Home/I confined you, but I have no ill will/ch 43

43.

Opening the door revealed another room. Sometimes noble quarters had attached servant rooms—but this wasn't that. The room connected to hers was at least twice as large as her own. Though it looked old, the furniture was extraordinary—certainly not things a provincial noble lady could possess.

"Lord Kite."

Ibelin placed a hand on her chest and spoke calmly.

"Hm?"

"Whose room is this?"

Her hesitant question was met with a casual answer.

"Mine."

Her worst suspicion confirmed, her head throbbed.

Why? Why is he doing this? She considered various possibilities but couldn't fathom the reason—so she chose the simplest approach.

"Why should I stay in the room next to yours?"

"You collapsed at the banquet."

She had collapsed because she'd tried to see the future. She thought Kite had guessed that from what she'd said later—but apparently not.

Grandfather—you were right.

Words held in the heart don't reach others. She had forgotten that simple truth.

"That collapse wasn't because my body is weak."

"Then?"

"It was the price of seeing the future. I usually see it in dreams—but that time, I wasn't even asleep, yet I tried to glimpse it."

"I see."

She glanced at Kite and sighed.

He didn't look like he understood at all! He seemed unwilling to listen.

"As the physician said yesterday—I'm healthy."

"If you're so healthy, why did you collapse?"

"That was the first time in my life."

Even when she'd roamed the mountains with her grandfather, even when they'd faced great beasts, she'd never collapsed.

"I see."

Still, he wouldn't listen. She wondered how to prove her health—but no matter how long she pondered, she couldn't think of a way. It seemed nothing she did would move Kite.

"Fine—if you're that worried, I suppose I can't help it."

In the end, she had to give up.

"Good choice."

Kite smiled lightly.

"Since you've seen the room, shall we eat?"

"Aren't you busy?"

"I have time to eat."

He led her to the palace dining hall.

It wasn't as lavish as the Emperor's table—but it was impressive. She would never see a table like this once she returned to the provinces.

She naturally moved to pull out the seat next to the head of the table—until Kite pulled it out for her.

You're not usually like this. She gave him a look full of unspoken words.

"What?"

"Nothing."

The empty table was gradually filled with dishes. Compared to the Emperor's table, this one was more abundant—not in luxury, but in quantity.

"There's a lot."

"Most nobles eat little—but knights usually eat this much."

"I see—but I'm not a knight."

The portion before her was large too.

"I asked the physician—noble ladies often collapse from dieting. He said it would be good for you to eat well."

Did the physician really say that? He said I was the healthiest noble lady he'd seen. She was doubtful, but she couldn't call Kite a liar.

He was a man of higher rank—and the Mad Dog to boot. She couldn't lower her guard until the moment she left the capital.

"Ye-es."

She answered with suspicion and slowly worked through the food. Quail roasted whole with eggs, pie filled with meat and cream, thick beef steak with boiled potatoes and carrots, asparagus wrapped in thin pork—all filling and delicious.

The only problem was—

My stomach is full.

She hadn't even finished half, and she was already full. As her movements slowed, she watched Kite practically inhale his food—yet with noble elegance, he devoured large pieces of meat.

"Lord Kite—may I stop eating?"

"Why? Is it bad?"

"No! It's delicious—there's just too much."

"Hmm—I thought you could eat more."

He gave her a skeptical look.

"Well—if you're full, you can stop."

Relieved, she sighed. Kite called the chef and ordered dessert.

"Do I have to eat dessert too?"

"The chef prepared it with great care for days—are you going to refuse it?"

Beside Kite, the chef fidgeted nervously, looking at her with such pitiful eyes that—

"I'll eat it."

She had no choice!

The dessert was a pudding with carefully simmered blueberry jam—fruit-infused pudding topped with jam and cream, accompanied by sugar-glazed banana brûlée.

This is also a lot.

At least it wasn't a heavy cake—but it was still substantial. The cream was sweet, the jam tart, with blueberries, raspberries, and lemon. The pudding's refreshing fruit flavor complemented it perfectly.

Despite being full, she managed to finish everything!

"The chef is very skilled."

As she panted and praised the chef, Kite smiled.

"Right—I met him in the North, and he's very good."

"Ah?"

"He wanted to learn imperial cuisine, so I let him train at the palace—but I'm taking him back with me."

That meant she'd have meals like this even at Kite's residence.

"I see."

She dismissed it casually, since she wouldn't be staying in the capital that long. She felt envious—but there was nothing she could do.

"Well—I've finished eating too."

Kite ate remarkably fast.

"I'll go see His Majesty. I'll have Seren stay with you—rest quietly today."

There was much she hadn't told him—about meeting Unknown in person, and the specifics of the future she'd seen.

"Will you return by evening?"

"Yes."

"Then I have something to tell you."

"Alright—I'll listen then."

He said lightly, then approached and tapped her chair.

"You should see me out."

He seemed to be talking about proper fiancée conduct—spouses usually saw each other off when parting. Her mother used to do the same, walking to the entrance and kissing her father's cheek when he left for work.

"Alright."

She didn't need to go as far as a kiss—but she should see him off.

She walked to the gate and waved as Kite rode away on horseback. It had been a long time since she'd seen anyone off—somehow, her heart pounded.

After he left, Hery immediately pushed her toward the bed.

"Now rest!"

Hery practically forced her into bed.

"I'd rather move around."

She protested quietly, but Hery wouldn't listen—just like master, like servant.

"Someone who collapsed yesterday wants to move? No—you've walked enough already."

Walking to the dining hall and back counts as enough? Ibelin lay down in alarm. Hery even brought her a warm heat pack before leaving.

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