Home/The Seven-Year-Old Village Chief of Exile/ch 89

Chapter 89

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Whenever the hot summer arrived, Grand Duchess Touri Stria would always go to her summer villa in the north for rest and recuperation.

The already frail old lady, who had grown weak after losing her daughter, found even that a burden.

But staying in the capital or her own territory was even harder.

The capital held the man she hated most, and her territory was filled with memories of her dead daughter, tormenting her.

"Is it because of the rumors about the angel's descent?"

Grand Duchess Touri Stria, who had been admiring the passing scenery through the train window, turned her head.

The Crown Prince, meeting her eyes, smiled like an angel.

"Since it's been recognized as a holy site, I hope you can find some peace of mind there, Grandmother."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

The Grand Duchess nodded lightly, with a faint smile.

'My daughter's bloodline...'

He should be more precious and beloved than my own life.

'I am the one at fault. I should age gracefully, even in my old age...'

But the Grand Duchess simply couldn't bring herself to love the boy before her.

Her entire being screamed at her to keep him away.

Whether it was due to the selfish maternal grief that he was the root cause of her daughter's demise.

Or because his appearance was so much like his father's that she couldn't find a trace of her daughter in him, no matter how hard she looked.

Or perhaps both.

So whenever she saw Crown Prince Pereus, the Grand Duchess was torn by ambivalent feelings.

He made her uncomfortable.

And she felt sorry for that.

Which is why she couldn't bring herself to refuse Pereus when he asked to accompany her on this trip.

She couldn't ignore the child, who seemed desperately trying to find traces of his dead mother by acting affectionately toward her.

"The Deste Territory is famous as the birthplace of magical engineering."

The Grand Duchess spoke first, as if trying to erase her guilt.

"The Duke of Stria also wanted to study magical engineering when he was young."

"Uncle did?"

Pereus's eyes widened in surprise, looking as innocent as any nine-year-old.

The Grand Duchess felt her heart soften slightly.

"The late Empress also enjoyed it."

"Mother too..."

"Would you like to visit, Your Highness?"

"Yes, I certainly will."

The Grand Duchess nodded.

'Yes, it's just my own heart that's lacking.'

No matter how much he didn't resemble her, how could she not find his sparkling eyes at the mention of his mother endearing?

"Come to think of it, I've heard the director of the Magical Engineering Academy is quite an eccentric."

"So I've heard. Geniuses who devote themselves to their studies are bound to have their quirks."

"That's why I'm a little worried."

Pereus sighed and acted like a precocious old man.

Finding it a bit endearing, the Grand Duchess giggled behind her hand.

"What if he's as rude as the Clavis?"

"......"

"The place is a great help to the nation's development, so I hope they can continue to maintain a good relationship with the imperial family."

"......"

"Honestly, I think Father was too hasty in destroying the Clavis. Because of it..."

Pausing briefly, the Crown Prince made a sad face and glanced sidelong at the Grand Duchess.

"...You, Grandmother, had to suffer the pain of losing a friend."

"......"

"I spoke out of turn. I'm sorry."

"No."

The Grand Duchess forced herself to shake her head.

Her hand was still covering her mouth, but she had no time to care.

'Yes.'

The negative feelings she'd just managed to forget began to creep back.

'That mole bothers me.'

Mockery disguised as concern, insincere apologies.

That cunning, selfish mind that only watches the favor of those who can benefit him.

'My daughter, Lena...'

Wasn't like that.

The train car fell silent again. The ornate private compartment, which occupied an entire car, was filled with an awkward, heavy atmosphere.

The Grand Duchess finally closed her eyes.

The old woman was deeply afraid of her grandson, who hid dark intentions beneath his affectionate demeanor.

The only trace of her daughter was erasing her daughter.

---

"My Lady..."

"......"

"Have you finally decided?"

"Yes."

Sitting across from Verity at the table, I nodded with a solemn expression.

I'd agonized over this for days.

So before my resolve wavered again, I decided to get it over with.

"The Korean items I'm taking as payment for my hard work at the Antema Lab are...!"

"Wow, your vocabulary is truly Clavis-like."

"Save the nagging and just drum on the table!"

"Drumroll, drumroll, drumroll..."

Amid Verity's half-hearted sound effects, I shouted with vigor.

"Give me ramen and a cookbook! And save one wish for later."

"Pardon?"

Verity squinted one eye in disbelief.

It was a fair reaction.

'I really did agonize over this until the very end...!'

Should I get a modified tablet PC for the theater at the cost of three wishes?

Or should I just take the three-hundred-thousand-won magic wand, ramen, and an unmodified tablet PC to satisfy my own greed?

