Chapter 65

It's a special chapter to commemorate the release of the second volume of the manga. It takes place a little before the start of the main story, focusing on Fil's daily life at the northern fortress.

——I want to eat bean dishes.

He muttered this, probably because he had drunk too much.

That day, everything was a hassle for Fil.

This inexplicable melancholy was not due to drinking too much the previous day.

He could not deny that one of the reasons was being dragged into an all-night banquet. However, Fil was not the type to feel so despondent just because of that.

Two days ago, a thick, perfumed letter from a noblewoman in the capital arrived, saying, "My daughter wrote a love letter."

Yesterday, an invitation to a resort came from another noble, listing local specialties in an unnatural way.

And today, an order from his elder brother, King Rosfield, arrived, instructing him to return to the capital in three months.

Even if he was respected as a lenient superior at the northern fortress, he would become Prince Filode once he returned to the capital.

At twenty-six, Filode was a person who stood out more than anyone else.

He had the silver hair common among the royal family, deep and dark blue eyes, and a handsome face that resembled his sister, Halvaria, who was known as a beauty.

His tall, elegant figure was well-trained. He could wield a sword to repel any warrior, and his movements were refined, free from any hint of barbarism.

Despite his dazzling status as a prince, he was still unmarried and had no fiancée.

Young women harbored dreams of a chance encounter, and ambitious nobles would not let such an opportunity pass.

If he returned to the capital, the nobles would gather, offering their daughters. His brother Rosfield would also line up candidates for arranged marriages, urging him to make a decision.

The arrival of the return order meant that such days were approaching again, and that was a hassle.

"...I don't want to go back."

He sighed, pulled out the knife he had stuck in the table, and spun it around.

Compared to this harsh cold, the capital was warm and comfortable. The ingredients were familiar, and the seasoning was to his liking.

But it wasn't just that; the place made him feel heavy-hearted.

The only time he felt at ease in the capital was when he spent time with his brother and sister's families. The rest of the time, he had to be on edge, careful not to give away any promises and to keep ambitious nobles at a distance.

So, he would end up fleeing to his best friend's house.

A place not far from the capital, free from the capital's glamour and noise. That place was called Laguren.

The climate was mild, and the people were relaxed. Since it was a place where beans were cultivated, he could eat his fill of bean dishes while staying at his best friend's house.

In the north, where the climate was cold, beans were not commonly grown. Therefore, bean dishes were a special treat when he returned to the capital, enjoyed with a salty stew.

The lavish dishes prepared by the royal chefs were delicious, but he preferred the meals made by his friend's sister.

It wasn't just that he liked the simple, traditional seasoning.

The smile when she refilled his plate, the kindness when she covered him with a blanket when he was drunk, and the way she went out to the fields with rough hands but a joyful expression... Thinking about these things made his heart warm.

Yet, that proud young lady was to be married to a man who did not understand her charm at all.

Why that man?

Why was she the daughter of a viscount?

...Why was he born as the son of a king?

Thinking about such things, he suddenly came to his senses and shook his head.

"What am I thinking?"

He sighed and threw the knife in his hand at the wall.

The usual cheers from the surroundings rose, but he didn't care.

The only thing on Fil's mind was the tall young lady with black hair and green eyes. And the salty stew she made was truly delicious.

Not only the salty stew was exquisite. There was another dish he always looked forward to.

"...I want to eat bean dishes again."

Fil muttered softly.

He seemed to have drunk more than usual. ...He hadn't even noticed that the head chef was right nearby.

◇

One month later.

"Sir, I've made a trial dish!"

The speaker was the head chef, who was responsible for the stomachs of the men at the northern fortress. The taciturn man, who usually kept to himself, was unusually excited.

On the large table in the dining hall, which was designed for sturdiness rather than decoration, the head chef had placed a dish. Fil stared at the dish, then looked up.

"...Beans in the north are rare."

"I heard you say you wanted to eat bean dishes, Sir. It took some time to procure the beans, but I want to learn to make dishes to your liking."

"I see. I've caused you some trouble, haven't I?"

Fil smiled gently.

However, he was secretly anxious.

As the son of a king and the commander of the Third Army, Filode was stationed here. Even if he could indulge in any luxury he desired, he had always restrained himself.

Especially regarding food, he had not rejected the local culture and had not been picky.

Yet, when had he slipped and said he wanted to eat bean dishes?

Especially in this harsh climate, it must have been difficult to procure the ingredients...

...No, wait.

Beans, you say?!

"Did you happen to be nearby at that time?"

"I apologize, Sir. I overheard your muttering."

The head chef looked remorseful, showing deep reflection and apology.

Fil didn't want to make a man his age look so dejected. Besides, he had been the one to slip up.

