Interlude ─ Liam's Awakening

It was nighttime, Liam was in the kitchen at his work station.

The boss let him use it to practice cooking.

"Umm, it's kind of hard to decide what to do."

Liam was thinking about how beneficial it was for the Kingdom's kitchen to include foreign food.

So this was very important to him.

"The density of the soup stock is fine, the chicken and pork are well cooked. Also the noodles and seaweed well soaked to gain thickness, what am I missing?"

The crown prince was on a motto.

He had been in that position for hours and the broth got cold.

It was early morning even.

Without meaning to, Liam closed his eyes.

◇◇◇

(Where am I?)

Liam was in a dark place filled with fog.

He didn't know what to do or where to go.

Then, in the distance he visualized a figure.

(Bradford!?)

Rudel was for some reason in that place, his distance from Liam's was immense.

(Wait, Bradford!)

Liam ran after Rudel.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't catch up.

(Why can't I catch up with you?)

Liam kept running.

Then, Rudel turned his head towards him.

Liam noticed that he had a mocking laugh.

(Why are you laughing at me?)

(What's so funny?)

Liam then remembered everything he experienced with Rudel last year and the past few months.

(Ever since I met you, you were always a rock in my shoes.Making fun of me, treating me like a joke despite being your crown prince... but that never mattered to you. You always saw ministers and my family as a joke.)

(That's why you spit on my father's name and shamelessly harass my mother.)

(But, worst of all. Is that after Klein... I couldn't hate you, I realized you were right. I was a fool, but, thanks to that mess... I got something unimaginable.)

Liam started running through the fog.

(I got fiends who support me unconditionally.)

(I was able to once and for all stop my mother from nagging me about getting engaged to Alicelotte, the two most annoying people in my life are together, nothing could make me happier than that.)

(Also, thanks to your problems...)

Liam was running harder and faster, almost catching up with Rudel.

(I was able to get the love of the woman of my dreams and by coming to this country, I found what makes me happy!)

(Bradford, you are my goal to reach! A rival I want to defeat on my own ground!)

(That's why─!)

Liam finally caught up with Rudel, their gazes met and Liam smiled.

(I have surpassed you at last!)

◇◇◇

"I got it!"

Liam woke up from his dream.

Opening his eyes, he went to the refrigerator and grabbed onions, potatoes, and garlic.

"I got it, the recipe to make the soup tastier!"

He started chopping everything and screaming with happiness.

"Hahahaha, look at me Bradford, I've finally outdone you!"

◇◇◇

A few days later, a letter arrived in the Kingdom.

Lecia was in her office working.

Upon seeing the sender, she was surprised.

"It seems he finally deigns to talk to me."

It was a letter from her son. She had not heard from him other than from Rudel or the officials in Aster.

Her smile showed how happy she was to see that her son really cared about how everything was at home.

Slowly as she read the letter, her smile faded and her eyes grew bigger. The expression on her face showed her panic.

When she reached the end of the letter.

"Your Majesty, are you all right!"

Some maids came to her rescue as Lecia seemed to faint.

Her skin was pale and cold sweat was running down her body.

A female knight checked the contents of the letter in case it had poison in it.

But as she read what was written. She covered her mouth and tears began to stream down her cheeks.

The other maids and female knights were curious.

They all ended up crying as if they had lost a child.

The same letter was sent to the royal cook and it read.

"I have decided what my vocation will be, I will be the next Ramen King! I will prepare to bring home the greatest broth delicacies!"

On that day, Liam again lost the support of not only the ministers, but also the servants.