'But I'm the village chief.'

The village's prosperity is my honor.

The villagers' happiness is my driving force.

So with firm resolve, I declared the two things I'd just shouted: ramen and a cookbook.

"Verity, you know this too—Ixelium Village needs to actively engage with the outside world and grow."

"Well, yes."

"Thanks to the first-aid kits, the Ixel Trading Company is starting to make a name for itself in the Deste Territory. Other territories are showing interest too."

"That's a good thing."

"But it's hard to make money with just first-aid kits."

"Sigh, that's a topic I've been deliberately avoiding..."

"It's okay. It's the truth."

The first-aid kits were simply a commercialized product of something that already existed in every household.

In other words, it lacked the staying power to be a main product.

"We've made our presence known with the kits—now we need to find the real main product."

"Is that ramen?"

"Hmm, you sound like you know what ramen is?"

"I've tried it before."

"I thought Earth wasn't even part of the Interdimensional Alliance..."

How do you know so much?

When I gave him a suspicious look, Verity raised his hands as if to say, "Don't misunderstand."

"The Lord gave me some as a gift."

"The Lord being..."

"Not the ones you've met."

Since the topic came up, Verity tried to briefly explain what a Lord of the demon world was, but.

"My items first!"

"You're so shrewd."

"Hand over all the ramen! I paid for it!"

"Alright, alright."

Thud, thud.

And so, I obtained three packs of ramen and one cookbook.

For now, village management and my ramen came first. Information about Lord-class demons could wait.

"Wow, it's ramen!"

I picked one up and eagerly tore open the package.

But with a seven-year-old's grip, it was no use, so I handed it to Verity.

"Open it for me."

"Oh, but it's almost dinner time."

"I haven't had it in so long! Just a little snack, okay?"

"You're definitely going to regret this, my Lady."

"Are you worried about my fatty liver again? Have some flexibility, demon. Hehe, I'm going to put all the seasoning on!"

I crushed the dry noodles, sprinkled the seasoning powder, and shook the bag.

The spicy seasoning aroma made my hips wiggle.

"Aah..."

And so, I tasted ultra-processed food for the first time in a while.

"Ptoo!"

And immediately spat it out.

"Sp-spicy! It's spicy!"

I stomped my feet in agony. The intense heat stung—no, burned—my tongue.

"Oh dear, I told you you'd regret it."

Verity handed me a glass of cold water.

I quickly rinsed my mouth and even stuck my tongue into the glass.

"Ugh, ah..."

"Of course it's spicy."

Verity let out another sigh.

"Back there, you were an adult who could handle spicy food, but right now your body is a seven-year-old child who's never had anything like it."

It couldn't possibly be used to spicy flavors.

Besides, spicy food wasn't very popular in this world.

"I didn't know, I didn't know..."

"Don't cry. Was it that spicy?"

"Waaah..."

"Come on, huff, blow your nose. And I know this is hilarious, but can I take a picture? The long-haired Lord's secretary asked for pictures of you growing up."

And so, click, a picture was taken.

"Ah..."

Feeling wronged, I slumped to the ground.

"How can I have ramen and not eat it...!"

"Such is the way of life."

Verity crunched on the dry noodles in front of me.

"Mmm, this is good. Perfect with alcohol, since it's spicy."

"That's why I chose ramen..."

I covered my still-tingling tongue with my saliva.

"You can use ramen seasoning in so many ways."

When something lacks flavor, a packet of ramen seasoning can fix it all.

"I was thinking of making a seasoning based on the ingredient list."

"Ah, you mean chemical seasoning."

"Yeah..."

I answered nasally. I still hadn't recovered from the spicy shock.

"Oh my, you look just like a crying baby—so cute."

Verity chuckled and wiped my nose again.

"Judging by Uncle Pofina and Libby unnie's cooking, spices are well-developed here, so seasonings should sell well."

"Magic powder that makes food delicious."

"That's why I got the cookbook too."

I can't just sell seasonings.

People who buy seasonings ultimately want to make tasty food easily and quickly.

'I was like that.'

So I plan to use this beginner cookbook, 50 Recipes That Work Even When You Make Them in Your Sleep.

"...You'd be in big trouble if you made them in your sleep."

Verity, who had peeked at the title, muttered.

I ignored him and opened the book.

The cookbook was full of traces of Chae Habin.

The pages for her favorite recipes were worn, while the later pages were crisp and new. The stains from cooking were still there.

I flipped through the memories, sniffling.

The page I opened was one I'd barely ever touched.

[Kitchen Tools That Look Impressive to Own]

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