Even If You Tear Me Apart - Chapter 9
“But isn’t this your dinner, Commander?”
Ezekiel shook his head.
“I’m not particularly hungry. Besides, I’m not sure if the food prepared for the paladins suits the taste of the Marquis and his entourage.”
“Oh, no, it’s more than enough. We’re grateful.”
The maid replied cheerfully, eagerly accepting the bowl.
Watching this, Milena extended her own bowl.
“That young lady must be starving too. Hey, Shanka, hand over yours. Let them eat first.”
Shanka, who had already put his spoon into his mouth, reluctantly smacked his lips and snatched a nearby knight’s bowl as well, passing both to the maid.
The maid, looking embarrassed, bowed multiple times before leaving with the bowls.
The squire, who had just finished scrubbing the pot, sighed in disappointment and began boiling more stew.
By the time the stew was simmering again, an unexpected visitor arrived—none other than Iris Quilluxia, holding an empty bowl.
“Oh my, the young lady herself brought this back,” one of the startled knights said, quickly standing to take the bowl from her hands.
But Iris stepped back and shook her head.
“I’ll wash the dishes myself. But before that, I have something for you.”
The maid, who had followed behind her, proudly held up what she had been carrying—meat. High-quality meat, and plenty of it—enough to feed all twelve knights with leftovers.
Shanka’s eyes widened.
“What’s all this?”
“The Marquis felt embarrassed about troubling the paladins, so he insisted on sending this over.”
“That’s kind, but really…”
Ezekiel began, intending to politely decline. He raised his hand, ready to wave off the offer.
But Shanka, having guessed what Ezekiel was about to do, was faster. He grabbed the meat from the maid and grinned, flashing his teeth.
“Wow, thanks! We’ll feast tonight!”
“Just taking care of the Marquis would have been enough, but we appreciate your thoughtfulness. We’re grateful, really.”
“Nonsense! Leave the dishes here. We’ll wash them.”
“I couldn’t possibly.”
The woman spoke with an awkward smile, pulling the bowl back behind her.
“We know how scarce dishes can be on the road, so I’ll be quick.”
“Uhh, but…”
A noble lady, doing dishes? The thought was clearly on everyone’s mind, but before anyone could protest further, Iris smiled again, this time looking a bit flustered as she briefly glanced toward Ezekiel while tucking a stray lock of silver hair behind her ear.
“Washing dishes is no trouble. I saw a stream nearby, so I’ll have them back quickly.”
Without waiting for a response, she hurried off, leaving Ezekiel standing still, avoiding her gaze.
Her pale silver hair fluttered in the wind, revealing her clear, spotless skin as she walked briskly toward the stream.
“She’s just a kid,” Milena said with a sigh as Iris disappeared into the forest with the maid.
Her fresh, vibrant complexion wasn’t that of a perfectly groomed noblewoman but of someone who radiated youthful energy—like a young girl on the brink of womanhood.
At just twenty years old and not yet married, she still carried an air of innocence.
“Still, she has the heart of a noblewoman. Someone’s lucky,” Milena teased, smirking.
Shanka, who had unwrapped the meat from its oil paper, whistled in admiration.
“Just the value of this meat alone is enormous. What a catch.”
“Commander, let’s not eat it tonight. Let’s grill it tomorrow evening instead, yeah?”
The paladins gathered excitedly around the meat like children, their eyes sparkling.
Who’s the real kid here? Ezekiel thought, chuckling quietly as he nodded and turned away.
One of the squires handed him a piece of dry bread with jerky tucked inside. Taking it, Ezekiel turned to Milena.
“From now on, let the Marquis’s entourage share our meals during camp.”
“Huh? Is that really necessary?”
“It’ll save time and be more efficient.”
Milena grumbled but did as instructed. She returned later with even more complaints, saying the Marquis had scoffed at the idea and sarcastically asked whether the paladins even had decent ingredients to cook with.
But Shanka, who had accompanied her, was beaming.
“He said that, but then he gave us permission to use their ingredients. Their carriage is loaded with meat enchanted by magic for preservation.”
Soon after, the squire returned Ezekiel’s stew bowl, now spotlessly clean.
Ezekiel stared at it for a moment before setting it aside and finally drifting off to sleep late into the night.
