A Table for Two

Two weeks flew by in the blink of an eye. Between manipulating market prices and preparing for the upcoming war, my days had been a whirlwind of frantic activity. Before I knew it, the time had come for Agrippa to depart for the Grand Duchy.

"Safe travels. Give Mary my best," I said, waving to Agrippa as he stood before his carriage.

"I shall be on my way, then," Agrippa replied, clutching his briefcase as he climbed aboard. Watching the carriage roll away, flanked by his aides and a cohort of escort knights, a sudden wave of realization washed over me. I had been in this world for quite some time now.

It had already been nineteen years since Mary was born. She had come into the world when I was just four years old. Suddenly, the memory of the very first time I laid eyes on my little sister drifted back to me.

To think that tiny baby was now fully grown and practically betrothed. A profound sense of nostalgia settled in my chest. Mother... Mary is about to become an adult. It had been a long time since I last thought of my late mother. I wondered if she was looking down from heaven, feeling proud of me. I couldn't say for sure. I only wished for Mary and Agrippa to marry and live a life of quiet bliss. Unlike our own fractured family, I sincerely hoped they would become loving parents, raising happy nieces and nephews of my own.

As I stood lost in these rare memories of the past, a voice pulled me back to the present.

"What are you thinking about?" Theodora asked from beside me.

Keeping my eyes fixed on Agrippa's receding carriage, I murmured, "Just... realizing how old I've gotten. My baby sister is getting married to my best friend."

In truth, if I factored in my life before transmigrating into this world, I was staring down the barrel of fifty.

"What nonsense. You're barely in your early twenties," Theodora chided, giving me a playful glare. A faint, involuntary smile tugged at my lips.

"I suppose you're right. Still young," I agreed softly, turning to walk back into the palace. As we strolled down the grand corridor, my thoughts drifted to the restaurant I planned to visit tonight during my rare evening out. Was it a multi-course meal?

A slight pang of loneliness hit me at the realization that Agrippa wouldn't be around tonight. He was usually the one by my side whenever I indulged in these brief escapes from reality. Without my friend, a bitter taste lingered in my mouth, and a sigh escaped my lips. "Haa..." Of course, the only reason I could even afford to sneak away for an expensive course meal in the first place ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was because Agrippa wasn't here to nag me about the budget.

"What is it? Is something troubling you again?" Theodora asked, noticing my sigh.

I offered her a reassuring smile. "No, it's nothing." With that, we stepped into the office.

"Oh, that reminds me," Theodora said. "I have some business outside the palace today."

A spark of concern flared within me. "Why? Is there trouble at the Academy?"

She gave a small nod. "Yes. They want to show me the results of the latest experiment in person, so I'll be paying them a visit."

I pondered her words for a moment before giving my consent. "Alright, go ahead." Considering she had been cooped up inside the palace ever since Valorang's rebellion, I granted permission without hesitation. Her safety wouldn't be an issue; she would be heavily guarded by the imperial knights, making any escape attempt or assassination plot virtually impossible. Besides, being confined to the palace indefinitely was its own kind of torture. Everyone needed a breath of fresh air once in a while. Even I snuck out to the night market once every two weeks, didn't I? Theodora nodded in agreement.

The carriage rolled out of the Academy gates. I hope Ipa does this right. Before leaving for the Academy today, I had quietly instructed Ipa and the other maids to keep a close tail on Deviang.

"Your Majesty, where shall we head?" the coachman asked.

"To the fountain in Roman Plaza," I replied. As the carriage began its slow, rhythmic crawl, a dark thought took root in my mind. I don't care who she is... but she will pay dearly for daring to covet what is mine.

Before long, the carriage pulled up to the fountain, and I waited for the maids to return. As the minutes dragged on, boredom began to set in. "I should have brought Joy along..." I muttered to myself. Time always flew when I was with my bright, energetic little sister.

Perhaps it was because of the winter season, but even though it wasn't very late, the sun was already dipping below the horizon. I stared out at the darkening landscape.

"Who goes there? State your identity before approaching a carriage bearing the imperial crest!"

"I am Ipa, a personal maid to Her Imperial Majesty."

Hearing the muffled exchange from outside, I called out, "Let Ipa in."

"Understood, Your Majesty."

The carriage door swung open, and Ipa climbed inside, catching her breath. "Well? Did you see ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠where Deviang went?" I demanded. Ipa nodded, but then she hesitated, her eyes darting away.

"What is it? Speak freely. I am a broad-minded woman; I understand that a man might make a single, foolish mistake and wander into... certain places. You have nothing to fear." I forced a calm, reassuring smile onto my face. Reassured by my words, Ipa finally spoke, her expression fraught with caution.

"The... His Grace the Grand Duke... is currently at a restaurant called Roman's Night."

