Surviving as the Wife of the Swordsmanship Clan’s Troublemaker - Chapter 30

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

Episode 30

 

“Ahaha. I’m new here, so there’s a lot to learn, and I get lost often.”

 

When I made an awkward excuse, Hotsen immediately relaxed his expression.

 

“That makes sense. Just walking around Bloodmere castle once takes half a day.”

 

“You believe me?”

 

“Skilled people don’t lie.”

 

He could have been suspicious of a maid wandering around freely, but he believed my words without any sign of doubt. My cooking skills had definitely won him over.

 

“That yakgwa you made yesterday? Those sweets.”

 

“Yes. The ones Chef didn’t like.”

 

When I deliberately brought up yesterday’s incident, Hotsen coughed loudly.

 

“When did I say I didn’t like them, ahem!”

 

“I’ll think of it as you liking them.”

 

“More importantly, look at this.”

 

Hotsen quickly changed the subject and pulled out a container. When he opened the lid, a sweet aroma hit my nose. It was a familiar scent.

 

“Is that the syrup I made? The one I spread on the yakgwa?”

 

“That’s right. It’s the syrup you made, and I put those yakgwa things in here.”

 

Several pieces of yakgwa were soaking in the delicious brown syrup.

 

“Oh? You soaked them in here?”

 

“As I was eating them, they seemed to lack sweetness, so I tried this.”

 

When I pulled one out, the yakgwa that had been a light brown color was now a perfect earth tone, soaked through with the rich maple syrup. I looked at Hotsen with surprised eyes.

 

“This is called the soaking process. How did you know?”

 

“Soaking? I’ve never heard of it.”

 

“You did it without knowing? It’s to let the syrup penetrate deep into the yakgwa.”

 

It’s an essential process for traditional yakgwa.

 

“I didn’t know. It was more like culinary research? I had a lot of syrup left and didn’t want to waste it.”

 

At those words, I broke open a piece of yakgwa to show him. The yakgwa, now fully saturated with syrup, dripped stickily.

 

“For someone seeing yakgwa for the first time to figure this out immediately. Chef Hotsen, are you a genius?”

 

This was something that court chefs had researched and developed hundreds of years ago. For Hotsen to think of it on his own. I gave him a thumbs up.

 

“…Genius?”

 

“Yes. Look at this. If figuring out a recipe like this in one go isn’t genius, what is?”

 

Bloodmere’s head chef was truly different.

 

I pushed the perfectly made yakgwa into Hotsen’s mouth as he stood there dazed without responding. His expression clearly showed his delight at the different texture and unique taste compared to yesterday.

 

“Well then, shall we prepare this morning’s meal?”

 

The maids who had been glancing over at us all nodded at my words.

 

Seeing their eyes full of anticipation, my remaining morning drowsiness vanished instantly.

 

I made stir-fried pork for breakfast.

 

The unfortunate thing was the lack of gochujang.

 

‘There were dried peppers in the warehouse, so I should make gochujang when I get the chance.’

 

Come to think of it, I missed my 10-year-old fermented sauces that I left behind in my previous life. I had been consistently making fermented sauces in my earthenware jars since getting married.

 

I pushed aside my wistful feelings and hurried out of the annex with the tray.

 

Since Geti was leaving me alone, I had gained freedom.

 

I could wander around like this without any worries.

 

Perhaps because I hadn’t officially married Docheop, or because Francesca hadn’t made an official announcement, no one recognized me.

 

They just seemed curious about who I was, with my ambiguous clothing that looked neither noble nor commoner.

 

“The weather is particularly nice today.”

 

I walked gently while basking in the warm sunlight.

 

Going to the main building carried the risk of encountering Helbeorn, but he had been nowhere to be seen for several days.

 

Thanks to that, I could go to the main building comfortably.

 

“Where are you going?”

 

Until just now, that is.

 

Instead of Helbeorn, I encountered Francesca.

 

Francesca, wearing a black dress buttoned up to her neck, approached with perfect poise despite it being morning, without a hair out of place.

 

My relaxed mindset from laughing and chatting with the maids tensed up with nervousness.

 

‘Right, it wasn’t just Helbeorn.’

 

“Good morning. It’s a lovely morning.”

 

I bowed my head while holding the tray.

 

I bent my waist to a full 90 degrees, but Francesca’s expression wasn’t good.

 

She must have heard about me refusing the etiquette lessons. Even though she said she had no choice but to bring me here, she might think I was just trying to enjoy the benefits while being a commoner.

