kscans

Chapter 4 - Riddles During Lunch

"I thought you were busy."

Jin sat down next to Litt, soup bowl in hand. Amidst the clamor of people, the long wooden bench creaked faintly.

"An army marches on its stomach,"

Litt said. Touli arrived with a bread basket and a pot of tea, pouring for both Litt and Jin. Jin sighed.

"I know it's lunch... but you don't have to come to the Knight Order's dining hall."

The voices of the knights mingled with the clatter of cutlery and cups. The smell of bread, the steam from the tea, the aroma of meat, fish, vegetables, and oil. The lively din was absorbed by the high, arched ceiling.

"It's more relaxing here, and convenient."

"You're sticking out like a sore thumb, Litt."

Even without his Court Secretary's mantle, Litt was clearly a nobleman-like pretty boy. Since he wasn't wearing a sword, it was obvious he was a civilian official.

"Jin. Most people think that an elegant meal is eating luxurious food in a luxurious room with luxurious company."

"And you don't?"

Litt pointed his spoon at Jin.

"Where you eat, what you eat, and who you eat with. Whether it's the Royal Castle or the countryside, it doesn't matter. My idea of elegance is just that."

"That's bad manners."

Smack. Jin slapped Litt's arm. He didn't slap his hand, out of consideration for the Court Secretary. For a man who wields a pen, his dominant hand is as precious as his life.

"What is it, Jin? Don't be shy."

"Do you have any idea how it feels to be put on display by the other knights?"

"Maybe they just don't like you."

Jin kicked Litt's leg under the table.

"I love you, Lord Jin!"

Touli leaned forward from his seat across the table, his innocent eyes sparkling.

"Thanks, Touli. So, still want to join the Knight Order?"

"Yes!"

"Tch. Am I the only one being left out?"

A sulking Litt noticed two knights watching them and beckoned them over.

"Do you dislike the Vice-Captain?"

"No, sir! Not at all!"

"We respect him greatly!"

As the knights declared this with ramrod straight postures, Jin's expression became blank.

"So popular, Lord Vice-Captain of the Royal Knights."

"Stop teasing me, Lord Court Secretary."

Jin rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Targa, Yuri."

"Sir!"

"Sir!"

"No need to be so formal. Sit. Let's eat before the food gets cold."

"Pardon us!"

The two knights sat across the table. Touli stood and served them tea.

"Which one is Targa, and which one is Yuri?"

Litt asked while eating his soup.

"I... ahem. I am Targa."

The black-haired knight introduced his colleague next to him.

"This is Yuri. He's gotten a big head since he got a girlfriend recently."

The brown-haired knight bowed with a cool expression.

"My name is Yuri. Targa is just jealous, so please pay him no mind."

Targa and Yuri glared at each other in silence. Sparks flew.

"You have a girlfriend? Eh, a handmaiden? Is she pretty?"

Litt's eyes lit up.

"She sells flowers in town. And yes, she's beautiful,"

Yuri declared with a straightforward gaze.

"Hmm. If you need a love letter written, I'll do it for free, up to two times."

"Really?!"

"In exchange, I need you to tell me something."

"Of course, anything I know."

Jin and Touli exchanged a look.

"I heard there's a popular story in the castle town. My attendant here is just dying to read it."

Used as a convenient excuse, Touli's eyes narrowed.

"Lord Lute's 'The Snow-White Knight's Tale'?"

At Yuri's words, Touli looked at his master.

"Umm..."

Litt was holding his teacup with his right hand. His left hand, on the table, was lightly clenched. A no.

"N-no, that's not it. I heard it was interesting, but I forgot the name of the story."

Litt's left hand opened. A yes. That's it, it said silently.

"Could it be Pillord's 'The Villainous Lady Falls with the Crimson Rose'?"

At Targa's words, Litt and Jin looked up.

"Umm, yes, something like that,"

Touli stammered. Targa gave him a wry smile.

"The villainous lady who does whatever she wants gets her comeuppance in the end. Apparently, people like the 'serves her right' aspect. But it might be a bit much for you, my young attendant friend."

"I'm already fourteen. I'm not a child."

At Touli's pouting, Targa apologized lightly.

"Sorry, sorry. I was just worried if the attendant of a Court Secretary would be alright reading a story that makes fun of the fall of nobles."

Litt calmly brought another spoonful of soup to his mouth.

"I'm not a noble, so I don't really mind."

"Is that so?"

Targa and Yuri's voices overlapped.

"But you're renowned as a close aide to the First Prince..."

Litt snorted at the two bewildered knights.

"I'm just being worked to the bone."

"I'd say you've earned his trust, though,"

Jin muttered. Ignoring him, Litt continued with his spoon.

"Hey, stop that. Don't give me your carrots."

"You have to eat well to work well, don't you, Lord Vice-Captain?"

"Just get over your hatred of carrots already, Litt!"

"I've already eaten my lifetime supply. My friend, I shall share them with you."

Then, it dawned on Jin.

"Is this why you don't use the officials' dining hall?!"

