The Seed Thief

“Lulu, have you ever tasted sugar?”

“No, I’ve only seen it in books.”

“And what about pepper?”

“I’ve only seen that in books too.”

“If you have both, you can create more flavorful meals.”

“Really? Like salt?”

“Yes, but it has a completely different taste. It’s as sweet as honey…”

Lulu’s mouth was agape as she listened to Ervandas’ explanation.

Among the things found in the mountains within the forest, salt was the only and greatest seasoning Lulu knew. Sprinkling it made everything, from meat to potatoes, taste even more delicious.

But there was something else that was just as amazing. She had learned of it from the witch’s cookbook but couldn’t grasp its exact nature.

Sweet like honey, yet with a different kind of sweetness. Were there other kinds of sweetness? And as for pepper, she couldn’t imagine its taste.

Ervandas continued, revealing various aspects of the world beyond just food: clothing, pens, desks, dishes, and more.

Lulu knew the forest witch had never magically created those things. Still, there was a distinction between knowing and experiencing. To Lulu, the items inside the house, like the trees and rocks outside, had existed since the beginning.

However, Ervandas’ stories triggered Lulu’s contemplation of the origins of objects. The city. The shops. Money. People. Unfamiliar stories, unseen in books, flowed from Ervandas’ lips, and by the time hunger struck them, dusk had already settled in.

At the growling sounds, Ervandas effortlessly prepared their meal. Watching him, Lulu hesitated before speaking.

“Hey, Er. I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“That… Does your family live in the city? Do they run businesses? Or do they farm like the villagers?”

“Oh, my family does live in the city. It’s quite far away. As for what we do…”

Lulu’s words put Ervandas in a difficult position. At first, she had listened excitedly, but midway through, he sensed she was wondering about something.

“Well, my parents are currently resting at the cottage. And my brother is working.”

“Working? What kind of work?”

“He manages people, gives orders. He deals with paperwork and mediates conflicts when they arise.”

It wasn’t a lie. After passing the throne to his brother, his parents had become retired monarchs, enjoying leisurely days. Meanwhile, his brother had taken on such responsibilities as a king.

Lulu’s expression darkened slightly at his casual response. She stole a glance at him and spoke up.

“Er, do you miss your family?”

Er’s hand stopped at Lulu’s question. He wondered why she suddenly seemed cautious as if she feared he longed to return to his family.

“I don’t know.”

His response was ambiguous.

It wasn’t a lie to reassure Lulu. Ervandas had a decent relationship with his parents and his brother. He cherished his family enough to leave the temple where he had dedicated his life to them.

However, when asked if he missed them, he couldn’t easily answer “yes.” His parents, who had moved to the palace, and his currently busy brother as the king. While they were family, each had their own lives.

Now that they were all adults, meeting frequently wouldn’t be a bad thing, but it wasn’t a heart-wrenching longing if they didn’t.

While Lulu still struggled to hide her anxious expression at his response, he suddenly asked a question.

“Do you want to see my family, Lulu?”

“Huh? Me?”

Lulu’s face turned blank at the unexpected question. Someone other than Er? After hesitating for a while, Lulu cautiously nodded.

“I’d like to… but won’t they hate me?”

Ervandas chuckled at Lulu’s answer. It was good that she showed interest in his family. In that case…

Since last night, Ervandas had been contemplating how to bring up the words he wanted to say.

“Lulu, I’m going to leave the forest for a while.”

At that moment, Lulu dropped the potato she was holding in her hand.

* * *

“Take care while I’m away. Again, about the food…”

“I know. The potatoes are boiled, and the stew is in the pot, so put it on the stove to simmer once more. There are some enchanted fruits in the kitchen, so I’ll have a few bites after the meal.”

Her response was good, but Lulu’s voice sounded deeply sunken. And it wasn’t just that. Her eyes were already red as if she would cry if she were struck.

Ervandas cupped Lulu’s cheeks with both hands, lifted her head, and kissed her forehead.

“I said I’ll be back soon.”

“But…”

Tears welled up in her round eyes, rolling down her cheeks.

“Er, what if you don’t come back…?”

Lulu burst into tears and clung to Ervandas. She shouldn’t have brought up his family. She feared that it was their conversation that made him miss his family.

“Can you not go? I don’t need soap. I just need you, Er.”

Ervandas’ heart ached at the fear-filled sobs.

After all the lovemaking and whispering, Lulu was still uneasy. Perhaps it might be because he hadn’t shown enough sincerity.

In his heart, he didn’t want to leave the forest either.

‘But if there’s no contact until the agreed time, the army will come searching for this place.’

Ervandas didn’t want their space to be invaded like that. Therefore, he needed to send a message quickly, assuring his safety.

Of course, there was another reason. He recalled the inside of their home. A house where everything was aged. The legacy left by the forest witch had once been good things, but now they were too worn out. Eventually, it had become a tomb of discarded items, and Lulu had lived there with them.

Lulu was a living being, not one dying. That’s why Ervandas wanted to give her new things. And also…

He remembered the dirty ribbon thrown into the fire while Lulu wasn’t looking.

‘That filthy thing.’

He didn’t want to let Lulu touch the dirt that another man had given. Cursing the shabby ribbon inwardly, Ervandas thought about things he would bring from the city.

