Ch.49Dating? – 2

“My dear, try this as well.”

“No, I can eat by myse—”

“My lord, let me serve you too.”

“……”

I chewed the food already filling my mouth as they competed to offer me their forks.

Though I couldn’t see myself in a mirror, I was surely making quite an undignified sight.

This was definitely not the proper way to eat the most expensive dish in such a high-class restaurant.

It had started when Charlotte casually offered me some seafood on her fork during the main course, which I absentmindedly accepted, though we had been eating separately during the appetizers.

Seeing this, Serena snapped her fork cleanly in two.

Serena wasn’t about to let Charlotte get away with taking the initiative, and they exchanged vicious insults, calling each other clueless idiots and selfish wenches who only cared about themselves.

So when I told Serena to do the same thing, we ended up in this situation.

I could have just suggested we eat separately, but since this was what Serena and I had planned when we came here together, I couldn’t really say anything.

It was just that we hadn’t expected an additional person. Doing this with two people versus three was completely different.

Besides, once we’d started this behavior, stopping midway wasn’t really a good option either.

If they asked why it was okay before but not now, I wouldn’t have a good answer.

With these thoughts, I was chewing and swallowing a large piece of steak, its aroma spreading from my mouth to my nasal cavity, when Charlotte gave a faint smile.

“Your expression reveals everything, my dear. This must have been your planned dining style from the beginning. No need to overthink it. Just consider that one more person has been added.”

She read me again.

“You’re not actually using magic to read minds or something, are you?”

“How could I call myself a wife if I cannot perceive the thoughts of the man who is to be my husband? This much is a simple duty for a wife to fulfill.”

The moment she said that, the fork in Serena’s hand snapped in two. She had broken it with just her finger strength, maintaining the same grip.

The fork piece fell to the floor with a clear, ringing sound.

Serena nonchalantly picked up a new fork from the spare utensils placed on the napkin.

Whether it was due to the owner’s excessive consideration or a standard service, it was certainly proving useful.

Charlotte clicked her tongue at Serena, an action clearly meant to provoke.

“A woman without a shred of dignity. Showing your lack of breeding even in a place like this.”

“Still better than a delusional woman who spouts whatever nonsense she pleases.”

“What will soon become reality cannot be called delusion.”

“Is that why you’ve remained like this for nearly 150 years?”

Charlotte’s eyes flashed red for a moment. Their ongoing argument had been following the same pattern.

Charlotte would provoke Serena first, Serena would respond calmly until mentioning age, and then Charlotte would have nothing left to say.

Though 24-year-old Serena wasn’t exactly young, she was practically a child compared to Charlotte.

I personally didn’t care as long as I maintained a youthful appearance, but Charlotte herself seemed unable to get past this point despite my repeated explanations.

Why were they acting like this when I was actually the oldest one here?

“Don’t you two ever get tired of this? What are you fighting about all this time?”

“I apologize, my lord.”

“Neither you nor I need food in these bodies. I have no reason to eat this.”

“Can’t you just enjoy the taste?”

“One can only do that if there’s a taste worth savoring, my dear. To ask me to savor such cheap, worthless food—I had no idea you had such sadistic tastes. But it matters not, I shall accept you regardless of your preferences.”

Charlotte said this while slightly parting her index and middle fingers and bringing them to her lips. Her scarlet tongue briefly emerged between her red lips, carefully licking around them before disappearing again.

Serena’s eye twitched at the sight, and to prevent another commotion, I quickly snatched the forks from both their hands.

Then I speared the steak in front of me and offered it to both of them simultaneously.

It was a wise decision—using just one fork would certainly cause chaos over who would eat first, and if one of the forks was mine, they would fight over that one.

Serena and Charlotte shyly opened their mouths and accepted the food.

After confirming their expressions had softened, I casually placed the forks back beside their owners’ plates and returned to my seat.

I wasn’t sure if my presence was making them fight more or less.

“Ex-excuse me.”

