Chapter 49

Chapter 49
Chapter 49: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

“Th-that, is that a sweet treat?”

“Yes.”

“……”

Alex gazed at the hotteok Lion had prepared, his face showing complete confusion.

It carried a scent of cinnamon, suggesting it might indeed be a confection.

“Is it a kind of flatbread?”

If it were a flatbread, it certainly could qualify as a dessert whipped up on the spot.

‘It is a pity that it is greasy, which hardly fits the traditional idea of a sweet.’

Still, paired with honey and cream, it looked like it would taste quite pleasant.

However, Lion’s reply shattered Alex’s expectations entirely.

“It looks somewhat similar, but the flavor will be completely different. Care to try one right now if you are curious?”

Lion handed over the hotteok inside a mug.

It was rather humorous to use a mug instead of the typical paper wrapping, though it certainly beat burning one’s fingers.

“Ho, you eat it like this?”

“Yes. That is why I gave it to you in a mug. It tastes better to bite into it directly, much like street fare, rather than slicing it with a knife and fork.”

“Ah.”

…Even so, Alex remained deeply suspicious of this purported dessert.

“Watch out, the syrup inside is very hot. I will take my leave now and return before it cools.”

With that warning, Lion placed another hotteok onto a plate and headed toward the dining hall where Rikschel was waiting.

Left by himself, Alex stared warily at the half-flattened hotteok in the mug, then took a brave, decisive bite.

And then…

“Oh, ohh!”

A carnival of unfamiliar flavors burst across his senses.

—

At the exact time Lion was busy crafting hotteok,

Rikschel Asteri was…

deeply annoyed!

He had dropped everything upon hearing that his older brother had requested his presence at the dining hall, only to find his brother completely missing, leaving him to dine alone.

He briefly suspected the servants of lying, but noticing them glancing nervously toward the kitchen while exchanging sideways looks, that did not seem to be the case.

‘What on earth…?’

In truth, Rikschel Asteri was feeling rather sulky.

He had barely spoken to Lion since Lion’s medical evaluation at the Magic Tower.

And on top of that.

‘What on earth happened at the Magic Tower to spark such bizarre rumors!’

Naturally, the strange tales originating from the Magic Tower had eventually reached Rikschel, the heir apparent to the Tower Master position.

Well, rumors were just rumors, so his older brother could hardly be blamed for public gossip.

The real issue was what followed.

His older brother, someone who historically did nothing but read texts, had suddenly taken up outdoor pursuits.

Yes, even after giving him the benefit of the doubt a hundred times, he figured it was positive that his brother had managed to move past his usual concerns.

He had assumed his brother would soon confide in him, allowing him the chance to present the gift he had missed giving at his coming-of-age ceremony.

Yet why. Still.

He has not come to look for me.

‘It is something I poured a great deal of thought into.’

Tap, tap.

As Rikschel’s fingers drummed against the armrest, the attendants turned pale.

‘What should we do? The young master looks thoroughly displeased…’

‘Bu-but we need to protect our positions too.’

‘Was following this course of action truly wise?’

‘Someone needs to step forward and intervene…!’

At last, one of the servants stepped out and spoke as deferentially as possible.

“Um, erm… Young Master? Young Master Lion mentioned he was preparing a sweet. The head chef has stepped away, but he should be here momentarily.”

“……”

Even so, Rikschel’s mood showed no signs of lifting.

Only one person possessed the power to mend this situation.

Lion alone.

As the attendants offered silent prayers for Lion’s speedy return,

“Whew! Rikschel, were you waiting long?”

Lion reappeared.

The servants let out silent tears of relief.

Though not quite as terrifying as the Family Head, Young Master Rikschel was certainly no easy master to appease.

Yet Rikschel’s reaction to Lion was an entirely different matter.

“Ah! Brother. You have returned?”

Rikschel’s expression melted instantly.

He even flashed a gentle smile!