"Roman's Night? A restaurant?" It was entirely unexpected. "Isn't Roman's Night... a highly renowned establishment?" I stared at Ipa suspiciously as she gave a slow, hesitant nod.

Come to think of it, even Ipa had been influenced by Deviang lately. She was no longer the fiercely loyal maid who looked only to me; ever since that kidnapping incident, she had developed a quiet, subtle devotion to him.

"He looked incredibly happy as he headed toward the VIP room," Ipa added.

Wait. I had heard rumors about the VIP rooms in those high-end restaurants catering to the nobility. Weren't they notorious for hosting high-class courtesans? At that thought, my imagination began to run wild.

The breathtakingly handsome Deviang, sitting across from some cheap, vulgar woman. The two of them sharing an intimate meal, their eyes locking in desire. Deviang rising from his seat, walking over to wrap his arms around her, pulling her into a deep kiss... The cheap wench feigning bashfulness as she slyly sweeps the dishes off the table. And Deviang, lifting her roughly onto the cleared surface—

Snap.

I felt something rupture inside my mind.

"Drive the carriage to Roman's Night! Now!" I screamed. If you are actually doing what I think you are doing, Deviang... I will not let you off easily.

After a delightfully tart and unique appetizer, the main course finally ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠arrived. My mouth watered at the sight of the massive cut of meat, generously rubbed with spices and slow-roasted whole in the oven. I took a sip of wine, watching the waiter hold the roast down with a long fork and carve it with practiced precision. Ah... now this is the life.

Whenever Agrippa was around, we never set foot in high-end establishments like this. Our excursions into the city were always incognito patrols meant to gauge the struggles of the common folk. Naturally, no ordinary imperial citizen could afford a place like this. But with Agrippa gone today, a little indulgence wouldn't hurt. It certainly wasn't because I didn't want to buy him dinner. No, of course not.

While I was lost in my thoughts, the waiter neatly arranged the thinly sliced meat on a plate and presented it to me. "Thank you. I'll enjoy this," I said, popping a piece into my mouth. The rich juices and exquisite aroma exploded across my palate, filling me with a profound sense of bliss.

It was too expensive to visit often, but as expected of the most famous and delicious restaurant in the empire, it was worth every penny. I took a moment to look around the VIP room. It was spacious, boasting lavish decor, a door tucked away in the corner, and... a bed nestled in the far corner of the room. So the rumors were true. A bitter smile touched my lips.

Catering to the decadent and pleasure-seeking nobility had left the room with a somewhat seedier undertone. It was clearly designed for those who wished to enjoy fine dining and high-class courtesans in absolute privacy. Turning to the waiter, who was silently carving the meat, I asked, "I take it not many people dine here alone?"

The waiter nodded. "Indeed, sir. Most gentlemen who book this room alone usually request a companion." He paused, looking thoughtful, before adding, "I haven't worked here for very long, but you are the first guest I've seen who truly wished to dine in solitude."

"I see..." I nodded. "How is it, working here?"

The waiter offered a wry smile. "It varies greatly depending on the guest, sir. Some are as polite and refined as yourself, while others can be incredibly violent and ill-mannered."

I suppose the service industry is the same in any world.

"It must be quite difficult when you encounter the violent ones," I remarked.

He nodded in agreement. "It is not a pleasant subject for a noble gentleman such as yourself to hear, sir."

I let out a soft, bitter chuckle.

Generally, high-ranking nobles felt a certain sense of responsibility and duty, if only because showing weakness meant being devoured by their rivals. The real trouble lay with the mid-tier nobility. Lords who ruled over a few hundred households lacked the power to wage wars of expansion, so instead of developing their lands, they preferred to indulge in luxury by squeezing every last copper out of their serfs and citizens. Of course, not all of them were like that. There were rare instances of a mere baron establishing a successful merchant guild and rising to the rank of count through sheer business acumen. But such cases were few and far between.

"Why don't you take a seat and join me? I ordered enough for two anyway," I offered, gesturing to the empty chair.

The waiter's eyes darted around the room in suspicion. "Sir... if you're being this kind just to get out of leaving a tip, I must respectfully decline."

I let out a chuckle. "I'll leave you a very generous tip, I assure you. Just sit down, eat, and tell me how the world is faring outside these walls."

At that, the waiter nodded vigorously and took a seat. With practiced ease, he tucked a napkin into his collar to form a makeshift bib and began transferring some meat to his plate.

"Thank you so much, sir. I've always wanted to try the food here. I will eat well!" The waiter, who had been so stiff and formal moments ago, now looked entirely at ease.

He chewed happily. "This is incredible! ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Now I finally understand why people pay such ridiculous prices to eat here."

I smiled warmly at his enthusiasm. "Have some wine with it. And tell me—what is your life like? What is the word on the streets of the Empire?"

The waiter nodded eagerly and began to speak, and I listened intently, enjoying my meal as he shared his stories.