Click.
The sound of Ji Hoon's bedroom door closing felt like the first true silence he'd heard all day. Ji Hoon leaned back against the heavy wood, the last vestiges of courtly posture dissolving into pure, unadulterated exhaustion.
With a sigh that seemed to come from the soles of his feet, he pushed himself forward. His fingers, usually so precise and steady, fumbled with the intricate fastenings of his formal noble attire.
He didn't carefully unbutton them; he all but ripped the coat off, letting it fall in a heap on a nearby chair. The waistcoat followed, then the cravat, tossed aside without a second thought.
It was a level of disarray the neat-freak chef in him would have found appalling on any other day. But today wasn't any other day.
He changed into soft, simple nightclothes, the familiar fabric a small comfort against his skin. The events of the week played in a jumbled loop behind his eyes: the blinding tension of the ICC arena, the flour-dusted chaos of the alley fight, the crushing weight of a thousand noble stares tonight.
Seeking an anchor, he walked to his desk and picked up the top book from the small stack he'd borrowed: Our World: Terra. He carried it to his bed, the thick mattress dipping as he climbed in.
Reaching over, he touched a small, smooth button on the base of his bedside lamp. With a soft hum, the light stones within it glowed to life, casting the room in a warm, golden pool that pushed back the shadows but did little to quiet the ones in his mind.
He tried to read. His eyes scanned paragraphs about continental maps and foreign flora, but the words blurred and slid away, replaced by a single, sharp image: Princess Yuliana's green eyes, first narrowed behind a mask in a competitive kitchen, then wide with shock when he'd called her a cook in the moonlit garden.
'Yuna. Yuliana... I don't know why she reminds me of 'her'...'
He let the book fall closed with a soft thud onto his chest. Staring up at the intricate patterns on his canopy, he replayed the entire, surreal conversation.
For the first time in a long while, talking about Yoon-Ah hadn't felt like picking at an old wound, but like sharing a quiet, cherished memory.
This whole week—this whole new life—had been a whirlwind, and only now, in the stillness, could he feel the true weight of it all.
A final, weary sigh escaped him. The competition's second round was tomorrow. He needed a clear head, not one cluttered with princesses and political pitfalls.
He placed the book neatly on his nightstand, his neat-freak habits finally reasserting themselves. With another tap of the button, the light stones dimmed and went out, plunging the room into a darkness that promised, if not peace, then at least a few hours of respite.
* * * * *
The Next Day...
The morning arrived with the gentle chirps of birds outside his window. Ji Hoon opened his eyes, the events of the previous day settling on him like a faint, lingering scent. Today was the second round.
He pushed himself out of bed and headed for the bathroom, stepping into a bath of fresh, warm water. The steam helped clear the last remnants of sleep from his mind. When he emerged, a towel was wrapped around his waist and another was draped over his head as he rubbed the water from his silver hair.
He had two hours before he needed to be at the Tholus Culinarius. Laying out his crisp, black-and-gold cook's uniform on the bed, he felt a familiar focus begin to settle in.
A soft knock came at the door. "Young master, breakfast is ready," Beatrice called from the hallway.
"I'll be right there," he replied, turning to get dressed. He combed his hair, slipped into the uniform, and made his way downstairs.
In the dining hall, his mother, Lady Yuhwa, was already seated, scanning a morning paper. A simple breakfast was laid out before them. She looked up as he entered, her expression a careful mix of maternal worry and quiet pride.
"Good morning, son," Lady Yuhwa said, setting her paper down.
"Good morning, Mother," Ji Hoon replied, taking his seat. "What are you reading?" he asked.
"Oh, it's just some business deals," she said with a tired sigh. "With our... current situation, and your father away, it's a struggle to make our suppliers keep their respect. The demands they make..." She caught herself and waved a hand. "I shouldn't bother you with this. You have enough on your plate."
"It's not a problem at all," he said. "Tell me if there's anything I can do."
"No. You are my son, I can't put that on you," she said firmly, her expression softening. "Anyway... today is the second round of your competition, right?"
He nodded. "Apparently so."
"Are you nervous, honey? Don't be. Even if you lose, I will handle the situation with Madam Ashdown somehow. You shouldn't have to do this in the first place..." she murmured the last part, more to herself than to him.
Ji Hoon quickly assured her he could do it and a genuine smile formed on Lady Yuhwa's lips.
After a moment, she added, "I have to meet with some business partners today, so I won't be able to come. Take Beatrice with you. Ask her for anything you need."
"I will mother." Ji Hoon thanked her before starting in on his breakfast.
