Chapter 15
## Episode 15
"Ah, so that's why you came to the kitchen..."
"Yes, exactly-nimida! I really want to get close to Duke Your Highness and stay here in the North for a long, long time! Much longer than a week! But I learned that to get close to Duke Your Highness, I need to give him tasty food-nimida!"
But something was off.
The moment they heard Iri's words, their expressions turned solemn.
"I see, so that's how it is."
No, more energized than usual, perhaps?
"We know exactly what Duke Ortejo likes."
"Wow!"
"We'll do our absolute best to show off our skills, Lady Iri."
"Wooow."
"We'll prepare all the foods Duke Your Highness loves. In truth, he enjoys bitter flavors. Ah, and!"
"And?"
"That Misutgaru thing seems like a dish enjoyed in the South... but I'm sure Duke Your Highness will love it. Shall we make it together?"
Iri nodded vigorously.
*'Hehehe. Everything's going according to plan!'*
She had won over the kitchen's real powers.
Now, just get close to Grand Duke Ortejo with food, and it would be perfect!
Iri cheered enthusiastically from a safe distance as the two worked incredibly hard on the food.
After waiting diligently, the head chefs brought out their amazing handiwork.
"Baby, we put our all into this."
"It'll work out great!"
"We're all cheering for you!"
"We heard Duke Your Highness is at the training grounds! Let's head there right away!"
Tasty dishes, piled high and complete!
Buoyed by everyone's cheers.
Iri clutched the plates to her chest and toddled forward.
Sadly, she had to wear the bread-cake suit to meet the elder!
* * *
"Hello-nimida! I'm Iri, coming to the training grounds for the first time-nimida!"
Declan, in the midst of sparring, wiped the sweat from his forehead.
His gaze pierced straight to his daughter Iri, standing far away at the training grounds entrance.
"Um, I have something to give you-nimida!"
"What is it? What'd you bring?"
Iri clasped her hands in front of her chest and whispered spiritedly. Watching her, Raspin let out a short sigh of admiration.
"She's so adorably round. Go get it."
"...Yeah. I know. You guys fetch it."
At the word 'cute,' Declan's lips twitched faintly before he pointed to a knight.
The other knights set down their swords one by one and said.
"Jealous."
"My son yanked out my hair and gave me bald spots..."
The other knights kept hyping him up.
*'Wonder why his lips keep softening like that.'*
But upon hearing Iri's next words, his facial muscles stiffened rigidly.
Iri shouted brightly.
"This is food-nimida! Super bitter and tasty purslane and mugwort mix-nimida!"
"...What?"
"Because you like bitter flavors-nimida!"
"......"
"Bean drink too-nimida!"
Who on earth spread such wrong info to his daughter?
His brow furrowed.
That's right.
He was a bitter flavor hater.
* * *
The reason was unknown!
But even from 5 meters away, Declan's twisted expression was crystal clear.
But Iri Ortejo.
Was a child who knew no surrender.
"Th-this is what you like-nimida!"
But...
Just shaking the tray a few times made Declan's face contort.
"You'll drop it shaking like that. Servant, go get it."
"Understood."
The quick-footed servant dashed to Iri's side and snatched the tray away.
*'Amazing, mister!'*
The servant mister could compete in the Olympics.
As she admired him seriously, Declan eyed the food on the tray.
Iri beamed and pointed to the drink.
"The one next to the mugwort is a drink made from ground beans-nimida."
"Ground beans?"
Iri nodded hard.
"Do you know Misutgaru? It's super duper tasty!"
"......"
Don't normal kids like that age like chocolate?
Why does this kid have grandma tastes?
As he eyed her suspiciously, Iri answered vigorously.
"If you drink lots of Misutgaru in the morning, you get super strong! Try it-nimida!"
As he narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
Iri cautiously pursed her lips.
"By any chance."
"......?"
That gaze felt oddly familiar...
Like the looks he got when he was very young.
Then, Iri said softly.
"Are you picky about side dishes...?"
Seeing Iri's suspicious expression, Declan twisted his lips.
Iri muttered to herself.
"Hmm, I'm still a kid too, but I eat beans super well."
"......"
"You gotta eat beans to stay healthy and grow tall."
Declan's red eyes shook fiercely—no need to grow taller anymore.
It was the first time he'd ever been so flustered he couldn't even make excuses.
Somehow interpreting his silence, Iri added one more line.
"Ah, s-sorry if you heard that, elder."
Weird.
Why did that one polite line make him feel totally K.O.'d?
Declan Ortejo.
Currently age thirty-three.
The great ruler of the North, father to one son and one daughter.
And right now, he...
Had become an adult throwing a fit over not wanting beans.
Declan lifted the cup with a bewildered expression.
"Gonna eat my beans."
Blinking, a spark of pride ignited, and he gulped down the drink roughly.
He meant to drink just a sip so he wouldn't look like a lame dad to his daughter.
Definitely.
But his throat kept moving.
Declan narrowed his brow faintly and set down the empty cup.
He'd drained it without realizing.
*'What is this sensation?'*
It felt like his razor-sharp senses were gradually settling.
Iri, observing Declan's ever-changing expression, rolled her eyes.
Then shouted with all her might.
"Suu-per suu-per tasty, right-nimida!"
"You didn't make this alone."
"I did it all by myself-nimida!"
"Too tasty—what'd you put in it? Not poisoned, is it?"
"No poison-nimida...!"
He winked playfully.
"What, it is poisoned."
Grinning, Iri looked thoroughly annoyed.
He chuckled and said.
"But I like poison."
That face screamed 'weird adult.'
"The elder likes poison too-nimida."
Ah, why elder again.
Declan looked at Iri with a complicated expression.
Normally, kids didn't treat their parents like this.
"I'm only thirty-three."
"Gasp."
Iri quietly counted on her fingers.
Declan felt oddly satisfied that Iri was counting.
*'Smart kid.'*
But right then.
Iri said gravely.
"Um, elder who's a whopping 28 years older than me. Want to try another dish I made-nimida?"
