(BL) Reborn as Lycan's Emperor's abandoned Beta concubine?!

Chapter 3: 3. ’Hawthorn’ liquor

A FEW HOURS LATER

XAVIER

After surviving my first day as a village cook, I thought things would finally calm down. I was wrong. Apparently, making one delicious meal was enough for half the village to start wondering who I really was. So when the inn owner approached me after closing time, I was already expecting trouble.

"You need somewhere to sleep, don’t you?"The older woman placed a key on the counter.

I looked at the key, then at her.

"Wait... you’re offering me a room?"I asked, confused.

She nodded.

"Of course. You worked all day, cooked better food than this inn has served in years, and brought in customers. I’m not letting you sleep outside."She said and handed me the key.

"How much?"I scratched my cheek.

"We’ll discuss payment later. For now, call it a reward for saving my business.

I looked at the old wooden key. A place to sleep, a job, a fresh start. For the first time since waking up in this world, things actually felt normal.

"Thank you."I said and nodded.

"My name is Ana, by the way."The woman smiled.

"Wei ."I said and paused.

Almost said Xavier. That was still going to take some getting used to. Ana showed me the small room upstairs. It wasn’t luxurious like the palace. The bed wasn’t made of expensive silk. The walls weren’t decorated with gold. But honestly? It was perfect. A simple bed, a small window, a quiet room. I sat down and looked around.

"Not bad."I sighed.

Actually, it was better than the palace. Because this room belonged to me and it was perfect.

The next morning, I woke up early. Old habits. Back on Earth, chefs didn’t get to sleep late, the kitchen always started before everyone else woke up. After washing up, I headed toward the village market. I needed to see what ingredients this world had, maybe I could create some new dishes.

The market was small but lively. Farmers selling vegetables, hunters bringing meat, merchants selling spices. I walked between the stalls, looking around. A familiar smell caught my attention.

"Hawthorn berries?"I whispered, already getting excited about it.

I approached a merchant’s stall. A pile of small red berries sat in a basket, back on Earth, hawthorn berries were used in various recipes. Jams, syrups, and liquors. I picked one up. The flavour was naturally sweet but slightly sour.

"Honey."I said when I saw a small bag nearby. "And chili peppers?"

I picked up a small bag. The merchant looked confused.

"You like those?"He asked.

"Very much."I nodded.

"Most people use them carefully. Too much and they burn your mouth."He laughed.

I looked at the ingredients in my hands. Hawthorn berries, honey and chili. A memory from Earth came back. A drink I had experimented with during my chef days, a sweet flavor and a warm aftertaste. A little heat, that was just enough. A drink that surprised people.

I smiled.

"I think I have an idea."I grinned.

Back at the inn, Ana watched me place my ingredients on the kitchen table.

"What are you making?"Ana asked.

"Something new."I held up the hawthorn berries.

"Should I be worried?"She looked suspicious.

"No."I laughed. "Probably."

Her expression immediately changed.

"Probably?" She asked.

I ignored her and started working. First, I carefully cleaned the hawthorn berries. Every damaged berry was removed by me, only the best ones remained, and then I crushed them gently, releasing their natural sweetness and deep red colour. The aroma immediately filled the kitchen.

"What is that smell?"Ana leaned closer.

"Just wait."I said.

Next came the honey. I warmed it slightly, not enough to destroy its flavour, but enough to blend smoothly with the berries. The sweetness mixed with the fruit created a rich scent, then came the chili. I carefully measured the amount. Too much would ruin the balance, too little, and the drink would lose its special character. I wanted heat, but controlled heat. The kind that appeared after the sweetness. The kind that made people want another sip. I mixed everything carefully before adding the final ingredient, yeast. I transferred the mixture into a glass bottle and sealed it. For several hours, the bottle rested while I checked the changes. By evening, even the customers in the dining area started noticing the smell that drifted from a kitchen.

"What is that smell?"One costumer asked.

"It smells incredible."Another one joined.

"Is someone cooking?"A merchant asked.

I looked toward the doorway. People were already gathering.

"So much for keeping a low profile."I sighed.

"What did you make?"Ana walked into the kitchen and stared at the bottle.

I picked it up. The liquid inside had a beautiful ruby gold color.

