1st Kiss Was Intentional - Chapter 11

“I haven’t heard of another war recently.”

“Huh? War?”

I give him a puzzling look.

What’s he talking about?

Then Mar points to the blanket under him. “That’s a blanket you use to relax on the battlefield.”

“Blanket?”

You mean this blanket with colorful dots, with these delicious foods and these pretty picnic baskets, and instead of thinking of a picnic, you think of war?!

I could not help but laugh when I saw him saying the wrong thing with a very serious expression. I then bite the inside of my mouth to hold back my laughter. Finally, I couldn’t bear it anymore.

However, Mar just blinks as if it wasn’t a joke or if there was something wrong with what he said.

‘Hmm… maybe it’s war trauma?’

He might have it since he did lose the war and was taken as a prisoner.

I quickly erase my laughter and shut my mouth. I can’t believe it! Maybe the war trauma has made him a little strange!

“No wonder…”

“What?”

“Oh, no! Well, you know what? This is called a picnic. Having snacks and hanging out with close friends outside. You’re not laying a table on the battlefield and eating.”

“I see.”

Poor Mar. He sits on the cloth with glistened eyes like a man who, not only knows nothing else besides war, but also has never eaten rice before.

Even if children don’t know about picnics, they still know about other things. I’m not sure but I think I have quickly and strongly grasped the situation!

You know, some say mental disorders are found in unexpected corners, right? He may be fine in some aspect related to wars but not in other things.

He looks at the blanket with curious eyes. I am very pleased but at the same time sadden to see him on his knees, poking the walnut basket with his fingers.

God is very indifferent.

I look at Mar, who seems to know nothing, with a confused look on my face. Then, as his gentle face turns toward me, I quickly change my expression and say brightly. “Come on, let’s have a breakfast picnic here. I brought you a cheese sandwich that you like.”

“When did I say I like…”

“Huh? What? You want another one because it’s so delicious? No, no. There are two, so you have to eat only one.”

I quickly grab Mar’s arm and sit him down next to me. He smiles when I give him a big cut of the cheese sandwich.

Poor Mar.

I decided to teach him a lot while I’m with him. That way he’ll live well on his own after escaping the Imperial City.

He looks bewildered by my childish attitude, but soon follows my gesture and bites the sandwich gently. Mar, who looks half-confident, chews on the sandwich, and soon opens his eyes widely.

“How is it? Is it good?”

“…Yes.”

He looks down inquiringly at the sandwich he has taken a bite of. “Who made it?”

“Who made it? I made it. I’m good at making sandwiches.”

I answer in an excited voice and takes another bite.

Surprised, he asks. “Why? Where did the maids go?”

Only then does he look around the quiet castle, where there aren’t any maids around. Well, it’s not too crazy since as a nobleman, he barely notices them.

“Yes, it was inconvenient, so I sent them out.”

A low status concubine can’t afford to have a maid from similar low born aristocrat or a daughter of a merchant. Therefore, I’m the only concubine without a household maid of common status.

Mar’s surprised because he didn’t think that I didn’t have a maid. It’s been so long since I’ve been alone that such a reaction was refreshing. I giggle and say, “It’s more comfortable to be alone, so don’t worry about it,” and finish eating the sandwich.

It’s more of I might just slip up and die like my fate from the original.

Mar, who has something to say, looks down quietly, takes another precious bite of the cheese sandwich. Mar’s eyes once again fill with surprise like he has never eaten such a fresh cheese sandwich before.

Perhaps an emperor who has lived in the Imperial City since birth have never seen such a simple sandwich. The sandwich I saw at the Imperial Ball was full of expensive meat with various sauces.

I read in the book that ordinary people often eat these simple sandwiches.

‘How do you know about the maid, and not about the food?’

It’s confusing and strange, but it’s also not.

Just in time, Mar, who has just finished munching on the last piece of sandwich, looks at me.

Our eyes meet accidentally, and in that moment, I waver under his stare.

‘Surely…’

Mar tilts his head to the side, making me think that maybe I had a strange expression on, or maybe because we weren’t exchanging words. “What?”

‘For sure, it is.’

Whatever I had thought in regard to him a moment ago, it must be true. However, Mar blinks innocently.

Look at him.

‘Are you pretending you not to know?’

