Chapter 37 - Youre F*cked

37. Youre F*cked

Meanwhile, the food began to come out one by one.

Soup in a small plate with amuse-bouche was placed in front of me. (T/N: Amuse-bouche are French appetizers that are bite-sized.)

Maybe it was because of the soup, but it looked like it was the same as Estebans and Oscars. Of course, the amount was smaller.

I was deeply moved by the fact that the foods I was eating were getting closer to regular meals. Did I take a step closer to becoming a human today?

delicious!

The taste was even more touching. After enjoying the savory taste, I could see an empty plate.

Ha.

It was delicious.

Whats the next dish?

As I was waiting with a fluttering heart, I suddenly turned my head because I felt stares.

?

Esteban and Oscar were looking at me with hot stares.

For some reason, they hadnt touched the food.

My gaze briefly went to their soup. They pushed the plate forward at the same time as if they had waited.

Eat this too, Mabel.

Eat more.

ung?

The eyes of the rich men clashed in the air with me in between. But the atmosphere wasnt serious.

A fight?

A war of nerves began between two men whose relationship wasnt good or bad.

When Esteban aimed at Oscar, Oscar responded with a sharp look without losing,

Glare-.

I got into a rough situation because I was caught in the middle of a fiery match.

Why, why are you fighting to feed me?

I was flustered and pulled the plates that the two of them put out.

Thwank you for de food! (Thank you for the food.)

I dont know. Lets eat first.

Its a problem that can be solved by eating both. As expected, eating both the bowls of soup eased Estebans and Oscars expression.

Eat slowly.

Mabel. Is it good?

The eyes of the two men were only on me eating soup. When I nodded, Esteban and Oscar smiled.

You two both have smiles like youre looking at someone poor.

Meanwhile, the next dish came out. I dont know what kind of fish it is, but it was a grilled white fish with butter. This time, my portion of the dish was cut into small pieces to make it easier to eat.

I was eating the fish dish with the leftover soup that was pushed to me. Again, I could feel hot eyes from the front and the side.

wha? (why?)

As soon as I spoke, both Esteban and Oscar competitively pushed their plates in front of me.

Eat mine too!

Eat more, Mabel!

Uung?

Three bowls of soup and three plates of fish were placed in front of me.

On the other hand, there were only glasses of water in front of Esteban and Oscar.

Suddenly, I felt uncomfortable and thought about leaving the meal, but as soon as I put the steamed potato in my mouth, that thought disappeared.

Ahhso good.

The chefs cooking skill was so good that it made me forget about the ridiculous situation.

As if I realized something, I opened my eyes wide and took a plate that hadnt been touched yet.

Give and take?

Fortunately or unfortunately, it wasnt give and take. It wasnt stealing. The stand-in-Emperor skillfully placed the fish on my plate.

My Mabel. Dad is thrilled to see you enjoy the meal.

Munch munch. I didnt answer and only ate diligently.

Im going to ignore him and eat quickly.

Its none of my business whether that brother and father, who didnt answer, starve or not!

By the time I finished my portion of the fish, the mouth-watering dish, sherbet, came out before the main menu. I took a small spoonful of the sherbet from my small bowl and put it in my mouth.

Mmm!

Its refreshing and cool. I felt better when I had sweet things, so my feet swing back and forth.

And this time, as always-.

Here, Mabel. Eat this too.

Theres more here. Eat a lot.

Thus, in front of me were three bowls of soup, three plates of fish, and three bowls of sherbet. A feast for one.

Sigh. Lets see how far it goes.

The servant who brought the next main fish looked at the table in surprise.

The m-main dish is steak.

A plate was placed in front of each of us. I scooped a very small piece of meat with a spoon.

My eyes widened as soon as I took one bite.

This!

Its the heavenly taste of the heavens! This was not just meat. It was beyond the art of cooking!

I couldnt hide my excitement and took another bite of the food.

Nyam.

Heub!

Its so delicious; this world really was unreasonable.

I shouldve been given a stomach to eat as much as I want.

