Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Emperor's Lunchbox (4)
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“That concludes the patrol report for the past week.”
“You’ve done well, Veil. Nostun remains peaceful today as well.”
Valderian smiled contentedly upon receiving the report.
This was the Capital Defense Headquarters.
Knights like me, stationed in regional offices, had to submit reports like this once a week.
Once I cleared this procedure, I could head back to Nostun and enjoy some leisure time again.
Ah, but that didn’t mean I was just slacking off, of course.
I had serious concerns to ponder, like:
The best position to lie on Lea’s sofa for optimal sleep.
Where to sell the watermelons that would soon be ready for harvest.
And so on.
So, I was eager to escape this stuffy headquarters and return to Nostun.
“By the way. I saw in the newspaper earlier…”
Lost in my thoughts alone,
The Grand General picked up the newspaper on his desk.
“Did you slip the reporter some money or something? They drew you far too handsome here.”
Valderian chuckled as he showed me my interview article.
“Haha, no way. I stayed as calm as possible to avoid embarrassing the headquarters.”
I responded to his joke with a textbook reply.
But the sly middle-aged man’s teasing continued.
“For something like that, the content was awfully cute. A wife who packs lunch for her husband—”
Valderian laughed heartily, loud enough for everyone to hear.
The other executives joined in with chuckles.
“Your romantic ideals about marriage are impressive! Youth is the time for such dreams—”
“Ahaha…”
I had no choice but to laugh along.
“So, is today’s lunch also a bento packed by your wife?”
Valderian said as he rose from his chair with his massive frame.
“No, I’m single. I’ll have to eat out.”
I forced a smile as I answered.
“I see, I see. You’re single now, but I hope you find such a fine wife someday!”
Valderian waved me off, urging me to leave.
Then, as he unpacked the bento from his second wife, he chuckled again.
But.
“Wha…!”
The moment he saw the contents, the Grand General’s laughter vanished.
The bento was filled entirely with long-tailed fish rice—perfect for men exerting great strength.
Even he, who had battled countless foes, dreaded the upcoming defensive siege as much as anyone.
“Urgh…!”
He clutched his head, tormented by the impending siege.
I slipped out of the executive office while watching him.
As I passed through the general knights’ office next.
In the corner, a familiar black bobbed head caught my eye.
Dozing off, it bobbed up and down.
I smirked and approached.
“Senior.”
I tapped Miya’s shoulder.
At that instant.
“Eek…! I wasn’t sleeping, Vice Captain Camilla!!”
Miya whipped her head around in a frenzy.
“Oh, it’s you, Veil… You scared me…”
Her face, now facing mine, was a sight to behold.
When had she been so thrilled about topping the first-half evaluations? Now she looked utterly drained.
Her dark circles were no joke.
“Want to grab some chow together if you’re free?”
“Yeah… It’s mealtime already, huh…”
Miya rose sluggishly from her seat.
Like a sleepy cat.
“You look exhausted.”
“The vice captain piled on so much work…”
Her weary state was pitiful, but more work was undoubtedly a good sign.
It meant the demanding vice captain trusted her enough to delegate, bringing her closer to promotion.
“That must mean she trusts you that much.”
“I hope so…”
We left the office together.
When we arrived at the headquarters cafeteria.
We ran into two squires wandering about, seemingly searching for someone.
They carried ornate lunchboxes wrapped in fine silk.
Clearly, lavish lunches for the executives.
So thinking, I joined the serving line.
But at that moment.
“Senior Veil Mikhail, are you here?”
I froze at the voice calling my name.
The seniors already eating did the same.
Their eyes widened at the thought that those luxurious bentos were for me.
“It’s me… What’s this about?”
“Please take these. They were sent by the Eastern Knight and the Verdant Knight.”
I dazedly accepted the two fancy lunchboxes.
“What’s that…?”
“All for Veil?”
I sat at the table with a bewildered expression.
Then, cautiously unwrapping the silk, I faced two tiered boxes emblazoned with a familiar leopard emblem and wolf emblem.
