The Morning He Took for Granted

Eren began his day by waking up in the blue pre-dawn hours while others were still asleep.

Each day was the same, but that very repetition of a fixed pattern provided him with a sense of mental stability.
It meant nothing had happened the day before.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he washed up quickly and neatly, dressed himself properly, and headed for the kitchen.
He turned on the oven, placed a kettle on top, and then familiarly retrieved a teapot and teacup from the cupboard.

Brewing tea or helping with breakfast preparations were tasks for a valet, but Eren, who had started his duties long ago as Kazen’s valet, still took on these tasks himself even now as an aide.

‘Did I sleep too late yesterday working on the documents?
I’m a bit tired.’

Yawning widely, Eren rubbed his sleepy eyes and with practiced hands placed two sugar cubes and some milk for the tea on a tray, then headed to Kazen’s bedroom.

Knock knock.
He knocked on the door, but there was no answer in return.
As this happened every day, he didn’t bother waiting and opened the door with a click.
Entering the bedroom, he placed the tray on the bedside table and deftly drew back the curtains.

“Is it morning already?”

Hearing the sound of Eren opening the window, Kazen awoke from sleep, his voice sounding like a grumble.
His low voice was still hoarsely cracked from sleep.

“The weather is very fine from this morning, Your Grace.”

Eren spoke nonchalantly as he picked up the clothes scattered on the floor.

“Not particularly great.”

Muttering quietly, Kazen slowly raised his upper body.
As he did, the blanket slipped down, revealing his naked form.
It had been quite some time since the war ended, and though he was now an idle playboy, his body was still muscular.

Having been born and raised in a military family and compulsively trained his body since childhood, it was likely thanks to not skipping exercise even after his discharge.

“Your morning tea is prepared.”

Eren spoke as he headed toward the wardrobe, as if it were routine.
He retrieved a soft silk robe and approached the bed.
When Kazen, who had sat up, spread his arms, Eren deftly draped the robe over his shoulders.

Kazen loosely tied the robe’s waist cord and walked over to the table.
As Eren added sugar and milk to the tea, he picked up the cup and stirred it with a spoon.

“The tea aroma is good.”

“It’s a new tea leaf called Royal Canyon, brought in just two days ago.
It’s imported from the newly opened Western Rumba trade route.”

Kazen, who had been smelling the tea, took a light sip.
Then, narrowing his eyes, he sighed in satisfaction.

“Not a bad taste either.
You’re gradually starting to understand my tastes.”

Hearing such words from Kazen, who was usually sparing with praise, gave Eren a peculiar feeling.
For some reason, feeling shy, Eren bowed his head deeply to hide his flushed face.

“You flatter me.
By the way, did you sleep peacefully?”

He was changing the subject to hide his embarrassment, even though he knew the likely answer wouldn’t be good.

“I kept waking up from nightmares.”

“What kind of dream was it this time?”

There was no way Eren didn’t know what kind of dream it was.
But as always, he didn’t presume anything regarding Kazen’s affairs.
Only what came from Kazen’s own mouth was the truth.

“Just the usual old thoughts.”

However, Kazen brushed it off as if he didn’t want to talk about it.
Sweeping his hair back, he closed his eyes for a long moment before opening them.
Judging by the shadows under his eyes, it seemed it wasn’t a lie that he hadn’t slept well.

Though only twenty-two years old, Kazen had experienced war for quite some time.
From the mere age of sixteen, he had spent over three years in blood-soaked battlefields.
That experience had brought him much wealth and honor after the victory, but on the other hand, it had become a terrible nightmare that tormented him.

“I will take care to ensure your bed is more peaceful for you this evening.”

But all Eren could do was pay a little more attention to preparing his bed.
He also resolved to prepare a cup of warm milk for him before bed tonight.

Kazen always relied on alcohol or medicine whenever he couldn’t sleep, but warm milk or tea seemed better for his health than that.

“It’ll be forgotten soon, so don’t worry about it.
More importantly, what’s on the schedule for today?”

Snapping out of his thoughts hastily at Kazen’s question, Eren quickly pulled a notebook from his pocket.

“This morning, His Highness the Crown Prince is scheduled to visit.
For lunch, you are to dine at the club with His Highness, for which I made a reservation yesterday.
In the evening, you must attend the social gathering at the Duke Rupelt’s residence.”

