Chapter 34: Can we still pack it up?

“Here’s to a pleasant partnership.”

Dorothy extended her hand symbolically, but Duncan didn’t take it.

“Partnership? I don’t see it that way.”

With that, he stood.

“If you’ve stated your terms, please leave. The Church is no longer a guest in Londe.”

Dorothy just smiled. “Then I hope your kingdom honors the treaty.”

She left a copy of the agreement and led Fratina and the others out of the council chamber.

As Lucia stood, she cast a reluctant glance toward the banquet hall.

‘Such a waste of food…’

Fratina, catching on, looked at Dorothy. “Um, Dorothy… since we’re here, why not pack some food to take?”

Dorothy sweated. “Sister Fratina… we’ve already burned bridges. Taking stuff now feels a bit…”

“Exactly because we’ve burned bridges, we should squeeze out every last bit of value.”

Dorothy sighed, nodding.

Lucia, overhearing, looked at Fratina with surprise and approval.

Fratina whispered, “Lord Lucia, are you satisfied with this?”

“Well done.”

In the council chamber, Duncan frowned as the Papal envoy returned.

“What do you want now?”

“Well… considering the excess food from your banquet, to avoid waste, we can take some off your hands.”

Duncan’s anger flared. “Take some? You bloodsuckers!”

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay rational.

“Take the food and leave Elan City, or don’t blame me for being unkind.”

“Your Majesty, even if you wanted to, you couldn’t. The treaty requires you to supply our garrison.”

That clause infuriated Duncan.

Those two hundred men stationed to block his mining, yet he had to treat them like royalty.

If not for the Church’s power, he’d never have signed.

“That’s just for the valley’s two hundred. You have plenty of churches in Londe—rest there on your return.”

“Actually, we planned to.”

On the way, the Church’s forces stayed at Londe’s pre-arranged camps for speed, with no supply issues.

On the return, less rushed, they planned a holy prayer at each church.

Seeing the envoy unfazed, Duncan lost his composure first.

“Are you done? Take the food and get out!”

“Very well.”

The envoy nodded and left.

Before he could relay Duncan’s approval, Dorothy was already organizing the packing of the banquet hall’s food.

To be fair, the lavish spread bent Church austerity rules, but for battle-hardened soldiers needing nutrition, it was permissible.

Per Dorothy and Fratina’s agreement, most would go to Lucia.

As Church soldiers swept through, taking not just banquet leftovers but kitchen reserves, palace servants were stunned.

‘Is this the Church or a bandit crew?’

But they knew the food would go to waste—too perishable to sell or take home.

After eating their fill, the rest would be discarded, so they didn’t complain much.

Outside Elan City, near a church, villagers lined up.

Since leaving the palace, the Church had spread word of distributing food at the church, drawing a crowd.

Yes, Dorothy didn’t keep half the food for the soldiers.

She gave it to the locals.

The soldiers’ usual fare wasn’t lavish but sufficient, thanks to Church funding.

For these commoners, palace delicacies were a once-in-a-lifetime treat.

Seeing the citizens’ gratitude, Dorothy patted Fratina’s shoulder.

“Sister Fratina, how’d you come up with this? Two birds, one stone.”

“Haha… it’s because of Lord Lucia…”

Before Fratina finished, Dorothy cut in. “Lucia thought of this?”

“Uh… sort of.”

Fratina figured she wouldn’t have thought of it without Lucia’s longing glance at the banquet hall.

“…Fine, I’ll admit Lucia’s got at least eighty percent of my smarts.”

Dorothy whispered, glancing at Lucia, who was quietly eating.

Fratina’s lips twitched.

Dorothy was formidable in negotiations, but in casual moments, she seemed a bit scatterbrained.

Smart? Maybe, but compared to Lucia, she fell short.

Dorothy’s confidence left Fratina speechless.

Lucia, noticing their gazes, looked up, saw no intent to talk, and resumed devouring her food.

Her stomach was odd. A human portion sated her without discomfort.

But eating more caused no bloating—it digested quickly.

She suspected she had two stomachs: one for her human form, needing only human sustenance, and one for her dragon form, where more food boosted her strength.

She’d avoid panting after short flights.

So, eating more was never wrong.

In Londe’s palace, Duncan fumed at reports of the Church’s charity outside.

“Borrowing my flowers to gain favor… taking my food to win the masses’ gratitude while I get nothing. Clever move.”

He slammed the table, wincing but keeping his face calm.

“Go. Keep watching them,” he told his guards.

“Yes!”