Yeah, he must be annoyed.
Jedrier could have understood it even if Henry had simply stormed out of the place right then and there.
But a moment later, warmth touched his cheek.
His gaze naturally lifted, and he met Henry’s eyes.
“Lord Jeri.”
And Henry didn’t look angry.
“Mhm.”
“Don’t worry about that. Let’s go chop some firewood.”
Before Jedrier knew it, he had been brought outside. He stamped his feet as he looked around the garden, which was open on all sides.
When he had looked at it through the window from inside, the dense bushes and tall trees had made it feel almost like a fortress.
But now that he was actually outside….
“Isn’t this way too visible? What if someone sees us?”
“Who would look at an old palace like this?”
Before Jedrier could say that the Emperor supposedly knew everything that happened in the palace, Henry spoke first.
“Actually, I received permission to cut down trees for firewood.”
“W-when?”
“Earlier.”
Haven’t we been together this whole time?
Still, Henry had no reason to lie to him, so Jedrier slowly nodded.
If he had already received permission, why had he said earlier that Jedrier could give the Emperor his name if he was questioned?
The suspicion that was about to form scattered into the air like dust when Henry spoke again.
“So don’t worry about anything and rest here for a while.”
Jedrier carefully lowered himself onto a chair so old it looked ready to collapse at any moment. He placed his hands neatly on his knees and obediently waited for Henry.
Not long after, Henry emerged from the bushes holding an axe.
“Fortunately, there was an axe.”
“The blade is chipped.”
The axe head was old.
It might have been enough to take off a person’s head, but it looked woefully inadequate for chopping wood.
Unlike Jedrier, who was looking at it worriedly, Henry’s expression barely changed.
He simply lifted the axe and gave it a brief inspection.
“It’s fine.”
It really doesn’t look fine….
Jedrier forced down his doubts.
“Mhm.”
But the moment Henry swung the axe, Jedrier’s concern turned to relief, then quickly into shock.
It was definitely a terribly old axe.
He had clearly seen the chips in the blade….
So how was Henry swinging it like that?
Every time Henry brought the axe down, a tree fell.
And every fallen tree steadily turned into firewood.
Before he knew it, Jedrier was clapping like a seal.
“You’re amazing, Henry! Aren’t you tired?”
The moment Henry paused and lowered the axe, Jedrier hurriedly brought him some water.
How could he have chopped that much wood without even breaking a sweat?
And what was with those solid muscles?
“I think that’s enough firewood now.”
“Isn’t this far too little to get through the winter?”
Jedrier shook his head.
Henry was going to leave before long anyway.
And the same was true for Jedrier.
So this much should be enough.
Besides, he didn’t want to make Henry work any harder.
“It’s fine. I don’t think we need any more.”
“May I ask why?”
“Hm? Th-that’s a little….”
Jedrier trailed off.
He couldn’t tell him the truth.
It was better if Henry didn’t know.
That way, if something happened later, there would be nothing anyone could blame him for.
“Let’s go eat now.”
Jedrier bent down to pick up some firewood, but Henry was much faster.
And for some reason….
‘He looks a little upset.’
Now that they had actually chopped the wood, was he getting worried?
That would be understandable.
After all, the Emperor was an incredibly terrifying man.
‘Why would you say you’re innocent? I know very well that over ten years ago, you picked a red flower from the imperial garden. You dared to touch something that belonged to the Emperor.’
‘Y-you gave me permission, did you not?’
‘Me? Surely not.’
The corners of the Emperor’s mouth twisted upward.
‘There was no one who heard me tell you such a thing, while countless people saw you pick that flower.’
It had been one of the creepiest scenes in the novel.
Fortunately, the noble who picked the flower hadn’t had his head chopped off, but he had been exiled to the countryside.
Everyone knew the Emperor had been making an absurd accusation, but no one dared challenge him.
They were too busy being grateful that they weren’t the sacrifice.
‘Well… does it matter?’
Jedrier wasn’t going to have anything to do with the Emperor anyway.
Thinking that, he followed behind Henry, who had scooped up an armful of firewood.
“Wait for me.”
Jedrier moved up beside Henry, whose pace had noticeably slowed.
Henry disappeared after telling him to prepare the ingredients, and when he came back, he had an ember in his hand.