“Hmm, another hectic day.”

Kazen muttered as if weary, placing his teacup on the tray.
Especially lately, with the social season in full swing, he was busy every day attending meetings, meals, and parties.

Of course, Eren, who had to handle the ducal affairs on his behalf during this time, was even busier.

“Lastly, as I mentioned last week as well, Lady Aila’s birthday is in three days, so a gift must be prepared.
Is there anything you have in mind?
If you give me an idea, I will prepare something accordingly.”

“Not really in the mood to think about it.”

As soon as he heard the name Aila, Kazen frowned irritably.
It was a rather cold reaction for someone who was his fiancée.

Birthdays came every year, and he should have prepared himself mentally by now.
Despite being asked daily for the past week, he still seemed unable to make up his mind.

But Eren couldn’t decide on his own either, so he grew more anxious as the date approached.

“Just buy some flowers or jewelry, whatever, and send it.”

“Understood, I will do as you command.”

In the end, the answer he got after days of pestering held no sincerity whatsoever.
Eren had expected him to decide that way anyway.

“And furthermore, tell her not to visit under any circumstances this year.
My head is already pounding enough as it is, I don’t want more headaches.”

Kazen and Aila were engaged due to unavoidable political circumstances, but they intensely disliked each other.

Kazen thought their personalities were too incompatible and avoided her.
On the other hand, Aila found the debauched and extravagant Kazen shameful and practically detested him.

Both knew very well that the end of this marriage wouldn’t be good.
To the point that everyone around them knew they were just waiting for a chance to call off the engagement.

“I will send a letter containing your request along with the gift.”

“Good, then you can go now.
I want to lie down a bit more.”

Eren bowed his head to Kazen, who was waving his hand dismissively, and exited the bedroom.

It had now been a little over three years since Eren started working at the Clifford ducal estate.
He did more work here than anyone else.

His primary responsibility was paperwork.
He had to handle all the paperwork for matters great and small arising from within and outside the ducal residence, as well as the family-owned mines, factories, farmlands, and real estate.

Before starting that work in earnest, Eren quickly went downstairs to the kitchen to check if breakfast was ready.
Kazen placed particular importance on meal times, so every single dish had to be prepared perfectly.

“Ah, Sir Eren, you’re just in time!”

But the moment Eren opened the dining room door, Millie, the kitchen maid, cried out.
Eren briefly considered opening the door and immediately running back out to the kitchen.

“What’s the matter, Millie?”

“I was just about to come find you!
I was cooking, but the oven fire went out!”

“Oh dear, let me take a look.”

If the meal preparations weren’t ready, it would be a real disaster.
Eren hurriedly ran into the inner part of the kitchen, where he saw people in a state of chaos.

“It’s Sir Eren!”

Just then, Head Cook Bennett spotted Eren and shouted.
Eren gave her a slight nod and quickly headed toward the oven.

“The mana in the mage-stone is depleted.”

Eren let out a small sigh after assessing the situation.
He knelt before the oven, placed his hand over the transparent red gem embedded in its lower part, and closed his eyes.

Soon, a faint light seeped from his hand and was sucked into the mage-stone.
Then, the oven, which had grown cold, began to heat up again, and the pot started boiling.

Thanks to this, the chaos in the kitchen subsided, and Bennett once again began skillfully directing the servants.
Eren wiped the sweat from his brow and looked around.

“So, is the meal almost ready?”

“Yes, yes!
I was just reheating the stew when the oven turned off, so that’s all that’s left.”

Fortunately, it seemed to have gone out at the very last moment.
If the breakfast preparations hadn’t been done at all, a major catastrophe would have occurred.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Eren watched the bustling people for a moment, then subtly approached Millie.

“If you’re not too busy, could you prepare a sandwich for me to eat for breakfast?”

“Of course.
I had a feeling you’d ask, so I prepared one in advance.”

Millie, as if she had been waiting for him to say that, took out a plate she had stored in the cupboard and handed it to him.
It was a sandwich with thin ham and vegetables, Eren’s favorite.

“Thank you.”

“Oh, don’t mention it.
Just don’t skip meals because you’re busy.”

Millie gave a good-natured smile, then snapped back to attention and dove back into the kitchen, which was like a battlefield.

Eren watched the people busily moving about for a moment, then went back out to the dining room.
After confirming that even the tableware was perfectly prepared, he moved on.