CHAPTER 90: CHAPTER 90: PLEASE RECONSIDER

He didn’t know how long it had been since he last saw her but she sure was getting her three square meals.

"No wonder I’ve been paying for more food, we have a glutton here...just like her owner.."

-_-

-_-

"Just like her owner? Are you saying I eat excessively?? Am I fat? You’re sailing on dangerous waters..mister.."

-_-

"That’s not what I meant, I meant it in a silly...way.."

-_-

Min-jae gave him a glare as he turned away. "This glutton will see himself out, don’t follow me.."

-_-

Min-jae walked to the door, then paused, he had to change his cltjrse first.

"Stay here Punz, I’ll change my clothes really fast and we ’gluttons’ can go have dinner.."

-_-

Meical’s lips twitched, he did not expect it to turn out this way.

"Kaizar, I really didn’t mean it that way, it was an harmless joke and you’re not fat, in fact you’re all skin and bones.."

-_-

"Oh so you’re saying I’m malnourished now. Malnourished or glutton, pick one.."

Min-jae out on his slippers, picked up Punz and left the room.

-_-

"I really didn’t mean it that way okay? You have a really nice body, in you gain a little weight I also don’t mind.." Meical threaded carefully behind him.

Min-jae walked ahead with Punz in his arms, refusing to look back even though he could feel Meical trailing him like a guilty shadow.

-_-

"Kaizar... don’t ignore me..."

-_-

Min-jae didn’t answer. He just marched down the hall, chin slightly raised the way he did whenever he was pretending he wasn’t annoyed. Punz blinked up at him, confused but loyal.

-_-

"Kaizar... I’m really sorry, okay? I didn’t mean you’re a glutton or malnourished or—whatever it sounded like..."

-_-

Min-jae stopped at the base of the stairs and turned, slowly.

"Then what did you mean? Enlighten me."

-_-

Meical froze like a student suddenly asked to explain the homework he definitely didn’t do.

"I... meant... um... you eat the perfect amount?"

-_-

Min-jae squinted.

"So now I eat the perfect amount."

-_-

"Yes! Exactly! Balanced! Very balanced!"

He said it with the confidence of a man who was terrified of dying tonight.

-_-

Min-jae huffed, shifted Punz to one arm, and kept walking.

"Let’s just eat before you talk yourself into an early grave."

-_-

As they reached the dining hall, the servants bowed politely.

"Madame. Master."

Min-jae nodded back with the dignity of someone who was definitely still annoyed but pretending he wasn’t.

Meical smiled awkwardly behind him like a scolded husband.

-_-

"Kaizar..." he whispered again, desperate.

Min-jae sat down and placed Punz on his lap.

"If you want forgiveness, serve me."

-_-

Meical blinked. "Serve... you?"

-_-

"Yes. Thisnglutton is hungry."

He held out his bowl without looking at him.

-_-

Meical immediately grabbed the ladle.

"Yes, Madame."

Meical was halfway through serving Min-jae’s bowl when the kitchen doors swung open.

Madam Greya marched in like a general presenting war trophies.

Behind her, three assistants struggled under the weight of enormous trays.

-_-

"Madame! Master! The feast is ready!" she announced, cheeks flushed with pride. "I made everything myself — well, almost everything — but the important dishes are all mine."

-_-

Min-jae blinked as the table filled rapidly.

A whole roast bird glistening with herbs.

Two fragrant soups.

Golden pastries stacked like little mountains.

Something that looked... suspiciously expensive.

And then—

Greya lifted a covered dish with a dramatic flourish, clearly waiting for a reaction.

"Behold... the final masterpiece!"

-_-

She placed it down with reverence.

Meical straightened, shoulders tensing like he wasn’t sure if it might explode.

Min-jae stared at the lid.

"...Is it alive?"

-_-

Greya gasped. "Of course not! What do you take me for, Madame? A monster?"

-_-

Min-jae raised a brow. "Last time you made something ’special,’ it still had eyes."

"...They were decorative," she muttered.

-_-

Greya cleared her throat, lifted the lid — and revealed a steaming, perfectly arranged platter of glazed lotus roots, soft vegetables, and tender meat cut into delicate shapes.

The smell hit instantly: warm, sweet, comforting.

Min-jae’s stomach growled loud enough that Meical glanced at him.

Greya beamed. "Your welcome-home dish, Madame. I made sure it’s gentle on the stomach. After all... travel is stressful."

