Empress of Another World

Short Stories 2.3

“Huh? This is [kimchi stew]!”

Bina was surprised.

It wasn’t really an authentic kimchi stew. It was the dish Lucretius nagged the chef to make for Bina when she was pregnant with Beatrice. It was basically a stew with a spicy and sour flavor.

“I had them make it because you like it.”

She checked the smaller bowl beside the stew dish. As she suspected, it was a bowl of grain that strongly resembled cooked white rice.

“Yes!”

In this world, rice didn’t exist. However, Lucretius managed to find a type of grain similar to Korean rice from a faraway kingdom.

It was called nort, and it was much drier than rice. However, it still tasted similar and with the sour stew and a bowl of nort, it was enough to remind Bina of her old home.

Lucretius looked at Bina happily as she mixed the stew and the nort together. Beatrice and Lucretius were learning Korean from Bina, and there was a saying that resonated with him.

‘I absolutely understand what it means when just watching your loved one eat makes you feel full yourself.’

His Korean was improving quickly.

***

Bina ate everything in front of her. She insisted she ate so much to reassure Lucretius, but it was obvious that she was starving. Lucretius knew this, but he pretended to believe her.

‘What an understanding husband I am.’

Lucretius cut up the fish for Bina and asked, “So I heard Duchess Lonensia was here to see you?”

Bina took a bite of her bread and nodded. “Yes.”

“And?”

Bina grinned slowly. Lucretius knew exactly what her smile meant so he grinned as well.

If you lived with someone, you grow to resemble each other. Bina and Lucretius thought alike, and they didn’t even have to say the words.

Lucretius continued, “So it was as we expected.”

Bina nodded. “It was exactly like one of the scenarios we came up with.”

“Which one was it?”

“Scenario B. After our meeting, she went to see Yulia.”

Lucretius smiled faintly. “Cornelius was always so fond of his first son and his granddaughter Isabella. It was partly because he didn’t believe in his second son and his wife Norma.”

“And I now understand why Cornelius couldn’t trust them.”

“I agree completely.”

Lucretius pushed the fish plate towards his wife, who ate a piece of it happily with her silver fork.

Lucretius asked, “So what is your opinion?”

“She definitely failed my test. As to what I should do… I will decide after I have a talk with Yulia tomorrow.”

“I hope Yulia at least passes your test. It would be a shame if she doesn’t, especially when you are so short on maids.”

Bina smiled confidently. “She will do fine.”

“If you say so.”

Bina picked up a piece of bread and stuffed his mouth with it. Being a good husband, he ate it without a fight.

***

As Bina predicted, Yulia indeed passed with flying colors.

Yulia kneeled in front of the empress. “I… I don’t know what to say, your highness.”