CHAPTER 91: CHAPTER 91: A GLUTTON(1)

Sebastian lowered his head, unable to refute that truth. The guilt on his face was obvious, he had been there, he had seen the villagers twist their mouths and spit venom at Min-jae as if he were less than dirt. Innocent or not had never mattered to a mob.

"...Understood, Master.." he finally said, voice soft, subdued.

Meical didn’t answer. His gaze was cold, distant, calculating. The kind of look he only wore when he was truly, deeply disappointed.

Sebastian bowed again, more carefully this time.

"If that is your will... I will see to its implementation immediately."

His voice faltered.

Meical didn’t respond. He merely gestured for him to leave.

Sebastian closed the study door behind him, and the room fell into silence.

A suffocating, heavy silence.

Meical pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to push down the headache that had begun creeping up the back of his skull.

These people, these ungrateful, small-minded people, didn’t even know how much their lives had changed because of the policies he’d spent years designing.

Free housing.

Stable food prices.

Guaranteed meals for the poor.

Affordable medical care.

Fair taxes.

And they threw it all away because of one rumor.

One rumor.

He breathed slowly, letting the anger simmer but not boil over. If he let it boil, there would be no turning back.

But one month, just one month of Eldridge’s old methods, would set them right.

It was fair.

If they wanted to yearn for the "golden age" then they could drown in it.

He closed the parchment Sebastian had given him, placed it neatly on the desk, and straightened.

There was no use ruining Min-jae’s mood with this. Not today. He’d had a long journey, he finally had good food in front of him, and he deserved that peace.

The walk back to the dining room was quiet. The deeper he went, the more the tension faded, replaced by warmth and noise.

The moment he stepped closer, he heard it.

Min-jae’s voice, it wasn’t angry or irritated.

Meical paused at the threshold.

Inside, Min-jae sat upright with Punz on his lap, calmly devouring vegetables with a focus that could rival a general planning war strategy.

Odysseus, Vanadis, and Serin crowded around him like curious scholars who had finally cornered their favorite encyclopedia.

Serin leaned forward, eyes shining. "Madame, Madame..so it’s true? Abdel-shafi has blue sands?!"

Min-jae nodded, swallowing. "Mm. Blue sands, red sandstorms, and the heat is something else. You can fry your hair if you stand too long."

Odysseus gasped dramatically, enjoying the conversation even though he has gone to Abdel-shafi before "Does everyone there walk around half-cooked?"

"More like sun-dried.." Min-jae replied calmly, grabbing another piece of meat.

Vanadis clapped his hands. "And the people? Are they really as beautiful as they say? With shiny skin and bright eyes?"

Min-jae paused, then thought about it.

"...Yes.." he admitted, "they’re very pretty."

Odysseus slapped the table. "I knew it!"

Serin leaned even closer, whispering loudly, "Madame, did anyone try to flirt with you?"

Min-jae blinked, completely unaffected. "Yes. A lot."

Meical’s eyelid twitched as he stepped inside. "...Kaizar."

Min-jae looked up, relaxed. "Oh, you’re back."

Odysseus, Vanadis, and Serin instantly scrambled to their feet, bowing properly.

"Master."

Meical nodded at them but kept his eyes on Min-jae.

"You were... talking."

Min-jae swallowed another spoonful of potatoes. "They asked. I answered."

Serin raised her hand shyly. "Madame was telling us about the desert people... they sound so powerful."

Min-jae shrugged. "They are. Strong too. Hardworking. You can’t find people like them anywhere else. Their food is also very..."

Meical cleared his throat and Min-jae continued eating.

The servants exchanged glances. They sensed something, some mood, some tension but Min-jae’s calmness had them all too curious to leave.

Odysseus asked, "Madame... did you bring souvenirs?"

-_-

Min-jae paused, wasn’t the huge pile of gifts enough for souvenir?

"If the gifts you brought down weren’t souvenir I don’t know what is.."

-_-

Odysseus chuckled, he had to admit it was a silly question.

"Is Abdel-shafi really that wealthy?!"

"Did they give you gold?!"

Min-jae shrugged "Im sure there must be some gold in it, this ring is made of gold.."

They finally realized Min-jae had a ring on.

"Wow! Madame did you receive this from the prince too?!"

Before Min-jae could reply, Meical beat him to it.

"That’s ridiculous, I gave it to him. I had it made there, it’s pure gold.."

-_-

Odysseus’ eyes widened. "Master had it made? Then no wonder it looks so fine... the craftsmanship is incredible."

Vanadis nodded eagerly. "Mastee, it suits you perfectly. The gold brings out your skin beautifully."

Serin clasped her hands, almost sparkling. "It looks expensive... and romantic."

Min-jae blinked at that last word.

Meical cleared his throat, suddenly looking anywhere but at Min-jae. "...It’s just a ring."

"All the same.." Serin said softly, "it’s beautiful."

Serin sighed dreamily, still staring at the ring.

"...I also want a nice ring someday."

Meical’s eyebrow twitched.

Before Min-jae could react, Meical smoothly stepped forward and placed a hand on Serin’s head, gently pushing her back like shooing a curious cat.

"That’s enough.." he said evenly. "All of you out."

Odysseus jumped. "Eh?! Master—"

"Go.." Meical repeated, tone firm but not harsh. "There’s a mountain of gifts in the hall. Each of you may pick one. Only one. Choose wisely."

Vanadis gasped. "One?!"

Serin clasped her hands dramatically. "Only one?!"

Odysseus nearly tripped over the chair. "Wait—ONE? Out of all that?!"

Meical gave them a flat look. "Do you want zero?"

All three immediately straightened.

"No, Master."

"Thank you, Master!"

"We’ll choose one, just one! Only one!"

They hurried out, whispering furiously among themselves the moment the doors closed behind them.

Meical watched Min-jae for a moment, the soft glow from the candles warming the edges of his face.

Min-jae didn’t look upset.

Didn’t look tense.

Didn’t even look remotely bothered.

He was simply... eating. As if nothing in the world had the power to disturb him.

Meical exhaled slowly and stepped closer, pulling out the chair beside him and lowering himself into it.

"...Kaizar.." he said again, quieter this time.

Min-jae didn’t look up. "Mm?"