0&1 Ch 2.1

Edward

It was just after class had ended. Duke Pie spoke to me as I lay sprawled across my desk. “Tomorrow marks the end of Prince Edward’s confinement. We’ll be able to resume lessons as normal.”

Originally, Duke Pie’s lessons were designed for both princes, Joffrey and Edward.

It seemed like Grey had been included as a friend of the princes. When Dot called Grey ‘a friend you study with,’ that must have been what he meant.

The problem was Edward’s one-month house arrest. The Queen had banned anyone from entering Edward’s palace.

That anyone also included Duke Pie.

If one of the three students was absent, the other two would have to continue, but for some reason, Grey also did not attend class. As a result, I had to attend Duke Pie’s class alone.

“Haven’t we gone a bit too far ahead? Will the others be able to catch up?” I asked with a smile, knowing that you can’t spit on a smiling face.

Duke Pie replied with a serious expression. “It’s fine. What you’ve heard was supplemental.”

I looked at Duke Pie with an expression that said, ‘Teacher, you’re joking too much,’ and then I felt sad. The Duke was not the type of person who understood jokes.

“I’m glad you have the energy to joke around. I was worried that you were completely exhausted lately. You should be able to read the books you need for the next lesson.”

Then he handed me three books to read over the weekend. Each one was as thick as a dictionary.

I was glad he had faith in me, but I didn’t believe I could actually read them all in two days. Was I supposed to stay awake all weekend?

Two days later, I rubbed my sleepy eyes and entered the dining hall. Joffrey’s father, the  King, had sent someone early in the morning to summon us for a family meal.  

It was the first time meeting the  King. He hadn’t visited Joffrey at all while he was sick, nor even after he recovered.

In contrast to the Queen’s devoted care, I had a vague impression of the  King as a cold-hearted man.

In reality, the  King was a very young and handsome man. The Queen also looked like she was in her twenties, but I assumed that was because of the same principle that celebrities don’t age. Spend enough money and your skin stays good.

But the  King really did look like he might be in his mid-twenties. Unlike the Queen, he didn’t wear any makeup. Thinking about it, Joffrey was eleven years old. If the  King had married at around fourteen, like in the old Joseon Dynasty, and had a child, he would be around twenty-five.

“You’re late,” The King said. He didn’t even look at Joffrey. The Queen gave me a quick glance, but I wasn’t perceptive enough to pick up on the complicated signal.

When I gave her a ‘what do you mean?’ kind of face, she glanced at the  King and lowered her gaze to the table.

The King sat at the head of the table, while the Queen and Edward sat to either side.

It had been a month since I last saw Edward. He was sitting alone at the large dining table, and my heart ached.

I sat beside Edward. It didn’t look like any scars were left on his face, even after getting hit that badly.

I couldn’t tell if that was a relief or not. Did the  King know about what happened?

Whether he did or didn’t know, I didn’t think it would make me feel any better.

“Did you not hear me say you were late?” the  King suddenly asked.

I looked around. The Queen and Edward were both looking at me.

“Huh?”
“Didn’t you hear me say you were late?”

The King was annoyed. I was speechless. He called me in the middle of the night, and now he’s complaining?

The Queen was frantically signaling to me with her eyes.

“I’m sorry.” I apologized helplessly.

“Let’s start eating.” The King sighed.

I had just caught the smell of fried eggs and my mouth had started to water, but surprisingly, at that moment, I completely lost my appetite.

The servants brought out the dishes. When the  King picked up his utensils, the Queen picked up her fork too. Fresh salad, bread and jam, and a fried egg were placed on each plate.

I spread jam on my bread.

“Pick up the bread with your hand,” the  King said.

“Excuse me?”
“I said hold the bread in one hand and spread the jam. Leaving it on the plate is unsettling.”

Good grief.

“Yes. That’s a good idea,” the Queen quickly interjected.

I closed my mouth and picked up the bread with my left hand. Then, with the knife in my right, I scooped some jam and spread it on the bread.