It hadn’t even been a full minute since he went outside.
Didn’t it almost look as though someone outside had handed him the ember and he had immediately come back in?
Suspicion began to rise inside Jedrier like steam, only to be extinguished at once as though someone had poured water over it.
‘What am I suspicious of Henry for!’
If Henry really were some shameless person secretly deceiving him, why would he have been so kind?
Without hesitation, he had lent Jedrier money, bought him a meal, and had even tried to buy him clothes.
And as though that weren’t enough, he had bought him an entire basket full of groceries.
Was that all?
‘He chopped firewood too!’
With that chipped axe!
And hadn’t he even brought back an ember?
Suspecting Henry was something a decent human being absolutely should not do.
“I’ll grill the meat too….”
He could grill some vegetables alongside it and eat them together, right?
Henry ate a lot, so….
Jedrier’s eyes moved toward the chunks of meat.
Three pieces should be just right!
He could do this!
Jedrier rolled his sleeves up to his elbows, his eyes gleaming with determination.
Fortunately, the cooking was a success.
He thought he had messed up the heat control a little, but considering he had made this much using unfamiliar tools, he would only improve from here.
Jedrier placed two appetizing pieces of grilled meat onto Henry’s plate.
He put the slightly burnt piece onto his own.
Just looking at the glossy meat made him swallow automatically.
It was the first positive feeling he had experienced since waking up in this unfamiliar place.
“Here, hurry and eat!”
“Yes.”
“How is it?”
The moment Henry started chewing the meat, Jedrier immediately asked.
He knew he should give the boy enough time to chew and swallow, but he was impatient.
“It’s delicious.”
“Really?”
Only after hearing Henry’s answer did Jedrier begin cutting his own meat.
As he felt the meat practically melt in his mouth, he thought he should grill a little more tomorrow.
How much did they have left again?
He could give Henry four pieces, and Jedrier himself could eat about half a piece.
Just in case, he planned to ration it.
They talked about various things throughout the meal.
“Your family must have been pleased, since you came here as His Majesty’s concubine.”
“Mhm….”
They had been pleased, all right.
They had gotten rid of an irritating burden at the same time.
They had probably raised a celebratory toast after sending him to the palace.
But Jedrier didn’t want to tell Henry something that depressing.
“I was wondering whether it was appropriate for me to say this.”
“Why would you worry about that! Just tell me everything.”
Jedrier quickly pulled his chair closer.
This was the first time Henry was opening up and talking about something himself, so Jedrier had to listen carefully and share some wisdom about life!
After all, Jedrier was still better at reading the room than Henry.
“What if you asked your family for help?”
“…….”
From Henry’s perspective, it was actually a perfectly reasonable thing to suggest.
Since Jedrier had the powerful backing of House Olson, Henry probably couldn’t understand why he was living in such poverty.
“…I just.”
The only words that came to mind were because I hate them, because I hate them so much, because I really, really hate them.
Fragments of memories surfaced one after another.
Memories of being abused and persecuted by his family.
Even though Jedrier himself hadn’t personally lived through those things, his breathing grew tight.
He set down the utensils he was holding and clasped his trembling hands together.
“You told me you wouldn’t accept help from your family, but I forgot. I’m sorry, Lord Jeri.”
His heart was pounding rapidly, but Jedrier waved his hand at Henry, who had lowered his head toward him, telling him it was fine.
The meal ended in that awkward atmosphere.
Jedrier glanced at Henry, who seemed deep in thought, but he didn’t know how to start talking again, so he kept his mouth shut.
‘I should think a little about how I’m supposed to act whenever family comes up.’
If he kept fumbling around like this, Henry would grow suspicious in no time.
Jedrier sat there blankly for a while, then stood up when he saw Henry collecting the empty dishes.
“I’ll wash the dishes.”
“I can do—”
“Please sit.”
Henry made Jedrier sit back down with a firm voice.
The dishes in Henry’s hands looked so small, almost like toys children would use while playing house.
‘Our Henry has big hands too.’
Was that why he was so good at chopping wood?
Jedrier caught hold of his thoughts before they wandered too far along that stream of consciousness.
When Henry finished washing the dishes, Jedrier got up again.
But as though he had eyes on the back of his head, Henry spoke in a dry voice.