“Your Highness. Are you feeling very unwell?”
Instead of an answer, only the sound of harsh coughing came from inside the room.
“I think I’ll be better after resting for a few days.”
“Then perhaps I should stay here too…”
“No. There’s no need for that.”
This time, the answer came back hastily.
“You might catch it needlessly. I’ll be fine, so don’t worry and go ahead.”
“But…”
“I said don’t worry about it.”
Seeing Theodore unable to decide what to do, the priest standing beside him spoke calmly.
“I’ll stay here, so you can go.”
“I can’t impose on you like that. You must have other things to do…”
As Theodore hesitated, she shrugged as if it was no big deal.
“Normally I’d be busy preparing for afternoon mass, but well. As you know, the abbot isn’t interested in things like mass right now, is he?”
There was no room to argue with that statement. It was obvious that since the army arrived in Lopwell, the abbot had been devoting all his attention to entertaining the troops rather than holding mass.
Theodore, standing there with a troubled expression, let out a deep sigh.
“Then, though it’s shameless of me, I’ll have to ask for your help.”
“Don’t worry.”
The priest smiled slightly, as if trying to reassure the constantly anxious Theodore. Her eyes remained emotionless, so it wasn’t very comforting.
But with no other options, Theodore reluctantly began to walk away.
****
The underground dining hall of the monastery, which was usually covered in a bleak layer of dust, was now filled with luxurious food.
Whatever else, it was clearly the most grand and abundant meal Theodore had seen since coming here. Plump roasted turkey and fresh fruits from who-knows-where kept appearing endlessly on the table.
As Theodore stared at the food with an expression that couldn’t hide his bewilderment, the Count sitting next to him spoke in an admiring tone.
“It doesn’t seem as bad as we’d heard. I was worried you might be skipping meals here, but now it seems that worry was completely unnecessary.”
At these words expressing relief, Theodore gave a bland smile. But his gaze toward the abbot was extremely sharp.
‘And he said there wasn’t even enough to eat.’
That wasn’t all. Watching him chattering excitedly next to the Grand Duke made Theodore’s blood boil.
The abbot was a bishop who had been exiled to Lopwell as a criminal, no different from the princess. He had been testing the princess and Theodore, looking for a chance to return to the capital, but at some point his attitude had completely changed.
Theodore hadn’t paid much attention then, but now he thought he understood why. Once the abbot realized the princess had been completely driven out of the capital, he lost interest.
Come to think of it, it was around that time that the meals, which had at least been coming out normally, became a complete mess.
Until now, Theodore hadn’t given much meaning to that change. It was common for people to go hungry in Lopwell, and he thought that once they came here, neither he nor the princess could be free from such hunger.
Nevertheless, the clearly different treatment given to those in power was simply astounding.
In the village below the monastery, most people were surviving by eating grass, and even the princess couldn’t have proper meals.
The abbot’s true intentions were as clear as day. He likely wanted to return to the capital by catching the Grand Duke’s eye in this way.
But despite the abbot’s blatant flattery, the Grand Duke wasn’t even touching the food.
“I understand the situation is not favorable. Aren’t you overdoing it?”
“That’s not the case. It’s true that the situation here isn’t plentiful, but His Majesty, in his great generosity, has been sending food so that the people here don’t go hungry.”
Even if the capital was sending appropriate food supplies here, recalling the village scene he’d witnessed before climbing the cliff to the monastery, it was clear that proper distribution wasn’t taking place.
There was an obvious contradiction in the abbot’s words, but Declan smoothly raised the corners of his mouth instead of questioning it.
“That’s good to hear, then.”
Encouraged by this response, the bishop spoke even more enthusiastically.
“Moreover, I’m only sorry that we can’t offer better hospitality to a national hero like yourself.”
At this detestable voice, Theodore, sitting not far away, smirked as he chewed on a turkey leg.
“Bishop, you’re being too humble. This banquet seems to be the most splendid meal I’ve seen since coming here.”
The bishop’s sharp gaze immediately turned to him. Theodore, unfazed, added cheekily.
“If you had such excellent ingredients, I wonder why you haven’t shown us such kindness until now.”
His pretty eyes drooped downwards as if genuinely disappointed. The Grand Duke and the Count’s gazes turned to him at once.