Among them were things he needed to prepare before fulfilling his promise to create a child with Lulu.

“I’ll come back early.”

“But still…”

Lulu couldn’t let go of Ervandas’ clothes.

Ervandas was a new world for Lulu. How much the once empty and lonely life had become vibrant after his arrival. However, the fact that he hadn’t come here willingly always crouched deep within Lulu’s heart as an uneasy feeling.

“The magic still remains.”

Ervandas playfully said, deliberately pausing as if his body had suddenly frozen.

It wasn’t a lie. The magic they had thought had disappeared surprisingly hadn’t completely vanished. Like the lingering scent when someone passes by, Lulu’s magic had blended with Ervandas’ energy, transforming into his unique wavelength.

Thanks to that, when Lulu searched for him in the forest, she only had to follow the faint traces of that magic energy.

Lulu covered Ervandas’ back of the hand with her own. She faintly sensed the lingering magic. This fact, still unspoken to Ervandas, slightly eased Lulu’s anxiety. If he didn’t return, she could follow this energy to him.

“Then I’ll go. But if I’m late, I might come back a day later.”

“…Okay.”

At the mention of a delayed return, Lulu released her grip on his clothes weakly.

“You have to come back quickly. Got it?”

“Yes.”

Ervandas kissed Lulu’s forehead once again.

The two of them held hands as they walked through the forest. After a while, they came across the path the village people used when going to the city.

“You should hurry back home, in case the villagers pass by.”

Ervandas urged Lulu, worried that a village guy might pass by and follow her. Lulu’s shoulders slumped even more at his words. Memories of the villagers’ reactions, who used to panic and flee upon seeing her, resurfaced.

‘I thought things had improved compared to before, but maybe not.’

That must be why Er urged her to hurry back.

“Can’t I go see you off?”

“No, you can’t. I’ll go after seeing you off.”

She knew his stubbornness surpassed even hers. In the end, Lulu had no choice but to leave first. Her feet, of course, pointed toward home, but not her eyes. While walking, she looked back and saw Ervandas gradually getting farther away. Suddenly, she saw his finger pointing at something.

Why? What’s there?

In an instant, there was a loud thud, and Lulu stumbled backward. When she turned her head, she saw a large tree in front of her. Without realizing its presence, she had collided with it while looking at Ervandas.

“Lulu!”

“Lulu!”

Startled, Ervandas ran back into the forest toward Lulu. When Lulu saw him, she jumped up and shouted.

“I’m fine! Go quickly!”

With that, Lulu turned her head and ran towards home. She heard Ervandas calling out to her from behind, but she didn’t look back. Absentmindedly staring at him, she felt embarrassed by her ridiculous fall.

She also felt a little resentful. She was so afraid of him leaving, yet she reassured him that she was okay and not to worry!

With a mixture of embarrassment and resentment in her heart, Lulu disappeared into the depths of the forest. Watching from a distance, Ervandas lowered his hand that had been reaching out to call her and sighed. Then, he turned his body towards the path ahead.

“It seemed quite painful.”

It made a loud sound, so how could she be fine? Normally, she would have rolled around in pain, but the fact that her backside disappeared in a flash was disheartening.

With the image of Lulu’s diminishing figure in his mind, Ervandas started walking.

His brisk pace quickened to a run.

* * *

It would have taken an ordinary person a good day’s journey, but Ervandas reached the city before sunset. His ragged clothes and dusty appearance caused passersby to avoid him, but their gaze returned to his sturdy frame. Then, as their gaze settled on his face, their faces turned blank.

His clean-cut, well-groomed appearance, not concealed by his humble attire, caused them to look back at him.

Sensing fleeting glances, he hastily made his way to the government office. Whether it was during his time as a prince or as a knight of the temple, he had received countless stares, but after a long time, it felt incredibly awkward and uncomfortable.

‘I need to finish quickly and go back.’

It hadn’t been long since he arrived, yet he already missed the house in the forest. Normally, it would be time to have dinner and feed Lulu the fruits he had picked from the forest.

While watching the setting sun, they would discuss what they would do and eat the next day. He would tell her about the lives of people in the outside world, and occasionally, he would listen to Lulu’s stories of magic and the forest witch, enjoying peaceful and joyful moments.

Ervandas showed the guards standing in front of the government office what he had in his arms. The guards was puzzled by what Ervandas was presenting, took a closer look and then exclaimed.

“Just wait a moment, please!”

Then, the guards who had disappeared inside quickly reemerged with several people. Judging by their attire, it was evident that they were high-ranking officials responsible for this region.

“Where? Where is he?”

“There, it’s him.”

“Where… cough!”

The person who appeared to hold the highest position looked at Ervandas’ face and immediately knelt.

“The Deputy Lord meets His Highness!”

“Speak louder, and everyone in this city will know I’m here.”

With an unflinching yet chilling tone, the Deputy Lord swallowed his breath.

“Rise. It would be better to have the conversation inside.”

“Yes!”

The Deputy Lord scrambled to his feet. When the guard had mentioned that someone with the royal crest had arrived, he thought they had talked nonsense in the summer heat. But then, he remembered that Prince Ervandas, who had been entrusted with this entire region.