Chapter 48: Talking about marriage?

Lina’s service was lightning-fast. Soon, steaming home-cooked dishes crowded the small wooden table.

Golden, crispy sausages, sliced and sizzling on a skillet with sweet peppers and onions, filled the air with a savory, caramelized aroma.

A plate of “Mama’s Stew” featured tender beef chunks in thick gravy, with carrots and potatoes soaked in rich meaty flavor, exuding a warm, rustic scent.

Ailiya’s eyes widened. She grabbed a fork, eagerly spearing a sausage piece and popping it into her mouth.

Oh wow!

The crisp exterior gave way to juicy, tender meat, spices bursting on her tongue, mingling with fatty richness. Happiness nearly brought tears to her eyes.

This was worlds apart from St. Freya’s refined but bland noble cuisine!

“So… so good!” Ailiya mumbled, cheeks stuffed like a hoarding hamster.

“Glad you like it,” Sylvie said, her eyes softening with a gentle smile.

“Try this,” she added, tearing a piece of fresh, steaming white bread, slicing it open, and stuffing it with stewed beef and gravy. She held it to Ailiya’s lips. “Like this.”

The warm bread nearly touched Ailiya’s lips. She froze, meeting Sylvie’s encouraging, honey-colored eyes, and, almost instinctively, took a cautious bite.

Soft bread, melt-in-your-mouth beef, and rich gravy blended perfectly. The bread’s wheaty sweetness balanced the savory sauce, layers of flavor making her eyes flutter shut.

“Mmm!” She nodded vigorously.

Sylvie smiled, pulling back the bread, her gaze lingering on a small bite mark Ailiya left. Her cheeks flushed faintly, like sunset on snow.

“Sylvie, why aren’t you eating?” Ailiya asked, curious.

Sylvie startled like a spooked deer, blinking rapidly, then lowered her head, nibbling delicately at the same spot Ailiya had bitten, her face growing redder.

After their satisfying meal, Lina cleared the plates, chuckling as she asked about the food.

Ailiya praised every dish, making Lina beam.

Maya soon brought two glasses of fresh orange juice. “On the house, for Sylvie-nee’s regular visits!”

“You come here a lot?” Ailiya asked, sipping the tangy, cool juice.

“Yeah,” Sylvie said, cradling her glass. “It’s affordable, and… I want to support Lina’s business. In this city, I don’t have family or many friends. Lina and the others… they treat me like family.”

“Struggling to adjust at St. Freya?” Ailiya asked.

Sylvie’s eyes dimmed briefly. She hesitated, then whispered, “I’m… trying. I’ll get used to it.”

Her voice sounded like she was convincing herself.

A commotion erupted across the street.

Ailiya looked up to see familiar figures approaching—St. Ross boys, led by Prince Leon, swarmed by noble girls.

Arthur and Felix, pushed to the fringes, watched Leon’s entourage with resigned sighs of, “As expected of His Highness.”

Arthur, undeterred, approached a girl gazing at Leon, only to be met with a ferocious glare. “Don’t block my view of His Highness, you pig!” she snapped, her elegance gone.

Arthur froze, petrified.

Felix, wisely retreating, kept a safe distance, his face screaming, Stay away from fangirls.

Ouch… Ailiya sipped her juice, sparing them a moment’s pity.

“Leon!” Felix called from afar. “It’s getting late. Let’s eat! We need energy to shop!”

“Sounds good,” Leon replied, smiling.

The girls bombarded him with suggestions for exorbitant restaurants.

“You’ve all walked far enough,” Leon said gently, cutting them off. Pointing across the street, he added, “If you don’t mind, how about lunch there? I’ve eaten at this stall a few times—it’s excellent.”

Ailiya nearly choked on her juice.

Why here?! You rich nobles should stick to places where a single snail costs hundreds of gold!

“I’ll book seats!” Arthur volunteered, perking up like a revived goldfish.

“Classic single-celled organism, bouncing back fast,” Felix quipped.

Ailiya raised the menu like a shield, covering her face.

“What’s wrong?” Sylvie asked, puzzled.

“N-Nothing!” Ailiya’s muffled voice came from behind the menu. “Just… studying what to order next time…”

Arthur rushed over, hoping to snag seats near Leon for some reflected glory. Within minutes, he and Felix were ousted by the fierce noble girls.

“Too crowded! Go to another table!” the girls barked, hands on hips.

“But those were our seats…” Arthur mumbled, silenced by a dozen glares.

The two dejected boys shuffled to Ailiya’s table.

“May we join you, lovely ladies?” Felix asked with his best gentlemanly smile.

Kind-hearted Sylvie nodded. “Of course.”

“Thanks,” Felix said, sitting. He glanced at Ailiya. “Why’s she glued to the menu?”

Ailiya’s heart sank. Holding it up was too conspicuous—she’d draw more attention.

They’re new; they shouldn’t know me, right? Hoping for the best, she slowly lowered the menu.

The moment her round eyes appeared, Arthur gasped. “Ailiya?!”

That fast?!

“You’re famous in class—who doesn’t know you?” Felix chuckled.

Sylvie giggled behind her hand. “Ailiya’s that popular?”

“Stop it,” Ailiya groaned, slumping on the table. “I don’t want to be famous.”

“Hey, Ailiya,” Arthur leaned in, voice low and sneaky. “I heard you’re a commoner. Know any… other cute commoner girls?”

“Huh?”

“Introduce me!” Arthur pointed to himself, eyes hopeful.

Pow! Felix punched his stomach. “Who asks that right away, idiot?!”

“You’re just as desperate, you fake gentleman!” Arthur clutched his gut, retorting.

Felix ignored him, smiling apologetically at Ailiya.

She waved it off, recalling Aurora’s gossip: Felix and Arthur, from allied noble families, grew up together. Their families were pushing for marriages to suitable noble girls in the capital, and years at the all-male St. Ross made them… overly eager.

“Speaking of,” Felix said, “Ailiya, you made it to St. Freya. Ever thought of finding a good guy to marry here?”

“Nope,” Ailiya replied without thinking, sipping her juice. “I don’t like guys.”

…Huh?

The air froze.

Ailiya looked up to see Arthur, Felix, and Sylvie staring, utterly shocked.

What’s weird? Why would I like guys? That’s…

Mid-sip, her brain caught up, realizing the bombshell she’d dropped.

“No, no, no, no!” She flailed, panicking. “I mean, I’m not thinking about that stuff yet! That’s all!”

“Oh… right,” Arthur nodded dumbly, exchanging awkward laughs with Felix.

Ailiya joined in, laughing stiffly.

So embarrassing… I wanna die… Time to bolt…