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64
Fortress Icevant, Military Mess Hall.
Even though it was still early, the dining hall was already bustling with knights.
Hidden beneath Sion's uniform, I quietly checked the menu.
[Menu: Potato Soup and Toast]
'Phew, thank goodness.'
I let out a subtle sigh of relief.
'Today's breakfast is perfectly normal.'
Until now, having all three meals at the mess hall, I had witnessed ingredients made from beasts I'd never even heard of in the original story being served as food.
Names aside, the sheer appearance of those dishes had been unbearable, so much so that I often survived only by nibbling on side dishes.
After enduring for so long, I was finally presented with something ordinary yet precious, potato soup and vegetables.
"Hot potato soup… I can't wait to eat it."
I muttered softly, only loud enough for Sion to hear.
A moment later, after receiving my portion, I sat at an empty table. Soon after, Garen, Diene, and Genevia appeared in turn and sat beside us.
"Munch, munch."
Keeping out of sight, I poked my upper body out from Sion's sleeve, picked up a piece of toast, and began to eat. Then, inching my way across the plates, I sipped the soup Sion had set aside in a small bowl.
"Mmm… it's delicious!"
Though the color looked a little odd, the taste was rich and comforting.
Genevia, who was sitting across from us, spoke up.
"Seems the potato soup suits your taste, Ms. Lin. Please eat slowly, or you might upset your stomach."
"Well, it's been a while since we've had a proper meal. You know, when you've been stuck in a place like this, even something simple feels like a delicacy."
Hearing that, Diene smiled knowingly.
"Simple food, you say? But potatoes aren't exactly something you can find in the northern or central regions."
"Huh? What do you mean? Potatoes are…"
At that moment, Garen chuckled warmly and said to Sion.
"It seems that after eating beast meat for the past few weeks, you've become less picky with your food."
"…?"
I turned to Sion in confusion.
Sion, who had been eating indifferently, glanced at me and let out a short laugh.
"She must have confused Gamja(potato) with Gamzha."
"…???"
I quickly looked down at the soup.
For something called potato soup, its murky, darkish color felt ominous.
'No way. Don't tell me…'
Just then, a familiar deep voice came from above my head.
"You didn't know? Gamzha is a low-grade beast in the form of a larva, harvested near the Alketa Icefield. It's highly nutritious. And the taste, rich and savory. Truly excellent."
It was Theon, carrying his meal tray.
With a gentle smile, he added.
"Mind if I join you?"
"Oh, not at all. Of course not."
Genevia cheerfully pulled out the empty chair beside her, welcoming him.
Now just another desperate social climber skilled at survival, the heroine was endlessly kind to Theon, the Grand Duke's heir and her future superior.
"Then, excuse me."
Even with Theon seated at the table, Sion paid him no mind and continued eating as if nothing had happened.
That blunt disregard created a brief awkwardness.
Breaking the silence, Theon spooned some soup and spoke warmly to Genevia.
"By the way, I've heard quite a lot about you among the knights. They say you never hold back, despite the many duties you must shoulder."
"Thank you for your kind words, Your Grace. As a priestess, it is my duty to use the gifts given by the Goddess for the sake of many. I shall continue to do my best for the North and the Grand Duchy of Luxior."
"Such a fine heart, matching your beauty. Admirable indeed."
Having gained an unexpected connection by treating and caring for the Grand Duke's heir, who had once been an idiot, or at least pretended to be one, Genevia beamed, laughing brightly as their conversation carried on.
Theon, in turn, chatted calmly with Genevia, Garen, and Diene. Yet, every so often, he would steal glances at Sion, clearly waiting for the right moment to speak to him.
But Sion showed not the slightest interest in his older brother, devoting himself entirely to his meal.
After the meal ended, as we walked down the corridor, Deputy Commander Ulrich Thurman came to find us.
"Sir. As a member of the First Knight Order, this will be your first mission."
Sion nodded and accepted the document he handed over.
"It's a scouting mission to the outer outpost located in the northwest of the fortress. The distance isn't too far, and the area is a vast snowy plain, you should be able to make the round trip within a day."
"If field work is necessary, I have no objections. I refuse any unnecessary conveniences or special treatment."
"Of course. The commander's instructions were simply for you to familiarize yourself with the layout and terrain of the nearby region first."
"I see. Will I have company?"