‘You’re caught!’

“You’ve never cooked with your hands, have you?”

“Cooking?”

“Yeah, making sandwiches like this.”

“Well… I haven’t.”

“As expected!”

I clap my hands and cheer.

Of course, he hasn’t!

Whoa, how great are my deduction skills?! Before possessing Lydia’s body, it was worthwhile to watch mystery dramas as a hobby.

Of course, Mar must be a very high-ranking aristocrat who has never served as a maid or made food with his own hands.

I mean…He’s never had a simple cheese sandwich before! He doesn’t know about having picnic!

Of course, if it’s something that you neither heard or done before, you would be taken back and not know anything about it.

“Okay, then I’ll teach you from now on. Actually, you and I have to cook for 2 people since we together, right? It’s not fair if I’m the only one that does it when we both live together. What do you say, no objection?”

“I’m cooking—for myself?”

Even though I like eating, I don’t really like cooking. I just do it because I had to make a living. Taking advantage of the situation, I lean my head against him and watches his bewildered reaction.

“What? You don’t have to be good. I’m not that good either. Since you’ve been on the battlefield, you’ve probably familiar with cooking meat, right? You can do something like that.”

“Meat…” Mar blurts with an unreadable look.

What’s wrong with him?

Oh, maybe there’s an issue with meat?

“Mar, do you have a knives phobia? Or maybe you can’t look at blood?”

Why, there are people can’t see sharp things like knives. Some people also faint when they see blood in front of their eyes.

I ask Mar again with a worried look. After blinking a few times, Mar says softly with a relaxed expression.

“No, the thing I’m best at is cutting.”

“Oh, me too.”

Actually, I was not good at prepping the meat or fish, so I used to get the ones that have already been done. Still, I always felt disappointed because it ended up better if I just cleaned it myself.

I then smile broadly and rejoice. Good, now I can eat food made with fresh ingredients! It’s a bit unfortunate that he’s a beginner in cooking, but he’s good at cutting so I don’t have to worry about using a knife.

‘Um… but what is he using the knife for?’

‘It wouldn’t be a kitchen knife because you’ve has never cooked. Uh, no way, let’s not think about it!’

I realize too late what was said and glance at Mar with fearful eyes. Then I remembered his terrifyingly strong, inhumane speed, and how he took down the man and Carolyn without a batting an eye. I belatedly become aware that he’s the one who survived the battlefield.

Sitting next to me, slowly savoring the little food I handed him, he doesn’t feel like a person stained with blood at all.

A fine-grained of silver hair that sparkles peacefully.

Red eyes that look transparent and pure. A handsome face that can take the number one spot in a handsome man contest with overwhelming majority of the support.

Ah, now I know why there is a saying that looks can kill.

As I keep looking at Mar’s dazzling appearance, the fear that has sprung up suddenly disappears.

Come to think of it, Mar’s attitude toward me has not been threatening at all, and all the other scary things that I saw were done to the villains. Finally, I proudly look at Marr’s innocent puppy-like figure and conclude that a good thing is still a good thing.

What’s wrong with being scary to the bad guys? Strong medicine is still much better than weak medicine! It’s just and good!

I also share the blueberries and milk I brought. Mar hesitates and eats it slowly in astonishment.

A fresh morning breeze, fresh air, delicious food, and a handsome man. Oh, minus the last one usually. It’s a very different day than previously where I was always quietly alone. It makes me feel really happy.

I hum and put the last blueberry into my mouth before standing up. “Okay! Let’s take a look at today’s flower beds!”

Leaving first, I walk to the flower bed a few steps ahead. The flowers had been in full bloom for a few days, so by now…

“They’re all dead.”

Mar apparently has been standing beside me the whole time.

What a surprise!

I look over, grasping my startled chest. I think I need to get used to his silent movement first if we are to live together.

Regardless, he frowns, looking like he doesn’t know what to say. “The flowers were clearly blooming yesterday. What happened?”

A low, deep tone sounds rather serious.

Oh, come to think of it, that’s what he said the first time I saw him, right? What happened?

I tap his arm with a serious smile after seeing his reaction. “Why such a serious expression?”

“…Because.”

My voice becomes too playful, making him stare at me. I then bend down proudly, and gently smooth the dried up, brown petals. “Right, I forgot.”