Chapter 37
When neither Stern nor Eleusis said anything, Chanellica cautiously spoke up.
“Then, Your Majesty, why don’t you join us for lunch too!”
That was the best conclusion Chanellica could reach. If someone said they were hungry, it wasn’t like the two of them could just slip away and eat alone. There was no real reason it had to be just the two of them anyway.
“Sir Stern. Would that be all right with you?”
“Yes, of course.”
Looking at Stern, who agreed without protest, Chanellica wondered if this was really the same man who had been whining only moments ago.
As expected, a king was a king. No one dared to utter a word against him.
“Then let’s go.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Lunch with Stern and Eleusis.
Chanellica found the idea rather amusing. Watching the relationship between those two—lord and vassal—while they ate would surely be entertaining.
But that entertaining thought lasted only a moment.
“Chanel!”
Someone suddenly called out to her as they appeared in the office.
“Oh? Brother, you’re here—and Sir Stern as well?”
The newcomer was none other than Princess Lydia. The moment she, who so closely resembled Eleusis, entered the office, Chanellica’s face stiffened.
“Ah…”
She suddenly remembered what she had forgotten all day: today, she had promised to eat lunch with Lydia. They had made the arrangement during their Garion language lesson last week, but with time passing, she had completely forgotten.
Behind Lydia stood Derwin as well. Which meant, inside the little translator’s office were now the office’s owner, the King, the Princess, the Princess’s knight escort, and the Commander of the Kaisel Knights. Five people in total.
“Haha, looks like my office is all the rage today.”
Chanellica laughed awkwardly. It was a completely mismatched group.
In the end, the five of them did not go to a pancake shop but instead to the royal residence’s dining room. This was a private space where the royal family lived and dined, one no commoner could enter.
“Because of you, Brother, my rare outing was wasted,” Lydia said with a pout.
Chanellica flinched. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t Eleusis’s fault—it was hers, for forgetting the promise.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I forgot.”
“No, even if you remembered, Brother would have come anyway.”
“I only went to check the office,” Eleusis replied.
Lydia shut her mouth and shook her head, unwilling to argue further.
“Still, Chanel, the food here is the best in the kingdom. I’ll take comfort in you at least enjoying it.”
“Thank you.”
“But Brother, can’t Sir Derwin join us too? Originally, he and I were supposed to eat together.”
Lydia asked carefully, glancing at Eleusis. Since the King’s escort knights had been told to wait farther away, Derwin too was standing away from the table.
“A knight sharing a meal with his lord?”
“Originally, Sir Derwin and I were going out to eat. I thought it would be even nicer if Chanel came along, so I invited her.”
“And why exactly would you do that?”
“Because I wanted to enjoy a good meal with him? We’ve never done it before.”
Listening silently, Chanellica could tell Lydia had changed. She was now openly assertive—even in front of the King.
So originally, it was supposed to be just the two of them?
For some reason, a pang of disappointment stirred in Chanellica, but she shook it off. There was no reason for that. She ate with Stern and others all the time.
Regardless, Eleusis clearly wasn’t pleased with Lydia’s request. Chanellica found that strange.
Wasn’t Derwin an honorary duke? Shouldn’t that title put him above being dismissed as just a knight?
Her thoughts began to spiral.
And if he’s an honorary duke, why is he serving as a knight now?
The more she thought about it, the stranger it seemed.
“I agree. If that was the original plan, it would be nice for the knight to join us,” Chanellica said at last.
Part of her didn’t like eating good food while Derwin stood silently behind them, but more than that, she wanted to confirm whether the situation really was as odd as it felt.
“Is that so? Then let’s do that,” Eleusis agreed readily once Chanellica spoke.
As soon as he gave permission, one of the King’s attendants relayed the message to Derwin. Soon, Derwin approached the table, bowed deeply, and sat. Eleusis’s golden eyebrows shot up as if surprised.
“Unexpected. I thought you’d refuse.”
