It Started With A Kick (Magi: Ren Koumei/OC)

11 | Unexpected Conflict (1)

Rushed footsteps echoed inside the office of the Second Prince of Kou. It had become the common occurrence after a certain challenge was made between the newlywed imperial couple.

"Ren Koumei!" A loud thud shattered another peaceful morning that the prince was enjoying. He looked from the scrolls on his table towards the entrance where his wife, Ren Hyorin, stood with a tray on both hands. Their gazes met—her fiery ones against his tired own.

Koumei inwardly sighed as he watched her storm inside the room. He was sure he would soon mistake her for a horse if she would continue kicking his door so barbarically.

"Good morning, Lady Hyorin," he greeted after forcefully swallowing sarcasm down his throat. "I'm looking forward to what you've prepared for me this time."

"Yes, you should." Hyorin sneered and excitedly pushed the tray to his direction. "It's your favorite, smoked squid!"

Koumei's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you know my favorite food?"

"I asked Chu'un," she explained while arranging the dishes on the table and moving the scrolls to another side. "I prepared it in *Kina style so it would be light and perfect for your breakfast. I'm sure you'll love it."

From the corner of the room, a group of chambermaids could be seen smiling from ear to ear as they watched what they deemed to be a simple yet playful game between a busy husband and his caring wife.

"Well then. I shall humbly receive this meal." Koumei placed his hands together before reaching for the chopsticks. Unbeknownst to everyone, his excitement was over the roof, but, of course, he made sure that his expression did not betray him. After all, he wouldn't want the challenge to end and Hyorin would stop cooking for him, would he?

Koumei finished the meal with inhuman speed. That was, by far, the most delicious dish she had served him! However, almost immediately, the prince started to sweat bullets. Hyorin noticed his pale expression and hastily stepped forward.

"What? Why do you look sick?" she asked worriedly.

Koumei shut his mouth close and even moved his left hand to cover it. Why? It was to keep himself from praising the godly cooking of his wife. He was sure that if his lips would even part for a few centimeters, his true feelings would spill out like a waterfall. He could not let that happen. The challenge must not end, he repeatedly reminded himself!

However, from Hyorin's point of view, it looked like he wanted to vomit. "No way." Wearing a brokenhearted expression, she took a step back. "It was disgusting?"

She tasted the food herself and it was good! Her eyes widened when the harsh realization came upon her. Could it be... that her tongue was damaged after her encounter with Hakuei?

Her shoulders dropped and she muttered dejectedly, "Should I quit cooking?"

"No!" Koumei stood from his seat in a haste. Hyorin gave him a dumbfounded look. Upon realizing his uncharacteristic outburst, he cleared his throat. "The meal was not bad, but it leaves much room for improvement."

The prince sighed in relief when his wife regained her spirits. At that moment, he could not help but wonder how long he could keep up the farce, since his act was becoming less convincing as the day went by. He needed to find another way to persuade her to cook for him because he was obviously losing the challenge that he came up with himself.

...

On her way back to the kitchen, Hyorin looked at the empty cup on the tray. It was her first time to put it there and it seemed that she was successful in not letting Koumei notice what it was.

She sighed in exhaustion. Maybe the drink destroyed the meal, after all? What a shame. And she did her best to hide the bitter taste of that thing.

Hyorin shrugged her shoulders as she cleared her mind of busy thoughts. What was important was that he drank it.

• • •

Weeks later, a meeting to discuss the subjugation of the west was held inside the palace of Kou Empire. All of the important people—the princes, the ministers and generals—had gathered in one room. However, the expected rise in tension was nowhere to be found; instead, a gleeful atmosphere lingered as everyone took notice of the obvious improvement in the complexion of the Second Imperial Prince.

"Your Highness' aura has changed," praised one of the ministers as he greeted Koumei. The others followed his lead and engaged in small talk while waiting for the arrival of the Emperor.

"Indeed, the life of a newlywed is enviable. It's so good to be young!"

"No wonder the prince is in such a good mood. A tamed wife equates to a happy life!"

The last comment nearly gave Koumei a good laugh. He shot a glance at his older brother and, as expected, Kouen had an almost inconceivable sneer on his face.

Using a submissive phrase such as 'a tamed wife' to describe the Princess of Shi was downright hilarious. Despite her looks and young age, the girl was a former general and a Metal Vessel user. Kouen was sure that if Hyorin would perform the same suplex on those old, cunning ministers, at least one of them would die.

"Thank you," Koumei replied. "I will make sure your praises reach my wife as well."

However, it seemed that some of them were wise enough to look past her outward appearance. After the meeting, Koumei was approached by the Prime Minister of Kou.

"Does the former princess of Shi provide Your Highness with food herself?" he asked without beating around the bush.

Koumei confirmed it in the same direct manner. The minister became skeptical. "She's a princess, milord. One is usually not capable of doing such a tedious chore. I'm afraid that this is simply an act to gain your favor while hiding their ill intentions. Please exercise caution."

The man was obviously hinting that Hyorin will attempt to poison the prince. Koumei cast his gaze downwards in thought. It would be a lie if he said that he never considered such a thing. However, there was something that his wife did that made his doubts fly out of the window.

"I will," he simply answered to acknowledge the good will of the minister.

• • •

The challenge continued on for another week until a certain incident happened.

Koumei had just finished his meal and was silently enjoying the tea that his wife prepared for him when he suddenly started coughing aggressively. Hyorin shot him a look of disbelief.

"Are you a kid? Drink it slo—" Her words were instantly caught in her throat when she noticed blood dripping from his mouth.

Koumei followed her line of sight. It was only then did he notice the peril that he was in. "What..." was the last thing he muttered before passing out.

Hyorin caught him before he could fall to the ground. Still in shock, all she was able to do was attempt to shake him to consciousness. "Hey! Why are you...?"

Chu'un, who was standing guard outside, heard the commotion and immediately rushed inside the room. Upon seeing his master in a dire state, he instantly went pale.

"Lord Koumei!" he hollered and his eyes caught sight of the cup that fell with the prince. A horrifying thought crossed his mind and he slowly looked at the woman in front of him. "M-Milady, how could you—?"

"What?" Hyorin failed to recognize the meaning behind his words until he pulled Koumei out of her grasp. She tried to reach out to them, but Chu'un only slapped her hand away. "No, it's not what you think! I did not poison him!"

However, her pleas for innocence were left unheard after a group of people rushed inside the room to help the fallen prince. Hyorin was then detained in the dungeon.

• • • • • •

Footnotes: *Kina is the equivalent of Japan in Magi universe. (It's in the manga!) Japanese breakfast usually involves a cup of rice, miso soup, a side dish, and the main dish.