Chapter 43

"Would you like a drink, sir?"

"Why not have a meal with your, um, fiancée as well?"

"You mean the princess, right?"

"Yes, the princess."

"Princess, the food here is really delicious, so if you don't mind..."

The knights looked at me with excited faces. I wondered if it was okay for me to eat with everyone. I didn't want to make them feel uncomfortable or ruin what seemed to be a pleasant meal. However, it seemed my worries were unfounded.

"It's fine, Miss Melfiela. The Duke always eats here."

"You've already shared a pot of food with us. Please, don't be shy."

Zef and Ambry from the Dragon Knights raised their voices.

"Is it really okay?"

"Of course. They are seriously inviting you, so there's nothing to worry about. The special dish is also ready... would you like to eat it with everyone here?"

At the Duke's unexpected suggestion, I couldn't help but cheer. I really wanted to try the delicious-smelling dishes that everyone was enjoying, which were wafting from the kitchen. The food in the Galbreath territory was indeed delicious, but I had been eating alone in my room until this morning. The dishes were very refined and carefully prepared, but I wanted to try what the common people usually ate.

Additionally, I wanted to try the special dish—Roiamoodler and Zanas prepared in the Galbreath style. Zef and Ambry had already eaten my monster dishes, so I could secretly offer them.

"Here, this way."

"...Princess, you smell nice."

"Ah, I'm sorry, I must be a bit unkempt."

I was seated next to the Duke, with the knights making way for us. One knight pulled out my chair, and another quickly laid a clean, woven cloth on the seat.

"Thank you."

"K, cute... nn, we can't let the princess's dress get dirty."

When I thanked him, the knight straightened his back. However, in the next moment, he was pulled away by other knights. I heard someone say, "Hey, that's cheating!" It seemed they were having some kind of competition.

As I slowly sat down, the Duke was already holding a transparent goblet filled with grain wine. Then, the dishes I had seen in the kitchen were brought out one by one. For some reason, the knights started chanting, "We want to know how you met!" The Duke cleared his throat.

"Please, Miss Melfiela."

Next to me, Chaos handed me a silver cup with beautiful patterns carved into it.

"Thank you. Is this alcohol?"

"Please don't worry. This is juice made from the fruit of the Vine Nectar plant. It's very popular among women in Galbreath. I've already had it tested for poison."

"Thank you for your consideration."

"Not at all, it's my pleasure."

Chaos bowed respectfully. When I looked closely at the silver cup, I saw that the patterns carved into it were magic arrays. Indeed, this would help ensure that there was no poison.

"By the way, Chaos, what does the Vine Nectar fruit look like? I've never heard of it in Marsharaid."

Vine Nectar is a fruit I hadn't heard of in Marsharaid. Since it's often consumed, it doesn't seem to be a monster.

"It's a plant that grows vines. After it blooms with small white flowers, it produces small, translucent purple fruits that are sweet and resemble dew, hence the name 'Vine Nectar.' It's also cultivated in the Midreag fields."

I really want to visit the Midreag fields. I've heard that the fields within the castle walls have limited yields. There are also fields outside the walls, but the work there is unstable due to the presence of monsters. Especially in winter, the vegetable harvest drops. I wonder what they grow and what is lacking. If I could supplement with plant-based monsters from the Elsanie Great Forest...

"Ah, some might think it's too late to take the seat of Duchess, which has been vacant for four generations. However, there's a reason I want this. By obtaining Melfiela, the Galbreath Dukedom will flourish even more, and the people will live in peace."

"Sir, be brief!"

"Too long!"

"Please, make it easier for us to understand!"

"In short?"

The knights around us exchanged light-hearted remarks. The Duke, while saying, "Hey, you guys are being too noisy!" seemed to tolerate it. This is probably their daily routine. During the journey, I felt the strong bond between the Duke and the Galbreath knights. It's warm, and when necessary, they unite around the Duke and show their true strength. When we were chased by the Bergnions, they displayed excellent teamwork.

(I want to become a part of Galbreath as soon as possible.)

So far, I've only interacted with a handful of Galbreath knights. Suddenly, I noticed the room had become quiet, and I looked up at the Duke. He was looking at me, his eyes darting around. It seemed he had fallen into his thoughts again. How could I get lost in my thoughts at a time like this?

