Episode 59

“Gula, you say…”

His expression clearly said he had a lot to say but wouldn’t utter a word. Even for a lowborn illegitimate son, gula was a poisonous plant no passing dog would touch.

And yet, here he was, boldly storming out the main gate without a clue. It might have been better to try negotiating a price with Count Mereloff instead.

“But it’s true. Gula seeds are edible. You can roast them, boil them, even eat them raw. Considering nutrition, satiety, and efficiency, it’s nothing short of a divine blessing.”

“That’s nonsense.”

How could such an extraordinary crop have gone unnoticed until now? In the grand Bariel Empire, such a claim was almost insulting. Scholars in the imperial palace were still tirelessly researching ways to overcome the famine.

And yet, gula—scattered everywhere like weeds—was supposedly a gift from the gods?

“I’ve been eating it lately.”

“You’ve been eating it?”

“Yes. It tastes good. I’m sure Lord Romandro would be hooked after just one bite. It takes about a month to cultivate, so winter won’t be a problem.”

Screech.

The carriage, which had been moving smoothly, suddenly stopped. Once in the village square, again in front of the entertainment district, and once more in the residential area. Each time the carriage halted, the subordinates who had left earlier climbed aboard.

But Beric’s face looked off. His cheeks were flushed, and every time he chuckled, the smell of wine wafted from him. Ian shot him a sharp look and lightly scolded him.

“Beric, stop slacking off.”

“Huh? No, no. Just a little. The innkeeper kept insisting.”

Beric sniffled as he climbed aboard near the entertainment district. How much had he drunk in that short time? When Ian frowned, Beric quickly changed the subject with a report.

“That place is the busiest tavern around. Dozens of people heard my story. They even put up a notice.”

—They’ll pay for anyone who brings in gula.

This was exactly why Ian wanted to hire people. The serfs near Bratz’s forest and those near Mereloff’s lands would be sent out to gather gula.

“Did you confirm the pay and the timeframe?”

“Of course. One gold coin per three large bundles. Payment only within the next month.”

One gold coin was what a lower-class laborer could earn in a month. Since gula was small, filling three bundles wouldn’t be easy, but a strong person could manage it in about two weeks.

“Isn’t that too generous? One gold coin?”

“That’s the point. It’ll light a fire under them to scour the forest. Considering the bounty a single bundle of gula could bring this winter, it’s not too expensive.”

And the most important part: the timeframe.

If they didn’t set a strict one-month deadline, some would start cultivating gula themselves and bring it in later. That was absolutely unacceptable. Ian wanted the gula itself—and for every sprout nearby to wither away.

“How’s the crop situation in Mereloff this year?”

“Not great, it seems. It’s not really a farming region, and the central army’s battles near Bratz have polluted the rivers. They’re expecting a poor harvest.”

“What do they usually do in Mereloff during a bad harvest?”

“In winter, trade caravans from the Hawan Kingdom come to Bariel. That’s when economic activity picks up.”

“…Trade caravans, huh.”

“They’re guilds that have everything except the impossible. The biggest ones carry years’ worth of dried meat. The serfs in Mereloff provide lodging and conveniences in exchange for food.”

“So even with a bad harvest, things don’t get too shaken up.”

“Honestly, it’s easier to find a year without a bad harvest in Mereloff.”

Romandro’s subordinate gave excellent answers to Ian’s persistent questions. He must have done thorough intel gathering before coming down.

Anyway, the autumn harvest was uncertain. If they secured as much gula as possible…

Who knows?

Mereloff might even come back with a counteroffer. While Ian quietly mapped out his plans through winter, Romandro just rubbed his temples, groaning.

“Gula? Gulaaa?”

He wanted to rush back to the estate immediately to verify Ian’s claim. If it wasn’t true, he’d give that magic user a piece of his mind. And at dawn, he planned to visit Count Mereloff again.

“Hey, can we go any faster?”

“Is it urgent?”

“Oh, you talk too much!”

“Understood. It’ll be a bumpy ride. Let’s go!”

Screech! Whirr!

Ian paid no mind to Romandro’s worries, only swatting away Beric’s greedy hands reaching for the dried meat in the box.

“Oh, come on, master.”

“Go sober up first. You sound like a street thug.”

“My mouth’s bitter. Just one? Huh? Just one.”

By the time they arrived at the mansion, the box was empty. As soon as Romandro stepped down, the entire staff, including the kitchen, was in an uproar.

“What did you say? We’re supposed to cook with this?”

“This is gula. This is no joke today.”

“No, it’s true. Lord Ian ordered us to cook with gula. All recipes for famine crops are allowed, but we should check carefully for any pulp left on the seeds.”

The kitchen staff all crossed their arms, staring down at the gula box. No matter how they looked at it, this was a waste of ingredients, fire, and manpower. Who in their right mind cooked with roadside weeds?

The head chef had no choice but to go up to Ian’s room to confirm the order.

“Lord Ian, about tonight’s dinner…”

“Ah, yes. You heard, right? For reference, I like to boil gula seeds thoroughly before using them. It’s good cold, but warm is exquisite going down.”

