Hans, Melissa, and Edon sat around the cauldron as they ate scorched rice and Sungnyung and chatted merrily.

“Sungnun? Seongneun? The name’s really difficult to say but it’s so delicious!”

“How can this drink be so savory? The moment I take a sip, I feel warm inside.”

“It's just scorched rice but it’s so delicious.”

Seeing Edon eat the golden brown rice crust, Melissa said bitterly, “Sir Edon, aren't you eating too much?”

“Oh, I didn’t even realize. My hands keep moving on their own.”

“It's the precious food Her Highness made for us. Eat slowly.”

“Yes, I will do so.”

“And since it's cold, have some Sungnyung. You’re going to choke at this rate.”

“Yes!”

They continued the conversation amicably. Eunhan returned to his mission again because it was unlikely that they would easily leave.

“You have to blow on it.”

“It’s so delicious.”

“We ate a lot of delicious food today.”

“This tastes the best!”

“You're lying because I made it, aren't you?”

“Ancia’s cooking is the best.”

The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess had a good time today.

Eunhan’s life was threatened only because he had been chosen by the Black Dragon that was prophesied to drive the country to destruction, and eventually came to the far west continent.

His biological father, the Emperor, tried to kill him, and his mother lost her life because of him.

Prince Blake was cursed. The ugly inscriptions of the curse covered his whole body.

But Ancia liked the Crown Prince without a hint of reluctance.

Although the Emperor loved Blake very much, he was the prince's biological father so that was expected. But Ancia was completely sincere and treated the prince affectionately even though she was still young.

Children were naive and honest, but cruel to a degree. They liked pretty things and hated hideous things. It was difficult for a child to bear such feelings, even for adults.

But Ancia was different.

She took Blake seriously.

‘Would my future have changed if I had someone like that?'

While Eunhan was lost in thought, Ancia suddenly turned her head toward him. Eunhan was hiding his appearance using magic. However, he was distracted for a moment so the magic had wavered.

Fortunately, she only sensed his presence but he didn't get caught. He left the dining room again using magic.

The Crown Princess headed for the Emperor's Palace with a huge smile on her face.

This was an opportunity. Eunhan hurried back to the Emperor's Palace.

“Eunhan.”

After Ancia left the office, the Emperor called for Eunhan. At the call of his master, he straightened up and appeared.

“What kind of drink is Sungnyung?”

“It’s a classic dish from the East. Everyone from the Emperor to the commoners like it.”

“I see…”

“It tasted simple.”

Therefore, it does not fit Your Majesty. Give it to me!

Eunhan gulped and looked at the pot containing the food.

Tenstheon had no particular interest in eating delicacies. Even when he happened upon rare dishes, he would give it to the people around him, such as Eunhan and Collin.

Eunhan expected so.

However, Tenstheon drank everything from the kettle along with the Sungnyung.

At this rate, the Sungnyung would completely run out. Eunhan plucked out his courage and asked, “Your Majesty, can I have a sip too?”

“No.”However, Tenstheon coolly refused Eunhan’s request.

“This is what my daughter-in-law made for me.”

Tenstheon eventually emptied the kettle, drinking it till the last drop of Sungnyung was also gone.

***

‘His Majesty is too much…How come he didn’t give me even a sip?’

Eunhan went back to the Crown Prince's Palace in low spirits. His Majesty felt sorry, so he told him to rest for a while, but that was no consolation for Eunhan.

Eunhan stepped back toward the cauldron. There was no one in sight.

This was a real opportunity. He approached the cauldron, but as soon as he opened the lid, he heard a noise.

Come on, hide yourself. However, hiding the body had the highest level of difficulty among all of the techniques.

Eunhan was embarrassed to be in such a position so he ended up making a mistake. His technique failed, but he was an experienced magician so he quickly changed his form to a black cat instead.

***

I ate too much today. I shouldn’t have eaten more after eating so many desserts.

However, after the long-awaited cauldron came, it was impossible to let the opportunity pass by.

As I was walking while rubbing my belly, I heard a sound near the furnace where the cauldron was located.