"Um..."

"Were you not listening?"

"I'm sorry, I was distracted by the delicious-looking food."

"No, it's fine. Don't worry about it."

The Duke cleared his throat and raised his goblet, his eyes and ears slightly red.

"Anyway, I want to reach the marriage without any issues! Understand? Don't make any mistakes, treat her with respect, and do your best to show the charm of Galbreath!"

"Understood!"

The Duke clapped his hands, and the gathered knights reluctantly dispersed. The knights behind them were staring at me, so I smiled and nodded slightly. They raised their fists and cheered. I wasn't sure if this was a welcome or not.

"Well, Melfi, let's eat."

"Yes, Duke. But there's so much, can I finish it all?"

The table was filled with dishes. In Galbreath, which is south of Marsharaid, the food had a very appetizing aroma.

"We'll be eating together here for the next few days. If you can't finish today, save it for next time."

"Hehe, that's true! There's so much to enjoy, and I'm very happy."

I finally took a sip from the silver cup. The Vine Nectar juice was sweet with a refreshing tang, making it a smooth and pleasant drink. I looked around and noticed that everyone had quickly averted their gaze.

"Everyone is curious about you."

"Being watched makes me nervous."

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it in a few days."

Following the Duke's lead, I started serving myself from the large platters. The creamy vegetable stew I had noticed earlier was filled with large root vegetables.

(This is the meat that was marinated and grilled in the kitchen. Ah, this is a type I haven't seen before.)

As I selected various dishes, my plate quickly filled up. I decided to start with the stew with large vegetables. The spoon easily pierced the translucent white root vegetable. Taking a large bite, the vegetable, which had absorbed the flavors of the ingredients, melted in my mouth.

"Mmm, it's very gentle and delicious."

"Do you like vegetables?"

"Yes, I love them! They're not only delicious but also good for health and beauty."

"Is that so? You really enjoy your food."

"Of course, the vegetables from the Midreag fields are carefully prepared by the cooks. They're bound to be delicious. Duke, please eat more vegetables, not just meat."

The Duke, watching me eat, started eating the vegetable dishes silently. It seemed he had no particular dislikes except for extremely sour foods.

"A toast to the Duke and the princess!"

"To the princess, please share your thoughts on the Duke next time."

"The Duke is intimidating when he's quiet. I want to know how you convinced him."

"Next time, tell us about how you met!"

Turning to the cheerful voices, I saw the knights, slightly tipsy from the alcohol. Those who were neatly dressed were about to start their shifts, while those who were more relaxed were off-duty. The off-duty ones could drink.

"About how we met?"

I decided to engage in conversation with them.

"Here, our Duke, who had no connection with me, well, given his appearance and reputation..."

"Maybe he was talked into it by his smooth-talking assistant."

"Or maybe he was blackmailed."

"It's a rumor among us."

This was bad. If I let these rumors spread, it could lead to serious problems. I had experienced this firsthand, so I immediately corrected the misunderstanding.

"I met the Duke at the autumn festival. I was captivated by how he skillfully beheaded the berserk Backhorn. It was a very intense encounter. The Duke, covered in blood, was incredibly handsome, making my heart race."

I carefully explained what I felt and thought that day to avoid any misunderstandings. The knights looked at the Duke with mixed expressions.

"Is that true?"

"Beheading in front of the princess. I mean, how did you manage to charm such a delicate princess?"

"I didn't say that! I didn't!"

The Duke, of course, denied it. That's strange. The beheading was a sword technique so impressive that I wanted to see it again and again.

"I don't have the strength or skill for that, so I asked him to behead the golden Roiamoodler I brought as a gift. His swordsmanship is so beautiful that it makes me sigh every time I see it..."

"Hmm, so the princess from the north really likes the Duke's 'beheading'?"

A deep, rumbling voice came from above me. Looking up, I saw a muscular man with a black beard standing there. He looked very imposing and well-built, though he wasn't wearing a knight's uniform.

"Excuse me, sir."

"Did you hear from Blanche, Gareo?"

"Blanche has been pushing for this. Since you're going to be the Duke's wife..."

The man the Duke called Gareo seemed to be Blanche's husband and the head of the Lucebre Forge.

"Thank you for your understanding, Gareo."