Side Story 40. Anemone Smiled Brightly (16)
When I heard that they might follow Cardinal Fernando to the capital, I looked at Lucien unni interestedly. "Really? The Great Temple? So you're going to a pretty fun place."
The Great Temple was not far from the imperial palace in the center of the capital. This palace was also where the Blood Emperor lived. The Great Temple was built 120 years ago to suppress the imperial family when the temple dominated the empire. As such, it was an unpleasant sight for the Blood Emperor, and from the temple's point of view, it was a glorious trace of history.
I can't believe Fernando, the representative of the hard-liners, was going to such a place. This could be used. Much of the plan had to be revised, but it would be easier to manipulate Fernando than persuade the pope. After all, the Blood Emperor wanted to destroy the temple, which naturally aroused Fernando’s hostility, whereas the pope sought absolute neutrality.
"Lady Anemone! What do you mean by a fun place? The Great Temple of the capital is the land of death right now!"
Lucien unni was reluctant and hugged her child. I smiled at her. "That's why it's fun."
How thrilling and entertaining would it be in such a political arena? A place where it was akin to living on the edge of a blade, where just one word could lead to killing someone or dying. Of course, I'm working hard on the foundation because I prefer to control everything from behind the scenes than to directly participate in a political arena.
At my words, Lucien unni looked at me as if she couldn't understand.
I asked with a helpless expression, "Well, since Unni’s husband isn't entirely safe from the risk of unforeseen accidents, should I give some advice later?"
"Advice?" Lucien unni looked at me, swallowing dryly. She seemed to be interested because she knew that my mind was quite extraordinary.
It’s natural to do this for your husband's safety, right?
"It's not that great, but I know a method in which not even a single hair on his head will get hurt.”
When I said it was not that great, Lucien unni looked with earnest eyes, tempted.
At that time, a familiar voice was heard from the front door. "I’m home~! Aigo, I’m tired."
At Lutein ahjussi’s voice, I smiled lightly and said, "Ahjussi must be here. Let's go eat!"
Doomstone had been drooping on the sofa, holding his belly, when he regained his vitality. "Food?!"
I held back my laughter and told Doomstone, "Yeah, so fix your clothes again. They’re wrinkled."
"Ahahaha! That’s nothing! Hap!"
As Doomstone shouted, his muscles swelled up, and his suit became taut as if it were going to burst. When the wrinkles were dealt with, Doomstone exhaled and relaxed, thus restoring the suit to its original state.
"Puhahahaha! Is that a new way to iron clothes?" The laughter I was holding back burst out.
"Ahem! Everyone in my hometown straightens their clothes like this!"
"Ahahaha! There's definitely no place where wrinkles aren't straightened!"
It was definitely very efficient. Naturally, this method saved a lot of time. There were no wrinkles that weren’t straightened out. However, considering the durability of the clothes, this kind of ironing was not recommended. If it weren’t a sturdy high-end suit worth several gold coins, the clothes would have burst and torn.
I clapped and wiped away tears that formed in my eyes, laughing. The number of things to laugh about never seemed to end.
"Okay, let's go. It's been a while since I've had food made by Missus.”
I was going to head toward the kitchen while holding Doomstone's arm, but Lucien unni grabbed me. "Excuse me, Miss. The advice..."
I smiled as I saw Lucien unni speak hesitatingly. "If we talk about things like that while eating, we'll get indigestion. Let’s take some time together after our food."
Then, Doomstone and I headed to the kitchen. When using an oven, it takes time to preheat. If you bake it in an oven right away without preheating, the food will become dry. To eat delicious food, you shouldn't be hasty.
* * *
Having dinner at Missus’s home after such a long time was fun. It was almost as if I were at my non-existent maternal side’s home.
Hmm, would Lutein ahjussi get mad if I say they aren’t my part of my family on my mother’s side?
I heard that my mother was born in the Republic, but growing up, she was like Lutein ahjussi's younger sister, so considering this, they were like my maternal family. In fact, my father also jokingly called him hyung-nim in private.
After a pretty pleasant meal, I took out a gift that I prepared in advance and handed it to Lutein ahjussi.
"Aigoo, you brought a gift? You could have just come here without anything.”
At ahjussi’s hesitation, I smiled and forcefully handed over the gift. "How can I come empty-handed? Since we've been treated to such delicious food, think of it as us giving something in return."
Doomstone and I ate as much as we wanted, so I would feel sorry if I didn't get them a gift. I added, "It's nothing much, but I prepared a little drink to be had with your meals.”
"A drink?”
When he heard that it was alcohol, Lutein ahjussi's softened his voice that had just strongly refused. "Khmm, well then, it's not polite to keep refusing...”
Then he cracked open the gift I gave him. “Gasp! This is fantastic liquor! The Grace of the Sun?!"
It was the most precious wine stored in the basement of the count’s castle, the one that we destroyed before coming to the holy land.
"There's something more, too."
When I handed over three additional bottles one after another, Lutein ahjussi carefully received the drinks as if they were a newborn baby. "Lugal, year 1570! A 1589 Provence! This is a legendary liquor called the White Pearl?! White Pearls are difficult to make, so only a small amount of them are served to the imperial family! How!?”
"There are ways to get them."
