Prince Nikolai was done preparing the Kasha. On the other hand, Rodion was seated once more at the table, silent and mulling about not being of help to the prince. He remained there, waiting for the food to be served, but it wasn't long before his wait came to an end.
"Here you go." Prince Nikolai served two bowls of kasha with spoons on the table. "Dig in, I made it extra flavorful for you."
Standing next to Rodion, he observed his reaction. Rodion stared at the food in front of him. The peanut-like color of the food was mixed with the uneven cuts of mushrooms, carrots, and lardons, and with the final touch of soft-boiled eggs cut into halves on the surface. He reached out for the spoon and carefully scooped a small portion of the food.
"Be careful, your hands are burned from earlier."
Rodion didn't heed the prince's precaution, and despite the throbbing pain in his fingers, he held the spoon in place and brought it into his mouth. The distinct and nutty flavor of buckwheat groat immediately captured his love for it. Mixed with other flavors and seasoning, a soft moan shuddered in his throat.
Seeing a positive reaction from him, the prince settled on the chair beside him.
"This is delicious, Kolya." Rodion said in amazement, his eyes glued to the food.
"Thank you. It took me half a year before I finally made it this delicious...I've also made experiments on its flavor."
Prince Nikolai began to eat as well, his position slightly leaning towards Rodion. With an energetic smirk playing on his mouth, he looked happy to remember a little from his memories. He had been living for more than five centuries, and most of his memories were long-lost. Perhaps, including its loneliness, it was long forgotten.
Rodion listened to him talk, but his thoughts were elsewhere. He felt a slight dissatisfaction and was aggrieved at how his ancestors took care of the prince. But what else could they do? The prince was supposed to be dead long ago. If found out, fears would disrupt the peace of the whole kingdom. Their role was to keep his existence alive in history. Would they keep this particular arrangement for another half century?
"…I'm dying, young master."
The memories from last night played in his head. He paused his eating and examined the prince closely.
"Did you know that I almost killed one of your grandfathers?" The prince laughed before he continued, "That was hilarious. I scared him that one night when he was delivering my daily supply alone. He almost had a heart attack." He took a spoonful of his food and brought it into his mouth. "That was the time when there was a rumor that this manor was haunted." He added, his mouth full of food.
The prince looked physically healthy, and his appearance was vibrant.
"Kolya…Do you feel sick? Do you feel any illness that you think is dangerous?" Rodion's concerned voice prompts the prince to look at him in confusion.
"I am fine, Rodya. Why would you ask that all of a sudden?"
"I..." Rodya felt a pang of panic. His sudden question might have seemed rude, interrupting the prince as he shared his past experiences. He worried it could come off as out of context. What if the prince thought that scaring one of his grandfathers had led him to believe he was unwell?
Sh*t, why would you ask such a question without elaborating on it first? I'm stupid!
"…I just want to make sure that we have been taking good care of you. Does the supply we prepare for you look fresh? Did you suffer a stomach ache? What about medicine for headaches? Fevers?" He rambled.
I just hope the prince is not someone who overthinks and overanalyzes things. No, I'm the one who overthinks here!
Prince Nikolai was amused by his abrupt rambling. It was obvious that he was trying to justify something he wanted to ask. "I am fine, Rodya. I don't feel sick or have any illnesses. I'll let you in on a little secret to eliminate your worry."
Rodion felt relieved to see his lack of concern. He resumed eating. "What is it?"
Prince Nikolai leaned forward and brought his hand to the corner of his mouth before he whispered, "I actually don't feel any physical or biological illnesses."
The prince was like a child revealing a secret; Rodion couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.
The prince pulled back. "It's true!" He cried in conviction, "You think it's weird?"
No, it's not, but you're adorably weird right now... The prince can be an enigma sometimes, then act like this. I can't grasp him.
"No, I think that's pretty amazing. No one is here with you to take care of your health, so I think that's convenient."
"Tsk. That's not how I wanted you to react, but, okay."
Wha--- how do you want me to react, then?
The prince started to talk about another random topic, and Rodion slowed down his eating as he listened, savoring the moment with the prince. He would occasionally laugh along with the prince. Throughout the course of their breakfast, the prince displayed an unreserved and lively demeanor. Their breakfast stretched longer than expected, with the sun shining brightly outside and a gentle breeze wafting in through the open window, adding to the warmth of their conversation.
"I have never felt this kind of comfort before. Thank you, Rodya." Prince Nikolai confessed in a heartfelt tone; a soft laugh lingered in his lips before he added, "You're different from your other ancestors."
Rodion felt his cheeks burning and his heart thumping due to the sudden change of emotional state in the prince. His gentle laugh was like fingers that stroked the strings in his heart, vibrating down to his stomach. Although he felt chaotic inside, he gazed at his face, the wind blowing his short hair, mesmerized by his beauty.
Stop smiling like that… It's making my chest react weirdly.
"Your hand is scalded so I'll wash the dishes." The prince said this as he stood up from his chair. This snapped him back to reality, and he realized he had already emptied his bowl of Kasha.
"No, I can still work my hand fine. You have been doing the most of the work, please allow me to help."
The prince, who held the bowl in his hands, gazed down at him, then shook his head. "No. There's a next time, but right now, no. You've already got two injuries."
He was moved by his words. When he mentioned "next time," it made him happy. There should be another time, and another after that. Just the mere thought of being with him again manifested a giddy feeling within him.
"…okay. But let me know if you need assistance."
The prince hummed in affirmation, pleased with his insistence on helping. "You're bad in the kitchen, but I can train you to do chores. Women find it attractive when a guy knows how to cook or do household chores."
Rodion frowned; his words stuck in his throat. The giddy feeling he had earlier instantly vanished.
I don't care about what women find attractive! I simply wanted to help you!