Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 168

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Heir Apparent Doesn’t Matter—Just Healing for Me 168

Once you notice one thing, you start seeing everything.
A massive Great Sword hung on the wall as though it were mere decoration, and a Dagger lay hidden beneath the sofa.
Beyond that, there were even Hidden Blades—the sort a layman wouldn’t catch sight of.
At this point, calling the place a weapons shop wouldn’t have seemed odd.

“I’d rather not have bean sprout soup as my final meal, though.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s nothing.”

Lion passed the Second Imperial Prince, who’d lost his words, and stepped inside.
He already understood that all those weapons weren’t there to intimidate him.

‘He must be preparing for assassination attempts.’

Even just that gave him the strange feeling of having glimpsed a fragment of Kyle’s life.
The man was a merciless boss who wore down his own subordinates, yet seeing this, Lion found he had nothing to say.

‘Ah.’

Lion exhaled a long, quiet sigh.
The Second Imperial Prince, oblivious to his reaction thanks to the mask, led Lion to the table.

…….

Whatever his intent, having the man sit down first seemed wisest.

‘And besides…….’

A glance.
The Second Imperial Prince stared at what was in Lion’s hand, then asked.

“What is that?”
“Rice and side dishes.”
…….

Of course. With the tray, the dinnerware, everything packed neat and tidy.

‘Does he not intend to lift the Curse today?’

He’d said the timing of lifting the Curse was his to decide, but then why come here at all?
And bringing food no less.

‘Last night, he seemed like he wanted to settle things quickly.’

That’s why he’d personally disclosed which room at the Lake he was staying in.
The Second Imperial Prince considered his intuition rather sharp.
But today, that intuition seemed to be wrong.
So that’s why he’d warned me not to try guessing?
The man was utterly unpredictable.

But one thing was certain.
The man had some interest in him.
Otherwise, he’d never have approached him this way.

‘……Or is he that type?’

Rare, but it did happen—the type who kept others under their control and satisfied their desire for dominance.

If Lion had overheard that thought, his mouth would have fallen open and he would have vehemently denied it. But the Second Imperial Prince nodded inwardly to himself.

‘Then I’ve no choice but to play along with the game.’

There was only one way to satisfy such people.
Meet them halfway, match their tone.
He didn’t seem to have a particularly vicious temperament, so if Kyle calibrated his responses appropriately, he could achieve his objective.
It was a plan that might seem somewhat ignoble for an imperial prince to execute, but to Kyle, such pride held no weight.
He had a clear purpose.
To prove to this Empire that I still live.
And to turn the blade of vengeance against those who sought to kill me.

“Have you taken a meal yet?”
“Not yet, though.”
“Good, then. Let us eat first.”
“Very well.”

The Second Imperial Prince complied without resistance.
He wasn’t pleased with the current situation, but Kyle was a man who had endured circumstances far more displeasing, far more hellish than this.
Honestly, compared to that, this was…

‘Unsettling, perhaps, but not entirely unpleasant.’

There were many opportunities to probe deeper.
And more than anything, the cook was here at his side again today, which dulled the ache considerably.
That much at least proved his skill was certain.

‘I have no real interest in the food itself, but I should respond appropriately nonetheless.’

Unaware of the Second Imperial Prince’s thoughts, Lion immediately began opening the lids and arranging the dishes.
He set a steaming bean sprout stew in the center, then placed a bowl of seasoned bean sprouts and rice in front of each of them.
And finally, setting down the wooden chopsticks and spoon he’d prepared in advance…!

‘Good. Yes, this is good.’

A complete meal took shape—rice, soup, and delicious side dishes arranged on a single tray.

‘If only there were more accompanying vegetables, that would have been ideal…’

Pepper greens seasoned with miso, other blanched vegetables, spicy-sweet glazed chili strips.
And…
That one thing any Korean would naturally long for.
Kimchi.

The storage had nearly all the ingredients he needed, but the problem was the lack of proper seasoning base.
Miso, chili paste, soy sauce.
At least they had salt, carrot, and chili powder, which allowed him to manage this much.