“No way.”
An ominous dread crept in.
I swallowed hard and opened the leopard lid first.
“Wow… What’s all this?”
Miya, watching beside me, covered her mouth in awe at the dazzling shrimp fried rice.
The second tier held glossy grilled sausages and sliced watermelon.
“It looks so delicious!”
At her voice, the seniors stood up.
They crowded around, peering down at the fried rice.
“Wow, a real bento.”
“Some ladies who saw the newspaper sent them to Veil?”
They’d been teasing me earlier, but now their eyes brimmed with envy.
“Can I have a bite, Veil?”
Worn-out Miya gazed at me pleadingly.
“Sure, go ahead.”
The senior scooped a hearty bite of fried rice with the included spoon.
She popped it into her mouth and savored it.
“Mmm— It’s really good! Who made this?”
Having tasted it, Miya’s eyes sparkled anew.
The ecstatic cat wore the happiest expression in the world.
“Really? Let me try!”
“Me too!”
The seniors took interest in the bento after seeing Miya.
However, my one remark extinguished their curiosity entirely.
“It’s probably from Third Imperial Princess Lydia.”
“…”
The food before them was the Third Princess’s handiwork.
At those words, the seniors recoiled in unison.
Miya was no exception.
She looked as if eating food made for me by a princess branded her a traitor, her world crumbling.
“Waaah…! Why didn’t you say so earlier!”
Leaving the panicking seniors behind, I opened the wolf bento beside it.
A tempting aroma, no less enticing than the fried rice, wafted out.
“Beef stew, huh.”
I knew at a glance who made it.
Second Imperial Princess Irina, no doubt.
In my past life, she’d often made stews herself to save money.
Though her skills were abysmal back then…
I smiled, reminiscing about old memories.
Turning to the seniors, I said,
“Want some?”
They shuddered as if beholding ghosts.
“No way!! How could we eat that!”
They waved me off and hurried out of the cafeteria, muttering.
“But why would Her Highness send him bentos?”
“Veil was nearby when they caught Prince Hakim. Must be a reward for that.”
They seemed amazed I’d received bentos from princesses.
One by one, they spun plausible theories about the gifts.
“A reward that’s just a bento?”
“He’s a commoner, Veil. Hard to give him a title. Probably settling for something like that.”
One senior looked at me with pity.
“Man… Isn’t that a cheap reward?”
“Shh, he’ll hear. Just let it be. Be glad you even got a bento.”
Miya, overhearing, frowned at their gossip.
“Honestly, cooking is so hard. If the princess made it herself, that’s a huge gift—”
“I’m fine, Senior. When else would I get something like this?”
I shrugged it off and fully opened the bento lids.
Miya, who’d fetched her bland bean soup, stared blankly alongside me.
“Wow…”
Even if it was the princess’s cooking, it looked delicious, no denying it.
Drool was about to drip from her mouth.
“Eat it quick, Veil. It really is good.”
Emboldened by her words, I scooped some of Lydia’s shrimp fried rice first.
I slowly placed it in my mouth and savored.
“Mmm…”
Plump, sweet shrimp.
Fluffy grains of rice.
It all melded perfectly in my mouth.
“Hey, Veil’s smiling—”
“Yeah, it’s really good.”
I grinned back.
That smile, at least, was genuine.
It evoked Lydia’s outwardly grumpy, forceful personality,
Yet her generous, gentle side toward her subordinates infused every bite.
‘Now, let’s try Irina’s bento.’
The fragrant beef stew.
Dipped with freshly baked bread…
The hearty, warm stew enveloped my mouth.
The fluffy bread filled any potential void in texture.
A familiar, nostalgic taste.
Back then, Irina’s “I’ll cook myself” dish had been stew too…
Just like this life, she hadn’t changed.
Of course, the flavor was leagues better than before.
As if she’d trained professionally.
I enjoyed the overly lavish bentos.
Afterward, I parted with Senior Miya and strolled the corridors alone.
My plan was to hurry back to the office for a deep sleep.