Perhaps since the count was a member of the emperor faction, he was trying to look good to the Blood Emperor. Either that or was storing it, intending to use them as bribes. If something like this was given to the Blood Emperor and he gave his support, my plan may become disturbed, so it was better to take care of it like this.
"They're all precious drinks. I don't know if I can drink this because it'd be a waste."
I smiled so wide that my lips reached my ear. Looking at me smile, Doomstone whispered, "Are they that delicious?"
I answered with a wink. "Don't worry. I left some drinks for us."
"Oh, yeah."
Doomstone and I gently bumped fists. After robbing the count, I initially couldn't drink because we were camping, but since the hotel is safe, I should have a drink when I get back.
"This alcohol is priceless. I don't know if it's okay to receive it like this." Even though he said this, he was already caressing the bottle of White Pearl lovingly.
At that time, Doomstone took something out of his pocket. "I brought something too because I also didn't want to come empty-handed."
What Doomstone took out wasn’t very large, but it did have pointy horns.
"This is what you brought from the hotel when you said you were grabbing something?”
"It didn’t feel right to show up empty-handed when I was invited. And you said they were like your family.”
I was slightly moved by Doomstone's answer. He didn't have to worry about this matter, but for some reason, I still felt thankful. What kind of horn was it that he brought it as a gift? It was softly radiating with seven different lights. The sight of Doomstone presenting the gift was cute because it was like a child giving out a pretty pebble as a gift.
Contrary to my thoughts that it would not be a big deal, ahjussi and Missus could not close their mouths.
"Y, y, you. Wh, where did you?!" Lutein ahjussi was so surprised. His reaction was incomparable to when he received the White Pearl.
"This? I just brought it from the warehouse next to the town hall in case I didn't have enough money when I left home."
Watching Doomstone responding casually, ahjussi was astonished. "From the warehouse? Do you know what horn that is?"
"Yes. Isn’t it a horse horn?"
A horse horn? Were there horns on a horse? Was it the horn of a horse-shaped demon?
"The power in the horn and the power Mr. Lutein possesses seemed similar, so I prepared it as a gift. Do you not like it?”
Wait, what's similar to what? Are these horns, perhaps?!
"Uh-huh-huh-huh. Not like it? How could there be such disrespect? If I felt that way even after seeing the horns of the legendary divine demon, it'd be heresy.”
Legendary divine demon!? Are they really the horns of a unicorn?
"Is that a real unicorn horn?" I whispered, and Doomstone thought about something, then nodded.
"I think the horses are named something like that.”
"Did you see the legendary divine demon?”
"Ayy, what’s legendary? There are so many in the back mountain. I used to ride and play with them when I was young,” Doomstone said.
I was flustered by this. "Don't unicorns only carry innocent girls on their backs?"
"Yeah. That's why it's perfect for playing rodeo. If you ride for about an hour, they get too tired and submit, so you can't play for long. The ones that submit are usually used as workhorses in my hometown."
I'm shocked. What kind of demon-infested place is the Crow Tribe village? I’m interested.
"I don't know what you're whispering, but this is so precious that I feel too pressured.”
These words wouldn’t be good for ahjussi to hear. It was better to never know that divine demons were consigned to mere workhorses.
To Lutein ahjussi's refusal, Doomstone replied with a toothpick in his mouth, "It's okay. It's nothing compared to the meal you gave me. Rather, I don't know if I ate too much."
Everyone seemed to think Doomstone's answer was him humble, but that was a sincere statement. For Doomstone, that horn seemed like it was no better than a stone, worse than dessert tea. Or a cumbersome emergency fund to exchange for money.
At Doomstone's words, the Missus waved her hand. "Ohohoho! Not at all. It's good that you eat well. It’s just that it’s hard to receive anything that is so precious like this.”
When the lady also refused, Doomstone’s expression seemed to say that it was really nothing.
I smiled at the sight and said, "Please just accept it. It is true that the horns are precious, but it is the owner who determines the value of the object. If the owner, Doomstone, judged that the unicorn horn’s value was sufficient as a gift, then the value of the horn is suitable for a gift. Rather, wouldn't refusing because it's burdensome damage the value of the horn?"
"Mmm..."
"If you really think you've received something too precious, you can receive them and use them according to their value. There are many ways you can do this, like treating the sick with the power of the horns, or selling them and using the money to help the poor.”
Doomstone added to my persuasion, "It’s great as a massage tool, so it's best to use it for massages."
I burst into laughter at the unexpected remark. "Hahaha! What do you mean massage tool!?"
"What? If you press hard with the horn, the power inside spreads to your muscles, and it's great for relieving stiffness."
"Ahahaha! That's the best!"
When I laughed while holding my belly button, Lutein ahjussi smiled kindly. "It's my first time seeing Lady Anemone laugh like this.”
Doomstone tilted his head as if he had heard something strange. "Really? Anemone seems to laugh quite easily."
"Uh-huh-huh-huh. Is that so? That's something to thank you for,” Lutein ahjussi said, carefully receiving the horn of the unicorn from Doomstone.
"I'll keep these safe and use them properly as described by Miss if necessary. Thank you for the precious gift."
"Don't mention it. Please just use them comfortably.”
Doomstone whispered to me that he couldn't understand why the ahjussi was making such a fuss over a massage tool.
Ahahahaha! It really is fun.
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