“Looks like you’re bathing it in jam,” the  King said, and I pretended not to hear, but he didn’t stop. “Won’t that drown out the taste of the bread?”

“I like the taste of jam.”

The King paused. “What did you say?”  

“Prince Joffrey, would you like some milk?” the Queen asked while holding up a bottle of milk. Her arm was trembling as if the bottle was heavy. But since she was smiling so desperately, I couldn’t help but answer.

“Yes, please.”

Even though my cup already had fruit juice in it.

A servant went to fetch a new cup. During that time, the dining hall was silent. If I had known this was the kind of meal it would be, I  wouldn’t have come.

If I had pretended to be sick, the Queen definitely would have told me to rest.

Even in this atmosphere, Edward was eating just fine. His pace wasn’t fast, but he was putting large amounts into his mouth at once. He kept cutting, spreading, and chewing without pause. Like someone who hadn’t eaten in days.

“Edward. You’ll get sick if you keep that up.” the Queen said gently.

At that, Edward froze as if he’d been slapped, then set down his fork and let his arms hang limply beneath the table.

Something was off about the atmosphere…

The Queen suddenly burst into laughter.

“Oh, I didn’t mean for you not to eat. I just meant that you should maintain your dignity… It’s not good to eat so greedily, Edward. Right?”

The Queen continued to laugh, but Edward’s face was so pale that it was hard to believe anyone could look at it and still smile.

A servant brought over the cup and the Queen personally poured the milk and placed it in front of me. The cup clattered against the table.

“Thank you.”

The dining hall fell silent again.

Edward had stopped eating, and now there were two cups in front of me. Finally, the  King got to the real reason he had called us.

“Joffrey, I heard you fell off a horse.”

I looked up at the  King. His eyebrows rose. He wanted a response.

“Yes.”
“Are you still afraid of horses?”

The Queen suddenly lifted her head and stared intently at the  King. I had a feeling my answer would be important.

“I’m not afraid.”

“Really?” The King seemed surprised. “Then why the accident?”

“Because I don’t know how to ride.”
“Are you trying to be clever?”  

Why is this man picking a fight over every little thing?

“I don’t know how to ride well, so I tried to learn, and I fell. That’s all there is to it.”

The King stared at me like we were in a staring contest. I blinked four times, but he didn’t even blink once.

“In that case, you should learn from a good teacher,” he concluded.

“Your Majesty. Prince Joffrey is physically frail. You know that.” The Queen pleaded, but the King didn’t budge.

“Riding is a basic skill for royalty. You’re too soft on him.”
“But there was an accident just recently…”

“Milane. You are a good mother, but if you keep this up, I will have to reconsider entrusting you with the Princes’ education. He’s not broken or anything, he’s fine. Boys grow up by getting hurt.”

The King turned to me. “What do you think, Joffrey? Are you too weak to ride?”

There’s no way I could say yes to that here. “No.”

The Queen frowned. Edward turned to look at me, eyes wide.

Whatever this was, I felt like I had made a mistake. I was about to say ‘maybe not’ to the King.

“Good. Then I want to see you at the hunting grounds in three months.”

The King stood from his seat. As the Queen moved as if to stop him, he said, “You should finish your meal. I have state affairs to attend to.”

The moment the King left, the Queen pulled me into her arms.

“Are you all right, Prince Joffrey? You are truly brave. Your mother spoke foolishly, not knowing that the prince had made up his mind so firmly. Wait a little longer. Your mother will find you the best knight in the Kingdom.”

Over her shoulder, I saw Edward hesitating. He looked like he had something to say to me.

“Mother, just a moment…”
“Oh, I’m tearing up.  I thought you were just a child in my arms.”

The Queen was sniffling. It wasn’t just pretending to cry; her eyes were sparkling. No matter what, the Queen loved Joffrey.  

“Prince Joffrey, please be careful. If you fall ill, this mother won’t be able to sleep.”

My mom must be worrying about me like this too.

“Yes, Mother.” I hugged the Queen back. She held me tightly for a long time.

By the time I remembered Edward, he had already left the dining hall.