This morning, he had found his food lacking in flavor, but that was not the case now. The blandness and emptiness he had felt were replaced by a mouthful of sensation and richness.
“Aaron, wash these and bring them here. Immediately.”
The usually calm voice of the Duke was now filled with excitement, an unfamiliar tone to Aaron. Setting aside his surprise, Aaron quickly left the drawing room.
Unable to contain his excitement, Lucino turned to Sylvia with a question.
“What have you prepared today?”
“Pardon?”
“Your lunchboxes, I mean.”
The way he spoke as if he was accustomed to eating them every day puzzled Sylvia, but she answered promptly,
“Today’s lunchbox includes bossam.”
The pork here was significantly large, so the key was to boil the lean meat until tender.
Craving the bossam wrapped in kimchi, which she had often eaten back home, Sylvia prepared it with ginger, garlic, onions, green onions, bay leaves, whole black pepper, salt, and even apples and tangerines for a thorough boil.
The bossam, infused with the aromas of fruits and vegetables, turned out tender and soft. While boiling the bossam, Sylvia also prepared radish kimchi and seasoned chives. It was a convenient kimchi that could be made without fish sauce.
She sliced the radish thickly, salted it well, and let it sit for about 30 minutes before rinsing it off. This process yielded a radish with a soft yet crisp texture, perfect for kimchi.
She added minced garlic, chili powder, sugar, sesame seeds, and used Galbus oil instead of soy sauce. Then, she thinly sliced some pears and chestnuts and mixed them in.
The chives were cut to a palatable length and seasoned similarly to the radish kimchi, with the addition of sesame oil for a nutty flavor.
The well-stuffed cabbage was lightly salted to make it easier to wrap, and various lettuces, dandelion leaves, and angelica leaves were also prepared. Sylvia enjoyed the bitter taste of dandelion and angelica leaves but wondered if the locals would appreciate them as well.
Eating food, especially meat, with a slightly bitter taste can enhance the flavor of the meal. Sylvia carefully packed the lunchbox with fluffy rice, bossam, wrap vegetables, kimchi and seasoned radish, and beetroot pickles in separate compartments.
A potato pancake, made by simply grating potatoes and frying them, was cut into manageable pieces and added to fill a corner, completing the hearty lunchbox.
Sylvia pulled out a lunchbox from her spatial backpack. Lucino, whose eyes had been sparkling with anticipation, watched intently as she opened the lid.
The still-warm meat gleamed invitingly at him.
“The pork is boiled, not grilled, and it comes with accompanying vegetables, rice, and potato pancakes.”
Sylvia began to explain each item in the lunchbox as if she were a restaurant server describing a dish to the Duke.
His gaze was so focused and eager, like a student passionately absorbing a lecture from a teacher, that she continued to detail the food in a gentle tone.
“You can place the meat on this pickled cabbage, add some radish kimchi and seasoned chives, then wrap it with rice and beetroot pickles. It can also be eaten wrapped in lettuce. You can choose to eat just the meat or any combination you prefer. The dandelion and angelica leaves might be a bit bitter, but they’re not just bitter; they have a sweet undertone and a unique aroma that goes well with the meat.”
As Lucino listened intently, not wanting to miss a word, he slowly unfolded his arms. Just then, Aaron entered with a silver plate of green grapes.
“Your Grace.”
With a respectful bow, Aaron placed the green grapes in front of Lucino. Setting a small plate before him, Aaron asked,
“Shall I separate them for you?”
Aaron couldn’t imagine the Duke picking the grapes himself, but Lucino was captivated by the fresh allure of the green grapes and didn’t respond, instead plucking one from the bunch.
Crunch.
The grape burst with a single bite, flooding his mouth with sweetness.
“Hmm.”
A satisfied hum escaped him, his face lighting up with pleasure. It was a reaction unique to him when enjoying something delicious.
“Hmm, the taste is excellent.”
