Volume 1 Chapter 89 Sir Stefan Values Food
The plate fell onto the soft grass.
The grass acted like a cushion, so the plate didn't break, but the head of the bright red shrimp flew off the plate, and the big fried shrimp rolled onto the grass.
I struggled to hold back a cry.
(Rice... what a waste, the fried shrimp, it's so delicious...!)
I can understand choosing not to eat, but there's no need to throw it on the ground.
The fried shrimp got dirt on it.
The grass got dirt on it too.
Poor thing. The shrimp was alive just a moment ago. It became fried shrimp to be enjoyed.
(How awful...)
To Francois, it might just be a regular fried shrimp, but to me, it's a fancy fried shrimp made with high-quality Bernard shrimp.
Of course, whether it's fancy or not, food is important.
But still, there was no need to spill it on the ground ...
"Francois...?"
Sir Stefan looked at Francois with suspicion.
The people at the venue were murmuring.
Even if they believed Francois was a saint, her actions must have seemed strange to everyone.
I looked up at Sir Rail. He lightly gestured for me to stay quiet.
Maybe he wanted to observe the situation a bit longer.
"Did something bother you? It's true that nobles don't usually eat fried shrimp. It's never been served at castle meals.... Bernard shrimp is usually eaten in bisque, grilled, or roasted."
Sir Stefan said this and stood up from his chair.
Then he stopped in front of the fried shrimp lying on the grass.
"I remember fried shrimp. The last time I had it, I was much younger, and the fried shrimp was smaller, so I didn't recognize it at first, but that is fried shrimp... it's something commoners eat. I know you feel ashamed of your background, but there's no reason to take your anger out on the meal prepared by the chef."
Francois's mother was a high-class courtesan, but her father must have cherished hers as a mistress.
The Rest priest family is wealthy, so I think Francois didn't have any trouble in life.
She probably didn't eat fried shrimp like this in the town.
So, it feels strange that Francois hates common things.
"No, Sir Stefan...! Don't you think it's strange to have commoner food at our engagement party...?"
"There's nothing strange about it. I once ate fried shrimp at a restaurant in the town with my father. I told you it was delicious... Francois, I must have told you."
After saying this in a cold voice to Francois, Sir Stefan pressed his head.
He frowned as if trying to endure a headache, then lightly shook his head.
He quickly stopped the servant who was trying to clean up the dishes and the fallen fried shrimp, and he picked up the shrimp with my hands.
"...Something seems off, princess. His Highness wasn't supposed to be this rude, right?"
"I heard that's how it's been lately..."
Sir Rail whispered to me.
Sir Roxas quietly glanced at Sir Rail, as if asking what to do.
"Anyway... I don't like wasting food. In this country, we offer a prayer before meals to the divine ancestors. It's a way to show gratitude for today's meal. We thank the chef who made the food, the ingredients that give us life, and the happiness of being able to eat. It's an old teaching.... Francois, you are the second daughter of the Rest priest family. You should know this very well."
──I learned that from Sir Stefan.
When I was 13, I became engaged to Sir Stefan.
Back then, I didn't know much, and I was confused in front of the meal prepared at the castle.
──There was so much food. More than I had ever seen. So much.
At that time, I was living on dry bread crumbs, carrots, and bits of cheese, so I was shocked and just kept repeating how there was so much.
──Lydia, let's say a prayer before the meal.
And so, Sir Stefan taught me the meaning of the prayer.
It felt nostalgic.
Now, Sir Stefan, holding the fried shrimp covered in grass and dirt, looked like the kind Sir Stefan from back then.
"Sir Stefan! Don't eat that, it's a trap! This meal is poisoned! It must be my sister's revenge...! My sister must hate us and sneaked into the castle to cook this, it has to be...!"
Francois was sharp.
It wasn't poison, but she was mostly right. It wasn't revenge either.
"What a ridiculous thing to say. Lydia wouldn't do such a thing. Above all, she understands the importance of meals. There's no way she would poison the food."
"Sir Stefan, what's wrong? My sister bullied me. She mocked me for being a child of a mistress and looked down on my lowly origins... My sister always said terrible things to me... Sir Stefan, you said you would protect me, right...?"
"...That's a matter between Lydia and you. It has nothing to do with the fried shrimp that was cruelly dropped on the ground."
Without hesitation, Sir Stefan tried to put the shrimp covered in dirt and leaves into his mouth──only to have it knocked out of his hand by Francois, who rushed over.
The poor fried shrimp rolled across the grass.
"Pumpkin pudding!"
Eir-Eir suddenly flew out from between my breasts, moving with incredible speed, and pecked at the rolling fried shrimp, swallowing it whole.
"Brother, Lydia!"
As Sir Roxas signaled, a noble who had been watching the situation rushed out and grabbed Francois's arm.
"Don't move, woman. If you take even one step, I'll take your time away and turn you into an old hag."
"W-What, what is it, Sir Roxas...! You still have feelings for me, don't you...!?"
"Of course not!"
While Sir Roxas was holding Francois, Sir Rail grabbed Sir Stefan's arm and held his tightly.
"Now's the time, princess. Feed his the shrimp tempura!"
"Y-Yes...!"
I never thought I would really have to force his to eat shrimp tempura.
Maybe Sir Stefan might get swayed by Francois.
Francois's attitude is definitely strange.
She seems really anxious, like she really doesn't want Sir Stefan to eat the shrimp tempura.
"Lydia...?"
"Your Highness, please open your mouth, yes, say 'ahh,' please."
"Ah, ahh..."
I quickly brought the shrimp tempura that was safe on the table to Sir Stefan and pressed it to his mouth.
Not knowing how else to say it, I spoke to his like I would to a small child, and Sir Stefan looked a bit happy.
Even in this situation, he seemed pleased.
Maybe he likes being restrained while a woman feeds his shrimp tempura.
But anyway.
"Sister...! Someone, capture hers, Big Sister Lydia, the fake saint...!"
At Francois's voice, the guards started to rush over.
But Mr. Leavis and Mr. Noctis, who were helping us from Saintwise and Leonsroar, stopped theirs.
"Sir Stefan, chew and swallow, come on, eat, eat...!"
"Lydia..."
As Sir Stefan obediently opened his mouth, I pushed the shrimp tempura in. He chewed and swallowed it well.
Then, he stared at my face in surprise.
"Lydia... Is it really you, Lydia?"
"It's Lydia... Your Highness, um, did you eat the shrimp tempura?"
"Ah, it was delicious. It was enough to wake me from a long dream."
When Sir Rail released his hold, Sir Stefan touched my face to confirm it.
Sir Stefan smiled gently at me, and he looked just like the Sir Stefan in my memories, making my eyes feel moist.
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