‘When I return, I’m making fermented pastes first thing.’

Lion seated himself with quiet resolve, having made that inner vow.
He was about to explain how to eat when he paused for a moment.

‘Ah, there could be a misunderstanding.’

Even in Hotel Ester, a place with extraordinary security measures, the Second Imperial Prince had weapons hidden in various places.
Which meant assassination attempts came that frequently.

‘I wonder—did they send only assassins?’

There certainly would have been attempts at poisoning as well.
In that case, wouldn’t it be better to show him directly rather than explain?
And….

‘I really can’t hold back anymore!’

I’d already tasted it earlier.
The bean sprout bulgogi and the bean sprout soup both!
A familiar flavor is always the most dangerous.
Rather than explain, Lion scooped up a large spoonful of rice, pushed it into his mouth, and snatched up the bean sprout bulgogi with his chopsticks before eating with gusto.
Over the sweet, savory rice lay the spicy-salty bean sprout dish like a blanket, and the thin slices of beef chewed soft and tender.
And….

Crunch!

The bean sprouts, soaked in marinade, added a crisp, snappy texture….
And then, a swallow.
Gone in an instant.
Simply vanished before he even knew when he’d swallowed.

‘Man….’

I made it myself, and it’s genuinely delicious.
No, making it myself meant it hit just the right note for my taste.
Lion forgot to even teach the Second Imperial Prince how to eat it, so focused was he on his meal.
He soothed his tingling mouth from the spice with a cool, steaming bowl of bean sprout soup, then went back to scooping rice.

“…Is it good?”
“Exceptional.”

The Second Imperial Prince watching him felt deflated.
He intuited that his hypothesis from moments before had missed the mark entirely.
The man before his eyes was simply…eating with relish.
And he’d picked up his spoon before the Second Imperial Prince had.

‘As a way to show there’s no poison….’

It just felt like he was eating first because he was hungry.
And doing it with dexterous ease using something other than a fork at that.
All in all, it was a form of dining he’d never witnessed before.
He found himself wondering if perhaps this priest was from some other continent.
Watching the man eat with such evident enjoyment right before him kindled curiosity even in the Second Imperial Prince, who’d lost interest in the meal.

‘Is it really that delicious?’

The Second Imperial Prince hesitated a moment, then carefully scooped up some of the clear broth with his spoon.
The translucent liquid gave off a distinctive aroma, as if several spices had gone into it….

‘Even in the days when I went hungry, I’ve never had such a thin broth.’

Though there were quite a few solids in it, looking closer they appeared to be things like grass or weeds.
It had no body and was transparent, to the point where he wondered what flavor could possibly come from something so thin.
Yet seeing him eat with such satisfaction….

Carefully.

The Second Imperial Prince, still harboring doubts, cautiously brought the spoon to his lips and gingerly let the liquid rest in his mouth, tasted it, and swallowed.
Then he could only be astounded.
It wasn’t poison.
This is…….

“……It’s delicious.”

Strangely delicious.
The seasoning had a pleasant saltiness, and beneath it lay a depth of flavor—garlic and pepper notes working in exquisite harmony.
And above all, these sprouts.

“It’s called bean sprouts, Your Highness.”

Lion smiled knowingly, answering the Second Imperial Prince’s unspoken question.

“Bean sprouts.”

An unusual vegetable he’d never seen in these lands formed the heart of the soup.
Refreshing. Clean.
The chronic ache that had plagued him constantly since the Curse settled—it had vanished entirely.
What’s more, the contrasting textures between the bean and the stem were quite distinctive, and that tingling spice that arrived at the finish was genuinely addictive.
A remarkably interesting dish.

‘……Interesting?’