Lucino continued to eat the grapes, finding the skin slightly tart and the flesh sweet.
While his gaze remained on the lunchbox, he couldn’t stop reaching for the grapes, consuming half of the bunch before pushing the plate aside with a contented sigh.
“Hmm, this is an unusual dish.”
Bossam, was it?
The name had a unique pronunciation. The meat looked different from what he was used to, and the subtle scent of spices stirred his appetite. Lucino first served himself a piece of bossam using two forks, then cut it into a bite-sized piece and elegantly placed it in his mouth.
The sweet aroma was the first to tease his nostrils, and the meat vanished almost as soon as it entered his mouth. The tenderness of the meat was so remarkable that it made one wonder if it could possibly be too soft. Even filling his mouth with the remaining pieces didn’t feel overwhelming. Rather, it was only then that he could truly savor the flavor of the meat.
Lucino’s appetite was fully aroused. The listlessness he had felt in the morning vanished. He remembered Sylvia’s explanation from moments ago. Setting aside his fork and knife, Lucino picked up a lettuce leaf with his hand.
“Your Grace!”
Aaron, startled by his action, tried to intervene, but Lucino was quicker. Holding the lettuce in his hand felt strange; he had never considered eating with his hands before and was intrigued by the light, almost weightless feel of the lettuce leaf.
However, his contemplation was brief. It felt improper to be lost in thought with food before him. Yet, he hesitated after placing a piece of bossam on the lettuce, unsure of what else to add. Sylvia interjected, offering guidance.
“Place some of this red radish kimchi on top, add a beetroot pickle, scoop a bit of rice, and wrap it.”
Lucino attempted to follow her instructions, but wrapping the ssam proved to be a challenge. Balancing the lettuce in one hand and trying to pick up the food with a fork was not as easy as he had thought.
Sylvia, looking even more distressed, gently offered,
“Your Grace, may I… help you?”
Lucino’s eyes asked how, without words.
With a bright smile, Sylvia pulled out a new pair of cypress chopsticks from her bag. Lucino raised an eyebrow at the sight of the chopsticks. Sylvia placed radish kimchi and a beetroot pickle atop the lettuce and meat, then added a bit of rice.
“Wrap the lettuce like this and eat it in one bite. It might seem a bit large, but that’s how you fully experience the flavors.”
Her earnest teal eyes gave a reassuring nod. As if under a spell, Lucino opened his mouth wide for the first time in front of someone and stuffed the rolled ssam inside. The fullness of the food felt awkward. He slowly chewed, blinking his purple gem-like eyes.
First, the crunchy texture of the lettuce was felt, followed by the meat and rice, then the spicy taste of the radish kimchi, and finally, the sweet and sour taste of the beetroot pickle.
Lucino’s eyes changed after a few chews.
Swallow.
After swallowing the food, Lucino remained silent for a moment. Watching his beautiful face blink in silence, Sylvia felt a surge of nervous excitement.
It was as if…
She was an idol on stage awaiting the judges’ verdict, fixating on his red lips for any sign.
“The flavors… are very harmonious.”
Hearing his verdict, Sylvia’s face lit up with joy, and she waved the chopsticks triumphantly.
Then, Eryngium murmured,
[Look at that. He really likes it.]
Forgetting the fairy’s presence and the fact that she had been practically dragged here, Sylvia remained quietly silent.
Lucino reached for another lettuce leaf, and his eyes communicated silently.
‘What, not adding anything to the wrap?’
…Sylvia thought…
She busily maneuvered the chopsticks again, filling the lettuce with bossam, seasoned chives, angelica leaves, and a beetroot pickle.
Lucino, who immediately took it to his mouth, chewed thoughtfully before commenting,
“It has a unique aroma, but it’s not bad… In fact, it seems to stimulate the appetite.”
Tapping his fingers on the table, Lucino shared his thoughts. This time, he picked up a pickled cabbage leaf. Sylvia topped it with two pieces of bossam and only radish kimchi this time.
