101CF 59

Chapter 59

Lucia sat down at her seat, her nerves tightly wound, following the guidance of the restaurant staff.

Today seemed especially unlucky. Of all the restaurants Bern could have taken them to, it had to be this one.

This was the very place where, before confessing to Herwin for the last time, she had shared a meal with him.

Herwin, like Lucia, seemed uneasy, awkwardly clearing his throat and shifting in his seat.

“It’s certainly delicious, though…!”

Lucia felt a twinge of resentment toward Bern for bringing them here.

“I’ve been wanting to come here too, but it’s always so crowded. Today, we’re lucky,” Bern said.

“Indeed. Honestly, without a reservation, it’s difficult to find a table here, so I wasn’t sure if we’d get in,” Arista added.

Bern answered kindly to her comment, and the atmosphere between the two of them wasn’t bad—but that of Herwin and Lucia was quite the opposite.

The waiter handed out the menus, and everyone began scanning through them. Lucia, however, couldn’t focus; her attention was entirely on Herwin across the table, making the words on the menu blur into nothing.

After a while, Bern, noticing Lucia’s distracted state, leaned slightly toward her.

“Is something bothering you?”

“Huh? Ah, no, it’s nothing.”

“Good, that’s a relief. Have you decided on the menu then?”

“Well… um…”

Lucia hurriedly glanced over the menu, but with so many options, she had no idea what to choose. The last time she had come, they had simply reserved the most popular dish, so she didn’t know what else was on the menu.

Seeing her hesitation, Bern leaned closer.

“If you’re unsure, may I recommend something?”

“Oh… yes, please.”

Blushing, Lucia nodded. Bern eagerly suggested several dishes.

“Personally, I think this one is the best. The truffle flavor pairs wonderfully with the steak.”

Unfortunately, the dish Bern recommended most happened to contain mushrooms, which Lucia couldn’t eat.

She hesitated briefly, unsure of how to respond. Bern, not noticing her expression, asked again:

“Shall we order this, then?”

“…Yes, let’s do that.”

Unable to refuse Bern’s kindness, Lucia nodded. Soon, the waiter arrived and began taking orders.

Arista and Herwin ordered first, followed by Bern.

Lucia clenched her fists tightly on her lap, a cold sweat forming.

“It’ll be fine, right?”

If she quietly removed the mushrooms later, nothing serious would happen. She had promised herself she’d just eat it when she was with Herwin before.

She reassured herself and stared resolutely at the waiter confirming the order.

“…So, all five dishes are correct?”

“Yes, that’s right…”

“Wait a moment.”

Herwin interrupted Bern mid-sentence, drawing everyone’s attention.

Looking back at the menu, Herwin realized what Bern had ordered and frowned.

“Do you not know what your fiancée can’t eat, Marquis?”

“Huh?”

“Lucia can’t eat mushrooms. If she does, she’ll be sick for two days.”

Startled, Bern froze, and Lucia’s face went pale.

Arista slapped her palm against her other hand in realization.

“Oh, that’s right! How could I forget!”

“Lucia, is that true?”

Lucia glanced back and forth between Bern and Herwin, then reluctantly nodded like a guilty criminal.

Bern sighed, pressing a hand to his forehead.

“That could have been a disaster. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I couldn’t bring myself to refuse…”

Lucia’s timid voice elicited a sympathetic sigh from Bern.

A cool hand pressed over her clenched fist. When she looked up, Bern’s gaze was kind.

“Next time, please be sure to tell me. That way, I can be aware and take care.”

“…Yes.”

“I’m not angry, just… greatly surprised.”

Patting her hand, Bern adjusted the order. The waiter reconfirmed the changed order and then left.

Relieved, Bern spoke to Herwin.

“That could have been bad. Thank you for letting me know, Your Highness.”

Herwin, coldly staring at Bern holding Lucia’s hand, narrowed his eyes and spoke sharply.

“As her fiancé, shouldn’t you at least know what Lucia can and cannot eat?”

His tone was sharp enough to sound almost confrontational. Lucia looked at him with a flustered expression, and Arista gave a meaningful glance.

Despite the situation, Bern’s face remained calm.

“Yes, that’s right. It’s my fault.”

Bern admitted his mistake readily. Herwin, apparently dissatisfied with the answer, furrowed his brow.

“I’m glad you acknowledge your fault. Be more careful next time. Even in a political engagement, you should at least understand each other’s basics.”

Herwin was emphasizing that, since their engagement wasn’t based on love, Bern should be particularly mindful of Lucia.

Seeing Bern’s somber face, Lucia frowned and firmly grasped his hand.

