Chapter 276
Chapter 276
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Overprotective Siblings (2)
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The significance of this visit to the Empire was extremely important to the Samard royals.
Their main purpose was to observe whether the Samard people who had migrated to Leon were living well.
That was why we had gathered in Rubintz, the city where East and West coexisted, dressed in ordinary attire.
"Hmm... This place definitely has a bit of our Samard vibe to it."
Lydia's grandfather, the former king of Samard who had now retired as Grand Duke, chuckled in admiration.
With his hands clasped behind his back, he gazed appreciatively at the traditional Eastern-style building topped with elegant tiled roofs.
"Isn't it?"
Darhan and Tilda nodded in agreement to his question.
The middle-aged couple bobbed their heads at the well-paved roads and buildings, as befitting a city within the imperial capital.
However, two among them were staring intently not at the buildings, but at one person.
"Um... Do you have something to say to me?"
It was Arden, the Assault Captain, and Hanna, the Sword Dance Captain.
The massive siblings, built like tigers from the East with their hulking frames, stood there with arms crossed, gazing at me like statues.
"No, nothing."
"We just thought it was unusual—hair as black as ours but with Western features."
I scratched my cheek awkwardly and cleared my throat.
Noticing this, Lydia stepped forward with her hands behind her back like a grand duchess and chimed in.
"Why don't we start with some food? I know a proper Eastern restaurant in this city."
"Ah, we're fine. We've already dined with Leonhardt."
The leaders over middle age, including Darhan and Tilda, had met with the imperial family first.
So they had decided to continue the inspection among themselves.
"Oh, right. Haven't Assault Captain Arden and Sword Dance Captain Hanna eaten yet?"
"We can eat with Sir Veil."
The Grand Duke and his son spoke in turn.
At this, the grandchildren's lips curved upward in approval.
"As you command."
"For us, the more the merrier when it comes to meals."
The twins, agreeing to the suggestion, stared straight at me.
Their red eyes gleaming from within their black hair made them look just like a pair of black panthers encountered deep in a dark forest.
"However, Grand Duke... what about our escorts then...?"
I signaled to Lydia's grandfather for help.
In response, the Grand Duke grinned.
He waved it off with a nonchalant look in his eyes.
"Don't worry. We're here for a public inspection to avoid inconveniencing the people, aren't we? We'll just look around comfortably on our own."
"Exactly. We've got General Darhan here anyway. What could go wrong?"
The Marshal, a powerhouse who had charged across the northern front lines himself, was accompanying them.
Even to my eyes, he exuded the aura of a true expert.
But that wasn't the issue.
The prickling gazes from those siblings at my back felt incredibly burdensome.
The moment the Grand Duke left, it felt like they would pounce on me the second we were alone.
"I'm hungry. Shall we head in, Si.r. Vei.l.?"
"With that build of yours, you'll need to eat a lot, right?"
Yes, just like that.
As expected, the two black panthers closed in right behind me.
They led me to the restaurant with utterly ferocious smiles.
Thanks to them, we split off from the Grand Duke's group, and it ended up being the Third Imperial Princess, me, and the two siblings having lunch together.
"Heh heh heh... Those kids still dote on the youngest as much as ever."
The Grand Duke watched me being dragged off like prey into a den of leopards, looking pleased.
Tilda, the duchess who had started watermelon trade with me, asked worriedly.
"Will he be alright...? They won't be rude to Sir Veil, will they...?"
"He'll manage. They're all hot-blooded types."
The former king of Samard narrowed his eyes in acknowledgment.
But as he watched me disappear through the restaurant's front door, he smiled comfortably.
"Still, it'll be fine. We doubted Sir Veil at first too, you know. Thought he was some beast of a man after Lydia."
The Grand Duke's expression hardened as he recalled the sleazy young nobles from human territories who had approached her before.
That was the reason the Arden siblings treasured Lydia so much.
"When you create an opportunity like this for honest talk, the twins will finally realize it."
The old man let out a deep breath and turned his head away from the restaurant.
He stepped forward with a relaxed mind, as if there was no longer any need to worry.
"That Sir Veil is different."
「――――――」
We sat in a corner of the Eastern-style restaurant.
It was the perfect spot for exactly four, and Lydia and I took our seats side by side.
