IBSBV Ch 11

Chapter 11

“What’s wrong?” 

“Did you eat yesterday?”

“Well, yeah. I did.”

“When?”

“In between.”

They had practically spent the entire day together, so there was no way he had any time to eat. And it didn’t seem likely that he had snuck in a meal late at night, either.

Although they hadn’t known each other for long, Louis could tell that Eddie had no motivation to take care of himself.

Maybe it was a habit ingrained in him as an assassin, but if he was a living person, there was no way he wouldn’t feel hunger.

“Where is the bread?”

“On your right. If you reach a little further, there are three more pieces in the basket.”

Following Eddie’s words, Louis reached out, feeling around the basket before picking up two pieces of bread and holding them out to him.

“They’re yours. Eat.”

“I’m fine.”

“Why? Why are you fine?”

“I can eat later on my own.”

“If it’s not because you don’t want to eat with me, then eat. Where’s the meat? I think I smell cheese too.”

“They’re all on the left.”

“Cut it in half. And eat your half.”

His firm tone left no room for argument. Overwhelmed by the atmosphere, Eddie, who had been standing by Louis’ side, finally sat down across from him.

He wasn’t particularly hungry, nor did he have much of an appetite, but he forced himself to tear the bread apart and chew little by little.

“Your Highness, what does the bread taste like?”

At Eddie’s question, Louis was reminded that he couldn’t taste anything. He focused on his tongue.

“Hmm, it’s nutty. I don’t know exactly what’s in it, but it’s nutty and… mild? Yeah, I think it’s mild.”

“I see.”

Lowering his gaze, Eddie tried to recall the sensation of taste from long ago. Just that alone wasn’t enough to recreate the nuttiness or mildness, but at least it distanced him somewhat from the feeling of eating mud.

For the first time in a long while, he felt like he was having a proper meal.

Somehow, it felt… a little satisfying.

Even though Louis had shared half of his food, Eddie hadn’t even finished half of that.

A half piece of bread, a few small cuts of meat, and a bit of salad—that was the most his empty stomach could handle.

Louis had been paying attention to him even without looking directly at him, so he easily noticed how little Eddie actually ate before feeling full.

And for some reason, that fact tickled him. Even if it wasn’t some grand secret, the experience of getting to know someone piece by piece felt oddly fascinating.

“It was a good meal.”

“I’m glad you were satisfied.”

“I meant it was good because we ate together.”

The hand wiping Louis’ mouth froze.

“It’s my first time, you see.”

The well-bred beasts raised in the imperial palace were treated with great care. Not only did they live in far better conditions than what he was given, but even their meals and sleeping arrangements were meticulously managed. The same went for pets belonging to the imperial family.

But despite being born into the same imperial palace, Louis had been treated like a discarded animal—a filthy shadow.

Meals were served on time, but no one took the time to check on him or eat with him. He was taught basic table manners, but no one ensured he learned them properly.

After losing his sight, he was bombarded with disgusted stares and blatant ridicule. He had no way of knowing where anything was, so holding a fork and knife was deemed laughable.

Bringing a single spoonful of soup to his lips was a struggle, and cutting into something he couldn’t even identify felt like being trapped in a pitiful hell.

If he had never been taught the basics of human etiquette, he might have at least been spared the humiliation. But his secondhand knowledge only served to make him feel endlessly wretched.

And so, realizing that the warmth of another person sitting across from him could fill more than just his stomach…

Maybe it was a good thing he learned that before he died.

Louis unconsciously clenched his hand into a fist.

Noticing the subtle shift in his expression, Eddie set his napkin down and spoke.

“It’s my first time too. Since losing my sense of taste, no one has ever described the flavor of food to me. You’re the first, Your Highness. Thanks to you, I enjoyed it.”

First time…

Louis silently repeated the words to himself. Then, all of a sudden, his cheeks flushed. Hearing it from Eddie felt different from when he had said it himself.

Becoming someone’s ‘first’—it made the words sink deep into his heart, warm and fuzzy.

Louis’ toes wiggled slightly. Confirming that his mood had improved, Eddie pulled the string gently.

How much time had passed? The butler and Bell entered the room. Bell glanced at Eddie while clearing the empty dishes.

“The head chef has made a cake today. I will bring it with some warm tea shortly.”

Louis turned his head at the butler’s report, who was standing at a slight distance.

“Butler.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“From now on, I will dine with Eddie. Prepare his portion separately as well. That includes dessert.”

The butler’s eyes widened. He looked back and forth between Louis and Eddie, clearly flustered.