Despite clearly harboring a grudge moments before, seeing Lion walk in unharmed made all his frustration evaporate.

“Have you eaten?”

“Yes. I have consumed enough.”

Consumed…

‘Such a delightfully academic phrasing.’

At any rate, it was a relief to hear he had eaten.

Lion glanced down at the mug holding the hotteok in his hand.

[Hotteok of Memories (★)]

* A dish that recreates the taste of winter street snacks from days gone by.
* It possesses a surprisingly luxurious flavor profile.

‘It might prove too heavy on an empty stomach.’

Lion offered the mug containing the hotteok to Rikschel.

“What is this?”

“A new confection I developed. It turned out quite tasty, so I wanted you to sample it as well.”

“……Thank you.”

Unlike his earlier demeanor, Rikschel accepted the treat from Lion without any hesitation.

“How am I supposed to eat it?”

“The syrup inside is piping hot, so be careful not to burn yourself. Like this.”

Lion demonstrated by tearing off a small piece from the edge of the hotteok and tasting it.

The hotteok tasted agreeable.

However, perhaps due to the differences in this world or the prevailing focus on health and nutrition, it lacked the intensely addictive sweetness of the versions he remembered from his past life.

‘Actually, this might suit Rikschel’s palate better.’

He accepts what is offered, but he is still a nobleman, after all.

Food that appeals to the senses in a blunt and direct manner might easily turn him off.

“Then I shall partake immediately.”

Rikschel took a direct bite out of the portion protruding from the mug.

The crispy outer crust gave way, while the chewy, cooked dough inside provided a distinct texture.

It was not unpleasant, though initially, he thought it tasted a bit plain.

“……!”

A potent scent of cinnamon accompanied by sweet sugar syrup flooded his palate.

The deep sweetness of brown sugar blended with the aroma of cinnamon powder, mingling with the unique dough to produce an exquisite harmony of flavors.

It bore no resemblance to any dessert he had tasted before.

Rather than delicate, it came across with a certain boldness.

Even so, this direct style of flavor was by no means bad.

Midway through, pieces of nuts added a delightful crunch, providing a wonderful accent to both texture and taste.

“How is it? Is it too hot?”

“Yes…! It is delicious.”

“Haha, what a relief. I worried you might not care for it.”

The disaster he feared thankfully failed to materialize.

Rikschel seemed to enjoy it immensely.

“Since you made it yourself, Brother, of course I would like it! Might I have another?”

“I prepared plenty, so eat to your heart’s content.”

Admittedly, it remained quite hot, but it had evidently cooled sufficiently while his brother was away, sparing him from scalding his mouth.

“It is quite a novel experience, not having to eat a dessert with a fork from a plate.”

After polishing off five hotteoks, Rikschel wiped his mouth with the provided cloth and spoke with composure.

This followed the consumption of a staggering five hotteoks.

“Thank you for the meal, Brother.”

“Yes, yes. Make sure to brush your teeth thoroughly before going to bed.”

“……Pardon?”

“If you indulge in too many sweets, you will develop cavities.”

“Brother. I do not particularly enjoy sweet things.”

His actions suggested otherwise.

Lion cast his gaze toward the empty plate.

While hotteok was certainly delicious, clearing that many in one sitting was no small feat.

He had eaten every last one.

“At any rate, are you feeling less angry now?”

“……*Cough*! Beg pardon?”

Seemingly caught off guard by Lion’s blunt question, Rikschel, who had been rinsing his mouth with water, choked back a slight cough.

“What do you mean by that…?”

“I simply wondered if perhaps I had not visited you frequently enough lately.”

“……”

I had no idea you were aware.

The tips of Rikschel’s ears turned faintly crimson.

“So, might you be able to spare some time tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow? Yes. I am free.”

In truth, he would have cleared his schedule even if he were occupied.

“Truly? Then you must keep me company tomorrow.”

“Understood.”

“You have not even bothered to ask what we will be doing.”