“Ah, in that regard, may I take some more food for Her Highness the Princess? I’m concerned that her frequent illness lately might be due to eating gruel mixed with sand for several days. It’s only natural that the body weakens when meals are inadequate, isn’t it?”
“W-what… That’s a completely unfounded misunderstanding. Sir.”
As Theodore’s words grew more caustic, the bishop’s complexion turned sickly pale. In contrast, Declan’s face remained expressionless.
“You don’t need to explain yourself to me particularly.”
His voice was tinged with laughter, but there wasn’t a trace of warmth in his face.
“But there’s nothing wrong with what Sir Monches said. If the Princess can’t even eat properly, I dare not indulge in such a meal myself.”
As the Grand Duke put down his utensils, everyone else began to follow suit, watching his reactions. The previously boisterous atmosphere suddenly turned chilly.
“You must know, bishop, that the sin of contempt for the royal family is never light. After all, all the empire’s religious orders exist under His Majesty the Emperor’s rule. What could be more disrespectful than failing to show proper respect to the Princess just because she has left the imperial palace to stay here?”
At these words spoken without inflection, all color drained from the bishop’s face.
“I hope you don’t forget that before being a priest serving God, you are a servant of His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Yes. Yes… I will keep it in mind.”
As a response close to a groan escaped the abbot’s lips, Declan smiled gently. The abbot still looked deathly pale but forced a smile, struggling to lift the corners of his mouth.
When Declan raised his glass to thank the abbot for his hospitality on behalf of the army, the soldiers finally returned to their original cheerful mood and began eating.
When the banquet atmosphere had sufficiently mellowed, Declan stood up, still not having touched any food.
“Count. I’m going to check on the wounded soldiers now, so it would be good if you stayed here to wrap things up.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
His gaze, after brushing past the Count, turned to Theodore sitting next to him.
“Theodore.”
Even amidst the chaotic atmosphere, his calm voice was quite distinct. As Theodore turned his head, Declan handed him the plate that had been placed in front of him.
“I have no intention of eating, so give my portion to Her Highness.”
Theodore took what he was handed with a puzzled expression. For a moment he felt perplexed, but as the Grand Duke quickly left his seat, looking disinterested in the meal, the doubt was soon forgotten.
Whatever the case, today’s banquet seemed likely to remain an excellent memory, if only for seeing the abbot’s dejected face.
****
When Sienna briefly awoke from her sleep, the sun had already completely set. Given that the commotion outside had quieted down, it seemed the banquet had already concluded.
She gazed out the dim window with a drowsy expression before slowly rising from the bed.
Her throat was terribly dry.
Due to the characteristics of Lopwell, where rain was scarce, the monastery collected rainwater in buckets when it did rain.
Half of this was kept in the bathroom, and the other half was heated for drinking and stored in the monastery’s dining hall – this was the rule of this place.
However, since the monastery’s dining hall was also where the banquet for the army was held this afternoon, she hesitated to go there.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Sienna pondered for a moment before concluding that it was already midnight and the soldiers, exhausted from their long journey, wouldn’t be awake at this hour.
She quietly got up from the bed and slightly opened the door, but saw no one through the gap. The priest who had been guarding outside seemed to have momentarily left to prepare for tomorrow’s mass.
As she opened the door wider, there was a clatter at her feet. Looking down, she saw a silver tray placed in front of the door.
The tray, undoubtedly brought by Theodore from the banquet, was abundantly filled with food – more than enough for one meal. Sienna was genuinely impressed for a moment. She hadn’t seen such a bountiful meal since coming to Lopwell.
‘I see.’
It was obvious why this food was placed in front of her room. She could clearly imagine that cunning old man fawning over the Grand Duke in hopes of returning to the capital.
She had already been disgusted by how he would approach her or Theodore at every opportunity, asking if there had been any contact from the imperial palace.
Sienna moved the tray inside and then left the room. Having been lying down all day, she had no appetite. She was just terribly thirsty.
The main building of the monastery was divided into three areas: the eastern Area 1 was where the female priests resided, the central Area 2 contained the dining hall and various rooms for mass items, and the westernmost Area 3 was where the male priests stayed.
She suddenly worried about running into someone and having her lie exposed after leaving her room needlessly. However, the thought that the priests would be in the chapel behind the main building at this time, and no one would be near the dining hall, carried more weight.
With this in mind, Sienna left her room with a lighter heart.
Thanks for the chapter