Hearing a normal-sounding order from Louis was surprising enough, but the idea of him willingly sharing a meal with someone else was almost unbelievable, even after hearing it with his own ears. Moreover, his voice lacked the usual wary irritation and instead carried a peculiar dignity.

“Why aren’t you answering? Did I make an unreasonable request?”

“Ah, no, Your Highness. I will inform the head chef of your command.”

Snapping out of his daze, the butler hastily responded. Above his head, an opaque status window appeared.

[Extra 1]

Trailing after the butler, who still looked dazed, Bell pushed the trolley.

[Extra 2]

Just in case, Eddie checked above Louis’ head as well, but nothing was there. However, when he summoned the status window in his mind, the same content as before appeared.

[Character 1]

‘So, because the title and keywords haven’t been changed yet, they’re categorized like this.’

Well, character roles naturally shift when the settings change.

“I will step out for a moment, Your Highness.”

Wanting to confirm his suspicions and take care of something necessary, Eddie caught the closing door and stepped into the hallway.

“Butler.”

At his call, the butler stopped and turned around.

“What is it?”

“I believe His Highness should change clothes soon. He’s been wearing only loungewear.”

“Ah—hmm. Follow me.”

With a short sigh, the butler’s expression turned awkward.

Since Eddie’s arrival, Louis had been wearing the same navy loungewear he had first been given.

If there were any other suitable clothes, the butler would have provided them earlier, along with the towels, shampoo, and soap. The fact that he hadn’t meant that the current outfit was probably the only one in decent condition.

Although such details weren’t explicitly mentioned in the novel, it wasn’t hard to deduce given Louis’ circumstances.

Following the butler’s lead, they arrived at the wardrobe room—only to find it almost empty.

As expected, the wardrobe’s contents were pitiful. The few loungewear pieces were old and worn out, the casual clothes were embarrassingly small, and there weren’t any proper outfits for going outside.

There were no decent outerwear pieces either. The only ones available were two thin jackets, completely unsuitable for the northern climate.

Eddie then checked the shoe rack. There were only two pairs, both so neglected that the leather was cracking.

Ahem. A coughing sound filled with embarrassment came from beside him.

“His Highness will need new clothes.”

The butler nodded in agreement.

“Before you arrived, His Highness mostly curled up alone. He rarely turned on the lights. Because of that, I didn’t properly observe how much he had grown.”

“That’s a poor excuse for failing to prepare your master’s clothing and shoes. You know his age. Even without custom tailoring, you could have stocked appropriate ready-made garments. It’s unfortunate that you didn’t.”

Eddie’s gaze swept coldly from the butler’s head to his feet.

Although Eddie had created this character, the butler was a minor extra, so he hadn’t put much effort into defining his personality. In other words, the butler’s current demeanor had likely developed naturally through his experiences in this world.

“Curious, isn’t it? The master is in such a pitiful state, yet the servants are perfectly well-dressed. They eat better, dress better, sleep better, and wear better shoes. Your shoes are particularly polished today.”

“You—”

“Regardless of how the imperial family treats him, His Highness is still royalty. Just because those above mistreat him doesn’t mean the servants should follow suit. There is a clear difference in status. His Highness is not beneath you. Ah, of course, I am not above you either, so if you find my words disrespectful, feel free to reprimand me.”

“That—”

“Why? Do you think I’m being too harsh?”

The butler, who had been about to speak, closed his mouth. Eddie’s quiet yet fierce presence made his throat dry.

He had checked Eddie’s identification and letter of introduction, but that didn’t mean he truly understood the man.

Eddie was unlike the other servants who had come and gone from this place. Though he bowed when necessary, he lacked the air of a subordinate.

Usually, when someone was assigned here alone, they would flatten themselves out to avoid isolation. They certainly wouldn’t speak so freely, nor would they take the initiative to approach Louis like Eddie did.

Considering these points, it was highly likely that Eddie’s background was fabricated. The imperial official who introduced him also remained unidentified. Without knowing whose orders had sent Eddie to this remote northern estate, the butler couldn’t make any rash decisions.

“Give me money. I’ll buy the clothes myself.”

Normally, they would summon a tailor to take measurements, but Louis, who already avoided people, wouldn’t tolerate such a visit.

Entrusting the butler or the nanny wasn’t an option either—they would likely buy what they deemed appropriate rather than what Louis actually needed. The same went for any other servant.

Of course, Eddie also had a secondary reason—he wanted to take a closer look at the northern region’s circumstances.

The butler sighed and turned the door handle.

“Follow me.”