"You will. Assigned to accompany you on this mission are your adjutants, Garen and Diene. The two of you, prepare yourselves to set out with him."
Garen and Diene nodded.
"When does the mission begin?"
"If you depart in an hour, you should be back before sundown."
"Understood."
With that brief reply, Sion walked off.
I glanced back and noticed Theon standing there, watching us quietly as Sion's figure grew smaller in the distance.
***
One hour later.
At the northern outer gate of the fortress.
When Sion and I arrived, the people waiting weren't Garen and Diene.
Instead, it was an unexpected figure.
"…What the-?"
"……"
Seeing who it was, Sion froze for a brief moment, halting his steps.
Clad in armor and a scout's robe, Theon was waiting for us and spoke as if nothing were unusual.
"As you can see, I'll be joining you. I volunteered, thought it would be a good chance to study the terrain and conditions."
"……"
Sion said nothing, only staring at Theon for a moment before walking past him. It was clear he had words he wanted to say, but barely held them back.
Meanwhile, I couldn't hide my irritation at this sudden personnel change and snapped rudely.
"Hey, hey, wait just a second."
"Hm? What's the matter?"
Theon, calmly following Sion, asked with a shameless look on his face.
Sitting backwards on Sion's shoulder, I jabbed a finger at him.
"Who said you could just butt in? This is directly tied to Sion's safety. Garen aside, Diene's a local and was supposed to handle guiding the way. And you, who until just recently was either stranded or acting like an idiot, you think you can take over Diene's role? Really?"
At my words, Theon let out a laugh. Then, wearing the kind of relaxed smile one would give to a child throwing a tantrum, he dared to reply to me.
"Isn't that a rather harsh evaluation of me, little fairy? I'll have you know, after countless expeditions, I'm quite familiar with the varied terrain of the North and the features of the borderlands. So don't be too quick to dismiss me."
"Hmph, I don't buy it."
"More importantly, shouldn't you feel relieved if I come along? That way, you won't have to worry about losing sight of Sion."
"…What?"
Now that he mentioned it, he had a point.
If we left Theon behind at the fortress, he might end up spending the entire day stuck to Genevia instead.
As the old saying goes, "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer."
Bringing him along might actually be the better choice.
"Ugh… that's…"
Unable to refute him, my words trailed off. Theon simply smiled gently.
I clicked my tongue, reminded once again of the male lead's shamelessness and silver tongue.
'Tch. I can't let my guard down around him. This one's not your average smooth talker.'
And so, the three of us trudged in silence across the snowy plains.
The heavy stillness was, of course, broken by Theon.
"Still… you've really grown."
From behind, Theon admired Sion's height with a tone of awe.
As expected, Sion gave no reply.
"When you were young, your frame and build were so frail that I used to worry."
"……"
"And now, your hair's grown lighter compared to before. Is that from your mother's side? That refined bluish-gray, like the dawn sky as seen from the Grand Duke's castle."
"……"
"I hear you had your coming-of-age ceremony a few months ago? Nearly twenty now, and with your stature and build, you'd stand shoulder to shoulder with active knights. With such looks and presence, you'll be quite popular in time."
"……"
Sion continued to ignore him. His detached gaze remained fixed on the endless white horizon ahead.
'…At this point, Sion's nerves must be made of steel in their own way.'
Theon's one-sided chatter went on and on, until finally I couldn't stand the suffocating atmosphere any longer and blurted out.
"Ugh, enough already! As for Sion's height, looks, and everything else he's great at, I've already praised him plenty!"
At that, Theon brightened.
"Have you, now? I'm grateful, then, that you think so well of my younger brother. It means a lot as his elder brother."
As expected of the main male lead, his mental fortitude was absurd.
"Grr-!"
Annoyed, I was about to snap back when, out of nowhere, Sion finally opened his mouth.
"The only reason I didn't object to your presence was because I am a knight of the Order, and I respect my superior's command. But that does not mean I accept your existence."
"……"
"An emotional response is the act of the unskilled. I prioritize the mission above all. So I expect you to devote yourself entirely to it as well."
Though Sion spoke with no hint of emotion, what he truly meant was: 'I'm not here to bond with you. So shut up and follow quietly.'
There was no way Theon failed to grasp the hidden meaning. He looked at Sion for a moment, then nodded.
"Very well. You're right. We're on a mission now. I'll focus."
And with that, a long silence fell once more.
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