After they finished eating, Ji Hoon got up to leave, the weight of the day ahead feeling a little heavier.
* * *
Tholus Culinarius...
The carriage rolled to a halt before the imposing dome of the Tholus Culinarius. Ji Hoon stepped out, accepting Haide's steadying hand as Beatrice followed close behind.
"We'll be watching and cheering for you from the stands, young master! Kill it out there!" Beatrice said, her voice bright with encouragement.
"Yes, do your best," Haide added, his usual stoic expression softened by a hint of pride.
Ji Hoon smiled at their support, offering a grateful nod before turning towards the entrance. The same official from the preliminaries and first round was there, but this time, the man offered a genuine, respectful smile.
They exchanged a brief greeting, and Ji Hoon stepped into the familiar, echoing halls.
An attendant in a green uniform guided him to the same waiting room as the first round. Stepping inside, the space felt hollow and too large.
The bustling crowd of thirty-two was gone, halved. The remaining teams were easy to spot: the unified Royal Palace cooks, the de Clein franchise & the northern prodigies each with one of the Grace twins... and lastly his own teammates.
His eyes found them quickly. Lior, Ansen, and... Yuna or Yuliana? He didn't know what to call her yet. His gaze lingered on her for a fraction of a second too long, a silent acknowledgment of the secret they now shared.
She met his look with an unreadable glance of her own—an equal acknowledgment—before Lior's enthusiastic approach broke the moment.
"Brother! Glad you could make it! I just got here myself," Lior declared, pulling him into a brief, back-slapping hug.
Ji Hoon returned the smile, his focus shifting to the task at hand. "It's good to see you all," he said, addressing the three of them.
They waited only a few moments conversing among each other before the man in the blue uniform and glasses from the first round returned.
His sharp voice cutting through the murmurs and commanding attention. "I see you all made it. Good. The second round is about to begin. Follow me."
The contestants fell into line behind him, Ji Hoon among them. They halted at the heavy gate leading to the arena, the familiar sounds of a massive crowd seeping through the cracks.
A man's voice, amplified and booming, echoed from the main stage. The crowd's roar, while not as deafening as the first round, was still a powerful, living force.
Ji Hoon felt the specific, sharp tension of the second round settle in his chest—this was no longer about proving you belonged but about proving you were the best.
After a tense pause, the amplified voice introduced itself.
[ A warm welcome back to the Tholus Culinarius! I am Master Guy, your guide for this culinary journey! The field has been halved, the stakes have been raised, and the ovens are heating up!
Now, without further delay, let us welcome the sixteen culinary artists who conquered the first trial and step onto this stage with ambition burning bright! ]
On cue, the man in glasses pushed the gate open. A wave of sound and light washed over them as they were guided out into the roaring arena.
With the grand structure and the Light Box above them, the arena was still dazzling. But as they walked to the center stage, Ji Hoon noticed something.
"Is it just me," he said, a little too loud, "or is the audience not as big as the last round?"
Lior nodded, scanning the stands. "Yeah, it is thinner. Is it always like this?"
Yuliana, who had been walking slightly ahead, half-turned without looking at them. "It has always been like this," she explained, her voice low.
"The ICC is like a festival. The city turns out for the opening spectacle and the final victory. The middle rounds are for the true connoisseurs."
She finally glanced at Ji Hoon, a faint, knowing smile on her lips. "The semi-finals and finals will be more packed than the first round could ever hope to be."
Ji Hoon and Lior shared an understanding "Ohhh."
"That is if you last enough for the finals. Anyway, I know you're not from here, Lior," Yuliana continued, "but weren't you born here, Cook Cassian? How do you not know this?"
Lior seconded with a grin. "Yeah, you really don't know a lot of basic things."
Ji Hoon offered an awkward smile, the same flimsy shield he always used. "Yeah, well... like I told you guys, I wasn't interested in any of this before."
The excuse landed with its usual thud, earning him a pair of skeptical looks that lasted just a second too long before they were interrupted.
Up on the main stage, Master Guy's amplified voice boomed across the dome.
[ Contestants and esteemed guests, welcome back! The first round tested this skilled cooks' ability to harmonize in the kitchen, to work as a team against another! But now... ]
He paused for dramatic effect. [ ...the gloves come off! The training wheels are off! It is time for the knockouts! From this point on, it is cook versus cook! A culinary duel where only one advances! ]
The crowd roared its approval. Before them, the kitchen stations were laid out not in groups, but in four distinct, isolated pairs.
[ The second round... begins NOW! ]