“How could I turn down the Princess’s kindness?”
“It’s not Lydia but Lady Chanel you should thank—you’re here thanks to her.”
“My thanks, Lady Chanel,” Derwin said with a slight bow of his head.
Chanellica felt bloated before the meal had even begun.
The food was served, and light conversation followed: the weather, Lydia’s Garion lessons, a book Eleusis was reading. Trivial things.
Chanellica smiled, but the longer it went on, the more uncomfortable she became. She didn’t like this gathering of five. Even the palace’s exquisite dishes, served course by course, might as well have been tasteless.
“Does the food suit you?”
“Yes, it’s delicious.”
The answer came automatically. Eleusis, unaware of her true feelings, seemed pleased and gave her his usual smile.
But then her gaze shifted to Derwin’s plate.
He hasn’t touched anything.
Though he held a fork and knife and the food was neatly cut, the portions were unchanged. He had barely eaten at all.
Your favorite buttered seafood was served—why aren’t you eating?
The sight made her upset. Now she knew why she felt so uneasy. Derwin’s expression was rigid, carved in stone.
If you’re this uncomfortable, why didn’t you refuse?
While Chanellica silently fretted, the meal wound down. When the pumpkin tarts were served for dessert, Stern suddenly shifted the subject.
“Your Majesty, if I may, I’d like to bring up a matter.”
Eleusis nodded for him to continue.
“The Kaisel Knights have grown greatly in size compared to a few years ago. As its sole commander, it has become difficult for me to manage every unit alone.”
“And?”
“I have been considering appointing a vice commander. Yet, I have not found a suitable candidate.”
At that, Stern’s crimson eyes turned precisely toward one person.
“But it seems someone most suitable is right here.”
Everyone followed his gaze. At the end of it sat Derwin, his face still stiff.
“I can think of no one more fit for the post of vice commander than Sir Derwin. What does Your Majesty think?”
The sudden proposal silenced Eleusis. Before he could answer, Lydia cut in.
“No, Brother. Sir Derwin is my escort.”
Her eyes were desperate. Chanellica sensed she wasn’t just saying that to keep him near her.
“Do not worry, Your Highness. He can serve both as vice commander and escort.”
“Sir Derwin is already busy. That’s impossible.”
“We can adjust his schedule. He is needed in the Knights as well. I ask for your understanding, Princess.”
As the tension between Lydia and Stern mounted, Chanellica suddenly spoke.
“Excuse me.”
She had been irritated since the lunch invitation, and now with this vice commander business too—
“Why is no one asking the man himself?”
She looked each of them straight in the eye.
“To me, this seems like a matter for the knight himself to decide.”
The air froze, but Chanellica didn’t care.
Why are you living under this half-hearted status, enduring this kind of treatment?
That was her honest feeling. Even if he had lost his memory, Derwin was the Lord of Dragons and her mate. Seeing him treated like this stung deeply.
After a brief silence, Eleusis turned to Derwin.
“Lady Chanel makes a point. What do you think, Sir Derwin?”
“…I will obey whatever Your Majesty commands.”
His answer displeased Chanellica.
She knew. In the human world, the most important things were power and authority, born of status. Ultimately, Eleusis would decide, and Derwin would follow. Stern had appealed to Eleusis precisely because of that, and Lydia, as family, tried to sway his decision with her own rank.
“We’ll leave it for consideration, then.”
“I hope you give it serious thought, Your Majesty,” Stern pressed.
With that, the conversation ended.
Chanellica kept watching Derwin’s face. His expression was even stiffer than before the vice commander matter came up.
What is it that makes you so uncomfortable? Hm?
She wanted to ask him right away but couldn’t—not here. She let out a sigh without realizing.
It’s my fault for forgetting my promise to Lydia. What possessed me to create this situation?
Whether he’d be free enough to dine with her that evening, she didn’t know. But if he was, she resolved to make sure he had the very best food.
