“Alright, Miss Sepharia, Miss Vita, please have a seat over here.”
The inn staff warmly led Rita and Cecilia to a table and had them sit down.
“May I ask what you would like to order?”
“Velvet bread, mixed grape juice, cheese, and grilled beef cubes. For dessert, caramel pudding.” Cecilia glanced over the menu on the table and ordered before Rita had a chance to speak.
“I’ll have the same, but please change my drink to spiced wine.” Rita didn’t want to keep Cecilia waiting.
Once the waitress had left, Rita lowered her voice and asked,
“By the way, why are we using false names?”
“Because everyone knows my name. To avoid unnecessary trouble, it’s much easier to go by an alias.” Cecilia replied, “I haven’t asked you yet—do you also need to eat regular food?”
Rita looked around to make sure no one was nearby, then finally answered, “Theoretically, I don’t need to, but good food brings pleasure to both body and mind.”
Cecilia nodded thoughtfully. “Then how often do you need to eat?”
“There isn’t a set interval, really. If I don’t exert myself, I can go ten days or half a month without food. If I use up a lot of energy… Well, after a fight, I might need a meal right away.” Rita puffed up her cheeks.
Cecilia nodded again, not pursuing further questions in such a public place.
It wasn’t long before the steaming hot beef cubes and bread were served at the table.
“Let’s eat. After this, we should rest early. We’ll need to continue our journey tomorrow.” Cecilia was the first to raise her glass of grape juice.
The clatter of forks and plates in the hall now had two more contributors.
Rita had thought food in inns like this couldn’t possibly taste good, but the reality far exceeded her expectations.
The crispy beef fat and savory sauce exploded together in her mouth. There was no rice, but just dipping the bread into the mixture of juices and sauce at the bottom of the plate, Rita felt she could eat several more pieces of bread.
“Vita, show a little elegance. No matter when, you must always maintain your manners.” Cecilia reminded her.
“Ah, right.” Rita slowed her pace and took the opportunity to observe how Cecilia ate.
Cecilia’s way of eating wasn’t fundamentally different from her own: using a fork to pick up beef cubes or using bread to dip sauce and cheese. Yet, every movement exuded an indescribable elegance.
Rita tried to imitate her, but every action felt awkward as could be. She was exhausted after just a few pieces of beef.
Sigh, even though she had resolved to become a Holy Knight, it would be best if she could be spared these troublesome matters.
Cecilia, on the other hand, had not changed at all after learning her true identity—if anything, she had become even stricter.
She would often ask Rita about the most basic things, as if being a dream demon meant she knew nothing about human life.
As the two ate, a girl dressed rather flamboyantly approached.
Though it was flamboyant, it wasn’t exactly elegant; in fact, it seemed a bit gaudy, and to Rita, she resembled a wild pheasant with splendid tail feathers.
Bright and striking, yes—but still a pheasant.
The thought was a bit rude, but when Rita noticed the lute the girl was carrying, she knew her impression was accurate.
The girl stopped at their table and offered a curtsy Rita had never seen before:
“Beautiful ladies, my name is Claire, a Songstress determined to carry her voice to every corner of the world. May I have your permission to sing a song for you?”
Cecilia sliced half a beef cube with her knife, put it in her mouth, and lifted her long lashes.
“No, that’s not necessary.”
Claire turned hopeful eyes toward Rita. Rita looked at her, then at Cecilia, but Cecilia remained unmoved.
That glance for approval, and Cecilia’s direct refusal, made it clear to Claire who was in charge at this table. Feeling a bit disappointed, Claire put her lute away, bowed again, and prepared to leave.
Just then, Claire’s stomach gave a loud rumble, turning her face bright red and making her falter awkwardly in her tracks.
“I’m terribly sorry for disturbing your meal, beautiful ladies…” Claire began, as if she had more to say, but when she saw Cecilia’s ever-cold face, she swallowed her words along with her saliva. “I-I’ll leave now.”
“Are you hungry, Claire?” Cecilia was still cutting the food on her plate, but this time, she had switched to the velvet-white bread.
Claire was taken aback, then stammered, embarrassed, “Ah! I-I haven’t eaten in two days.”
Cecilia rang the little bell on the table, and immediately a young waitress hurried over.
“Miss Sepharia, is there something you need?”
“Please bring a piece of rye bread for this Songstress.”
Claire’s eyes sparkled. Even though rye bread was the cheapest type, it was enough to fill an empty belly—for someone who hadn’t eaten in two days, it was truly a blessing from heaven.
“Thank you for your generosity, Miss Sepharia. I will weave your deeds into my songs and let your name be sung by all.”
“No need. Eat your black bread, then think about how you’ll get your next meal.” Cecilia’s gaze never left her plate.
“N-no, I have my voice, I have my stories, I’ll write a good song. To thank you for your kindness, I will sing you a tune.” Claire’s face became stubborn. She took out her lute, which she had just put away, and standing beside their table, began to sing softly while playing.
“In those distant Eastern Mountains, above the silver-dragon-sleeping ridges, I saw an eagle soar overhead…
The waves of the Western Sea crash upon the shore, I once saw the evening glow upon the water…”
“Upon the lands of Eternal Frost, I bathed in snow and the aurora…”
“In the Fertile Wheat Fields, people sip honeyed mead by the fire, singing out loud…”
Rita had to admit, Claire’s singing was indeed good. If she could hear such a song by a hearth in some game, she would definitely praise the game’s immersion.
The Eastern Mountains, the Western Sea, and even the Northern lands where people were often sent to mine coal and grow potatoes—there were so many places she knew nothing about.
One step at a time; she would get to see them all eventually.
After finishing her song, Claire bowed deeply again, took her lute and steaming bread, and left the hall.
After dinner, Cecilia and Rita returned to their room—of course, they were sharing.
The environment in this inn was far better than the one where Rita and Cecilia had first met. After all, Safras City wasn’t that close to the border, and its economy and standard of living were much higher than Solus City.
As soon as they entered the room, Rita poured out everything she hadn’t been able to say at dinner.
“The carriage has been returned to the post station. Tomorrow’s carriage is being prepared, and our luggage is all here. At this pace, we’ll soon be back in the royal capital. Also, hot water will be sent up soon, so I’ll help you freshen up later.”
Honestly, none of these tasks were too difficult. The carriage Rita drove worked like a shared power bank: just rent it from one post station and return it at the next. It didn’t slow down their journey and was convenient enough.
At first, Rita had been confused, but after doing it, she realized it was no big deal—just a bit more trouble than modern times, but only a little.
Cecilia listened while removing her outerwear, nodding from time to time. When Rita finished, Cecilia gave a thoughtful hum in summary.
“Rita, you’ve improved a lot compared to before.”
“Hehe, really? It’s nothing, really!” Hearing Cecilia’s praise, Rita giggled foolishly.
“In light of your hard work, I’ll give you a little reward.”
Cecilia lifted her lashes and patted the bed.
Rita didn’t understand the hint at all, blinking in confusion.
“Lady Cecilia, what kind of reward?”
Seeing Rita’s clueless look, Cecilia could only pinch her nose bridge and give it a gentle rub, then finally looked up at Rita.
“Help fill the belly of your future exclusive knight.”