Chapter 6

“Anyway, I’m glad Princess Lilith gave you knights emergency treatment.
You all must be starving—so please eat the pancakes first.”

The moment Alina gave permission, the knights snatched up their forks and knives like they’d been waiting their whole lives.

They had been quietly listening to Klaus and Caidan talk, but once they started eating the pancakes, they each added a comment of their own:

“This is bringing me back to life.”

“No wonder Caidan made such a fuss—it’s amazing.”

“This is delicious!”

“If my stomach didn’t hurt, I could eat three plates.”

“Isn’t the captain on his second plate already?”

“Be quiet.”

Klaus shot Caidan a cold warning glare.

Caidan avoided his eyes and focused hard on finishing his own plate. Meanwhile, Klaus turned to Alina.

“I was rude earlier. Actually… I know the kitchen has a hard time because of us. Preparing all our expedition meals can’t be easy.”

“No, no. That’s the kitchen’s job.”

“We only have two left to capture now—the Xenotat crown prince and princess. After that, you won’t have anything troublesome to deal with. So please endure just a bit longer.”

“…Yes.”

Alina forced an awkward smile while stirring the cabbage soup.

Klaus studied her expression before adding:

“I’m not exaggerating. We even found the stone fragments. It really won’t be long before we catch the royal family.”

“You mean the Xenotat royal blood–identifying stone?”

Alina’s voice rose before she realized it. The knights all nodded at once.

“Yes. The ‘Stone of Judgment.’”

“Oh, right. You said you were from Xenotat? Then you must know about the stone.”

“I’ve heard of it.”

Alina’s face darkened as she stirred the soup.

The Stone of Judgment glowed bright red whenever someone of Xenotat’s royal blood touched it.

It was the reason King Ranshel was forced to acknowledge his illegitimate children—
No matter what lies he told, the stone revealed the truth.

But the stone was also a curse for Alina.

Her mother had been a viscount’s daughter. Ranshel assaulted her and then denied everything.

If not for the stone, Alina would never have been recognized as a princess.
She wouldn’t have been thrown into a freezing, collapsing palace.
She wouldn’t have died two horrible deaths after reincarnating.

‘But this time will be different. I won’t die like that again.’

Alina steadied herself and set down the ladle.

“Please eat before the soup gets cold.”

“Yes!”

Klaus lifted his wooden bowl and took a spoonful.

To Malerhark people, the soup looked too plain and watery to be appetizing.

But the moment he tasted it, warmth spread from his throat down to his stomach. The pain and tightness eased instantly.

The sweetness of cabbage, the gentle vegetable aroma, the savory hint of bacon, the fragrance of thyme—
Everything blended into a soothing harmony.

The peeled, slightly sour tomatoes added depth to the mild broth. It was a soup that never became tiring.

Princess Lilith’s healing magic had helped temporarily, but not fully. Until now his stomach had still been upset.

But with this, the discomfort calmed completely.

Klaus rubbed his now-settling stomach and sighed with relief.

“I feel alive again. Thank you, Miss Risse.”

“Me too! I thought I was going to die these past few days, but this soup made everything better. Thank you so much!”

Alina offered the knights strawberries next.

“It’s nothing. Please have some fruit as well.
By the way—if that stone hadn’t been destroyed, none of you would have had such trouble, right?”

“Exactly.”

Klaus popped a strawberry in his mouth before continuing:

“Who would have thought that crown prince brat would destroy his own nation’s treasure before running away?”

“That’s Ranshel’s son for you. Incredible, in the worst way.”

Caidan shook his head.

The prince, Kynerik, had blown up the stone to prevent Malerhark from using it against him.

Because the stone was gone, the knights couldn’t capture Kynerik or the youngest princess—they couldn’t prove anyone’s royal blood anymore.

Alina listened with a stiff expression, then let out a soft sigh.

‘Never thought I’d have a reason to be grateful to Kynerik.’

She smiled sweetly at Klaus.

“I see. But how did you find the fragments?”

“We found something that looks like pieces of the stone at the Xenotat palace ruins.”

“‘Looks like’? So it hasn’t been confirmed?”

“We won’t know until someone with royal blood touches it. We haven’t even reported it to His Majesty yet.”

Klaus answered politely, feeling a little guilty for how harsh he’d been earlier.

Alina didn’t notice—she was too deep in thought.

“Where is the fragment now?”

“We placed it over there.”

Klaus gestured toward a small side table beside the hearth.

A small jewelry-like box sat on top.

Alina hesitated, then asked:

“May I see it?”

“You’re curious?”

“Yes. If it’s my homeland’s national treasure, I’d like to look.”

“You might be disappointed—it looks like any other pebble.”

“That’s fine.”

Klaus nodded, softened by the comfort the soup had brought him.

“Then go ahead.”

Alina gripped her apron tightly and walked toward the box.

The knights remained absorbed in their food, paying her no attention.

Klaus opened the box and showed her a tiny shard.

It really did look like a piece of broken glass from the garden.

“Would you like to touch it?”

Alina’s heart thudded painfully.

She forced a calm smile and declined.

“Oh, I couldn’t. It’s something for His Majesty.”

“But since you’re from Xenotat, you might recognize something.”

“I was only a kitchen helper there. I only heard stories about the stone.”

Klaus accepted this explanation and looked back at the shard.

“If this fragment is real, the palace workers will be tested first. You’ll get your turn soon enough.”

“Who confirms whether it’s genuine?”

“Normally His Majesty would, but he’s ill. So Princess Lilith—the second-highest in magical power—will verify it.”

Alina considered this, then asked casually,

“If this turns out not to be the real fragment, would that cause trouble for you or the other knights?”

Klaus shrugged and laughed lightly.

“Not really. We’d just have to keep searching.”

“That’s a relief.”

Alina smiled and stepped back—making sure she memorized every detail of the shard.

“Thank you for letting me see it.”

Klaus hesitated, then called to her.

“Miss Risse.”

“Yes?”

“May we ask you again tomorrow?”

“…Pardon?”

“For tomorrow’s meal. I’d prefer that you prepare the knights’ food. I have no grudge against the kitchen, but… I think I’ll avoid the deputy chef’s dishes for a while.”

“We agree!” Caidan said instantly, hand raised.

Alina looked at the knights, then burst into a bright smile.

“Of course.”

This was perfect.
Alina felt deeply grateful for the captain’s kindness.

If not for this opportunity, she had originally planned to sneak into the knights’ quarters by force.