Rather than a usual fancy banquet where the tables would be lined with food and there were enough servants and maids to handle each knight, the large platters of food were placed on a table at the front of the room. That was also where the oak casks of wine and barrels of ale were standing for anyone who wanted to take more.
Everyone was meant to serve themselves.
They didn’t feast often, so they were going all out with food and drink. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on ɴovelfire.net
Strangely enough, the table was the very one Prince Alfred and Princess Marie sat at during their visit—although it was in far worse shape than it was during that time, since two of the legs had to be shabbily replaced.
While repairs had been done to the entire Duke’s Tower, it was clear that it was the work of knights rather than master craftsmen, as one would think for the home of a Duke. However, it was better than nothing, so even the noticeable aspects were silently ignored.
Functionality only mattered to the knighthood. The prettier aspects would be left to the Duke and whoever his wife was or would end up being.
In the rush of disorganized morning practice, where all knights and apprentices mixed together freely and then went to breakfast with everyone in high spirits about the day that was ahead of them, Irene hadn’t been feeling hungry.
However, despite her stomach being so full of ale, the second a large ham was brought out and placed onto the front table, she could feel that her stomach was audibly growling. If it wasn’t for all the excitement in the dining hall, it would have certainly been heard by others.
"Eat up, knights!" Ingrid announced, the other maids standing behind her, a bit more timidly.
Irene recognized some maids, but others were entirely new. She wondered what sort of maids would willingly come to the Duke’s Tower while everything was in such disarray. Felix had only just gotten the title of second in command, but that was for knights and not the management of the estate at all.
It was time to have a meeting with all of the knights about everyone’s intentions going forward.
But the food in Irene’s face pushed those more serious thoughts out of her mind and when the shallow wooden bowls were brought out for them to pile high with food, she rushed forward practically first and since others weren’t stopping her she realized that she and Felix were the first two to get to the table.
Irene turned around in disbelief, thinking that they were letting her go because she was a girl, but she noticed that the others standing back were entirely on purpose. Felix was the first to eat. She was second.
Knights were so very loyal to their chain of command, but it was going to take Irene some time to get used to herself being part of it. While her mind felt old, she felt so very young.
After an entire half a year of almost dying, then healing, she realized there was so much she needed to learn.
Rather than doubting herself, she put on a brave face and pressed on. This was the life she had been bestowed, it was time to prove herself, as her father said.
She merely got her food, filled her mug, and went back to her spot with Felix, where they sat down with the other newly knighted boys and men and began feasting.
On her plate, she had layered ham and carrots. Both were doused with a dark sauce that had been made from the drippings of the ham and one of her favorite flavors. There were more roasted vegetables mixed with grains that she had. The final piece she added to her plate was one of the numerous small rolls that they had been making for what seemed to be all day.
Since bread was one of her favorite foods, she picked out the scent of it rising far earlier in the day.
Irene ate as she always did, not holding back her appetite and filling her stomach until she was content. The talking had mostly died down as everyone else seemed to have the sentiment of finishing their food before they would continue on with an evening of bonding with their newly appointed knights and apprentices.
As she wiped up the final bit of brown sauce with her bread and ate it, she wiped her mouth on a cloth napkin and plopped it onto the tabletop without a second thought.
However, Felix had been drinking continuously since he finished his food before her. By that point, he was two entire mugs into the strong ale. His mood was a bit better than it normally was.
When the napkin was away from her face, she realized that the other knight was scrutinizing her, but he had a cruel smirk on his face, which, before the war, always meant that he was going to test her hot-headedness.
"Even though you returned to us as a lady, you still don’t eat like one," Felix observed. "I was wondering what would change now that you’re you, but it seems like ’nothing much’ is the answer."
Irene merely scoffed at him in disagreement.
"I still have to fit in here, don’t I?" she responded sharply. "If I want to fit in with you brutes, then I ought to continue behaving like one of you, just as I’ve always had."
She crossed her arms defiantly over her chest.
"It would be alarming if you changed too much," Felix admitted, deciding to go easier—or merely allowing his slightly intoxicated mind to take him wherever it saw fit.
"You don’t have to worry about me," she assured her friend. "I will remain the same. Please do the same."
As she finished her sentence, Irene’s attention went elsewhere as the maids made noise at the opening of the kitchen once more.
There was a wonderfully spicy scent in the air.
Three types of desserts were brought out to replace the empty trays of their large feast. There were apple tarts, honey cakes, and pears soaked in something deep red and sweet-smelling.
It was only after Irene ate a fair share of the pears did they decided to tell her that they were soaked in wine. By that point, her father had to practically carry her back to their shared guest room, where she fell asleep promptly, having truly felt the effects of alcohol for the first time.
Arthur thought it was rather fitting, considering it was also the very first day of her knighthood. He hoped she would have many more days like that because he would have to leave soon. He couldn’t leave his wife for too long or she would get unsettled and go after him.