"They don't go to waste this way. The carrots are happy too."

Litt nodded gravely. When Jin shot him a look of reproach, Touli just shook his head.

"I apologize for my failure to supervise him."

Targa and Yuri were trembling, their lips pressed tightly together.

"You can laugh. Don't suppress your emotions in front of me."

At Litt's permission, Targa and Yuri burst out laughing. A loud explosion of laughter that drew the attention of those around them.

"By the way,"

Litt said, taking a piece of bread from the basket. He tore off a small piece and brought it to his mouth.

"I heard that thanks to 'The Snow-White Knight' and stories like it, the number of applicants to the order has increased."

Targa nodded.

"Yes. Youth is a wonderful thing. They're so worth beating down."

"Oh my. So you were the black-hearted Targa."

Jin put a hand to his forehead as Litt looked impressed.

"He's always like this, Lord Litt, Lord Jin."

"And Yuri is the strategist who casually insults his colleague?"

"I'm honored,"

Yuri said, placing a hand on his chest and giving Litt a simple bow.

"The influence of stories is great, isn't it? At this rate, won't there be young ladies inspired by Pillord's 'Villainous Lady'?"

At Litt's words, Targa and Yuri's shoulders shook. Only Jin didn't miss the slight upturn of his friend's lips.

Acting casual, Litt continued eating his bread. Touli served him more tea. Targa and Yuri exchanged glances.

"...It's hard to say this in front of the Vice-Captain, but..."

"Don't worry about it. Targa. You too, Yuri. Consider this part of establishing a common understanding."

At Jin's words, Targa and Yuri's shoulders relaxed.

"On our patrols within the castle, we often see the nobility..."

Targa lowered his voice.

"There is a young lady who seems to have stepped right out of a story."

"Is that so? I had no idea."

Litt's eyes blinked.

"When you focus solely on administrative duties, you tend to become ignorant of happenings within the castle. Hahaha."

Ignoring the cold stares from Jin and Touli, Litt prompted him to continue.

"The fiancée of the second prince, Lord Tagi..."

Yuri picked up where Targa left off.

"Lady Valona Philbard."

"Oh. Is her behavior that atrocious?"

The two knights nodded.

According to Targa, she threw a cup of water on a castle handmaiden she didn't like. According to Yuri, she used her status as his fiancée to demand expensive jewels from the second prince.

"Her most recent target is Lady Sumika of the Scott Family."

Litt tilted his head at Targa's sigh.

"The Scott Family is a minor noble house, right? Why would a duke's daughter target them?"

"Because she gets along well with the literature-loving Lord Tagi. —Oh, the poor little bird! To be bullied by a peacock just for its beautiful song!"

"Targa has no talent for poetry."

"You are correct, Lord Litt."

Yuri elbowed his partner.

"I see. If you can't even write a single poem, you'll never get a girlfriend."

"Hah! I'll take that to heart!"

Yuri looked at Targa with the eyes of a dead fish.

"If it's a book that corrupts public morals, shouldn't it be banned, even if it's just a story?"

Litt propped his elbows on the table, resting his chin on his clasped hands.

"You... you really don't know?"

"Know what?"

Jin said, exasperated.

"Pillord is a pen name. His proper court name is Spirld Furas Virtus. He's the eldest son of a Marquess and, like you, a First-Class Court Secretary."

"Wow, how lame. To have your court name known. I didn't even know there was a guy like that."

Touli's face twitched at his master's lukewarm reaction.

"Don't tell me you forgot about your own colleague?"

"Ah... Spi-boy doesn't work in the Court Secretaries' main hall. He never comes out of that tacky, gaudy office of his."

Litt pressed a finger to his temple.

"He has an honorary Secret Name (Virtus), huh? Then it can't be banned. In fact, public opinion is probably not bad, seeing it as an upper-class noble personally writing a cautionary tale."

"If we're talking about influence, I think Lord Lute's 'The Snow-White Knight' is much more proper,"

Touli said, and the three knights nodded in agreement.

"Ah... that one, well, it's..."

At Litt's hesitant response, Jin tilted his head.

"What is it? Did you have some thoughts on it?"

"No, there's no need to read it. Hearing my attendant's passionate speeches is more than enough."

"I can talk about it for hours!"

Touli leaned over the table.

"...Are you just humoring him?"

Jin asked in a low voice.

"Whether in the main hall or my office, if my breaks go on for too long, he starts quoting the knight's loyalty, duty, and conduct, delivering grand speeches... hahaha."

With a weak laugh, Litt looked up at the distant ceiling.

"Ah, what an elegant life!"

"Wouldn't this all be solved if you just worked without slacking off?"

"My friend is bullying meee. I'm gonna quit being a Court Secretaryyy. I'm gonna go back to the countryyy."

Litt collapsed onto the table.

"N-no, he's not. The Vice-Captain was just joking."

"That's right. He's just concerned for you, Lord Litt."

As Targa and Yuri offered words of comfort, Touli held up a hand to stop them.

"Ah, this is normal for him. Please don't mind it."