"It's fine. More importantly, it must have been difficult to gather the ingredients here. I'm grateful."

He said this and looked at the dish.

The plate contained beans. There was no mistaking it; it was a bean dish.

He forced a smile that didn't reveal his inner thoughts, scooped up some beans, and brought them to his mouth. He chewed while feeling the chefs holding their breath, then nodded slowly.

"...Yes, it's good. The northern-style seasoning is very interesting."

The head chef clenched his fist for a moment. The other chefs also looked relieved.

Fil tried not to look at them and finished the dish with a smile still on his face.

◇

After that, Fil's special bean dishes began to appear regularly.

A plate of bean dishes would be placed in front of Fil once a week, and the knights watched with interest.

"Hmm, when that sparkling Sir eats it, even a simple bean dish looks delicious."

"I'm getting hungry. Hey, is there any left?"

"I'm sorry, I only made enough for Sir."

"I saw someone eating it in the kitchen?"

"That's... a taste test."

"...Ah, so it's a food taster, right?"

"But they definitely forgot their duty and ate it, didn't they?"

While such conversations were going on around him, Fil continued to eat silently.

The knights came from all over the country, but the chefs were all from the northern region. He appreciated their enthusiasm in creating new dishes with unfamiliar beans.

The beans were specially procured, and the seasoning was in the northern style.

Today, a southern-style twist was added, which was quite creative.

Last month's milk stew was surprisingly good. Two weeks ago, a rare citrus fruit was added, and the dish was seasoned with plenty of honey, which was delicious if you didn't think of it as a bean dish. It was an excellent dessert.

Sometimes, beans he had never seen before were used, probably from other countries.

Overall, the taste was good.

The chefs were undoubtedly excellent, and all the dishes were well-prepared.

"Sir, how is the dish?"

A young chef asked timidly.

It seemed this slender young man was in charge of the cooking today. He was young, enthusiastic, and skilled. The beans were wrapped in a buttery pastry and simmered with a red vegetable powder from the east. When the pastry was broken, the vivid red color was truly impressive.

The base soup was also carefully prepared. The depth of flavor that spread in the mouth was exceptional. The taste was undoubtedly exquisite, and the presentation was beautiful, satisfying both the eyes and the tongue.

The plate was the usual plain northern ceramic, but the addition of fresh herbs made it visually appealing.

The attention to detail was remarkable, and the workmanship was on par with the royal chefs.

"You have great skills. The presentation was also excellent. ...By the way, I know a noble who is looking for a chef who can make visually appealing dishes. If you want to become a stable, employed chef, I can recommend you. The location is a bit to the south, but what do you think?"

"I'm honored! But I want to study more cooking for Sir, so I'd like to continue my training here!"

"I see. Then I'll look forward to your future work."

As Fil nodded and smiled, the young chef blushed and returned to the kitchen. The kitchen soon became lively, and he was probably being praised.

Fil kept his smile and looked at the half-eaten dish.

Even after eating half of it, the dish still looked beautiful. It seemed the chef had put a lot of thought into the presentation. The dish was well-balanced and delicious.

This was one of the best dishes served at the northern fortress.

He could say that with confidence.

"...It's definitely delicious. But..."

Fil whispered softly.

He made sure no one was around. No one heard it, and it didn't show on his face.

It wasn't bad; in fact, he thought it was quite delicious. But... it was different. It wasn't the seasoning that made Fil feel supreme.

As a prince, he shouldn't criticize the food served to him, and he had always tried to restrain himself. But this slightly off-target seasoning secretly troubled him.

He gripped his fork for a moment.

But he quickly relaxed and sighed quietly.

"...I miss Lucia's bean dishes."

He wanted to eat the simple, familiar bean dishes that were common in the area around the capital.

Thinking about missing the familiar bean dishes made him realize that his mental discipline was not as strong as he thought.

His immaturity had caused unnecessary burdens on the chefs. Moreover, the increased frequency of bean dishes made him think more about the young lady who served him the ideal bean dishes.

He had brought about a troublesome situation, and it was his own doing.

"...Lucia..."

Fil sighed and muttered her name, then suddenly came to his senses.

He had been thinking more about her bright smile than the bean dishes. The way her green eyes sparkled when she laughed, and the beauty of her black hair swaying as she walked around busily.

—No. This is just nostalgia.

The spreading pain in his chest was only due to his attachment to the bean dishes.

He became irritated thinking about her marrying another man because he wouldn't be able to eat her simple dishes anymore.

It wasn't that he missed the young lady. He only missed the bean dishes. Nothing more, nothing less. ...He shouldn't think about anything else.

While desperately making excuses in his mind, Fil continued to eat the remaining dish silently.

(End of the Special Chapter: Love in the North)