Artorius practically inhaled every last scrap on his plate in one go. Setting it down, he scanned the table, intending to help himself to more, but his hand froze when he saw Artoria still shoveling food into her mouth.
"Umu? Brother, do you want some?"
Sensing his gaze, Artoria looked down at the chicken leg she was about to bite into. After a moment of visible hesitation, she steeled her heart and held it out to him.
"Here."
"Eat it yourself," Artorius said, waving it off. He then signaled a maid to serve him a small bowl of soup, which he began to sip slowly and methodically.
"Is it... not to your taste?"
Guinevere, who had been starting to smile, suddenly grew tense.
"Not at all. Your cooking is delicious, Princess. It's just that I ate quite a bit with the knights earlier, so I'm not particularly hungry right now."
Though Guinevere had prepared a massive spread, it was barely enough to satisfy Artoria's appetite—and that wasn't even counting Ector, Kay, and Bedivere.
So, while the food was truly, truly divine, he decided not to compete with Lia, Sister Vee, Sister Kay, or his foster father. At worst, he'd just sneak into the kitchen for a midnight snack later.
"But when I saw you earlier, Brother, you were clearly—"
"That's why I call you a dummy," Artorius cut her off. "Idiots should just focus on being idiots. Just eat your food. Children shouldn't interrupt when adults are talking."
"I am not a dummy!"
Artoria grumbled, looking down at the pile of food on her plate, but her appetite had suddenly vanished.
She really wasn't a dummy!
Growing up with her brother, how could she not know that his appetite was just as large as hers? And when they arrived, he had been visibly excited about dinner; there was no way he had already eaten.
His sudden claim of not being hungry was clearly a lie to let her have more!
Artoria suddenly felt a prickle of anger.
Brother is always like this!
He always pretended he didn't want things just to give her the best of everything. Whenever there was something delicious, he'd wait until she was stuffed before finishing off her leftovers.
In the past, she had selfishly accepted it all, but this time was different!
This food was incredible.
She had even felt a dark, momentary impulse to just go along with his lie and hog it all for herself. And so...
"I'm actually quite fu—"
Just as Artoria suppressed her longing and prepared to push her plate away with a watering mouth, Guinevere spoke up.
"Is that how it is? Well, if you get hungry later tonight, feel free to come find me at any time. I'll make you a midnight snack. So..."
Artoria looked up to find Guinevere smiling warmly at her. "Lia, please, do me the favor of finishing these dishes."
Artoria's eyes widened.
In the past, she had only thought of Guinevere as a beautiful and politically important figure. But in this moment, for the first time, a different feeling toward the Princess stirred in the young girl's heart.
Guinevere, I've decided! You are officially my sister-in-law!
"Thank you, Sister-in—I mean, Princess!"
You definitely just tried to call her sister-in-law! You sold out your own brother for a single meal?! Where is your dignity, Artoria?!
"Even if you aren't hungry, please, try a little of everything."
While Artorius was trying his best to distract himself, a gentle voice drifted into his ear. He turned to find Guinevere leaning toward him, her beautiful eyes filled with tenderness.
"Sample them and see which ones you like best. I'll make more of those for you tonight."
"There's no need to go to such trouble."
Artorius looked away, not daring to meet Guinevere's direct, expectant gaze. He was afraid that if he looked too long, he would crumble.
How the hell is this woman's cooking so good?!
"It's no trouble at all—"
"Can I have some tonight, too?" Artoria's face was flushed with excitement.
"Artoria!"
Artorius glared at his sister.
What are you saying, you traitor?! Did you forget everything I told you on the way back?!
"Oh."
Artoria pouted and lowered her head, taking a dejected bite of her chicken leg.
"There now, don't be so hard on Lia. It's just a bit of extra cooking. It makes me happy to know that you and your family enjoy my food. After all, the reason I learned to cook in the first place was..."
Guinevere didn't finish her sentence, but her reddening cheeks and shy eyes finished it for her.
Artorius didn't dare look at her at all now.
He feared that one more look would cause him to surrender to this woman because of that traitor—his stomach. Even now, after a fierce internal struggle, he only managed to say...
"Thank you, Princess!"
Artoria, you traitor, shut up!
"Alright, 'Torius. I know you want your sister and the rest of us to have our fill, but this is the Princess's sincere gesture. You should at least eat a little."
Ector spoke up then, highlighting the exact motivation Guinevere had already deduced.
"So that was it?"
"No—"
"Enough. Stop pretending. I raised you; do you think I don't know your heart?"
Ector played the part of the impatient father, continuing to provide Artorius with "assists" he absolutely didn't want by explaining his inner thoughts to Guinevere.
For God's sake, do I have any teammates here?!
Where's Kay? Where's Bedivere? Someone save me!
"Sir Artorius truly is a gentle soul!"
Guinevere's eyes were now filled with visible adoration and wonder. "But please, you don't need to hold back. I would do anything for your sake, Sir Artorius."
Watching Guinevere act the part of the shocked, then star-struck maiden, the black-haired Kay curled her lip in annoyance.
That "Green Tea" minx!
She had obviously figured it out ages ago, yet here she was, putting on a grand performance.
But as much as Kay didn't want to admit it, she had to acknowledge that this girl was a professional. If she were in her brother's shoes, she probably would have folded and become one of the Princess's subjects by now. She truly wondered if her brother could hold out.
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