With Hakim handled, and Ekina reporting any issues, I finally had some breathing room.
‘The First Princess’s sofa is calling me.’
Thinking that as I walked the hall.
A familiar face entered my view.
White uniforms usually irritated me on sight.
But this was the one exception: the Radiant Knights of the First Imperial Princess.
Among them, a high-ranking officer—the operations staff officer, Sir Damian.
“Sir Veil. I trust you’ve been well?”
Since rescuing Lea, he’d grown friendlier, flashing a smile.
He approached, carrying a basket wrapped in white silk.
“I’m always leisurely, as befits the Surveillance Office.”
“You look it. Radiating contentment.”
Damian smiled politely.
Like Miya, dark circles ringed his eyes.
“What brings you from the west to here?”
At my question, Damian handed over the basket.
“I came to deliver this.”
A glimpse of a lunchbox tier beneath the fine white silk.
Warmth emanated from it, likely insulated by magic.
“Uh… Sir Damian, why are you bringing me lunch…?”
I asked cautiously, and the staff officer adjusted his glasses before replying.
“The princess made it herself.”
“What…? Lady Lea made it personally?”
At my question, Damian spoke with grave seriousness.
As if divulging critical operational intel.
“Yes. She saw your newspaper interview and said she made it simply because she was ‘bored.’”
‘Bored enough to send the empire’s operations staff officer all the way here…?’
“I’ve delivered it safely, so I’ll take my leave.”
“You’ve had a long trip; thank you for your trouble.”
I said with a stunned expression.
The bespectacled youth glanced back.
“Not at all. It was nice to get some fresh air after so long…”
Worn out like Miya, he departed the Surveillance Office gracefully.
Watching him go, I pondered silently.
‘The Surveillance Office really is the best.’
Before even heading back, I’d received yet another bento.
Thus, I descended the corridor and sat on a quiet bench.
Nearby, knights and their lovers enjoyed intimate lunches.
In that atmosphere, I opened the basket.
What could be inside?
From the First Princess, probably something overwhelmingly grandiose, fitting her charisma.
‘Dragon tail steak, maybe?’
I chuckled and opened the bento.
“Hmm…?”
Surprisingly, it contained small hamburgers and orange juice.
And a letter beneath.
I quietly opened and read it.
「I made this out of boredom at work, Veil Mikhail.」
「The kitchen staff seemed to skip proper meals, so I made just a little.」
「Don’t complain if it’s not enough; eat it all.」
「Lea Andalusia.」
“I’m deeply grateful.”
I sighed in relief and took out a petite hamburger.
My stomach was already full from the two princesses’ delicious meals.
I bit into the burger.
Sweet, nutty bread, fresh vegetables, and juicy meat melted together.
Clean and delicious.
Who knew the First Princess could make such approachable food?
Unintimidating, it was a joy to eat.
I savored the fresh orange juice leisurely.
Butterflies fluttered under the warm sunlight.
Young lovers laughed as they fed each other.
‘Ah—how wonderful to live in this atmosphere forever.’
So thinking, I gently closed my eyes.
But.
Something plopped onto the bench.
Drawn by the sound, I opened my eyes.
There, a messenger bird with a note tied to its leg.
“A secret message…?”
Powerful mana emanated from the note.
But no sinister aura.
I cautiously unfolded it and read.
「Am I interrupting your meal?」
‘The Imperial Chancellor.’
I recognized the handwriting.
“It’s fine.”
As I spoke, the text erased itself, replaced by new words.
「I’ve cleared your afternoon schedule. Come to the Central Imperial Palace. Very discreetly.」
‘Very discreetly.’
A chill ran down my spine at those words.
Making the peace I’d just enjoyed feel illusory.
“This doesn’t feel good…”
Muttering alone, new text appeared on the note.
「Don’t worry; it’s good news.」
Good news.
What good news could the center have for me?
I finished the hamburger.
Then, following the secret route noted, I headed to the Central Imperial Palace, the Heavenly Palace.
Just as the Chancellor said—very discreetly.