Epilogue – That Winter (Part 2)

Ria walked alongside Eden, learning new things as he led her.

Just as he had enthusiastically taught her about the Empire when she first arrived in this world, Eden explained everything with a wealth of knowledge and a touch of humor, ensuring she never grew bored.

He explained how increased trade with other countries had elevated the importance of ports in the Empire and how the southern region, in particular, offered foreign specialties and dishes that couldn’t be found in the capital.

As they passed a street vendor, a delicious aroma wafted through the air. Turning her head, Ria saw shrimp skewers cooking on a grill, their enticing scent enhanced by exotic spices.

“Do you want to try some?”

Eden noticed her gaze fixed on the food and was already reaching for the money he had brought.

Soon, the vendor handed the food to Ria. The plump shrimp, coated in a tangy-looking sauce, appeared incredibly appetizing.

Ria took a bite, her eyes widening at the unfamiliar yet delightful flavor. It was completely different from the creamy or chili shrimp dishes she had eaten in Korea. She quickly offered a bite to Eden.

Eden, smiling at her expectant gaze, chewed and swallowed the shrimp before declaring it delicious.

Not far away, another street vendor called out to them.

“Hey, now that your stomachs are full, why not feast your eyes too? I’ve got accessories that would suit you perfectly!”

The vendor’s loud voice carried over the bustling crowd, catching their attention. Drawn by the display of dazzling accessories, Ria pulled Eden toward the stall.

“We’ve got some great pearls these days, so the quality is top-notch. Take a look.”

The vendor eagerly promoted his goods, passionately explaining the origins of each piece. This one came from the deep sea, that one from foreign waters…

‘He’s trying to pass off cheap fakes.’ 

Eden thought.

Having been surrounded by luxury all his life, Eden could easily discern the truth. While a few pearls had decent luster, they were rare exceptions.

‘Well, it’s a street stall, not a high-end shop. This is to be expected.’

If the pearls were truly valuable, they wouldn’t be sold on the roadside. Anyone wealthy enough to afford such items would surely own a proper store.

In other words, most of the items were well-crafted imitations at best.

Still, Eden didn’t let his thoughts show.

Whether the accessories were fake or not didn’t matter if Ria showed interest. He could afford to buy them a hundred times over. Even if he wanted to gift her real pearls by the carriage-load, it wouldn’t put a dent in his wealth.

Moreover, compared to other noblewomen, Ria owned very few accessories. Though he had been secretly adding to her collection, she rarely wore them.

This could be an opportunity to buy a replica now and later replace it with an identical genuine piece when they returned to the capital.

“Is there anything you like?”

Ria, who had been examining the accessories, shook her head.

“I wanted to buy something unique to the south as a gift before we return to the capital, but nothing really catches my eye.”

Ah, so she was looking for a gift.

Realizing her intention, Eden felt a pang of disappointment. He had wondered why she seemed unusually interested in accessories, only to find out it wasn’t for herself but for others.

The vendor, equally disappointed, hastily rummaged through his stall.

“Well, how about this? It’s so rare that I’ve been saving it for a special customer!”

He produced a set of black pearls. Of course, they were just as fake as the rest.

Eden was about to lead Ria away to a proper shop when the vendor’s desperate final attempt stopped him.

“It would suit your wife perfectly! Come on, husband, show her some love. I’ll even give you a discount!”

“How much is it?”

The words “wife” and “husband” immediately opened Eden’s wallet.

His reaction was so transparent that even the vendor quickly caught on.

“No, no, we’ll come back later.” 

Ria interjected firmly. She grabbed Eden’s hand, thanked the vendor, and walked away.

The vendor could only stare, dumbfounded, as they disappeared into the crowd.

Once they reached a quieter street, Ria turned to Eden and took both his hands in hers.

“You can’t just buy something without properly looking at it first.”

Her small frame barely reached his chest, yet her scolding tone made her seem like a teacher reprimanding a child. Eden blinked before breaking into a laugh.

“But I was tempted.”

“By the black pearls?”