Directly across from us sat the intense twins, their shoulders bumping even with just the two of them.
"Welcome—"
The black-haired waitress, about to greet us warmly, startled at the sight of the twins.
She placed the menus on the table quietly, like a squirrel huddling up after spotting predators.
"We'll call when we're ready to order."
Lydia, the shortest of the four, spoke adeptly.
The waitress bowed politely and retreated silently.
Her elegant poise marked her clearly as Eastern nobility or higher.
And with those ferocious twin warrior escorts(?) in tow...
She hurried over to the owner and whispered.
"Wha.t does ou.r Si.r. Vei.l. like?"
I responded brightly to the military-stiff voice of Assault Captain Arden.
"I eat anything just fine."
"Oh-ho... Is that so...?"
As if he'd been waiting for that answer, the hulking Assault Captain of the East flashed a sly grin on his massive face.
He chuckled and posed a loaded question.
"Then, can you handle 'spicy' food as well?"
Spicy food...
I'd never really tried it in my life.
Especially since the Empire only had dishes spiced with pepper for a pungent aroma.
But I could tell that saying I couldn't handle it here would make the black panther in front of me scoff right away.
How could a man born as a man not handle something as basic as spice?!
Could he really protect our Lydia?!
Something like that.
I'd thought with that brute build, he'd challenge me to a duel on the spot.
But this guy was playing a craftier game.
"There's nothing I can't eat. On the front lines, we'd swallow anything we could."
"Definitely not like those frail young masters raised in the capital, huh?"
Arden, satisfied, raised his hand high to summon the waitress.
"Here—Samard-style naan with extra chili oil!!"
He bellowed like a mercenary in a rowdy tavern.
Lydia scolded her mischievous cousin.
"Samard-style naan...? Even people from our homeland can barely handle that!!"
"Hahaha... Lydia, you know it too. It's that traditional rite of passage every man has to endure when entering a household, right?"
Her hulking sister, sitting beside him, nodded silently in agreement.
"That's a tradition that's basically died out now...!! Plenty of people get stomach inflammation from it."
Hold on... inflammation?
My previously smug, fox-like eyes widened in surprise.
"Heh heh heh... Don't worry, Lydia. This isn't Samard, so it'll be adjusted to Western tastes."
But...
――――――
"Samard-style naan, coming up."
The waitress brought two plates.
They held food with a visual ferocity matching the twins' appearances.
"Our chef imports ingredients straight from Samard, so he cooks it the 'traditional' way."
"Oh... really...?"
The flatbread was nicely baked to a golden crisp.
Up to that point, it was fine.
But the blood-red, unidentified sauce poured on top...
It radiated scorching heat and acrid fumes, like lava dumped onto bread.
'Is this... actually edible...?'
I stared blankly at the fiery dish before slowly lifting my head to Arden, the Assault Captain.
He glanced at the food, then grinned at me.
'Yeah, I already know you're the Empire's strongest. But is your tongue just as invincible?'
As if saying exactly that.
'You bastard...'
I'd figured with that thuggish look, he'd at most go for a spar.
But as expected of a unit commander, he was strategic.
"Come on, dig in. Looks delicious."
Arden shoved a plate toward me with his massive hand.
As the unknown dish drew closer, I already felt a cough rising.
"Got it. Let's eat together."
I suppressed the cough and flashed a cheeky smile.
Then pushed his plate even closer to him.
"Veil, are you sure...? Don't eat it if you don't want to."
Unlike usual, Lydia clasped her hands tightly and asked me.
Even she, from her homeland, looked worried—this dish was no joke.
"No, it's fine. To understand both cultures, I humbly accept."
"Exactly. Let's eat together."
He grabbed the bread with his huge hand and dunked it generously in the lava sauce.
I set down my fork and followed suit.
'Alright, here goes...'
I swallowed the bubbling lava hard.
Then, the moment the sauce touched my tongue...
'Hm...? It's actually pretty good.'
Surprisingly sweet and pungent, I chewed the bread comfortably.
Assault Captain Arden stared at me intently.
He watched my relaxed demeanor in silence.
"Uh...?"
But.
The more I chewed, the more the scorching heat of the Samard desert surged up.
It started from my throat and spread, heating my entire head.
Arden lifted the corners of his thick lips, as if he'd been waiting.
"It's here."