“…”

He wasn’t joking. This was for real.

The head chef took off his hat in disbelief and bowed. The kitchen staff gathered around, pestering him.

“What did he say? Cook with gula for real?”

“Yes. Everyone, get the fire going.”

“I just don’t get it. Ah! I know! Maybe it’s for Gyeong and his group.”

“Fools. Have you ever heard of anyone dying from eating gula?”

“Of course not! Who’d eat that stuff?”

“No, if you’re weak, the poison can get to you. Remember the old shoeshiner? He ate gula and got sick, then died.”

Clatter!

Had the kitchen ever been this noisy? The head chef couldn’t even think about calming the chaos and kept flipping pans. It felt like all the sauces and spices were going down the drain. It was the first time he’d ever felt guilty while cooking.

And a few hours later.

Romandro, tense, draped a napkin around his neck. The dining room door opened, and servants wheeled in trolleys loaded with food. Familiar yet strange aromas filled the air. One thing was certain—it was mouthwatering.

“Is all this made from gula?”

“Chef, please introduce us.”

“…Technically, these are gula seeds. This is a dessert made by roasting the seeds and glazing them with honey. And this is a stew. It swells up when cooked. I don’t have a name for it yet.”

Ian didn’t know the exact recipes either. As emperor, he was used to being served, never stepping into the kitchen.

But these lifelong cooks had an instinct. Even a rough guess produced dishes that were visually and aromatically impressive.

Clatter.

“Hmm.”

Ian tasted the food without hesitation. He sampled everything, dipping and savoring the gula fully. Romandro frowned, poking at the stew.

“…The doctor is waiting outside, right?”

“No, it’s late. He’s probably home.”

“I said, have him on standby!”

“Ha ha ha. Just kidding. Don’t worry and get some sleep.”

Ian laughed heartily. Romandro sighed deeply and closed his eyes. Then, in one gulp, he swallowed the gula stew.

“Ugh!”

Romandro made a strange noise without realizing it. Ian watched as his eyes slowly opened, unable to hold back a smile. Actions spoke louder than words, and Romandro scooped up another spoonful.

“Is it to your liking?”

“This… this is…”

Why was it so delicious? Romandro seemed completely absorbed by this new delicacy. Ian gestured to the servants standing at the back of the dining room.

“You all come here.”

“Us? You mean us?”

“Don’t just stand there. Try the food. Aren’t you curious?”

The servants hesitated, glancing only at Romandro. He was drinking the soup straight from the bowl like a man possessed. They were reluctant to approach the master’s table, and the stigma against weeds made it harder to move.

“Thank you.”

“What do you want to try?”

“I want the honey-glazed one.”

Among them, Hanada was the first to step forward. She boldly took some food and, to everyone’s surprise, covered her mouth in astonishment.

“It’s delicious.”

“See?”

“Hanada, is it really good?”

“Sis, you should try it too.”

“Well then, excuse me, Lord Ian…”

If the master and the imperial advisor were eating it, what could possibly go wrong? Encouraged by Hanada, the servants gradually gathered and started sampling the gula dishes.

“Huh?”

“Hmm… this is gula?”

“No way. It’s really good.”

Ian watched his household with a faint smile. Partly because he was hungry and wanted to share, but mostly because it was the authors who connected him to the villagers of Yeongji.

They were the true key to distributing the gulla. One person becomes two, two become four. Like all great achievements, the beginning is always humble.

“Hah, this is incredible. How on earth did you find this?”

Romandro, finally coming to his senses, wiped his mouth. The bowl in front of him was completely empty.

“It was a coincidence.”

“Did Derga not feed you?”

“No, that’s not it. Anyway, this winter, we’ll rely on gulla. Starting tomorrow, we’ll build greenhouses in the garden. It can take root in dry sand or even underwater, but it’s vulnerable to the cold.”

While setting up the greenhouses, they’d mobilize the villagers of Merelrof and Bratz to clear out all the gulla in the area. With demand guaranteed, controlling the local supply would give them a strong advantage in the market.

“What about when it snows? Yeah, now that I think about it, it’s definitely rare to see it in winter.”

Romandro muttered, licking his spoon clean without a care for appearances. Then, suddenly, he asked Ian quietly.

“After observing it for a few days, if there are no adverse effects, I’ll include this in the report to the imperial palace. Is that alright?”

“Of course. You must report it. And be sure to include how it was discovered.”

He meant not to leave Ian’s name out. After all, it would be absurd to claim that Romandro, who had only recently come down from the borderlands, had independently discovered the gulla’s edibility. Romandro waved off the concern.

“When it comes to reports, I write only the truth, even if my neck’s on the line. By the way, can I have some more of this?”

“No, not yet. The quantity is still too small. Remember, each seed produces more than ten gullas.”

Ian smiled and declined, and Romandro smacked his lips in disappointment, setting down his spoon. He thought to himself that he should have stopped the servants from taking the gulla earlier.

“And everyone, until we have enough gulla seeds gathered, keep this strictly under wraps.”

At Ian’s command, the servants, including Hae-na, solemnly pretended to seal their lips tight.