TNWKM 3

Chapter 3

The moment Evelyn felt moved by the knights was when the topic of her hometown came up.

“If it’s the Adrian territory, that’s quite far from the capital.”

“It must be right about the time you start missing your family the most.”

At those words, Evelyn’s heart tightened.

She had left her familiar home and managed to adapt safely to her workplace, but that didn’t mean her longing for her family had disappeared.

When she returned to her empty house after work, she sometimes felt as though she could still hear her parents’ warm voices welcoming her.

Perhaps reading the bitterness in her expression, Vanessa patted her on the shoulder.

“It’s part of growing up.”

“I’m sure they’re proud of their daughter.”

One by one, they offered her gentle words.

“When do you miss your parents the most?”

At the question, Evelyn thought briefly. The answer came quickly.

“At dinnertime.”

“Dinnertime?”

“No matter how busy we were, we always ate dinner together. Meals are part of everyday life, right? My parents believed that time with the people you love should naturally seep into your life, just like daily routine.”

At her words, the duke’s eyes widened.

‘At least one meal a day should be shared with family.’

A voice he had long buried resonated softly in his chest.

Without realizing it, the duke found himself staring at Evelyn.

What stopped him was the voice of a subordinate.

“That’s right, that’s right. Food and love both grow deeper the more you share them.”

When Victor chimed in knowingly, the others booed him.

As if nothing had happened, the duke casually turned his head away.

Amid the cheerful atmosphere, Evelyn smiled.

They seem like good people.

Feeling a fondness for the knights, she expressed her thanks.

Before she knew it, the duke was listening to her again.

He had always been intrigued by the unexpected.

As usual, he had expected a dull meal with the knights—but instead, he found something surprisingly interesting.

And her unexpected words overlapped with someone else in his memory. A long-buried recollection surfaced from deep within his heart.

Soon, well-grilled meat, salad, and golden-brown bread were placed on the table.

As Evelyn began cutting her meat, she glanced around.

“Is something wrong?” Vanessa asked.

Evelyn spoke shyly. “I was hoping the meat could be cooked a little more…”

She preferred it thoroughly done all the way through.

At that moment, Victor leapt to his feet.

“I’ll help you!”

Shing—

The clear sound of a blade leaving its sheath rang out.

“You said you wanted to see aura, didn’t you?”

He gave his sword a small swing, and a blue light wrapped around the blade.

Then the aura shot toward Evelyn’s plate.

Sizzle—

“……”

“……”

The meat touched by the aura wasn’t just cooked—it was burnt pitch black.

And worse—

Crack—

The force was so strong that the plate split.

Victor stared at Evelyn in panic.

She’ll be scared like the others. She’ll leave…

The duke also expected the usual, predictable reaction.

But Evelyn’s response was unexpected.

“So this is aura! That’s amazing!”

“You’re not angry?”

“You were trying to help me. It couldn’t be helped.”

She spoke calmly.

Was she flexible by nature, or simply dull to such things? It was hard to tell.

Once again, his expectations were overturned, and the duke’s eyes gleamed.

Unable to hold back, Vanessa shouted, “Use those clumsy hands for knitting! Don’t waste them on useless things!”

“What? If I were really clumsy, I couldn’t knit either! I’m very delicate!”

Victor, worked up, waved his sword in protest.

Whoosh—

A powerful aura slashed downward.

Craaaack—

The long wooden table split apart.

In an instant, it broke clean in two and collapsed.

The knights booed Victor.

“What are you going to do about my meat?!”

“Bring your bed instead of a table!”

As chaos unfolded one after another, Evelyn’s thoughts grew muddled.

Then the duke, who had been silent the whole time, smiled at her.

“Evelyn.”

He remembered her name from earlier and called it gently.

“Y-Yes?”

“Impressive, isn’t it?”

“What is…?”

In his hands were two plates.

One was his own meal. The other was Evelyn’s cracked plate.

Even in the chaos, he had saved the food—and he looked quite pleased about it.

Evelyn blinked.

“Um… shouldn’t you be doing something else instead…?”

She pointed at the fighting knights.

Shouldn’t he stop them?

The duke glanced in the direction of her finger and stood up casually.

“An outdoor meal wouldn’t be so bad.”

“Pardon? I was pointing at the door, not—”

Without waiting for her reply, he headed toward the lodging’s door.

He tilted his head at the dazed Evelyn, as if asking what she was doing.

As though bewitched, she stood.

Is this really right?

Unable to endure the commotion, Evelyn followed him.

A meal for just the two of them was truly unexpected.

My heart had just calmed down…!

In the garden in front of the lodging stood a wooden table and chairs.

As if it were his own home, the duke set down the plates and utensils with relaxed ease.

The noise from inside occasionally drifted out, but he seemed unbothered.

They sat facing each other, and he began cutting the meat on his plate.

His movements were neat and upright—the very image of a high-ranking noble.

After slicing his meat evenly, he swapped his plate with Evelyn’s.

She looked at him in confusion.

“Why are you taking my meat?”

The duke burst into laughter.

“In a situation like this, wouldn’t one usually think the man is serving the lady his own meal?”

But you’re the duke…

She swallowed her words. She had heard that one shouldn’t grow curious about the actions of those of high rank.

“Thank you.”

“I can’t very well feed you burnt meat. And it was my subordinate’s mistake.”

Ah, so it wasn’t consideration—it was cleaning up after his subordinate.

“Then I suppose instead of thank you, I should say I’ll enjoy the meal.”

Watching her instantly retract her gratitude, the duke laughed again.

As if realizing something, she asked, “Are you going to eat the burnt meat then, Your Grace?”

She felt a bit guilty.

He shook his head.

“As if. Do I look like I’d eat that monstrosity?”

“Then why did you bring it in the first place?”

She genuinely didn’t understand the inefficiency.

“If you’re not going to eat it, why bring it?”

“For formality’s sake.”

“Formality?”

To complete the appearance of a meal? Even though he wouldn’t eat it?

Nobles really worry about the strangest things.

At this point, she might as well just admire his face.

Thinking of it as employee benefits made her feel better.

Then the duke stood.

“Still, it’s lacking, isn’t it?”

Lacking what, exactly?

Her blue eyes turned toward him.

He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket.

Evelyn thought she was about to witness a scene straight out of a romance novel—perhaps a noble gesture like laying the handkerchief on a lady’s seat.

Instead, he walked somewhere, rolled the handkerchief carefully, and returned holding it with great care.

“Ambience matters.”

Inside the unfolded handkerchief were colorful wildflowers.

With careful hands, he gathered them together and rolled the cloth again.

It resembled a bouquet.

The crude bouquet was wedged between the wooden slats of the table.

Like a vase.

The duke looked at Evelyn expectantly.

What am I supposed to say to this…?

It was unbelievably shabby.

With a reluctant expression, she said, “Wow, I almost mistook this for a fine restaurant.”

Despite the soulless compliment, the duke shrugged proudly.

“I have many talents.”

Satisfied that his “formality” was complete, he quietly watched her.

Unable to bear his gaze while chewing, Evelyn asked, “Would you like a bite?”

“What?”

“Or how about we split it in half?”

It was her carefully considered solution.

The duke found this situation new. No one had ever worried about whether he was hungry.

Just then, the door opened, and a servant from the lodging brought out fresh dishes.

“Thank you, but it seems it’s no longer necessary.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Then let’s begin the meeting.”

“…Pardon?”

It was an abrupt change of topic.