The stew Anger had brought was originally piled as high as a small mountain.
Considering that fellow's simple-minded attitude of "the young master must eat his fill," the portion he prepared had far exceeded the standard for a normal breakfast. By Lynn's previous estimation, let alone the two of them, even if Sena were sitting here as well, they probably would have left more than half the pot.
But now, the bottom of the clay pot, which was almost half as tall as Irene, was already starting to show.
With Irene on his left and Lilian on his right, their spoons moved so quickly they almost left afterimages.
One white-haired, one pink-haired. Their two fluffy little heads bobbed up and down in a rhythmic pattern as they ate.
‘...Is this some kind of giant hamster feeding ground?’
“Phew...” Irene set down her spoon and let out a long, satisfied sigh.
The plates in front of her had piled up to the height of a small hill. The stew, bread, steaks, and fruit desserts had all been swept clean, leaving only a few decorative vegetable leaves lying lonely on the table.
The girl leaned back in her chair, her hands resting gently on her slightly bulging belly, her light purple eyes narrowing into happy slits.
It was delicious.
Ugh, it was so much better than the dry pickles her master made.
‘Little Irene, you must be careful of those sweet-talking bad men.’
‘You're so silly and naive, your master is really worried... Who knows, someone might kidnap you with just a single piece of candy.’
In her memories, a kind woman leaned down and pinched the chubby cheeks of the silver-haired little girl.
“Hmph, Irene isn't silly at all!”
She quietly looked up, casting what she thought was a stealthy glance at Lynn.
Her light purple pupils glowed faintly.
This was the 【Eyes of Insight】, an innate talent she had possessed since birth.
Under her gaze, the emotions of all things had nowhere to hide.
Just like earlier, the noble Levi who had pestered her was shrouded in a purple of disdain and contempt, with even a faint hint of gray resentment mixed in.
During her travels, she had also met many people who appeared gentle and calm on the surface, but were wrapped in naked, raw desire.
‘But this boy who is laughing helplessly in front of me...’
To say he was completely pure wouldn't be accurate either. The colors surrounding the youth could only be described as a chaotic mix.
Trust, admiration, desire, affection, and even nostalgia... such complex emotions were paradoxically interwoven around him, ultimately blending into a warm, golden hue.
It felt warm.
Like lying under a dense shade on a midsummer afternoon, making one feel like taking a lazy nap.
This was the first time Irene had ever seen such complex emotions in someone she had just met.
She sheepishly tapped her cheek and asked hesitantly, “Um... have we met somewhere before?”
“Met?” The youth in front of her seemed slightly startled. He chuckled and shook his head. “No, this is our first time meeting.”
Even so, Irene still felt as if he was very familiar with her.
His tone of voice, his rhythm, and even his sense of distance and propriety were all perfectly balanced. With just those few words earlier, she had somehow been coaxed onto this dining table...
No, no, she shouldn't think like that. He had invited her out of pure kindness...
Her drifting thoughts were suddenly cut short as an unmasked chill erupted from the "harmless" cherry-haired girl sitting beside the youth.
Lilian narrowed her eyes, tilting her head in feigned confusion when she noticed Irene's gaze.
Then, in her mind, she began biting her handkerchief in tears.
What on earth is this white-haired woman talking about?!
“Have we met somewhere before?”—what era is that pickup line from?! Ptooey! What a hypocritical woman!
Lilian was utterly furious.
...
Irene shrank her neck, startled by that terrifyingly "friendly" gaze.
‘Um... did I offend this lady somehow?’
That fierce glare... for some reason, reminded Irene of a food-protecting cat back home that easily got its fur ruffled.
Oh! She suddenly realized.
It must be because I ate this lady's food as well!
Wait, did I really eat that much?
Irene hurriedly lowered her head to look at the remaining half-bowl of stew, her cheeks gradually flushing red.
It seemed... slightly...
A bit too much?
“U-Um...”
She quietly peeked up to observe Lynn's expression.
The blond youth was leaning back in his chair, studying her with a complex gaze, as if researching a rare magical beast.
Irene shrank her neck guiltily.
“I'm very sorry.” She suddenly sat up straight and bowed her head solemnly. “I seem to have accidentally overeaten.”
“So you do realize?” Lynn instinctively teased.
The girl's ahoge visibly drooped.
“Ugh...”
“Just a joke,” Lynn said with a smile, waving his hand. “We couldn't have finished all of this anyway. You helping us clear it actually saved us a lot of trouble.”
“By the way.”
Lynn suddenly realized they had been eating at the same table for so long without even a basic self-introduction.
Even though his understanding of Irene was perhaps more detailed than her own.
This included when she became a disciple, when she entered the academy, the first magical beast she defeated, and even her dark history of hiccuping for an entire day because of eating the wrong potion in Chapter 3 of the game.
But from a realistic standpoint—
The two of them were still strangers who didn't even know each other's names.
“Since we've shared a meal at the same table, let's formally introduce ourselves.”
Lynn was the first to sit up straight. Placing his hand over his chest, he offered an impeccable aristocratic smile.
“Lynn von Reinhardt.”
“This is my personal maid, Lilian Anasette.”
“The most trusted, closest, and most irreplaceable personal maid~”
Lilian added with a beaming smile.
“You completely added those last few adjectives yourself, didn't you?”
“No, I didn't~”
Lynn didn't bother arguing with her and looked back at the white-haired girl opposite him.
But upon hearing that name, Irene's expression visibly froze.
“Lynn... Reinhardt?”
She repeated it word by word, her light purple eyes gradually widening as the ahoge on her head snapped straight up.
So familiar... Have I heard it somewhere before?
Ah! He's the opponent I'm supposed to compete with for the admission slot mentioned in that communication!
C-Could it be that treating me to this meal... was to bribe me?
Ugh... city nobles are really too complicated. But he seems like a good person. Maybe I should just let him have the slot...
No, no! Master repeatedly warned me to make sure I get that slot!
Looking at the white-haired dumpling's bitter, conflicted face, which couldn't hide her thoughts at all, Lynn was a bit puzzled.
“Is something wrong?”
Irene shook her head vigorously and smiled sheepishly. “N-Nothing.”
She cleared her throat and sat up straight. She instinctively wanted to mimic Lynn's aristocratic etiquette, but realized she couldn't remember those complicated movements at all.
After a moment of hesitation, she simply gave up.
“My name is Irene Durandal.”
The girl offered a bright, frank smile and extended her right hand toward Lynn.
“We'll be classmates from now on. Please look after me.”
Lynn looked at the palm extended before him.
On her fair, slender fingers, one could clearly see the thin calluses left by years of wielding a sword.
It's here!
Hehehe, Miss Irene, you delivered yourself right to me~
Lynn had been worrying about what kind of excuse to use to make physical contact with Irene without raising suspicion.
“Please look after me as well,” Lynn maintained a polite smile on the surface and reached out his right hand.
Their palms gently met.
Let's see what kind of traits you have!
Rate on N.U.
