Chapter 65

Adrian returned from meeting his friends with a face like stone. He was clearly seething with a rage he was trying his best to suppress within the house.

“Raon’s dad, did something happen while you were out with your friends today?”

“Something catastrophic happened. That fellow poured the sauce all over my sweet and sour pork.”

The memory alone made Adrian’s blood boil. He vented his entire grievance to Ramona as she offered him tea.

“Oh dear, you must have been so upset. Is that friend… still among the living?”

“Regrettably, yes. Sigh…”

Though he was truly infuriated, he couldn’t exactly take the head of a long-time friend. Adrian swallowed his anger along with the barley tea Ramona provided.

“Don’t be so cross; I’ll make it for you again next time.”

“Will you really? Please, promise me.”

When Adrian held out his pinky finger, Ramona looked surprised but hooked her own finger around his. Adrian hadn’t expected her to actually follow through, and the tips of his ears turned a subtle shade of crimson.

“Where did you learn this?”

“Last year, I saw Raon’s mom and Raon hooking fingers like this. I didn’t know what it meant at first, but then I had a faint memory of doing this with a little girl a very long time ago.”

He suddenly recalled a plump little girl with her black hair tied back tightly, with whom he had linked pinkies. He couldn’t remember why they had made a promise, though.

“Was she your first love?”

“Perhaps… maybe she was… Honestly, I’m not sure.”

Since she had made a pinky promise with the heir of a Duchy, she must have been the daughter of a noble house. A commoner’s daughter wouldn’t have dared to link fingers with him. It was so far back in his childhood that the details were fuzzy, but the warmth he felt when recalling the memory suggested they weren’t enemies.

“How lovely. To have such memories… As for me, I remember nothing… though perhaps that’s for the best. I’ll be going now, so please wash up and rest, Raon’s dad.”

After Ramona left, Adrian stared at the pinky finger she had touched. He vaguely remembered a tiny, chubby pinky finger from his youth. It had been warm and soft. He shook his head at the thought of those plump, little fingers. Curiously, making a pinky promise with Ramona hadn’t felt foreign at all.

“Could that girl have been Ms. Ramona? Hmm, no, I don’t think so…”

If that girl had grown up as she was, she likely would have been quite heavy. Above all, her hair color was different. Adrian brushed the finger Ramona had touched and wore a faint smile.

***

Monday evening, everyone gasped in delight at the dinner spread. Just as Adolf was lifting his spoon to partake in the home-cooked meal Ramona had masterfully prepared, Adiel entered.

“A guest has arrived. He says the Duke has given him permission.”

“What? I did? Who is it…?” Adolf’s eyes narrowed, fearing it might be that man.

“It is Marquis Sevio Icarus.”

“Ah, Sevio? I specifically told that fellow to come tomorrow.”

Sevio was a close friend of Adrian, and their bond had been encouraged by the late Marquis Icarus. Because of this, Adolf had granted his request for a visit, but he wondered if he had flubbed the date.

“Why on earth is Sevio here?”

A ‘Dipper’ never forgets the atrocities of a ‘Pourer.’ Adrian, still nursing his grudge, tried to compose himself as he saw Raon tilting his head at him in confusion.

“He begged so earnestly to speak with you, what was I to do? I couldn’t heartlessly turn him away. It’s Sevio, after all, so I had to allow it.”

Adolf nodded, and Adiel went back out. A moment later, Sevio entered the dining room with a sheepish expression.

“I’m sorry. Rian kept rejecting my letters, so I took the liberty of coming, but I didn’t realize it was dinner time… I…”

Sevio, who had arrived in a hurry, stood wide-eyed at the table. The food was unlike anything he usually ate.

“I don’t know what brings you here, but take a seat. We’ll do greetings later. Ramona! I don’t suppose you made any extra?”

Adolf, knowing Ramona’s generous nature, suspected she hadn’t made just enough for the table.

“I thought the Duke and Raon’s dad might want seconds, so I made a little extra.”

Stir-fried chicken with vegetables was a favorite across three generations of this household. As soon as Ramona mentioned the dish, Adiel hurried out to fetch more.

