Lunch
Around noon I’m starting to feel hungry so I open my mouth and wait for food.
“Do you mind waiting a little, Rose? I know it’s lunch time but we’re about to enter town, we can get food there that’s a lot better than the rations we have left.”
Sigh, Disappointed squeak.
“It won’t be long I promise, just go take your nap now and then we’ll have lunch together.”
“Gao…”
I then feel manya put my tail to my mouth and I chomp down on it falling asleep quickly.
—-------------------------------------------------
Sitting on a fancy chair made from precious metals covered in expensive furs, Duke Stefan Bartwohl sighs into his cup of beer.
His wife, a well dressed Dwarven woman, kisses him on the cheek, “What’s wrong, treasure?”
“Ah nothing, I’m having luxury problems right now, haha.”
“Oh? What problems?”
“Ah…As you know I’m very thankful for this age of prosperity, my lovely wife and kids but I’m just so bored.”
“Ahahaha, luxury problems indeed. But I understand what you mean. We grew up in an age of strife so times of peace leave us restless sometimes, don’t they?”
“They sure do, ahaha. But you know what, Frauke? I’d rather die of boredom twice over than go back to those exciting times.”
“Well said, my treasure~”
“Mutti…Do you and Vatti have to flirt at the lunch table every day?” their adolescent daughter Heidi asks them annoyed.
Peter, a boy the dwarven age equivalent of a ten year old human, strokes his first scruffy bits of beard as he adds, “I think it’s nice that they love each other as long as they’re just smooching who cares?”
“I care! It’s gross. Also stop stroking that sorry excuse of a beard and shave it off. You’ll have to shave it anyway once you start getting a full beard to make it look nice and even.”
“I look like a girl without my beard! If I have to shave it anyways I might as well enjoy it while it lasts until then!”
Slamming his cup on the table the Duke starts laughing, “Let’s all prost to these peaceful times, ahahaha!”
In response everyone lifts their cups and clink them together as a servant enters the room in a panic, “Your Grace! Big news!”
With a smug look on his face he asks, “Did we find another gold mine?” and takes a swig from his cup.
“No! Saintess Petunia and the King of Blaze together with his children and some bodyguards are asking to stay over a few days!”
Spitting out the beer all over the table he answers in a panic, “Kolana, pear tree and sambucus! Then what the demon lord are you doing here!? Let them in, prepare the best rooms, inform the chefs! Wife, we need to get dressed quickly! Get the kids into their best outfits!!!”
“On it!”
—------------------------------------------------------
Waking up, the smell of food fills my nose. Opening my eyes we seem to be in a restaurant. I’m sitting in between Scarlet and papa leaning my head on Scarlet’s shoulder. Rayla seems to be sitting on the opposite side of our table.
“Where…Are we?”
Rubbing her cheek on mine, Scarlet answers, “Good morning, Rose. We’re stopping at a popular restaurant called Wyverns Brew before getting to our accommodations.”
“Ah…Okay. Where is everyone else?”
“They’re eating at a place more befitting of their status,” papa answers.
“And the saintess?”
“She’s at the church right now.”
“I see…”
Looking around this place looks really high class yet still has some rustic charm to it. It’s like a hunting cabin made inside a basement for nobles.
“The food should get here soon my dear. If you feel like it’s not enough or you want more of any dish just tell your papa.”
“Okay…Hey papa? Can I ask you something?”
“Of course you can! Just ask.”
“Are you not ashamed of being seen with me in public?”
As I ask this the wine glass in his hand suddenly shatters causing shards of glass and wine to fall onto the table.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t want to make you angry! Please don’t hurt-”
Suddenly giving me a hug he says, “You and Scarlet are both my pride and joy, there is no way I would ever feel ashamed to be seen with you.”
“But to the outside I’m just some creepy guy from the slums. You even thought I was suspicious enough to beat me up. Won’t your reputation take a hit if you’re seen with me? If you keep hugging me like this in public, people might even think I’m your secret lover.”
Hearing this, Rayla nearly chokes on some water she was drinking.
“My dear Rose…I don’t care what others think. Those that matter will know that you’re my beautiful daughter and anyone who won’t believe me after I explain it to them can go and die. Both you and your sister are the most important thing to me, followed by our country and then your mother.”
“Don’t value us over the country…Especially not a stranger that doesn’t love or care for you.”
“You and your sister are this country’s future, Rose. Without you two the country might live on for a few hundred years but it will fall soon after. You’re also not just some stranger, you're my daughter and I love you even if you don’t love me yet.”
“...”
“You sound just like Scarlet did, when I met her…”
“Well that numbskull and I are related after all, hahaha. She might look like the splitting image of your mother but in terms of personality we’re two dragons of the same scale.”
“Yeah, you can join the numbskull club soon as well, Rose~”
“I’d rather not…”
“Ahaha that face you just made is just like mom’s.”
Letting out a sigh, I ask, “Speaking off…Have you already talked to her?”
“We were gonna do that after eating.”
“Then…Can I talk to her too?”
“You want to talk to mama!? I’m sure that will be fine, right papa?”
“Of course, we’ll introduce you together!”
“Actually…I was hoping I could speak to her alone. Would that…Be alright?”
“Of course my dear! We’ll just talk to her first to give her some information about things like your curse so she isn’t too surprised.”
“Okay…Thanks papa.”
“You’re welcome my dear!”
A few Dwarven waiters then come to our table presenting different meat dishes to us mostly consisting of different roast meats, sausages and meats filled with more meat. They also brought out a lot of potato based sides with them. Overall the food was amazing, though I didn’t get to eat much before feeling full.