Forget My Husband, I’ll Go Make Money – Side Story 14.2

* * *

“You said…duck…porky?”

A head chef asked, with an odd expression on their face.

“Tteokbokki. Say it correctly. I don’t want to disappoint my wife with the wrong food because of pronunciation problems.”

“Yes, your Majesty…”

The head chef racked his brain, trying to recall any knowledge he might have.

But the fact remained that he had absolutely no clue.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. This is the first time I’ve heard of this dish…”

Tarkan turned and spoke to someone else.

“Natalie.”

Natalie, who had once won Aristine’s heart with the best scones in the empire, was called.

But even she shook her head.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I’m not familiar with this dish either…”

Natalie was a pâtissier to begin with.

“Could you explain what kind of dish it is?”

“It’s a sweet and spicy dish made with rice-based bread.”

“Hmm, spicy food might be a bit too much for Her Majesty Aristine.”

“But Her Majesty Aristine seems to handle spicy food quite well, so I think it will be okay if we tone down the spiciness.”

A slightly spicy dish wouldn’t necessarily have a negative effect on the fetus. The most important time to avoid spicy food was during breastfeeding.

“Bread made from rice, huh… Well, something like that exists but I can’t quite picture it.”

“Is the bread stuffed with meat?”

“No, that’s not it.”

Tarkan relayed what Aristine had told him as precisely and in as much detail as possible.

However, the head chef still looked puzzled.

The continent was separated by the vast and dangerous Demonic Beast Plains at its center.

Trade was limited, as the only way to exchange goods was either by sea or through portals strictly regulated by the nation.

Isolated by the Demonic Beast Plains, Irugo was virtually cut off from the rest of the continent.

Things had only started improving thanks to the Demonic Beast Barrier, but that had only been established three years ago, and there were still many sections that needed to be secured.

Silvanus, which had always had huge influence throughout the continent, was a nation known for its arrogance. They believed their own culture was superior to all others and thought it best to develop on their own internally.

This could be seen from their prevalent self-centeredness.

Thus, the chefs, who were mostly from Irugo and Silvanus, couldn’t readily come up with a solution. They started discussing what this “tteokbokki” could possibly be.

Tarkan’s gaze darkened.

“…This won’t be easy.”

***

“Tarkan made a move?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I knew it. Good job keeping watch.”

Launelian smiled with satisfaction.

His expression looked sinister like he was planning a grand scheme. His adjutant simply looked at him with dull eyes.

‘…Do we really need to do all this to find out what Her Majesty Aristine wants to eat?’

He felt like they could just ask her directly, and she would tell them.

But it wasn’t just Launelian acting like this.

“Really? The chief steward said that? I knew recruiting him was the right move.”

The former emperor, Emeritus Nephther, stroked his chin in satisfaction.

“Hurry up. We have to find out what it is before anyone else.”

“Yes, Your Eminence.”

Even as he responded, the grand chamberlain sighed inwardly.

‘If someone overheard this, they might think we’re plotting to take over the palace.’

In reality, nothing of the sort was happening. The chief steward hadn’t even been ‘recruited’ in the first place. He had merely said:

《Oh, yes. If His Eminence Nephther steps in, it might be helpful to Her Majesty Aristine.》

“My dear daughter-in-law’s heart will be mine!” Nephther chuckled loudly, and the grand chamberlain shrugged.

Well, as long as His Eminence was happy.
.

Similar incidents were happening all over the palace.

First, there was Hamill.

“I see. Royal father, huh…good job. Thank you for letting me know.”

“It’s nothing, Your Highness Hamill.”

The servant bowed deeply.

“Just knowing that Your Highness is alive…being able to assist you is more than enough for me.”

Then there was Yenikarina and Paellamien.

“Big Sis Paella.”

“What is it? For you to come to me first. Is there a problem with the banquet preparations?”

“No, that’s not it. I want in on the plan you’re working on.”

“…! Do you even know what kind of plan it is?”

“I do.”

“You’d be going up against His Majesty Tarkan, Royal Father, and your big brother. Maybe even others.”

“I said I know.”

“Are you prepared to surpass them?”

“Of course.”

Yenikarina nodded with determination in her eyes.

“This time, I want to be the aunt who took good care of her niece or nephew ever since they were in the womb!”

Meanwhile, the warriors, including Mukali, Durante, and Jacquelin, were also stirring.

“This isn’t the time to be sitting around!”

Mukali shouted fiercely.

“People are scheming all over the place! It is time we prove our loyalty as warriors of the emperor!”

Durante looked at Mukali with a dumbfounded look on his face.

“In that case, wouldn’t it be better to support His Majesty Tarkan?”

“That doesn’t mean we can just sit back!”

“I mean, we’re not sitting back, this had nothing to do with us in the first place. Our role—.”

“Indeed, our role is to ensure our Majesties’ safety and security! But now, Her Majesty is in danger!”

“What danger are you talking about? She’s taking a nap with Prince Sion.”

“Our thumb princess, who needs at least seven meals a day, is starving!”

“…”

Durante was speechless.

However, the other warriors reacted differently.

“This…this is serious!”

Jacquelin, the best strategist, spoke gravely. The other warriors nodded in agreement.

“Yes, this is a severe problem.”

“For someone who loves eating so much…”

“We have to step in!”

Mukali turned to Durante.

“What are you going to do, Durante?”

“…There’s this spicy food that I was given by a hunter I met during a demonic beast subjugation.”

“So you’re saying—.”

“Yeah, if our thumb princess is starving, we can’t just do nothing.”

Then there was Asena, Ritlen, and Umiru.

“We can’t just stay still! Aren’t we the ones who have been by Her Majesty Aristine’s side since her days as Princess Consort?!”

Ritlen nodded at Asena’s words.

“I have always been indebted to Her Majesty Aristine. If I can be of help to her in any way, it would be my greatest honor.”

“This is my chance to win Her Majesty Aristine’s favor. I can’t possibly miss out on this,” Umiru laughed and added, “Even if it means butting heads with His Majesty Tarkan!”

Betrayal, conspiracy, intrigue, and schemes were all running rampant in the palace.

It was truly, and verily, war!

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