-_-

Min-jae softened, just a little. "Thank you, Greya. This looks... really good."

Greya nearly lit up like a lantern.

"It is! Please enjoy it while it’s hot!"

-_-

Meical leaned toward Min-jae with a hopeful look.

"...Does this mean I’m forgiven?"

Min-jae ladled a spoonful of soup without looking at him.

"Depends. Don’t say anything stupid for the next ten minutes."

-_-

Meical nodded immediately. "Understood."

Greya smiled proudly as she retreated, leaving the feast — and Meical’s probation — in full swing.

Min-jae stabbed a forkful of mashed potatoes and dragged it through the gravy with the single-minded focus of a man who had absolutely decided food mattered more than his husband’s feelings.

Meical, meanwhile, sat beside him like a criminal awaiting sentencing.

"Kaizar... the potatoes are seasoned well, right?" he tried.

Min-jae didn’t look at him. "Mm."

"...And the meat? Tender?"

Min-jae nodded once, still chewing.

Meical brightened a little. "Good. I’m glad it’s to your liking—"

Min-jae reached for another slice of meat without responding.

Cutlery clinked.

Silence.

A particularly harsh silence.

-_-

The atmosphere shifted the moment the door opened.

Sebastian stepped inside, bowing slightly. His expression was careful, but his eyes flicked toward Meical with silent urgency.

Meical’s jaw tightened for half a second.

Not now.

Not while Min-jae was finally eating.

Sebastian must have sensed the tension, because he kept his voice low. "Master... it concerns the matter from the gate."

Min-jae paused mid-chew, glancing up with mild confusion at the sudden change.

Meical gave him a reassuring smile immediately. "Keep eating. Don’t stop on my account."

Min-jae blinked, then shrugged and returned to the potatoes. Food was food, and he wasn’t about to let politics ruin it.

Meical pushed his chair back and stood. "I’ll be right back. Enjoy your dinner, Kaizar."

Min-jae lifted the plate a bit higher, shielding it. "I will." he already knew who the culprit was, even if they discussed the matter in front of him, it wouldn’t affect his appetite.

-_-

"Very well.." Meical lips twitched as they exited the dinning room. Leaving just Min-jae and Punz right.

The maids had also served her, her meal.

Sebastian opened the study door for him, closing it behind them once they entered.

The warmth of the dining room vanished.

Here, it was all business.

Sebastian didn’t waste time. "Master... the man who caused the disturbance earlier was planted. He wasn’t acting alone."

Meical’s eyes hardened. "I suspected as much. Did you get the full report?"

"Yes." Sebastian handed him a sealed parchment.

It seems the entire confrontation was fueled by rumors. The guards overstepped their authority completely, and the villagers... well, they latched onto the gossip without any proof."

Meical ran a hand over his face, jaw tightening. "I don’t understand how they could be so careless. To confront Kaizar based on hearsay alone. It’s reckless, dangerous, and utterly disrespectful."

Sebastian’s expression softened slightly, though the sharpness in his eyes remained. "They didn’t know the source. No one did. But they acted on what they thought they understood. They were all fined and dismissed.Nothing like this should ever happen again."

Meical leaned back in the chair, exhaling slowly. "I can’t allow my spouse to even step outside until I’ve settled this properly. If someone sees him now... if they see him, they’ll attack him based on those nasty rumors...." His voice trailed off, the thought enough to tighten his hands on the desk.

Sebastian nodded in agreement. "Understood. The legal measures have been set. The guards have been removed, fines are recorded. It will take a few days to process completely, but the message is clear: no one acts on rumors under your authority."

Meical’s gaze hardened. "Good. I want the name of the person that started this rumor, if they can do it now, they can do it again.."

Sebastian inclined his head. "Of course, Master. I’ll get on the case immediately..."

Meical nodded and stood up, that was all, he would look at the parchment later and see who all the dismissed guards were linked to for any possible leads.

As Sebastian bowed to leave, Meical stopped him again.

"All the implementations done to make the people of the south lives better. I revoke it, every single one, we’ll be using Eldridge methods of governing now and God so help them, they survive it.."

-_-

Sebastian gulped, could these people really handle Eldridge rule style?

"Master, please reconsider...there are innocent people in this.."

Meical laughed coldly "Kaizar was also innocent, but they all gathered to drag him."