<strong>Side Story 7 – ke has be smaller (7)</strong>


    TL: Zimming


    I decided to make sujebi* today.


    *Sujebi is a Korean traditional soup consisting of dough kes roughly torn by hand, with various vegetables.


    I made one extra cauldron, and it was brought here. There is also a furnace, now I can cook with the cauldron.


    “ke, I’m going to put this dough on top of it. Can you do it?”


    “Yes, I can do it!”


    ke seems to be happier, but I allowed him to help me cook because it’s not good to treat him as a child too much.


    But because the fire is dangerous, he could help me with easier things.


    “Hehehe.”


    ke was so excited that he ripped off the dough.


    He didn’t do a good job, the size was a mess.


    But I’m more happy to see ke’s like this.


    I patted ke’s head.


    “ke, good job.”


    “I did a good job?”


    ke’s eyes twinkled.


    “Yes, very good.”


    “That’s right, Your Highness, you’re so brilliant!”


    “You’re so skillfull.”


    Melissa and Terry made a fuss andplimented him.


    Hans and Chelsea are taking a video of ke. They were smiling and focused like parents who were filming kindergarten shows.


    Tenstheon couldn’te because of work, but in fact, he’d rather be with ke than anyone else.


    So I was going to show the video to Tenstheon.


    “Wow, are you done already? Now I’m going to put it in the soup.”


    I put ke’s dough into the broth.


    The sujebi I boiled in a cauldron has beenpleted.


    It would be delicious to sit around the cauldron and eat it on the floor, but then my ke might catch a cold.


    Me and ke went into the dining room.


    “It’s hot, so be careful.”


    “Yes! Ah hot!”


    As soon as he put the sujebi on his mouth, he was surprised and let it out again. I was surprised too.


    “That’s why I said to be careful.”


    I scooped the sujebi with a spoon and blew it.


    “Here, ah—“


    When I gave him sujebi, which was a little bit cooled, he hesitated a little bit. But soon opened his mouth.


    “Dwelicious!”


    He smiled broadly as soon as he ate sujebi.


    “Really?”


    “Yes! It’s mowe dwelicious because Anthia made it!” (Yes! It’s more delicious because Ancia made it!)


    “No, it’s delicious because ke made it.”


    I poked his plump cheek lightly.


    “Hehe.”


    ke smiled innocently.


    Ah, I became energized just by looking at his smile.


    No matter how much I think about it, my ke is the cutest in the world. Small or big, he’s the same.


    I smiled happily and fed ke the sujebi.


    I thought the piece of sujebi seemed too big for ke, but fortunately it fit his mouth perfectly.


    How can he eat so well? Just looking at him eating makes me feel full.


    “Anthia eat too.”


    “Yes.”


    “Wife, eat a lot.”


    “Alright.”


    I started eating with a big smile.


    I was about to have dessert after finishing my meal, but Melissa rushed inside.


    “Melissa, what’s the matter?”


    “His Majesty is here.”


    “What?”


    ke and I looked at each other in surprise.


    ***


    Me and ke hurried outside.


    “Father…”


    “Youw Majesty…”


    Tenstheon indeed came.


    “Ancia, is everything all right?”


    “Yes, but what brings you here?”


    “I want to take a break after a long time.”


    He looked at ke while saying so.


    Tenstheon has never been on vacation or travel since he was crowned emperor. Resting is an excuse and he’s worried about ke.


    “…”


    “……”


    Tenstheon and ke looked at each other in the eye. But before Tenstheon started to talk to him, ke looked at the ground and avoided his gaze.


    It was more awkward than usual.


    Then Tenstheon lifted ke up.


    Good job, father! You did a great job!


    I was about to shout “Father, nice shot!” as Tenstheon tapped ke’s stomach.


    “You have a big belly.”


    “……”


    Oh my god, I feel like he’ll be upset because he worked so hard to make abs since he was young.


    I’ve been teasing ketely, but I’ve never said anything about his stomach.


    It was something that shouldn’t be said. As soon as Tenstheon started the conversation, ke cut him off.


    “You must’ve a lot of meals…”


    “Let go! Let go!”


    Tenstheon tried to continue asking if he had eaten, but of course he couldn’t do it properly.


    ke struggled, Tenstheon was surprised and put him down.


    It seems that the rtionship between the two has be further apart than it was seven years ago, or eight years ago.


    ***


    Tenstheon seemed to have done his job in a hurry for ke beforeing to the vi.


    He has been working nonstop since he was crowned. I’m sure he made a huge decision.


    Therefore, I expected that this incident could lead to a change between their rtionship.


    However, the reality was not as great as I thought.


    “Wife, this is good. Try it.”


    “Yes, thank you.”


    “Ancia, try this,”


    “Yes, father.”


    He came to the vi from the pce, but there was no dialogue between ke and Tenstheon.


    Even during mealtime, they only talked to me, and didn’tmunicate with each other.


    When the meal time was over, Tenstheon was stuck in the library to work.


    Recently, ke was in charge of some political affairs. But since he suddenly couldn’t work, Tenstheon had more work to do than usual.


    “ke, why don’t you bring your father some refreshments?”


    If ke gives the tea to him, Tenstheon will love it. But he said,


    “Me? I don’t want to…”


    He’s a very friendly person, but sometimes he’s surprisingly cold.


    Anyway, ke was on my side all day. He did not want to visit nor talk to Tenstheon first.


    Far from showing interest in Tenstheon, rather…


    “How long will His Majesty be hewe? Awen’t Siw Collin busy alone?” (How long will His Majesty be here? Aren’t Sir Collin busy working alone?)


    He seemed to secretly hope that Tenstheon would leave. He’s not usually outspoken, but he didn’t hide his feelings because he became a child.


    “ke, you don’t like being with father?”


    “Yes, I spend less time with my wife.”


    “We’re together all the time except for mealtime.”


    “I want it to be jwust the two of us.” (I want it to be just the two of us.)


    He came towards me and hugged me. I gave him a big hug as well.


    I wanted to be with ke too. However, knowing about their rtionship, I couldn’t stay still. I had toe up with something to help them.


    ***


    “ke, I’ll be back.”


    “I’m cwoming with you.”


    ke clung to me when I said I’d go to the capital.


    “Anthia, it’s dwangerous alone.” (Ancia it’s dangerous alone.)


    What is he talking about?


    I decided to go out of the vi for a while to give time for ke and Tenstheon.


    “I need to go back to the capital. You stay with father for a while.”


    “……”


    ke was sullen and lowered his head. I don’t know if it’s because I’m away or because he doesn’t like being with father.


    “I’m only going out for one night.”


    “Hngg.”


    I rubbed his plump cheeks and looked at Tensteon.


    “Father, I’ll be back.”


    “Be careful.”


    ***


    When Ancia left, there was an awkward atmosphere between ke and Tenstheon.


    Breaking the silence, Edon says,


    “Your Highness, do you want to go with me?”


    “Yes!”


    ke nodded as if he had waited.


    Edon, who had been with him since childhood, was much morefortable than Tenstheon.


    “Do you want me to carry you?”


    “No.”


    “Then give me your hand.”


    “No, I can walk alone.”


    “But it’s still dangerous. If you fall, Her Highness will be worried.”


    “Okay.”


    ke nodded and held Edon’s hand. It seemed that if a stranger saw it, they would think that Edon is ke’s father, not Tenstheon.


    “Your Majesty, we will serve His Highness.”


    Edon spoke politely, and Tenstheon gave ke a big hug.


    “Uwaa!”


    ke, who was being hugged tightly by Tenstheon shouted. Tenstheon said,


    “I’ll go with you.”