It was sad and lamentable that I was already full. I wanted to eat 10 or 20 more dishes.

Seeing my expression, the stand-in-Emperor asked, Whats wrong, Mabel? Does the food not suit your taste?

I could feel a gaze from far away, so I turned my head. The chef was looking at me with a nervous face, and as soon as out eyes met, he suddenly disappeared.

Ith yummy. (Its yummy.)

But why do you look so gloomy?

Becauthe ith so yummy I want two eat a wot but ma bewwy ith too small. (Because its so yummy I want to eat a lot but my belly is too small.)

It made me sad without realizing it. I was upset. Then Oscar, who was watching silently, shouted with a sad face and pushed his plate to me.

Eat more. Mabel, eat more!

?

I dont think thats what I meant? When I looked at him confused, the stand-in-Emperor took a sip.

Yes, eat as much as you want! Eat this too. Eat it all!

A-ah wont eat. (I-I wont eat.)

Now I couldnt eat anymore because I was full. I was still young, just how much can I eat.

But excited by the situation, the stand-in-Emperor raised his hand and ordered the servants.

Hey, bring in the next dish!

Yes, yes!

The kitchen became very noisy again.

Sigh

I sighed deeply.

I was going to see how far it goes and its going really far.

It was no longer possible to see other people suffering because of the stand-in-Emperor.

I put down my spoon and declared.

Fwom now on, I won eat with bu-hang and Othcar. (From now on, I wont eat with Bu-Hwang and Oscar.)

What?

How come, Mabel!

Oscar and Esteban looked shocked. Even though those faces weakened my heart, I held it in.

Yeah, this is good. Lets make spiteful remarks.

The thought of it as a stepping stone for the abdication set my heart.

I looked up at the stand-in-Emperor with a hateful expression.

I dwon nweed it. (I dont need it.)

!

Ith againth table mannews. (Its against table manners.)

I said spitefully, but it wasnt wrong.

I had never been taught manners, but I knew that they werent giving away their share of food.

Then the white-faced Esteban spoke with trembling lips, I wont do it again.

Oscar also bowed his head with a solemn face.

I did it because I wanted Mabel to eat a lot No, I wont make excuses. Im sorry, Mabel. I was wrong.

The atmosphere suddenly subsided.

Seeing the two men who hit each other reflect on themselves as if they were sinners, I couldnt erase the feeling of being trash.

On top of that, theyre both pretty and handsome!

Ugh. I cant be weak here.

Oscar glanced at me with a poor face, perhaps because he saw through my psychology.

Mabel

Nwo Mabel. Dwont call me! (No Mabel. Dont call me!)

When I gathered my thought again and shouted wickedly, I saw the stand-in-Emperor glance at the kitchen to send a signal.

What are you doing now? You think Im going to let you do what you want?

I snorted, thinking it was a lame trick-.

Its cheese cake and strawberry juice.

Cwake! (Cake!)

I fell for it

When I came to my senses, my hand was already holding a fork. I could feel Oscar and the stand-in-Emperors gaze on me as if I were cute.

I lost.

Since it had already looked ridiculous, it was useless to regain the mood and get angry again.

I ate cheesecake while huffing. Theres a separate stomach for dessert.

Say if you want to eat more.

Mabel. Eat my cake, no, Ill eat it

When I glared at Oscar who tried hard to push his plate to me, he quickly stopped and began to eat his share.

Its finally a peaceful meal time. I enjoyed the peace and slowly enjoyed the small cheesecake I was given.

Bu-Hwang. Ill be back at the Duchy in about two days.

Yes, be careful, Oscar.

The rich men turned off their interest in me and talked about other topics.

It was when I finished the cake and emptied the glass of juice.

Euung?

My body suddenly heated up as if I had entered into a blazing stove. Because of the Imperial Palaces fortress kept the temperature stable with magic, there was no sudden change in temperature.

As I looked around confused, the stand-in-Emperor and Oscar turned their attention to me.

Mabel. Whats wrong?

No-.

It was then when I was talking.

Cough-. Something hot flowed down from my mouth with a cough.