“Try it like this now.”
Lucino, puzzled by the simpler combination compared to the previous one, nevertheless popped it into his mouth without complaint.
“Hmm.”
Simple yet delicious. The sweetness of the cabbage leaf perfectly complemented the two pieces of meat and the spiciness of the radish kimchi.
Next was a wrap with dandelion leaves.
“Hmm, a different kind of bitterness than before, but this suits my taste more.”
Then came the potato pancake.
“This is… potato. A unique texture.”
Sylvia, as if possessed, expertly prepared the wraps and handed him the potato pancake. Aaron watched, dumbfounded, as the Duke effortlessly accepted and ate everything offered to him.
The situation had unfolded too quickly for any intervention, and now it was beyond stopping. Sylvia moved right next to Lucino, continuing to serve him various items.
She was always especially generous to those who enjoyed their food.
“This is like an apple but smaller. However, the texture is the same, and the taste is tangier. Try it.”
The fruit looked exactly like an apple but was much smaller. Lucino welcomed this new, unfamiliar fruit.
Crunch crunch.
He quickly devoured it, his eyes widening in surprise.
“Interesting…”
Next, she offered him a plum.
“The taste is really good.”
And then strawberries.
“I’ve had these before, but they’re always so refreshing and sweet.”
Apricot.
“The texture is average, but it has an intriguing appeal.”
Cherry.
“This one!”
Lucino accepted each fruit without hesitation, continuously indulging in the variety presented to him.
Gradually, any aversion to eating with his hands vanished entirely. He even began to accept food directly into his mouth from Sylvia’s hands without realizing the change in his behavior.
Aaron stood petrified, speechless at the unfolding scene, witnessing the Duke consume far more than expected, while Sylvia, delighted by the Duke’s appetite, kept serving him. It was only after about thirty different fruits were served that the meal concluded.
Lucino, cleansing his palate with hot tea, looked at Sylvia with a thoroughly pleased expression. He now noticed her cute appearance; she seemed innocent, yet at times, almost coquettishly charming.
With a heart grown boundlessly generous, Lucino called for Aaron.
“Aaron.”
Experiencing such an unprecedented event in his life as a butler, Aaron snapped to attention at the Duke’s call.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Bring that spatial bag.”
“That spatial bag, you say…”
The spatial bag, usually awarded to the knights of the Visconti household, was a small bag worn around the waist. Made of soft calfskin, it was adorned with diamonds, emeralds, blue sapphires, pink sapphires, rubies, and amethysts—the signature gemstone of the Visconti family—making it an exquisite and rare spatial waist bag.
Aaron quickly fetched the luxurious bag, encased in a fine box. The box, like the bag, bore the Visconti family crest, with various gem shapes engraved on the bag and six gems shining brightly. Lucino placed the box with the bag on the table and channeled his magic into his diamond ring.
A magical circle, exclusive to the Visconti family, was activated.
Sylvia was astounded by the spectacle unfolding before her eyes. It was as if she had entered a museum housing all the jewels of the world.
Golden vines bore fruits and flowers made of various gems: diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, opals, amber, garnets, spinels, lapis lazuli, scapolites, aquamarines, peridots, pearls, and more.
Even more unknown gems sprouted like plants, endlessly growing. Sylvia, sitting on the sofa sipping the tea she had been served, was utterly mesmerized, her head tilting back in awe.
It was a marvel.
This magic was on a different level from anything she had seen before.
Lucino hummed a tune, thoroughly enjoying himself. He felt incredibly good, so good that he believed he could give her anything. Such generosity was rare, even for the closest confidants of the Visconti family.
He grew the jewel tree for Sylvia and, with a cheerful gesture, placed the entire tree into the spatial waist bag.
He carefully closed the box and instructed Aaron to package it.
Seeing Sylvia’s dazed gaze on the scene somehow brightened his mood even more.
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