 

“…A lovely morning. It’s been a while since I heard such a greeting.”

 

But contrary to my expectation of being scolded, Francesca’s expression softened slightly.

 

“You got up early this morning.”

 

“Yes? Yes. I had something to do.”

 

I couldn’t bring myself to say I cooked my own meal because the nutritional food wasn’t appealing, so I spoke indirectly.

 

Then Francesca’s gaze turned to the tray in my hands.

 

“What is that?”

 

“Nutritional porridge.”

 

“Porridge?”

 

“A meal made with oatmeal, vegetables, meat, and medicinal herbs to make it easy to eat.”

 

Since there’s no rice here, I soaked oatmeal to make porridge.

 

When I asked Hotsen about medicinal herbs, he readily brought out some he had been saving.

 

“You made it yourself? This morning?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“For whom?”

 

“For Young Master Docheop.”

 

At that answer, Francesca’s eyes filled with complexity.

 

“Docheop must be very tired from recent events.”

 

She spoke in a deeply sunken voice. She seemed to be thinking about him getting beaten by Nikolai.

 

‘If you know that so well, you could have sent a physician to prescribe some tonic medicine.’

 

She probably couldn’t because she was being mindful of Nikolai.

 

This family is complicated too.

 

“May I take a look?”

 

“Oh, yes.”

 

Then she opened the bowl’s lid.

 

The nutritional porridge revealed itself through the rising steam.

 

Honestly, it looks puzzling to someone seeing it for the first time. It would look even more terrible to noble eyes.

 

Maybe like my mother-in-law, she’d shout “You made this garbage to feed my son!” and overturn the table.

 

“This may look like this, but for sick people…”

 

“Thank you.”

 

So I was rushing to add an explanation, but Francesca showed a bitter smile.

 

“Pardon?”

 

Instead of nagging, she expressed gratitude.

 

‘Did she just say thank you?’

 

As I stood there frozen in surprise, Francesca covered the lid and stepped back.

 

I took the opportunity to add a word.

 

“The young master has awakened.”

 

She probably heard about it, but since she seemed not to have met Docheop, I added it anyway.

 

“If you go in my place, he would be delighted.”

 

I held out the tray to show her. Francesca’s head turned slowly.

 

“It’s not your concern.”

 

Her face was as cold as when I first saw her.

 

***

 

Contrary to her cold words, Francesca went to find Karl with a dark expression.

 

“My lady, have you been to see the young master?”

 

Karl asked with a somewhat expectant face.

 

However, Francesca shook her head.

 

“Why didn’t you go? The young master must have been expecting congratulations too.”

 

“I wonder if that’s really the case.”

 

“Isn’t it obvious?”

 

Everyone knew that Francesca was the one who had been waiting for his awakening more than anyone.

 

“That’s just my perspective.”

 

Of course, Francesca desperately wanted to go and congratulate him too. But faced with this miracle that had finally come, her steps wouldn’t move easily. She lacked confidence. She had always been harsh to him. She would frown the moment she saw his face. She didn’t have the confidence to suddenly embrace him with warm words just because he had awakened. Even if she tried to act friendly, Docheop wouldn’t take it well.

 

‘He’d probably think I’m being transparent and distance himself even more.’

 

Francesca regretted it.

 

She had treated Docheop like a sore thumb for such a long time.

 

She swallowed her bitter feelings and said to Karl.

 

“Call for a tailor.”

 

“Are you planning to have new clothes made?”

 

When Karl asked, she shook her head.

 

“Not for me, for that child. I noticed today that her clothes looked shabby, so have new ones made for her.”

 

The clothes Hallara was wearing.

 

They looked uncomfortable and were so thin that wind would easily get through, making her body cold.

 

Such clothes weren’t proper for a pregnant woman.

 

Moreover, she was supposedly a daughter-in-law candidate of Bloodmere, so wearing such clothes would bring shame to the family.

 

“Yes, my lady. How many outfits should be made?”

 

“About twenty outfits should be made.”

 

“Understood, my lady.”

 

“And tell the maid in charge to focus not only on food but also on her appearance. It won’t do for her to go around looking like that.”

 

Her face was bare and her hair wasn’t even properly combed.

 

“Yes, my lady. And I have something to tell you regarding Young Master Helbeorn.”

 

“Let’s go inside first.”

 

Karl said he understood and passed through the lobby with her.

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