a few times, he had recreated it with precision overnight.

Is this what being a genius looks like?

‘As could be a chef when he grows up…’

As I continued eating, half in awe, I glanced across the table at Eliae.

He was resting his chin on his hand, watching me eat.

Noticing my gaze, he opened his mouth to speak.

“What is it?”

“It’s just… it’s been a while since you’ve suddenly shown up like this. Was I in that much danger?”

I gave him a lighthearted smile, but he sighed as if dealing with a naïve child.

“If I hadn’t come, you would’ve died back there.”

His blunt remark hit its mark.

Feeling guilty, I pretended to focus on my stew, keeping the spoon in my mouth.

Honestly, I had been so worried about using healing magic incorrectly and possibly losing As that I had recklessly overused it.

“I still don’t like that guy… But since you like him so much, I guess I can’t just kill him…”

Eliae muttered softly while watching me.

Though I didn’t catch all of it, his tone made me feel like a child being scolded, so I looked up at him cautiously.

He sighed once more.

“Well, whatever. It’s not like I’m fond of anyone else either. He or that other guy—they’re all the same to me.”

“That guy or the other guy? What are you talking about?”

“I wish you were a spirit.”

Eliae mumbled wistfully, as if speaking to a child he had to watch over from a distance.

His random remark made me tilt my head in confusion, but I decided to let it slide. Eliae had a habit of saying odd things from time to time, so I went back to eating my stew carefully.

“By the way, even though you came here without much of a plan, it won’t cause any issues for you later when you visit again, right?”

I asked cautiously, glancing at him.

Eliae responded simply.

“As long as no major problems arise while I’m away.”

“Ah, no! Then you should go back quickly!”

Problems have a way of happening unexpectedly.

Like how my most embarrassing moments happened out of nowhere, or how the war with the Semel Tribe broke out when we least expected it!

‘And don’t even get me started on that plague during the reign of King Yi Hye-su…!’

Panicking, I jumped up from my seat.

Eliae chuckled.

“I have time to watch you eat at least.”

“…Are you sure this won’t affect your visits in the future?”

“Yes.”

“Really?”

“I said yes.”

Only after hearing him confirm it several times did I finally feel at ease and smile.

“This morning was terrible, but getting to see you more often, Eliae, is a silver lining.”

“I don’t want to see you like this. You should learn to protect yourself,” Eliae replied flatly, cutting off any further sentiment.

Feeling deflated, I slumped my shoulders and lowered my head.

“Yes…”

I stirred the stew absentmindedly, feeling a bit down. After a brief silence, Eliae spoke again, his voice slower this time.

“It’s not that I don’t want to see you. I just hate that I only get to see you when you’re hurt.”

His words made the corners of my mouth lift into a smile.

Of course, I knew that Eliae was only saying this because he was worried about me.

‘But honestly, watching him try to explain himself every time I act sad—it’s just too adorable!’

To think that there would be a day when the Spirit King, who was probably thousands of years older than me, would seem cute. Life certainly had its surprises.

As I sat there, grinning like a fool, Eliae sighed and eventually smiled along with me.

“If that kid As ever steps out of line, call me. I’ll deal with him.”

Eliae’s voice had suddenly turned serious, as if he was genuinely preparing for a threat.

I tilted my head in confusion. Steps out of line? Like… talking back?

But As was nothing like that. Regardless of his noble status, he was polite and well-behaved.

With a bright, innocent smile, I said, “As would never do something like that! He’s so sweet and well-mannered.”

“…Right. I keep forgetting that kid’s hiding something much darker beneath that innocent face,” Eliae muttered, rubbing his temples as if he had a headache.

His words triggered a strange sense of déjà vu.

‘Come to think of it, Harnen also told me to be careful around As.’

I furrowed my brows, recalling the moment.

‘*It’s Ainra who wants to go to the festival… Please don’t hate me.*’

‘…You won’t hate me if I ask you to sleep next to me, right?’

As was just a vulnerable boy who was so scared of being disliked that he sometimes lashed out defensively. How could anyone see him as dangerous?

‘And he even made breakfast for me today!’

I was starting to feel indignant.

“Eliae, do you know something about As that I don’t?” I asked, my voice more direct.

“What?”

“Why are you bad-mouthing him when he hasn’t done anything wrong? What’s the problem with As?”

I lifted my chin defiantly as I asked, which made Eliae pause for a moment.

His calm, ocean-blue eyes met mine, and after a long, quiet stare, he abruptly turned his head away.

“…Raising a child is a thankless task,” he muttered, sounding somewhat exhausted.

I didn’t understand why he would say something like that, but for some reason, I got the feeling I should keep my mouth shut for now.

So, I quietly resumed eating my stew, sneaking glances at Eliae from time to time.

…Being timid is just part of my nature, I guess.

* * *

Eliae stayed until I finished my breakfast and then returned to the spirit realm, looking somewhat drained.

Though I felt a bit guilty for possibly being too harsh with someone who only wanted to protect me, I still couldn’t let someone call As shady or deceitful, especially not a sweet boy who woke up early to cook breakfast for me!

As if he had some dark secret!

“Harnen also bad-mouthed As, come to think of it.”

With determined, triangular eyes, I clenched my fists.

“Just wait till Harnen shows up. I’ll give him an earful!”

Now that I thought about it again, it was an absolutely outrageous thing to say.

“Calling him a ‘rotten wolf cub’? That’s way too harsh to say about a little kid!”

Muttering to myself, I headed to As’s room.

As soon as I entered, the first thing that greeted me was the bright sunlight pouring through the half-open window, letting in a refreshing breeze.

The white chiffon curtains fluttered gently like soft waves.

Amid the warm sunlight filling the room, As was still fast asleep, peacefully lying in bed.