CH 32

It was a completely unexpected reunion.

At the counter of the dining tavern, Korya, the young knight I met a few weeks ago in the Uranos Principality, was enthusiastically biting into thinly sliced meat wrapped in a thin bread with chunks of vegetables. He looked at me and put the plate down. I was a little jealous of him enjoying such delicious food.

As Korya and I were both at a loss for what to do with this sudden reunion, Nikita reached out to us.

“Do you know each other, Princess Eleni?”

“Um, yes.”

I nodded, and Korya nodded even more.

As someone who married Thanasios, the prince of the Styx Kingdom, I had no idea why a knight who should be in the Uranos Principality was having lunch at a tavern in a back alley of the Styx Kingdom. What a coincidence.

Anyway, Nikita calmed both Korya and me down and pulled a chair next to Korya for me to sit on. Nikita also sat down, and we prepared to listen to the story.

Korya seemed hesitant to say something to me. I wondered if there was something difficult for him to say to me, like Thanasios. So Nikita intervened and asked about Korya’s identity.

“I see, one of the former Uranos Principality Knights.”

I had my doubts about the word “former,” but I didn’t say anything. I thought it would be better to listen to everything before interrupting and asking questions.

“I have something to discuss with you. Follow me.”

“Okay.”

Saying that, Nikita took Korya out of the dining taverna.

Left alone, I looked at the thin bread wrapped with meat and vegetables that Korya had been eating. The meat with a crispy brown crust still had an appetizing aroma, and the green and yellow diced vegetables looked delicious. It was the first time I had seen such a roughly made dish that you could hold and eat with your hands. The Uranos Principality was not known for its meat-eating culture, and as a nun, I didn’t eat meat. But looking at the dish in front of me, I couldn’t help but want to take a bite.

I tentatively reached out my hand to the protruding meat, but before my finger could touch it, I heard Korya’s loud voice from outside.

“Is that true?!”

Soon, Nikita and Korya returned, talking.

“There’s no point in lying. It’s the decision of our wise prince. Although it’s still confidential, we will definitely hire you. For the sake of Princess Eleni.”

Nikita returned to his seat calmly, but Korya couldn’t contain his excitement and joy, standing up.

“I can’t stay any longer! Eleni-sama, I have to inform my comrades immediately. Excuse me for today!”

“K-Korya, wait. What about this dish?”

“Oh… well, if you don’t mind, please have it!”

After hesitating for a moment, Korya pushed the dish towards me and rushed out of the restaurant.

Nikita and I were left behind, looking at each other and then at the plate with the remaining half of the dish.

“This is guiropita. Since he said we could have it, let’s take it home. Oh, and don’t forget the Calamarachia Tiganita.”

Nikita called the waiter and ordered the Calamarachia Tiganita to go, instructing me to give the waiter an obolus coin for each dish. It seemed that they had to pay for each dish in advance.

If that’s the case, then this half-eaten guiropita is already paid for, so it’s okay. I reached out and picked up the guiropita, taking a light bite. It was a thin bread with meat. I wonder what kind of meat it was. Maybe beef.

As soon as the meat touched my tongue, I felt a flavor I had never tasted before. It was the overflowing juice from the grilled meat, mixed with plenty of salt, pepper, and spices—something I had never experienced before with vegetables. I shouted to Nikita, “This meat is delicious!”

It was revolutionary. My body was now craving it. I wanted to eat more and more, and my stomach began to move.

Nikita brought a paper napkin to wipe my mouth. I felt a little embarrassed as the juice was dripping.

“That’s good. It’s a taste that you won’t find in the royal castle. Please enjoy it.”

“Yes!”

Until Nikita’s ordered Calamarachia Tiganita arrived, I chewed and savored the meat with all my might. It was delicious. This food was a strong temptation, different from sweet things.

I’m sorry, Goddess of Forgetfulness, Lethe. Maybe I’m really abandoning my faith and just want to enjoy delicious food.

Despite being disrespectful, I thought deeply about it. It’s not bad to have a taste that overturns faith, right?