Empress Handbook

Chapter Twenty-Seven | Flutters

The tall ring lights adorn Taehyung and Yeoreum with a bewitching aureole. As Taehyung begins to tug his iconic angelic smile, Yeoreum can't help but finally realise why people are so jealous of her for marrying him. If she were just a casual viewer of this live stream, perhaps she would also be jealous of herself.

"Good morning, People of the Empire of Korea," Taehyung says. "Today, Yeoreum and I will cook breakfast as part of the Imperial Chuseok Celebration. I will make pancakes, and Yeoreum will have a go at making milk tea."

Normally, the Imperial Family celebrates Chuseok quietly at the Imperial Ancestral Shrine. However, with Yeoreum's commoner background being the perfect springboard, this year, they devised an entire Chuseok Celebration Plan to push the whole marketing concept of the Imperial Family being personable.

"Right, we had our first date at a milk tea store," Yeoreum says.

Taehyung widens his smile. "That is why I wanted you to make milk tea. It would be a tribute to our fond memories."

"But milk tea is already introduced to the Imperial Kitchen after I—" Yeoreum lets an apologetic laugh. "I think I accidentally revealed a secret."

Taehyung pinches Yeoreum's cheek while she pushes his hand away as if embarrassed. Perhaps his proficient acting is influencing her but slowly, acting like an actual couple doesn't feel like an awkward task to her. It is a pity that Taehyung is forbidden from becoming an actor.

"Seriously, I am so scared I'll ruin our fond memories. I am not a good cook," Yeoreum says. These words are sincere. Yeoreum has been practising making an edible cup of milk tea for days, but not one single attempt was close to tasting like it is safe to consume.

Taehyung wraps his arms around her hip. "I am sure I will be fond of everything you make."

"I hope so."

Yeoreum covertly shoots him a glare to signal him to pull away before the Imperial Household Agency can write a report on their inappropriate physical intimacy. Taehyung watches her paling face with a suppressed laugh. Before she could lash out, he quickly pecks her lips and loosens his grip around her.

The Media Team on the side raises a whiteboard with the words New record viewer number; Please commence cooking scribbled across the surface. Taehyung nods and allows the camera to cut the shot to focus on his boyish excitement.

"Now, we will be starting," Taehyung gushes.

This live stream is devised to ease the lingering tension caused by the attempted boycott. Though Taehyung's ingredients are sourced from the organic home farm owned by the Family, Yeoreum uses a bag of tapioca pearls from the brand in question to make a point about the issue.

1. Prepare the tea and flavouring syrup with medium-high heat while adding water and sugar.

2. Cook the tapioca pearls by stirring them with about four cups of water until the stiffness is gone.

3. Strain the tea into a pitcher and divide the tapioca pearls before adding one and a half tablespoons of milk and syrup.

Yeoreum meticulously follows the recipe while occasionally checking the notebook of notes she took during her milk tea crash course. She lets the liquid cool for a moment before she takes a spoon and dips it into the pot to taste the milk tea.

"Yuck—" Yeoreum muffles a curse, afraid that her microphone would capture the sound.

It is a failure.

No, failure is an understatement. This awful flavour calls for the invention of a word beyond failure.

"The first batch of pancakes is done," Taehyung says before he shuffles next to Yeoreum and takes her spoon. "I want to try the milk tea."