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Chapter 13
Silence returned to the dining room.
Elbadin quietly sipped his wine, and Serdian, sitting across from him, continued his meal in silence as well.
Lucillea picked up her fork again.
At least it seems like Mei is no longer in trouble.
Her appetite had completely dropped. Still, it would be sinful to leave such delicious food uneaten.
And asking to pack the leftovers feels a bit awkward too.
By the way…
Serdian really doesn’t say a word, does he?
Despite the commotion earlier, Serdian remained calm, as if watching a fire from across the river.
Well, I guess it’s better than having him speak like Your Highness, only to throw sharp words at people…
As the dining atmosphere sank into silence, Lucillea thought of Briola.
Grandmother used to tell me so many stories…
Though not as luxurious as the Ducal family’s table, the meal times with Briola were always filled with warm conversation.
She taught Lucillea about what went into the stew, how to prepare it to make it tender, and which herbs would enhance its flavor.
Through Briola, Lucillea learned that a meal wasn’t just a place to eat.
At this rate, I can’t even tell if they get along well or not…
Lucillea suddenly felt uneasy. Someone needed to speak to change the mood, and she realized that someone had to be her.
Hah… if I speak up, will I just end up getting scolded again?
She glanced nervously at Elbadin and Serdian.
It was then that her eyes caught Serdian’s plate.
Oh…
Looking briefly at his plate, Lucillea gathered the remaining carrots on her own plate, as if to show them off.
“Wow!” she exclaimed softly, then turned to Serdian.
“You eat carrots?!”
“……”
Serdian’s hand holding the fork twitched.
When he gave her a look that seemed to say, What nonsense are you talking about?, Lucillea turned to Elbadin and continued speaking.
“To be honest, carrots are the vegetable I dislike most. My grandmother says they’re sweet and delicious, but I can’t stand their smell.”
Even in heavily spiced stews, the taste stood out, so she would pick them out, she added.
“So naturally, I assumed kids my age would dislike them too. But Ser—”
Elbadin glanced at the carrots on Lucillea’s plate and said,
“If you keep being so picky, you’ll grow up that way for life.”
“……”
It was clearly a typical adult warning about how picky eating was bad—an affectionate sort of advice.
Yet…
How can he be so irritating with just a single sentence?
Lucillea clenched her teeth and replied,
“Th-thank you for the advice…”
She didn’t stop there and turned back to Serdian, her eyes sparkling.
“But you’re amazing! You ate every single carrot?!”
“……”
Look at this, Your Highness! Your son even eats carrots!
Lucillea proudly exclaimed, and for the first time, a hint of surprise crossed Serdian’s face.
Only then did Elbadin notice Serdian’s plate. When he looked at his own plate, Serdian’s eyes wavered slightly.
Carefully pointing at his empty plate with knife and fork, Serdian spoke.
“I… don’t particularly avoid anything.”
Elbadin nodded lightly.
“Good attitude.”
Serdian slightly bowed his head, seeming a little embarrassed.
Elbadin continued.
“To be honest, I don’t like carrots either.”
Huh? Lucillea’s eyes widened at the unexpected confession.
Serdian also looked surprised and turned to Elbadin.
Looking down at his own empty plate, Elbadin said calmly,
“When you’re at a table like this, you realize how many hands have worked to prepare each plate. That made me choose not to leave anything, even if I don’t like it.”
He looked at Serdian.
“As the heir of the Ducal family, you should have the same mindset. You should think of the effort and care of the people of your domain first.”
Serdian’s expression grew serious as he replied,
“Yes, I will remember, Your Highness.”
After that, Elbadin and Serdian discussed the state of the domain.
Once they started talking, the conversation flowed surprisingly well.
Though only thirteen, Serdian’s answers to Elbadin’s questions were clear and precise.
His observational skills, hidden beneath a stoic tone, and the logic in his explanations were impressive for someone his age.
Lucillea was secretly amazed.
Is this the dignity of a protagonist?
Maybe he’s living a “second life,” or something like that.
Whether it’s the dignity of a protagonist, a natural genius, or really a second life…
Just like today, that would be perfect.
Today, Elbadin learned that Serdian was growing up without being picky.
Serdian, in turn, learned that his foster father disliked carrots.
Though brief and seemingly trivial, they learned a little about each other.
I also found out that my biological father can be really irritating with his words.
Still, he seemed a little admirable when explaining why he always finished his plate.
In any case, if these small, somewhat business-like conversations continue, the cold barrier between them would gradually melt away.
Yes, today is enough.
Lucillea watched the two with an involuntarily satisfied gaze.
“Follow me to the study.”
After the meal, Elbadin took Lucillea to his study.
The room had a slightly cold atmosphere.
The fireplace was burning, yet somehow it still felt this way.
It wasn’t just the temperature—it seemed the room itself reflected Elbadin’s cold, weighty personality.
There were no unnecessary decorations; every piece of furniture and object was perfectly organized.
A tall bookshelf filled one wall, crowded with books whose titles alone seemed difficult to comprehend. On another wall, Elbadin’s favorite sword hilts were neatly arranged.
The air suggested that no mistakes would be tolerated.
Even without knowing whose study it was, one could tell—it carried Elbadin’s essence.
“Sit there.”
“Yes.”
Lucillea walked to the sofa he indicated and sat down gently.
Elbadin handed his coat to his assistant, Riat, who had followed them in.
“The documents?”
“They’re ready.”
Elbadin nodded and picked up the documents from the desk.
For a brief moment, the study fell silent as he examined them.
Meanwhile, Lucillea looked around the study, turning her head this way and that.
Her eyes met Riat’s, and she quietly gulped, turning away.
That man is still scary.
She avoided his gaze, looking in the opposite direction.
After a quick glance at the documents, Elbadin walked over to the sofa and sat across from Lucillea.
“You were right.”
“……Yes? About what?”
Lucillea asked, and Elbadin replied,
“The village head confessed. He deliberately left you off the list.”
Ah, that.
“Yes. If you check, my name probably wasn’t even on the list. I wasn’t recognized as part of the village,” Lucillea had explained, asserting her innocence.
Right, he said he sent someone to Mille village.
Elbadin continued.
“Once the village head spoke, others followed, confirming that most of what you said from the carriage was true.”
“Most? Not everything?” Lucillea asked, her eyes wide.
“Most? Not everything?”
Elbadin said casually when she seemed puzzled.
“Your age.”
Lucillea gasped sharply.