Who's here at this hour?

I quickly ran to the cauldron.

The lid of the cauldron was open, but there was no one to be seen around.

Who was it? Did the Duke of Cassil send someone? Or was it Richard?

When I looked around in a hurry, I suddenly noticed a black cat.

“Oh, a cat?”

“Meow.”

I held the cat in my arms.

“Me~ow.”

The cat lowered its head. For some reason, it seemed as if it was answering my question.

“Oh my, you must have been hungry. Come in. I'll give you milk.”

“Meow! Meow!”

The cat shook its head violently and turned toward the cauldron.

“Do you want to have Sungnyung?”

“Meow!”

This time it nodded. It really looked as if it understood her words.

“Is it okay for cats to eat Sungnyung…”

I had never raised any animals, so I didn't know, but I had a feeling that this was something they couldn't eat.

“Meow! Meow!”

The cat began to nod violently again as if it meant to say that it can eat it.

There was no such thing as cat food in this world and since the cat wanted it so badly, it would probably be alright if I fed it a little Sungnyung.

I picked up the cat and took it to the cauldron.

“Oh my, Your Highness. Is that a cat?”

Melissa looked at the black cat strangely. It was her first time seeing this cat.

“I picked it up outside. It must be hungry, so I wanted to give some Sungnyung.”

“I'll prepare it in a minute.”

“Yes please. Just warm it up a little bit.”

I left it to Melissa and went into the room. The cat was clean, which was unlike a street cat.

“Where are you from?”

“Meow.”“Do you have a master?”

“…Meow.”

The black cat only mewled adorably, but did not move its head like before. Of course, it’s not like a cat could really understand what I was saying.

“Where's your mother?”

“…Meow.”

“Sorry.”

The cat lowered its head and it’s expression looked very sad, so I subconsciously apologized.

The black cat was very gentle. I held the cat tightly and stroked its head. I fed it the Sungnyung that Melissa heated up. The Sungneung was a little lukewarm but that was just the right temperature.

The cat devoured the Sungnyung in an instant.

“You must have been very hungry.”

“Meow.”

The cat blinked sadly. It was heartbreaking to think that such a small child went around without eating in this cold winter.

“If you have a master, they must be a really bad one.”

“Meow.”

The cat nodded violently. It must have had a master because its body was very clean. What kind of person wouldn’t feed such a small cat? But strangely enough, its body was in good shape.

“Ah..your current master made you sad. I would raise you if you didn’t have a master.”

I hugged the cat tightly and my cheeks squished against its body. The cat stayed still. In fact, I think it froze up for a moment, but I was probably mistaken. Anyway, it was a very gentle cat.

“Ancia, what are you doing?”

Blake was at the door. I quickly showed him the black cat.

“I found a black cat outside. Isn't it cute?

“…Do you have to hug it like that?”

“Look at how well behaved the cat is. I guess it likes me too.”

“…It’s a male.”

“Ah, really? Let's see if this kitty is really a male?”

“Meow!”

I tried to place it down and check whether it was a female or a male, but the cat struggled out of my grasp. I hurried after it, but it was already gone.

***

Today, the Emperor invited me to have tea with him. I shared the dessert the Emperor gave me with Blake. I also met a very cute black cat. It was a very long day, but I feel overall, it was quite good.

I was trying to organize today’s work and get some sleep, but I noticed that Blake's expression was a little dark.

“Your Highness, what’s wrong?”

“Meow.”

He imitated a cat out of the blue.

“Your Highness…?”

“You like cats, so I want to be a cat too.”

“Pardon?”

“Meow.”

Blake pawed my arms while meowing.

“Ancia, I'm here and you need another animal?”

Hey, are you admitting that you're a rabbit?

“I'll be your rabbit, your cat, and your dog, so don't look for any other animals.”

“Your Highness…”

“Meow.”

Blake looked up at me.

“Ah…”

“Meow?”

As soon as he looked at me, I gave in.

“Your Highness, you’re very cute!”

I hugged Blake tightly. No cuteness in the world could beat my cute rabbit, Blake.