TOPWL 196

The servants came in a row and put two whole roast boars on each table. At Yudit’s table, they added an entire deer. There were also many game animals that could be hunted, such as woodcocks and pheasants. The skins gleamed with juices, and the potatoes, onions, and mushrooms laid around them were roasted to a golden brown. Smoked salmon and trout were served as well, accompanied by fragrant herbs like lemon and dill.

The bread baskets were refilled until they were full again, and unlike the soup, the stew was thick with solid ingredients, filling a massive pot to the brim. Compotes made from raspberries, grapes, and blueberries, walnuts and pecans soaked in wild honey, rice pudding, tangerine cake thickly topped with cream, cider, mead, wine, and beer filled the tables.

Preparing enough food and drink for the soldiers to eat this much was no small task. Servants stood at a ratio of one for every four people, constantly placing food onto plates. The dishes were seasoned on the salty side, likely to suit soldiers who sweated a lot, or perhaps simply because soldiers tended to think of everything as something to go with alcohol. Requests for beer and cider could be heard all around.

“Does the food suit your taste?”

“Yes, it’s very good,” Yudit said with a smile. Noble fare was often more for show, sometimes so heavy with spices worth their weight in gold that the food tasted only of them. Here, there was none of that, just the right amount of salt and herbs.

“Is that seat meant for your wife?” Yudit asked, glancing at the chair beside Marcello. He shook his head with an awkward expression.

“My wife passed away long ago. That seat is for my son.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“It’s all right. It was a long time ago,” Marcello said with a bitter look.

“I told him to join us since today is important, but I have no idea where he’s gone…”

“Is your son young?”

“You could say so… but he’s already seventeen. Old enough to take care of himself. I spoiled him too much because he had no mother.”

Seeing Marcello sigh, Yudit smiled awkwardly.

“What is the situation in Devlin now?”

Marcello stroked his beard, thinking for a moment.

“We’ve always had skirmishes with the Gota Kingdom. Nothing much has changed now, though they seem to be holding back a bit. They’re taking heavy attacks on other fronts.”

“You’ve often had skirmishes?”

“Yes. It’s not exactly good land to live on. Ours isn’t much better, but with the Empire behind us, even small things seem worth coveting.”

“I never heard about that in the capital.”

Marcello laughed heartily, as if amused by Yudit’s innocence.

“There are small disputes everywhere. If every one were reported, the Imperial Palace would be buried in paper.”

His voice was full of pride. He seemed to think he was protecting the peace of the palace. It made Yudit think of Khalid, who constantly went on expeditions and resolved conflicts. Borders must be like that everywhere. As he listened, he felt proud of Khalid for guarding the vast north, though he felt a little self-conscious for being so openly biased.

“Impressive,” Yudit said plainly.

Marcello coughed lightly, seemingly unused to direct praise, but he could not hide his pleasure. Yudit smiled, feeling he now understood the man a little better.

“When do you plan to set out?”

“In three days.”

Normally, they would have departed after only a day or two, but Khalid had sent more reinforcements than expected, so time was needed to coordinate the 9th Knight Order with the ducal knights. Yudit hesitated, then asked,

“Would you be willing to lend some of your troops?”

Marcello looked unsettled at Yudit’s question. Yudit realized he had expected the question but had not thought it would be asked here, in front of others. People were watching with interest, waiting for Marcello’s answer. He had not spoken loudly, but it was still the sort of thing that could be seen as political, and that made Yudit a little uneasy.

“I didn’t mean to put you on the spot, my lord. It’s fine if you choose not to provide support. I only asked because if you were willing, I wanted to coordinate with your forces in advance. The three days I mentioned earlier were because I thought it would take time to match the movements of the two knight orders.”

Reassured by Yudit’s words, Marcello’s stiff expression eased.

“I see. I had already intended to send reinforcements. However, we are at war, and I have many men stationed at the border, so I cannot send too many.”

“That’s fine. The numbers aren’t important. It’s about training together.”

Marcello thought for a moment before speaking.

“I could send about three hundred.”

“That’s more than enough. Thank you.”

Yudit bowed his head. The 9th Knight Order numbered six hundred, the ducal knights two hundred, and the Devlin knights three hundred, making roughly eleven hundred in total. Finally, a force worth bringing into battle. Yudit stared at his hands. The lives of a thousand men rested in them. The thought cleared away the cider’s pleasant haze. He picked up his spoon and brought it to the rice pudding before him. It was soft but tasted like nothing.

***

The next morning, Yudit rose early. He had barely slept, but tension kept him from going back to bed. He tidied the bedding and stepped outside. Garen, who had been standing by the door with a basin of wash water, looked startled. He clearly had not expected Yudit to be up yet.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Yes. Where’s Edmond?”

“He’s… not feeling well, so I’ll be attending you this morning.”

Garen’s eyes darted nervously. Yudit looked at him for a moment, then smiled.

“If you’re going to do it, you might as well do it well, don’t you think?”

“Eh? Ah… yes, sir.”

“I mean the work of a servant.”

“Y-yes…”

After washing his face, Yudit dried it with the towel and handed it back.

“I didn’t see either of you at the banquet last night.”

“We were told the kitchen was short-handed, so we helped there.”

It was such a smooth answer it sounded prepared.

“You two are my personal attendants. If you’re needed elsewhere, you should ask my permission first, shouldn’t you?”

“…Yes, Your Highness. I’m sorry.”

Garen looked sullen as he answered. His huge build paired with a boyish face created a strange mismatch, but it was endearing in its way.

“All right. Just be careful next time.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Where are you going?”

“I’m going to take a run around the castle. Do you want to come?”

Garen hesitated, then nodded as if he had decided something.

“Yes.”

In the back courtyard, Yudit knelt to tie his bootlaces in preparation for running. Someone came running toward him from a distance. It was Edmond. Up close, his appearance was almost comical, hair so messy a magpie could nest in it, a shirt buttoned wrong, wrinkled trousers, and fine shoes that didn’t match at all.

“I’m late. I’m sorry.”

“I heard you were unwell. Are you all right?”

“Eh? Me?”

Edmond looked genuinely puzzled. Behind him, Yudit heard Garen sigh. Even in thievery, the hands and feet had to work together. Yudit grinned and rose to his feet.

“Let’s run first.”

***

By the time they had run around the castle twice, the morning sun was rising. Yudit slowed his pace and looked back. Garen panted as he followed, and Edmond was farther behind, straining to keep up. Yudit wiped the sweat from his brow with a towel and waited for them. Edmond, pale and breathless, looked at him.

“How… how are you so fit?”

Yudit replied lightly.

“Am I? I thought I was average.”

“…Average?”

In truth, he was far from average. His stamina surpassed that of most knights, and he was fairly fast as well. Yudit flicked his shirt and spoke.

“I’m an omega. I’m not weaker or smaller than a typical beta male, but I think I should train what I can as much as possible, speed, endurance, everything.”

Edmond’s expression turned blank. Yudit had the feeling it was the first time he was really looking at him properly.

“Though I still have a lot to improve.”

Yudit murmured as he brushed the pommel of his sword. Garen clicked his tongue in exasperation. After adjusting his clothes, Yudit glanced at Edmond. Beneath the messy black hair, a few strands of gray stuck out. Edmond still had no idea and looked at him in confusion.

“Why… are you looking at me like that?”

“It’s nothing. Let’s go inside.”

Yudit smiled faintly and turned away.