“You rarely explained your plans in the past either, so it is fine.”

“Is that so?”

Though that previous outing had merely been volunteer work.

‘I had simply intended to go shopping.’

Lion tilted his head before deciding to let the matter drop.

At any rate, his younger brother’s irritation had dissipated, and they had successfully arranged to spend the following day together, which was a positive outcome.

“Then I shall see you tomorrow afternoon.”

“Yes. Ah, by any chance, will we be needing that hairpin?”

He was inquiring whether a disguise would be necessary.

“It should be fine… but it is wiser to bring it just in case.”

“Understood.”

“Very well. Do remember to brush your teeth before sleep.”

“……Yes.”

Rikschel replied following an extended pause.

He seemed to resent being treated like a child, yet eating five hotteoks warranted some caution.

“Rest well, Brother.”

“Yes.”

Lion and Rikschel each retired to their respective quarters.

The attendants beamed with pride as they watched the two young masters depart following such a heartwarming exchange…

“Y-Young Master! How on earth did you make this…!!”

Alex, having arrived at the dining hall late, wailed in desperation while clutching a half-eaten hotteok.

…Unfortunately, Lion had already retreated to his room.

—

“Is everything prepared?”

“Yes, Brother. Everything is in order.”

“……”

Lion fell silent as he watched Rikschel emerge from his quarters carrying a massive bundle of supplies.

“Why on earth have you packed so much?”

“It is nothing out of the ordinary. Emergency provisions and water in case of unforeseen circumstances, spare clothing, a towel, and… no, I am only bringing my staff. And funds, naturally.”

Are you planning to get stranded on a deserted island?

‘My word…’

He understood precisely why Rikschel was behaving this way.

It appeared the month Lion spent isolated within the labyrinth had left a deep mark of anxiety upon him.

He was evidently preparing for the possibility of a repeat scenario.

‘What can be done?’

He had not anticipated that the labyrinth incident would leave him quite so paranoid.

‘What about down the road?’

It seemed his younger brother needed a greater sense of security.

Lion walked over, took Rikschel’s luggage from his hands, and shoved it back into the corner of the room.

“You have no need for any of this.”

“But…”

“Rikschel. It will be fine. We are merely heading to the village.”

“That is precisely what you said before visiting the library.”

“Yet I returned safely, did I not?”

“……”

“If you spend your time preparing for tragedies that have not occurred, your mind will unravel.”

Honestly, had anyone predicted the war against the demons fifty years ago?

What about the three Mana Shocks Lion had endured?

Could he possibly have prepared for those? Events simply unfold as they will.

Some challenges are simply unavoidable.

Naturally, life would be smoother without such hardships, but crying over spilled water achieves nothing.

Furthermore, if you seal a cup tightly to prevent any water from spilling, the contents inside will merely stagnate and rot.

Lion had learned that harsh lesson firsthand in the past.

Loss beyond words. Futility. Despair.

He was no stranger to those emotions.

If anything…

‘I felt them acutely.’

There were times when I collapsed completely, unable to rise again.

Simply because no one was there to tell me that I could fill the vessel with something new to replace what had been lost.

Lion turned his head to look at Rikschel.

Possessing a mature and composed demeanor, paired with a slight obsessive need for control.

Even so, he remained a youth who had not yet reached adulthood.

Naturally, Lion understood well enough that remaining stagnant would solve nothing.

However…

‘There is no need to force him to realize that entirely on his own.’

When help is available, accepting it is always the better path.

‘I ought to make proper preparations, shouldn’t I?’

Lion cleared his throat and adopted a tone far more cheerful than usual.

“Come now, let us travel light. We will be returning with plenty of items regardless.”

“……Understood, Brother.”

Rikschel still looked reluctant to leave his belongings behind, but he yielded to Lion’s instruction for the moment.

He truly was a good lad.

“By the way, what did you mean by returning with plenty?”

“You will see soon enough.”