"A drink."I smiled.

I thought for a moment. Then decided on a name. ’Hawthorn Liquor."

"’Hawthorn Liquor’." Ana repeated the name, and then she looked at the bottle. "That sounds dangerous."

"Good food and good drinks usually are."I said and smiled.

"I have a feeling this is going to cause trouble."She laughed.

I looked at the bottle, then at the crowd outside already asking questions. She was probably right. I had escaped the palace, I had escaped nobles, I had escaped political drama, but somehow, I had created a mysterious new drink in a small village. And judging by everyone’s reactions, my quiet life as an ordinary chef was already disappearing. I looked at the growing crowd outside the kitchen and let out a quiet sigh.

"Well." I uncorked the bottle the entire dining hall suddenly became quiet.

Every pair of eyes turned toward the kitchen. One customer raised his hand.

"I will have the first cup!"He ordered.

"No, I was here first!"Another one ordered.

"I will pay double!"Third one added.

"They’re... arguing over a drink?"Ana blinked.

"I guess that’s a good sign."I scratched my cheek.

I carefully poured the ruby gold liquor into a small ceramic cup. The liquid caught the afternoon light, shimmering like polished amber with hints of crimson.

"What’s it called again?"The merchant who had shouted first eagerly accepted it.

"Hawthorn Liquor."I said and nodded

He sniffed it first, his eyebrows rose. Then he took a cautious sip, then took another and another. Without saying a word, he finished the entire cup. The inn had become so quiet you could hear the fire crackling beneath the stove. Finally, the merchant slowly lowered the cup.

"Another."He ordered.

"You didn’t even tell me if you liked it."I laughed.

He looked at me as if I had asked the world’s strangest question.

"If I didn’t like it." He placed the empty cup on the counter. "Why would I ask for another?"

The entire inn burst into laughter.

"I’ll take one too!"Another one asked.

"Me three!"A villager asked too.

"Save me a cup!"A man near me placed another order.

Within minutes, I was pouring drink after drink while Ana hurried between the tables trying to keep up. When the rush finally settled down, the first merchant reached into his pouch.

"The price?"He asked.

"Five copper coins per cup." Ana answered automatically.

The man nodded. Then he placed five shining silver coins onto the counter. Clink. Ana froze. I froze and stared at the coins then at him.

"Sir." I gently pushed four of the silver coins back toward him. "I think you grabbed the wrong pouch."

"No." He looked down.

"You paid five silver."I said.

"Correct."He said.

"The price is five copper."I said.

"Correct."He nodded.

"..."

"..."

I looked at Ana. Ana looked at me. Five silver, that was one hundred times the asking price.

"You really don’t have to-"I began.

"I insist." The merchant smiled warmly. "In my travels, I have tasted drinks from nobles, guilds, and royal banquets." He lifted the empty cup. "None of them tasted like this."

"Consider the extra payment my investment."He slid the silver coins back toward me.

"Investment?"I asked.

"I have a feeling people will soon travel very far just to drink your Hawthorn Liquor."He nodded.

"Wei ."Ana quietly leaned toward me.

"Yeah?"I asked.

"Take the money."Ana said.

"I feel guilty."I whispered.

"I don’t."Ana shook her head.

"Fine."I couldn’t help laughing as I carefully accepted the coins."Thank you."

"My name is Huan."The merchant stood and offered me his hand.

"Wei."I reached out to shake it.

"Huan, a merchant from the North."He said.

My smile froze. Wait. Huan? Merchant from the North?

My memories from the novel surfaced almost instantly. Huan. One of the largest merchants in the northern territories. A man with an uncanny eye for valuable products and future trends. In the original story, he built a trading empire by discovering rare goods before anyone else recognized their worth. He eventually became one of the wealthiest merchants in the kingdom.

"You are Huan?"I asked.

"I hope that’s a good thing."He laughed.

"Just heard your name before."I quickly recovered.

Well, this was unexpected. One of the kingdom’s greatest merchants had walked into Ana’s tiny inn. I glanced at the bottle of Hawthorn Liquor.

"Why do I have the feeling my quiet life is about to get a lot louder?"I sighed.

Little did I know I was right. Things changed soon after, and I was sure it was my fault.

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