Chapter 254: Lunch with the Prince 2
A shadow flickered across Alaric’s face, but it was gone so quickly she almost thought she imagined it. "Yes. The arrangement is...advantageous." He set his cup down with deliberate care. "But enough of politics. We are here to enjoy ourselves."
Lara’s lips curled up, and her eyes turned into crescents.
Peredur, observing from the side, noticed the radiant smile that danced across her lips, illuminating her face. "What are you smiling about?" he asked, his eyes narrowing.
Prince Alaric looked at Lara, his eyes brightened, and a smile ghosted his lips before he turned his eyes toward the door.
As if on cue, the attendant returned, carrying a lacquered tray of delicacies—venison simmered in wine and garnished with ginger and pepper, roast turkey glazed with honey and rosemary, grilled fish, freshly baked bread, mashed potato, and a few meat and vegetable dishes.
Peredur’s eyes grew wide with delight. The meal was not the usual one that people of Northem would eat. The cuisine might have been borrowed from merchants who visited once a year from faraway countries.
He wasted no time, reaching for a slice of the turkey, dipping it into the gravy, and popping it into his mouth, barely stifling a groan of satisfaction.
Alaric chuckled, the sound warm and unexpected. "I’m glad to see the food is appreciated."
Lara allowed herself a small smile as she took a delicate bite of the venison. In modern times, deer meat was something you could not buy from the grocery stores, so she was curious how it tasted. "It’s delicious," she admitted, her eyes meeting Alaric’s briefly before she looked away.
"You know," Alaric began, his tone casual but his gaze intent, "I never did thank you properly for what you did back in Ourea and for your medicine when my men had diarrhea."
Lara, who was about to bite a slice of the deer meat, paused. She glanced at Alaric and steadied herself, her eyes snapping to his. "It was nothing, Your Highness," she replied quickly, almost too quickly. "Anyone would have done the same. Besides, you have given silver for that."