“Why are you saying it like that? It’s not like I didn’t tell you.”

Herwin’s shock at Lucia’s mild reprimand lasted only a moment before he stiffened his expression. Lucia did the same.

“We’ve only known each other for two months. We haven’t even had the engagement ceremony yet. It’s natural not to know everything.”

“….”

“I don’t know everything about Bern either, and he doesn’t know everything about me. We’re still learning about each other. We’ll handle it ourselves.”

“Ah, really?”

Herwin smirked faintly, a wry corner to his lips.

“Just be careful next time.”

Normally, Lucia would have been flustered at Herwin’s angry expression, but now, she met his gaze with cool composure.

In the tense atmosphere, Bern and Arista exchanged glances, unsure how to proceed.

Bern quietly spoke to Lucia.

“I’m fine. What he said isn’t wrong, after all.”

Lucia still wore a sulky expression.

“Then, please, calm down. Okay?”

Only after Bern’s earnest words did Lucia soften slightly and mutter a quiet apology to him. Bern, of course, told her not to apologize.

To break the awkwardness, Arista and Bern led the conversation.

As her anger subsided, Lucia naturally joined in, though Herwin still watched her with disapproval.

Soon, the food arrived, and everyone began eating quietly.

Lucia took a bite of the dish Bern had changed and her eyes widened.

“This is really delicious.”

“Really? I’m glad it suits your taste. I’ll remember this dish for sure.”

Noticing Bern’s subtle attention to Herwin’s words, Lucia hesitated, then spoke softly.

“The truth is, when I was younger, I got very sick from eating mushrooms. Ever since, even a little makes me ill. It’s not an allergy, but I’ve been embarrassed to admit it.”

The atmosphere had prevented her from mentioning it earlier, but this reason played a part too. After all, being picky at her age wasn’t something to boast about.

Bern, slightly surprised, smiled gently.

“I see. I understand that feeling.”

He glanced at his plate, speared a decorative carrot, and bit into it. His face twisted in an exaggerated grimace.

Seeing Bern like this for the first time, Lucia’s eyes went wide.

After chewing the carrot as if it were poison and finally swallowing, his expression relaxed.

“Phew, that was tough.”

“Why…?”

“I cannot eat carrots.”

His face slightly pale, he explained:

“It’s not because of sickness or childhood incidents like you, Lucia, but no matter my age, I just cannot eat them.”

He rinsed his mouth with water, then smiled a little.

“Everyone has at least one food they cannot eat. We’re not so different, are we?”

Lucia, realizing Bern was lightening the mood for her, smiled faintly and nodded.

Whispering like sharing secrets, the two conversed warmly, much to Herwin’s scrutiny.

Herwin, who had never known what it meant to feel full, felt uncomfortable and couldn’t swallow his food.

He eventually put down his fork and knife without touching the meal.

Arista noticed the change and cautiously asked:

“You’re not eating more?”

“…I’m not very hungry.”

“Really?”

Arista, unused to seeing Herwin leave food, realized his gaze was fixed on Lucia. This felt strange to her.

“It seems he’s changed.”

Usually, Lucia would quietly watch Herwin like a fledgling bird, but now, the roles were reversed.

Unconsciously, Herwin hoped Lucia would notice his change. She had always been the first to notice even the smallest shifts.

Yet, after finishing her conversation with Bern and speaking with Arista, she hadn’t said a word to Herwin or questioned why he wasn’t eating.

“Your Highness, are you unwell? You haven’t eaten half of your food.”

Bern noticed Herwin’s abnormality before Lucia did.

Finally, Lucia glanced toward Herwin.

Herwin, waiting for her to speak, saw that her lips remained sealed and said bitterly:

“…I’m just not very hungry. Don’t worry about me.”

“Really? If you’re sick, please tell us. We can call a doctor.”

“Herwin, maybe you should see a doctor,” Arista added.

Herwin shook his head.

“It’s nothing serious.”

Even raising his gaze to look at Lucia, she didn’t speak. This was the first time since their academy days that they had been so awkward with each other.

Herwin, sensing she was genuinely upset, felt uneasy but did not show it outwardly.

After the meal, dessert arrived. Eating her piece of cake, Lucia subtly glanced sideways.

Herwin hadn’t touched his.

“Still not eating.”

In fact, even before Bern spoke to Herwin, she had noticed his lack of appetite. But given the earlier argument, it was impossible for her to speak casually.

“Is he sick? Or maybe he’s got an upset stomach? I’m worried.”

Despite her concern, Lucia couldn’t think of a natural way to address him and ultimately said nothing.

Each lost in their own thoughts, the full moon gradually rose in the night sky.