Chapter 27. The Last Meal.
“If the goal is to make it easier to raise the baby… perhaps we should push the sofa against the wall and leave the center open for anyone—human or animal—to crawl around freely. The baby is being held now, but soon enough, he’ll start crawling.”
“That sounds reasonable.”
After the head butler enthusiastically presented his suggestion, Rakalt turned to Adelen.
“What do you think?”
“M-me?”
“Yes. You’re the one raising the child, so your opinion matters the most.”
Adelen hesitated, unsure if it was appropriate to arrange the master’s room in such a way.
However, since the master himself approved, there was no room for objection.
“Yes, I think that’s a good idea.”
“Very well, let’s proceed with that.”
The head butler eagerly jotted down notes in his notebook, brimming with motivation.
“We should also replace the carpet with a darker color—something that won’t show blood stains easily.”
“Do you mean a color that won’t require replacement even if blood splatters? Are you anticipating more frequent attacks in the future?”
As the head butler of the Sigelion household, he was privy to nearly the same level of information as the knights.
While ordinary servants were unaware, bloodstains marred many corners of the Sigelion estate.
Silently cleaning and restoring them to their original state had always been the butler’s responsibility.
“No, but it’s wise to be prepared for unforeseen situations.”
“Makes sense. Then I’ll go with a pitch-black color.”
“Oh, but pitch-black isn’t good for the baby’s emotional development. Perhaps something more colorful would be better…”
Adelen unconsciously interjected, making both men turn their eyes toward her simultaneously.
“Ah, s-sorry for interrupting…”
Adelen hastily covered her mouth and lowered her head.
She hadn’t meant to interfere, but thinking about the baby, the words slipped out. She felt she had overstepped.
However, no reprimand came. Instead, the master smiled kindly.
“It’s a good suggestion. Let’s go with a moderately colorful dark colour.”
“Yes, moderately colorful dark colour…”
The two men agreed seamlessly.
“What’s next on the agenda?”
“Well, since the weather is turning colder, it might be a good idea to replace Adelen’s bedding.”
The head butler was skilled at reading the room.
His ability to step forward tactfully surpassed Adelen’s so he had also noticed her declining energy lately.
“W-what? My bedding…?”
“Yes, it’s time. Your body needs rest to perform well, so let’s go with the finest quality.”
“I agree.”
The head butler jotted it down with satisfaction while Adelen was bewildered by this unexpected act of generosity.
“You can choose the design.”
“M-me? The design…?”
“It’s your bedding, after all.”
“Oh, uh… stripes, then.”
“Stripes it is.”
The butler wrote down ‘stripes’ with firm strokes, underlining it twice and adding a star.
Thus, Adelen’s opinions were carefully woven into the remodeling plan.
***
Since the room was enormous, sorting out the details of the plan took quite some time.
Nearing the end, the baby began to cry—an alarm signaling it was mealtime.
“Master, I’ll take my leave to prepare your meal. Will you dine with the knights today?”
The head butler stood, organizing his notes.
“No, I’ll eat here today.”
“Understood. I’ll deliver it to your room.”
“Good. Oh, while we’re at it, let’s eat together.”
At first, Adelen didn’t realize the master was addressing her.
“W-what? With me, Master?”
It took her a moment to comprehend, and when she did, she jumped in shock.
A maid dining with her master?
Even in the closest of relationships, it was nearly unheard of. Not even wet nurses, who often raised their masters from birth, dined at the same table. The class difference between master and servant was absolute.
“M-me? Eating with you? How could I possibly…?”
“It’s not like we’ll be eating in different places anyway. Why make the person setting the table work twice as hard? Eating together simplifies things, doesn’t it?”
“Well… t-that’s true, but…”
Adelen hesitated, overwhelmed by the honor.
Even the head butler widened his eyes in surprise.
His predecessor, celebrated for elevating the prestige of the Sigelion estate and earning the former master’s complete trust, had never dined at the same table as the master.
However, the butler quickly regained his composure, his pride preventing any outward reaction.
No matter his personal feelings, the master’s commands were absolute.
“Shall I prepare the usual menu, sir?”
“That will do.”
“As you wish.”
The butler bowed politely and left the room.
Adelen looked at him with pleading eyes, but he didn’t turn back.
Left alone with Rakalt, Adelen fidgeted nervously, curling her toes in anxiety. *…Should I say I’m suddenly not hungry?
But she was starving—so much so that she might faint if she didn’t eat.
Before she could fully weigh her options, the butler returned, pushing a tray at incredible speed.
It felt as though the universe was conspiring to keep her from escaping.
“Where shall I set the meal, sir? The sofa table or the sitting room table?”
“The sitting room table would be more comfortable for dining. Set it there.”
“Understood.”
“Come,” Rakalt said, extending his hand as if welcoming an honored guest.
Adelen froze. His sudden change in demeanor was unnervingly unfamiliar, leaving her awestruck and terrified.
Even as she started to grow accustomed to the master, her fearful nature hadn’t changed.
What is he doing?
It felt like an invitation to her doom.
Yet, it was an invitation she couldn’t refuse.
***
Dishes continued to pile up on the table, seemingly endless.
The last dish had to be stacked on top of another because there was no more space.
Is this a feast? The final meal of a condemned prisoner?
“Eat plenty.”
“…Thank you. I’ll eat well.”
Rakalt gave a small nod and began eating first.
Adelen, after feeding the baby, hesitated over the overwhelming selection of dishes.
In the end, she settled on bread—simple and familiar.
You can’t go wrong with bread, she thought.
Adelen carefully tore off a piece and brought it to her mouth.
“!”
But the taste wasn’t what she expected.
It was bread, but not just any bread. Bread served on the master’s table was in a league of its own.
She hadn’t realized how hungry she was, having skipped meals recently due to a lack of appetite.
But her body knew. The moment the delicious bread touched her tongue, her senses awakened.
Adelen, enchanted, devoured one piece after another. The bread alone was so satisfying that she didn’t even think to try anything else.
“Why are you only eating bread?”
Rakalt’s sudden question startled her.
“Oh, uh… because it’s delicious.”
“…”
“It really is! It’s the best bread I’ve ever had!”
“Well, that’s good to hear… but the other dishes are even better. Try them.”
Perhaps sensing that words wouldn’t suffice, Rakalt began serving her directly, placing food onto her plate.
“T-thank you…”
Adelen bowed her head almost to the point of burying her face in her plate, then reluctantly took a bite of the unfamiliar dish.
The moment the food touched her tongue, her world shifted.
How could something taste like this?
Thoughts of how dare she share a table or this must be her last supper melted away. Her rationality seemed to dissolve alongside the food in her mouth.
Even the presence of her master faded. The phrase ‘so delicious you flip out’ suddenly made sense.
“It’s… so good…”
It was a flavor so moving it felt like art.
People say truly beautiful art can make you cry. Could food also be art if it brought tears to your eyes?
Adelen, on the verge of tears, looked at Rakalt.
“Eat as much as you want.”
“Yes, yes!”
“This too.”
“Yes!”
“And this.”
Adelen eagerly ate everything Rakalt placed on her plate until she noticed the growing pile of food overtaking her ability to keep up.
She paused, her hands freezing mid-motion.
Rakalt frowned as he noticed her hesitation.
