CPG | Chapter 2

“I’m Rayyan, starting as an attendant today.”

“I didn’t ask for your name. Who are you to come in here?”

“I was instructed to stay here.”

Despite Prince Ternnis’s sharp question, Rayyan answered nonchalantly, maintaining his manners. Ternnis’s brows furrowed more as he watched Rayyan’s calm expression while looking around.

He seemed to answer everything, but something was bothering him. Realizing what it was, Ternnis’s lips twisted.

“Do you know who I am?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Then why aren’t you kneeling?”

Ternnis’s eyes flared with anger at the insolent servant. He understood why the person in front of him was getting on his nerves. Everyone else would kneel and bow their heads, but Rayyan stood straight from the beginning. Was it because he was banished to the castle and had nothing to lose?

After being told not to leave the castle until he died, now they sent an insolent servant. Ternnis’s eyes glinted sharply, as if ready to cut Rayyan down. If he didn’t kneel immediately, he might lose his head right there. The prince’s fierce aura tightened around Rayyan’s neck.

Rayyan felt an invisible mist wrapping around his neck but brushed it off indifferently. It was indeed his fault for not kneeling before the prince. However, he still had no intention of kneeling, because of the basket tucked under his arm.

“I was worried the ingredients would get dirty if I knelt. Please forgive me.”

“Whether they get dirty or not is none of my concern. So, I can’t forgive you.”

Rayyan let out an invisible sigh at the prince’s demand to kneel immediately. Despite his fierce words, it sounded like the petulant annoyance of a young boy who hadn’t grown up yet.

“These are ingredients for Your Highness’s meal. Even if I wash them, it’s my job to keep them as clean as possible.”

“Hmph, excuses.”

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“…What?”

Ternnis momentarily missed his response to the unexpected question. He was contemplating how to suppress the insolent guy in front of him, and now he was being asked if he was hungry? It was ridiculous, but his hand subtly rubbed his stomach under the blanket. He had skipped breakfast while throwing a fit on his way to the castle.

“I’ll prepare a meal.”

“Are you trying to get away with this? Do you think I’ll let you go?”

“I am responsible for attending to Your Highness and preparing meals. I can kneel later, so please allow me to postpone it.”

“You…”

Kneeling wasn’t a big deal, but Rayyan’s smooth words about having work to do made Ternnis narrow his eyes. They hadn’t known each other long, but he sensed this guy wasn’t easy.

‘Fine, go ahead and act as you please. If I don’t like it, I won’t let it slide.’

Of course, whatever feast Rayyan prepared, Ternnis planned to throw the plate at his face. With his nerves on edge, the only target for his frustration was the insolent guy in front of him.

“I’ll prepare the meal.”

Rayyan pretended not to hear the sound of Ternnis grinding his teeth, bowed, and left the room. He headed straight to what he guessed was the dining room. It should be on the first floor…

Just as he was about to step down the stairs, Rayyan paused, thinking of something. He turned to look back at the room he had just left.

“Prince Ternnis…”

He was younger and frailer than expected. Rayyan had imagined a child lying weakly, close to death, but it felt like he’d been blindsided.

“Not bad.”

At least it was better than losing the will to live. Though there was no need to be so prickly, Rayyan preferred those who burned brightly until the end, even if their life might end tomorrow.

“What can he eat?”

His eyes were alive, but there were dark circles under them, and his lips were cracked. Already lacking moisture, he probably exhausted his energy with his temper. To regain strength, maybe meat would be best?

***

Having fallen asleep unknowingly after his tantrum, Ternnis awoke to a savory smell. He looked around the room but saw nothing. Realizing the smell was coming through the window, Ternnis gritted his teeth.

“Insolent…”

How dare he let the smell of food disturb his sleep. And he hadn’t even served it to him, making Rayyan seem even more insolent. Not considering that the castle was much smaller than the main palace and that Ternnis’s room was right above the dining room.

Knowing he planned to throw the plate at him, Rayyan was getting his revenge. Ternnis, thinking only of himself, got out of bed. Dust rose with his small movements, briefly obscuring his view, but he didn’t care.

Dealing with the insolent servant was his priority, and Ternnis stomped his feet roughly.

Thumping down the stairs, Ternnis stopped at the entrance to the dining room. He seemed momentarily speechless at the sight of the dining room. The savory smell he had noticed earlier was stronger, but he didn’t even register it.

The castle had shown signs of neglect since his arrival. Everything, starting with the bed he lay on, was covered in dust and seemed ready to collapse. Being banished to such a castle was akin to declaring Ternnis’s fate as someone who would soon die.

Yet, the dining room before him was clean and warm. It felt like a completely different world. The one who made it this way must be him.

“You’ve arrived.”

Rayyan appeared and bowed deeply. Without the basket, his bow was much deeper. Ternnis, who had been contemplating sharp words to throw at Rayyan, found himself nodding slightly.

“Please, come this way.”

Rayyan gestured to the head of the table, and Ternnis approached as if entranced. Rayyan even pulled out the chair for him, making it easy to sit. He was ready to scold him if he accidentally touched him, but the black-haired servant skillfully pushed in the chair and stepped back.

“You’ve got some skills, cleaning up this filthy place.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“It wasn’t a compliment.”

How dare a worm misinterpret his words. Annoyed, he was about to snap when Rayyan brought out the soup. It seemed the source of the smell he’d been noticing was this soup.

“I made a dish Your Highness can eat.”

“You’re calling this mere soup a dish I can eat?”

Is this even considered a dish?

Though he was in his current state, Ternnis was still a prince of the empire. To someone who had eaten lavish meals to the point of boredom, soup wasn’t something to be called a dish. Of course, despite dismissing it, he couldn’t take his eyes off the soup.

“Where’s the rest? Steak or barbecue?”

Ternnis, though willing to eat the soup, demanded other dishes as if unsatisfied. Rayyan shook his head slightly in response.

“I’m sorry. All the meat I received went into the soup.”

“Ha, what meat could possibly be in this watery soup?”

Ternnis stirred the soup with a spoon, as if to prove a point. Nothing caught on the spoon, so what meat was in there? But Rayyan’s expression remained unchanged. It seemed the soup was all he had made.

Ternnis sent a look of disbelief. Was this fool, who claimed to serve him, only capable of cleaning? Yet, no matter how he looked at it, the servant’s brazen attitude irked him. Everything about him was displeasing.

He decided to eat the soup and then demand something else. With that plan in mind, Ternnis took a sip of the soup. The savory aroma and rich flavor captivated his tongue.

It was heavier than any soup he’d tasted before, yet the texture was smooth. From the moment it entered his mouth to when it went down his throat, it was pleasant, warming him from the inside, and his spoon moved faster and faster.

Watching quietly, Rayyan placed a lukewarm glass of water beside him, having boiled it once. He thought this was the quietest moment since he’d met the prince.

It was a moment when he began to understand how to deal with the prince.