“Hmm…”

No, by the fact that he had called them a married couple. Unable to admit it, Eden pressed his lips together and averted his gaze.

Narrowing her eyes, Ria studied him intently before letting out a small sigh.

“Vendors are good at saying flattering things to sell their goods. Don’t fall for it.”

Her words made it clear she had guessed the real reason behind his impulsive behavior. Eden’s shoulders slumped slightly. Was she not as happy about it as he was? He felt just a little, just a tiny bit disappointed.

That is, until he heard her soft murmur.

“Well, maybe when we’re really married someday, he won’t fall for it so easily.”

Eden’s head snapped up like a puppy spotting its owner. 

Did I hear that right?

“Say that again.”

“…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Ria turned her head, flustered, as Eden’s crimson eyes sparkled and his hands tightened around hers.

He pleaded for her to repeat her words, his lips brushing against her flushed ear.

By the time they returned to the villa, Eden wore the satisfied expression of a well-fed predator, having coaxed her into repeating herself five more times.

***

The next day, Ria woke up early and headed to the kitchen.

The four men who had started their day even earlier had left to take care of some light work before her usual waking time, allowing Ria to head to the kitchen without interruption.

She left a short note in case they became worried when they found her room empty.

Having already called the chef the evening before to learn about the cooking tools, their usage, and the location of the ingredients, Ria had no trouble preparing what she needed.

She took out the eggs and sausages purchased with Eden at the port, along with the vegetables and bread that were already in the villa, creating a plentiful array of ingredients.

‘It’s been a while.’

Ria held a knife in her hand for the first time in ages. After practicing a few cuts on the cutting board, she confirmed her skills were still intact and began preparing the ingredients.

While the eggs boiled to perfection in hot water, she chopped and diced vegetables for the sandwiches and the rolled omelet.

When the eggs were done, she placed them in cold water to cool and blanched the sausages in boiling water.

Fortunately, there were sausages that resembled the Vienna sausages commonly seen in Korea. After all, no lunchbox would be complete without octopus-shaped sausages.

As the sausages cooled slightly, Ria sliced the soft bread in half and layered it with the prepared vegetables and ham. She peeled the now-cooled eggs, mashed them in a bowl with a fork, mixed them with a sauce the chef had prepared the day before, and added the mixture to the sandwiches before covering them with the top slice of bread.

By then, the sausages had cooled enough to handle.

Ria picked up the knife again and made cross-shaped cuts at the ends of the sausages. She decided against cutting them into eight legs, thinking they looked cute enough with just four.

After grilling the sausages and finishing the rolled omelet, the lunchbox preparations were complete. Just in time, the four men entered the kitchen.

They had gone to her room to greet her at her usual waking time, only to find it empty with a lone note left behind. They immediately headed to the kitchen.

“Ria, you’re up early…”

However, they only managed a few steps into the room before freezing in place.

With her hair tied back naturally and a white lace apron wrapped around her, she looked as though she were preparing breakfast for a newlywed couple. Her small figure moving busily around the spacious kitchen was utterly endearing.

“You came at the perfect time! Come, sit here.”

Noticing them standing dazed at the door, Ria smiled brightly and gestured for them to sit. As if under a spell, their frozen feet began to move.

“Try this.”

Concerned about the taste of her cooking after such a long time, Ria cut a thick slice of the rolled omelet and placed it into each of their mouths.

Watching them eat so obediently, Ria couldn’t help but think they resembled baby birds being fed by their mother.

“It’s delicious.”

“How’s the seasoning?”

“Perfect. The texture is soft too.”

“Thank goodness.”

They quickly swallowed the omelet and showered her with compliments like chirping chicks. Relieved, Ria began preparing another batch of the rolled omelet.

The men silently watched her work.

For Rune, who had tasted her cooking a few times before, and the other three men who were seeing this for the first time, it was a novel experience. In fact, even Rune found himself marveling at the thickening layers of the rolled omelet as she poured each batch of egg mixture onto the pan.

Ria chuckled softly at their intense focus.