As I raised my head puzzled, I could see two people looked at me with shock-stained faces.

Lets take off the hand covering my mouth.

blood?

Blood was in my hands. The stand-in-Emperor jumped up belatedly.

Mabel! Hey, call the doctor!

M-Mabel!

The surrounding area began to get noisy. I stared at my red palms with a serious face.

There was still a sense of sanity.

Did I eat poison?

However, the strange thing was that my body was too hot to have eaten poison and not painful enough to pass out.

But unlike me, who was fine, the stand-in-Emperor and Oscar looked around me, gasping for breath.

The voice of the stand-in-Emperor holding me in his arms was mournful.

Mabel, wait a little bit. The doctor is coming soon

What to do, Mabel. Doctor! Why are you so late?!

Seeing the rich man making a fuss made me feel guilty. For no reason, I couldnt make eye contact.

I wouldnt be this shy if I were really sick.

So I.

Aish, I dont know.

I pretended to faint.

It was natural that the two men sobbed my name.

***

There were nervous footsteps moving back and forth. I saw the stand-in-Emperor wandering around the bedroom.

He questioned the doctor who finished his examination.

Why did Mabel faint all of a sudden? Is it poison?

It is not poison.

The imperial court doctor who examined me this time was the man who had a hard time when I collapsed last time.

So he didnt quit his job

I listened to their conversation waiting for the right timing to open my eyes.

If its not poison, what is it? She collapsed and threw up blood!

That Im also not quite sure.

you dont know?

Even with my eyes closed, I could feel the atmosphere getting cold. The doctor standing in front of me began to tremble.

Ahm okway. Ahm not swick at all! (Im okay. Im not sick at all!)

Mabel?

Ahm heawthy. (Im healthy.)

I stretched out my short arms to prove my normalness. Then the stand-in-Emperors mouth, which had been closed tightly, slightly loosened.

Taking advantage of the gap, the doctor looked at my body again. The stand-in-Emperor questioned the doctor with a fierce face.

How is she now?

Except for the decline in energy, she is very healthy. She will be fine if she eats well and rests well.

She has to eat well?

Yes. She needs to eat well.

At that moment, the countless meals that I ate passed through my head.

What do you mean I should eat well, Im confident that I eat well.

I glanced sideways at the doctor with squinting eyes.

Quack.

***

Here, have one more bite.

Nwo!

I never thought Id get tired of food. I ran away to the garden to avoid the persistent stand-in-Emperor and his bowl.

Hek, hek

After running for a long time, I looked back, and the stand-in-Emperor was no where to be seen. It was either I ran away well or he gave up.

Leths rest (Lets rest)

Sitting on a nearby tree, I leaned back. I didnt know how I felt.

My body is getting hot and Im feeling weak. Whats happening?

[Maybe its because the sacred force is too loose for the little Mabel.]

Kitty.

It was the kitty answered my innermost thoughts.

[Its been like that since the property was absorbed. Its because your bowl is still immature.]

It doethnt exactwy huwt. (It doesnt exactly hurt.)

[Its the struggle of an immature vessel to adapt to divine power. Itll get better as Mabel grows.]

Hm.

Does that mean Ill vomit blood often until I grow up? Thats a bit

It wasnt difficult to predict who was behind the absorption by bringing the sacred object into my bedroom. There are several candidates, but the most likely one was the Holy Kingdom of Abelardo.

Because they wanted to take me.

Maybe thats why they tried to open up the sacred force and create a situation where I had no choice but to visit them. However, there was no evidence.

And a few days later, I was passing by the stand-in-Emperors office.

Gustavs voice was heard through the slightly open door.

Oh my. Wheres the holy object you left here? We need to send it back to Abelardo.

I was sure when I heard that. Abelardo was behind this shady incident.

What a crappy feeling.

I had no thoughts about Abelardo, but this changed the story.

I added a new list to the Throw Away list in my head.

The first one was Duke Javier. The second addition was the Kingdom of Abelardo.

Youwe f*cked. (Youre f*cked.)