“Our little prince, I know you’re eating, but an elder has arrived, so you must say hello.”

Raon, who had been smiling happily while eating chicken, hopped down from his chair and gave a deep bow.

“Hello. I am Raon Cassius.”

“Oh, I—yes. I am Marquis Sevio Icarus, Adrian’s friend. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Since you’re Rian’s child, you may call me Uncle Sevio.”

“Yes, Uncle Sevio. My mom’s cooking is amazing. So, please try some—but try not to fall too hard for it!”

Sevio smiled at Raon’s bright, cheery warning. He assumed the child just thought his caregiver’s cooking was the best in the world. He figured the fried meat with the sauce he’d had the other day was a fluke, but after one bite of the food before him, his eyes nearly popped out. He lowered his head and began inhaling the food at a frantic pace.

“Rian, you are so lucky. No wonder you run home every Monday like a pony with its tail on fire. Now I know why.”

Only after finishing did Icarus speak with a satisfied face, looking at Ramona as she looked after Raon. With a glint in his eye, Sevio spoke to her while sipping tea.

“Lady Ramona, perhaps…?”

“So, why did you really come here? I allowed you in because you begged so pathetically.”

Adolf cut Sevio off, looking at him with a piercing gaze. Answering for his son, Adolf watched as Sevio’s face turned serious.

“Well, I met Rian the other day and I poured the sauce over the fried meat. I only did it because I wanted the sauce to soak in, but Rian suddenly threw down his gloves and challenged me to a duel!”

Adolf simply nodded at Adrian’s ‘barbarism.’

“He has the same taste as me. To truly taste the sauce, you must pour it. That is the only way.”

“Exactly! But to challenge a twenty-year friend to a duel over that?”

“And yet, you’re still alive.”

Sevio flinched at Adolf’s remark, remembering how Adrian had thrown a fit at his own father for the same crime.

“Actually, that’s why I came…”

“So, what are the time and place? I’ll follow your lead, so don’t worry and just say it.”

Adrian’s voice carried a hint of enjoyment, as if he were planning a picnic rather than a duel.

“No, it’s not that… We’ve known each other for decades. A duel over this? People will laugh.”

“A duel requires no audience.”

“No, I mean… I’m sorry! I’ll never pour the sauce over the fried meat again. I promise. From now on, I won’t pour; I’ll dip!”

“Well, if you insist.”

To avoid a duel, a ‘Pourer’ had converted to a ‘Dipper.’ Adolf watched this with a look of profound disappointment.

“The sauce must be poured for true flavor, but the youth today just don’t get it. Tsk, tsk.”

Adolf clicked his tongue and shook his head, but Sevio ignored him and turned to Ramona.

“Where did you learn to cook?”

“Um, I don’t exactly remember. For some reason, I can’t recall my past.”

“Oh, I see. Then, would you consider working at—no, ahem. Thank you so much for the delicious meal today. In fact, I’d like to invite Lady Ramona to my house to treat her to something. Would you allow it?”

Adrian, seeing Sevio talking nonsense after being fed, glared at him and signaled Raon. However, a servant chose that moment to take Raon away for bed, following Adolf’s philosophy that children should rest early.

“Treat me? You don’t have to do that. I didn’t cook expecting anything; I just wanted to share. But what were you planning to treat me to?”

Ramona was curious about what a Marquis like Sevio would want to treat a commoner like her to. Sevio gave her a natural, handsome smile and spoke in a silky voice.

“Me.”

“Pardon?”

“Treating you to m—Ack!”

As Ramona tilted her head in confusion, Adrian grabbed Sevio by the collar and began shaking him violently.

“You bastard, we are really through this time!”

“Who allowed this jerk into the house?!”

“You did, Father!”

“Ah, sorry.”

After a quick apology, Adolf watched as Sevio was dragged away by Adrian. He didn’t wave; instead, he simply crossed himself and shook his head.

“Lord, a fully grown lamb is coming up to you early today. Please just accept him.”

Knowing his son’s temper, Adolf was certain Sevio wouldn’t be going home in one piece. Sometimes his personality turned quite foul. As for who he took after… no comment.