With perfect timing, the sliding door opened with a smooth sound.

The owner entered first, followed by two servers carrying silver-domed plates and two more with empty hands.

The empty-handed servers quickly tidied up the messy table with deft movements.

They picked up the broken fork pieces from the floor and swiftly pocketed them, replaced the napkins, and exchanged the spare forks and knives with new ones.

Once the table was sufficiently cleared, the other two servers placed their silver plates in front of Serena and Charlotte.

The dome covers were lifted to reveal another meat dish, roasted to a golden brown with its skin intact.

Slices of meat of appropriate thickness were placed in the center of the plate, with some vegetables and salt on the side. The owner provided an enthusiastic explanation of the dish.

It was a roast made from carefully selected premium duck that cost several gold coins per bird, lavishly prepared with expensive sauces. Throughout the explanation, Charlotte’s expression remained unchanged, causing the owner’s voice to gradually diminish.

“W-well then. H-have a pleasant meal.”

The door closed again. As soon as we were alone, Charlotte smiled at me. Serena remained stoic.

“Couldn’t you have made that kind of expression when people were here?”

“I would rather die. Why should I show such a smile to anyone but you?”

“Serena, you too. Can’t you just sit comfortably without giving off such murderous intent?”

“My lord is sitting comfortably, and I am simply being my usual self, my lord.”

Serena’s blue eyes deepened in intensity.

“And if those women were to even brush against my lord’s body, I would have to slaughter them immediately, so I cannot relax.”

The surface meaning was already brutal enough, but the underlying meaning was even more so.

Breaking down what Serena just said, it meant she was constantly maintaining vigilance so she could behead anyone who made physical contact with me on the spot.

And that was supposedly normal for her.

“…Serena.”

“Yes, my lord?”

“Don’t do that.”

She didn’t seem this extreme when she used to accompany me before. What happened? Did she catch it from Charlotte?

“However—”

“This is an order from your lord. Stop it.”

With a start, Serena’s cheeks flushed red as I lowered my voice and emphasized the word “lord” with authority.

Given her personality, such a reaction was natural when I clearly established our master-servant relationship. She bowed her head in respect.

“I shall obey my lord’s command without fail.”

After confirming Serena’s response, I turned to Charlotte. As expected, she was staring at me with a sullen face.

“My dear.”

“I’m listening.”

“Do the same for me.”

“Do what?”

“You know what I mean. This is an order from Charlotte de Gargantua, your king.”

“I thought you said you were a woman before being Gargantua?”

“Then I shall change my words. Think of it as the whim of a woman consumed by jealousy.”

Charlotte’s voice turned sweet.

After gesturing to stop Serena, who instinctively flared up with killing intent in response to that voice, I looked at Charlotte, who was grinning, having sensed that I would comply with her request.

“What do you want me to do?”

“It would be best if you used words that remind us of our relationship.”

I felt conscious of Serena watching, but I had no choice.

Charlotte had interpreted my restraint of Serena through our master-servant relationship as something special and was now demanding the same treatment.

I had only stopped Serena because I genuinely believed she would behead someone for brushing against me, but since Charlotte had taken it that way, what could I do?

I could only hope that Serena and Charlotte wouldn’t start growling at each other again after this.

After mentally searching for appropriate words, I came up with something and met Charlotte’s eyes, which were filled with anticipation.

“Charlotte.”

“I am listening.”

Looking at Charlotte, who was deliberately repeating our earlier conversation with the roles reversed, I calmly spoke.

“As your comrade, I’m asking you. You stop it too.”

There was no question like “Stop what?” in return. This was the best answer I could come up with.

It was almost identical to what I said to Serena, yet it could simultaneously satisfy Charlotte.

With more thought, I might have come up with a few more options, but at that moment, this was my only choice.

It was the term from the now-distant past when Charlotte and I were fellow adventurers—our only time as such. Charlotte rested her chin on her hand and smiled at me, unable to hide her joy.

“Correct answer.”