* * *
Lowell took the plate from the servant and transferred the stir-fried meat Felix had made.
Unlike Lowell, who had spent his afternoon leisurely, Felix had been struggling in the kitchen all day, leaving the cooks unable to prepare any other dishes.
The meal that was served on the grand ducal estate’s dining table consisted of rice, a meager stir-fry that barely qualified as a proper dish, hastily prepared soup, and a simple salad.
The head chef had tried to at least grill some fish to add a proper main dish, but Lowell declined, saying it was fine as it was.
“Will that be enough for you?”
“Of course. I’m actually looking forward to it.”
Lowell placed the lightly orange-hued meat on his rice.
Spotting a slightly burnt piece, he discreetly covered it with rice so Felix wouldn’t notice.
“Thank you for the meal.”
Felix scooped up some soup but hesitated to take a sip, nervously watching Lowell’s mouth instead.
He felt like an artist presenting his first painting to a distinguished critic.
The quiet sound of Lowell chewing contrasted sharply with the loud thumping of Felix’s heart.
“It’s delicious. There’s barely any spice, but it’s sweet. The ratio of lean meat to fat is good, and it’s mild and light enough to be perfect for dinner.”
Felix knew Lowell was being generous.
When he had tasted the dish earlier, he’d found it strangely ambiguous—not quite good, not quite bad, just oddly unremarkable.
And yet, through Lowell’s words, it had been transformed into a “mild and clean dish.”
“You don’t have to force yourself to eat if it’s not good.”
“It really is delicious.”
Wondering if the flavors had somehow deepened while the dish sat, Felix took a bite of the meat with his fork.
But no—it tasted just as peculiar as before.
“Didn’t we agree not to lie?”
Felix, who looked as though he wanted to spit out the food, placed his hand over his mouth and shot Lowell a betrayed glare.
“Objectively speaking, it’s not the most remarkable dish, but for me, there’s nothing more delicious than this. I’m not forcing myself, so don’t worry.”
If the food had been truly inedible, Lowell would have only pretended to eat for the sake of his health.
But as it was, it was just somewhat mediocre.
To him, that was more than enough to enjoy.
“Are you being serious?”
“If you don’t want to eat it, Felix-nim, just give it to me. I’ll finish everything.”
Lowell scooped up another big bite, layering his rice generously with the meat.
He chewed with a slight smile, looking far from someone forcing himself to eat.
“…Fine. I’ll eat, too.”
Instead of pushing his plate toward Lowell, Felix took another bite himself.
Maybe it was because Lowell was sitting across from him, smiling happily—somehow, it tasted better this time.
“Please make it again next time.”
It was one of the happiest meals he had ever had.
“You’re going to start rolling around at this rate.”
Having eaten his fill for both lunch and dinner, Lowell now panted like a kitten that had drunk too much milk.
Felix liked seeing him eat well, but watching him suffer from overeating made him feel a little guilty.
“Shall we go for a walk a little earlier than usual?”
“That sounds good.”
As if waiting for the suggestion, Lowell immediately got up and thoroughly prepared for their walk.
Once he passed Felix’s inspection, they stepped outside, where a gust of cold wind rushed to greet them.
Lowell pulled his scarf up to cover his mouth, which made the chill slightly more bearable.
“It feels even colder today.”
“Nix is always at its coldest around this time of year. If it becomes too difficult to endure, let me know. We can travel somewhere warmer for a week.”
“As long as I dress warmly, I’ll be fine. But traveling does sound nice. If we go together, it’d be fun to explore other territories.”
Lowell’s voice lifted a tone higher, slightly excited by the idea of traveling.
Felix let out a small chuckle and nodded.
“I’m not sure if going with me would be fun, though.”
“It’s fun because I’m going with you, Felix-nim.”
Felix thought even the breath Lowell exhaled while speaking was endearing and began mentally listing potential destinations.
“Do you have any place in mind?”
“Hmm, I’m not sure. Anywhere would be nice.”
Since coming here, Lowell had spent time reading books and learning about Nix and the surrounding regions.
However, he hadn’t really had the energy to research good travel destinations.
‘Felix might not know much about travel spots either, but he’s probably better informed than I am.’
Lowell idly waited for his answer.
“There’s a city between Nix and the capital where the seasons are very distinct. In spring, it’s known for its stunning flower festivals, and in autumn, the trees turn breathtaking colors.”
The description was so reminiscent of Korea that Lowell nearly laughed.
“That sounds wonderful.”
“I’ve never been there myself, but I’ve heard it’s a great travel destination. It wouldn’t be a bad choice.”
“Then let’s make that our first trip.”
Felix’s eyes widened at the word “first.”
“And after that, we’ll go on a second trip, and then another, and another.”
It was exactly what Felix had wanted to hear—and what Lowell wished for, too.
Felix had never had someone to travel with, and Lowell had never had a partner or friend close enough to take multiple trips together.
“Alright.”
In the darkness, Felix’s face flushed red as he gave a short reply.
Lowell wasn’t foolish enough to miss the joy hidden within it.
They walked in silence for a while until Lowell’s expression darkened slightly.
‘Did I eat too much after all?’
Despite his frail body, his stomach had always been surprisingly resilient.
He had never felt bloated or struggled with digestion before.
But now, for the first time, he sensed a slight discomfort.
‘Was it the spicy food from earlier? No, it wasn’t that spicy. I’m not in pain, but it’s definitely bothering me.’
He initially thought it wasn’t worth mentioning.
But then again, there was no reason to hide something so minor, either.
Lowell stopped walking and gently tugged the hand he was holding.
Felix, who had been matching his pace, turned to him with questioning eyes.
“Felix-nim, I think my stomach feels a little off.”
Felix’s face instantly turned paler than Lowell’s.
Even in the dark, it was obvious that the color had drained from him.
“I wouldn’t say I feel sick. It’s just different from usual, so I wanted to mention it. We promised to be honest about my health, right?”
As Lowell hurriedly waved his hands to reassure him, Felix’s face regained some color, though his concern didn’t entirely disappear.
“We’re going to see the priest. Now.”
Felix immediately let go of Lowell’s hand—only to scoop him up in his arms.
Lowell, who had been the one to bring it up, couldn’t exactly protest. Instead, he simply allowed himself to be carried.
With Lowell securely in his arms, Felix sprinted toward the castle.
‘It’s amazing how he’s running this fast, yet there’s barely any jostling.’
Lowell marveled to himself.
Thanks to Felix’s speed, they arrived at Tacey’s prayer room in no time.
“Tacey!”
Tacey, who had just finished praying and was about to head back to his room, turned to Felix with wide eyes.
“Lowell says his stomach feels off. I need you to check if there’s anything wrong.”
For a moment, Lowell felt like a wife with an overprotective husband.
But since there was some truth to it, he decided to just accept it.
“Oh dear, could it have been something he ate?”
“I did eat more than usual today.”
* * *