The Second Imperial Prince was startled by his own thought.
Truth be told, he’d never been entirely indifferent to food.
If anything, his years clawing through poverty had instilled in him a keen appetite.
But once he’d become a prince, he’d severed all interest in food entirely.
From the day he’d entered the palace until just weeks ago, assassination attempts through poisoning had never ceased.
Of course, before coming to this place, he’d gained Poison Resistance with their help, but there was no benefit in deliberately ingesting toxins.
So he’d made it a habit to eat minimally, only foods he knew were safe.
Soups and stews in particular were the poisoner’s favorite vehicle, so he’d avoided them entirely.
And yet…….

“Don’t eat just the soup—try the rice and meat as well, Your Highness.”

Lion heaped bean sprouts onto his wooden chopsticks and dropped them generously onto the Second Imperial Prince’s rice bowl.

“Ah, if you’re worried it might be poisoned, we could always swap bowls, I suppose…….”

Lion trailed off, glancing down at his own bowl.
More than half the rice was already gone.
‘Well, it’s a bit awkward to give him what I’ve already eaten.’
‘But the sprouts really are best with rice.’

“Never mind.”

The Second Imperial Prince lifted the red meat from his rice and placed it in his mouth.
Unlike the bean sprout soup moments before, the spice hit him hard and fast from the very first bite.
For an instant he wondered if it was too much, but then the white rice began absorbing the heat, tempering it perfectly.
Instinctively, to soothe the burn and support the rice, he took a large spoonful of the bean sprout soup and drank it down.
When a few sprout strands came along with it, the flavors aligned at last.

‘Still a bit of a tingle, though.’

The Second Imperial Prince loaded his newly emptied mouth with rice, and since plain rice alone felt dull, he took a bite of meat with his clumsy chopsticks.
Then the dryness returned, so he drank more broth.
……And so, he emptied his entire bowl.

“…….”

Only after he’d lifted the bowl to his lips and drained the last of the soup did the Second Imperial Prince become aware of what he’d just done.
Up to this point, there was no shame in it.
It was natural for a person to lose themselves before delicious food.
But then.

“You’re eating well.”

The moment Kyle read “satisfaction” on the disguised figure’s face—whose form he could barely make out clearly—the embarrassment became quite acute.
Wasn’t it exactly like praising a child who had cleaned their plate entirely?
The Second Imperial Prince set down his utensils and covered his face with one hand.

“Was it to your liking?”
“……Yes.”

And he admitted it.
The proper meal he’d eaten after so long tasted sublime, despite its unfamiliarity.
Unconsciously, he’d even thought, ‘I might actually live.’
A brief silence settled over the room.
It felt peaceful rather than awkward.
Kyle breathed evenly, aware of his satisfied stomach.
The figure sitting before him no longer irritated or troubled him.
There were matters to discuss later—the Curse, the schedule ahead—but none of it mattered now.
It was then, as Kyle savored this fleeting moment of ease, that something unexpected happened.

“Then I’ll take my leave now.”
“What?”

The figure who’d been sitting across from him rose abruptly, saying he would go.
Kyle’s ease shattered in an instant, and his dulled senses snapped to attention with suspicion.
Just like that, he’s leaving?

“Why?”
“Sir?”
“You’ve finished your meal.”
“That’s true.”
“But we haven’t discussed the Curse yet.”
“Hmm…….”

Lion scratched his cheek at Kyle’s reaction.
In truth, Lion had wanted to discuss the Curse as well.
But the moment he’d entered the room, he’d abandoned that thought.
So many Hidden Blades prepared for an ambush.
Even though the meal had loosened him somewhat, the Second Imperial Prince still wouldn’t fully trust him.
Perhaps the reason he’d been told the room’s location at all was simply because there was no other way to meet.
In fact, it was certain—the room’s structure was such that one couldn’t even find it without the owner explicitly revealing its location.

‘And……a man’s entire life doesn’t melt away over a single meal.’

How tense must he be, living like this.
And how many people had approached him in this same way.
He couldn’t see through an entire life, but he could glimpse fragments of it.

‘But kind words alone wouldn’t…….’

The Second Imperial Prince wasn’t the type to take them at face value.
So Lion decided to adjust the tone of what he would say.

“It seems you still don’t trust me.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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