Five at the Table
Two men. Three women. A total of five people sat around the table, engaged in conversation. There was no formality, no rigid etiquette, and none of that refined noble sophistication. Yet the atmosphere felt all the more comfortable because of it. It reminded me of the old days, right after a battle, when we’d raise our spirits with liquor and meat.
Charlotte stabbed a piece of sole meunière with her fork and took a bite. The texture was tender, the flavor rich and clean without any fishy aftertaste. It paired perfectly with the wine beside it.
Charlotte glanced sideways. Amelia and Reina were sitting together, laughing like old friends. The two of them had always gotten along well. They shared similar tendencies—both disliked wandering around and preferred quiet hobbies. Even though their personalities differed, they had enough in common to grow close. That didn’t make Charlotte feel bitter. No matter how different they were, their concern for each other ran incredibly deep. Deep enough that they would risk their lives for one another.
“How is the food? Does it suit your taste?”
I approached quietly. The moment Aaron was left unsupervised, he began devouring the dishes with gusto. I almost felt relieved.
“It’s absolutely wonderful. I rarely get to eat seafood this fresh even at home.”
“That’s one of the advantages of being on the coast. I’m glad you like it.”
I smiled comfortably. Since I had already figured out their preferences while they stayed at the resort, there was no need to feel nervous. Charlotte wasn’t particularly picky either.
“It really is excellent. Almost too much for someone who only used magic once.”
“It wasn’t just once. Thanks to that single act, you prevented a major accident and kept everyone safe. It’s only natural to show gratitude.”
I bowed my head sincerely. There wasn’t a trace of pretense. While Gunter, the Chief Administrator of Marseille, had handled the cleanup, it must have still left them feeling uneasy.
“Thank you for saying that. It feels a bit burdensome, but I’m proud too.”
Charlotte gave a bittersweet smile. A strange emotion—something between sadness and joy—gripped her heart and shook it. Quite violently.
“Ah. How did you like the saddle? I noticed you used it this time…?”
I smoothly changed the subject. The mood was already heavy enough; letting it grow heavier wouldn’t do. A banquet should be enjoyable, after all.
Charlotte seemed to read my intention. Her eyes widened like someone who had just realized something—like the great thinker who shouted “Eureka!” in the bathtub.
“I was actually thinking about replacing my old saddle. Thank you so much for the wonderful gift. It’s so cushioned and comfortable.”
“I’m glad. I specifically asked them to focus on stability and seating comfort.”
“Wait… did you have it custom-made?”
Charlotte’s eyes grew round. A custom order itself wasn’t surprising, but the thought behind it was. Even a high-end ready-made product would have been more than enough.
“Yes. It was a gift for a hero, after all. Of course, if the quality had been poor, it wouldn’t have meant anything. Not all handmade items are automatically good.”
Just as hand-pulled noodles taste best when made by a skilled artisan, the same principle applied here. Only when a talented craftsman combined the finest materials did a handmade product truly shine. Or when it carried some other special value.
“Huh? Then my chessboard too?”
Reina, who had been listening quietly, perked up. Amelia simply watched.
“Yes. All three gifts I gave you were newly made. I wanted to make them myself, but my skills are still too clumsy.”
“If you had, I would’ve felt too burdened to accept them. Thank you for being so thoughtful.”
Reina offered an awkward smile. It was excessively burdensome, but the burden itself made her feel proud. It was proof that she had done something great enough to deserve such goodwill.
Intentional favors. Calculated kindness. Members of noble society always tried to gain some advantage. However—
Even though I was part of that noble society, I had shown pure respect. Just like the people I had met on the battlefield.
‘It wasn’t calculated at all. He’s just… this kind of person.’
Charlotte stared at me with dreamy eyes. Today, even the tiny fragments of suspicion she hadn’t noticed in herself completely vanished.
After that, we ate and drank. We ate and drank until our faces flushed red, then returned to our rooms. The warm atmosphere lasted until the very end.
“Haa……”
The three war heroes washed up in their respective rooms and gathered in one place—Amelia’s room. All three of them had sobered up. The redness in their cheeks had faded, and their previously hazy minds were now sharp.
“Are you feeling alright?” Amelia asked, sitting in a chair. She was wearing a thin, translucent gown meant for sleeping. It was one of my gifts. Reina and Charlotte wore similar garments. Now that the war was over, they wanted to sleep in comfortable clothes. They had more than earned that right.
“I’m fine. What about you?”
Charlotte tilted her head as she returned the question. Amelia smiled and nodded.
“I’m fine too. How about you, Reina?”
“I’m okay. No matter how strong the wine is, it can’t compare to the hard liquor we drank during the war.”
Reina laughed and waved her hand. A pale chill flowed across the table, and ice began to bloom within it—shaped like a cup.
Water started to fill the ice cup with a soft gurgle, rising to about two-thirds of its height. Reina picked up the cup filled with cold water and drank.
The intense cold that felt like it could freeze her insides slid down her throat.
“Haa…! But he’s treating us so well that it feels a little burdensome.”
“Are you saying you don’t like it?” Amelia asked in a calm voice. She understood the feeling, but there was a hidden edge beneath her timid tone. She didn’t even realize it herself.
“Not at all. It’s a good thing, and I’m grateful. But can we really just keep accepting everything? This isn’t even our house.”
“That’s true.”
Amelia’s voice grew noticeably calmer. She strongly agreed. They had done some work, but only once. Since arriving at the villa, they had simply been receiving the most luxurious treatment without lifting a finger. There was nothing for them to do. At the same time, they couldn’t throw a tantrum and demand work.
The memory of my burdened expression when I had reluctantly given them tasks last time came to mind. Staying still felt burdensome. Trying to do something also felt burdensome. No matter what choice they made, it seemed to burden me, so it was hard to step forward.
“What should we do?”
“We should make ourselves useful by taking on a role. If we were just going to stay briefly and leave, that would be one thing, but I don’t want that. I really like it here.”
Reina reached a clear conclusion. Even if it burdened me, she judged that working would be better in the long run.
“Same here. If I go home, I’ll just be treated like a burdensome criminal and deal with annoying things. Staying here is much better.”
Charlotte nodded in agreement. They were war heroes. Honor might be an empty shell, but the power that came with that honor gave them the freedom to choose.
Amelia, listening to her friends, changed her mind. She decided to be helpful somehow.
“Do you have any ideas?”
“We’ll have to think about it. We only just made up our minds, didn’t we?”
Charlotte drank the cold water and let out a long sigh. The frustration that had been weighing on her chest froze solid and then melted away, leaving her refreshed.
“Then I guess we just wait.”
Reina grinned. In moments like this, Charlotte always took the lead, so she was happy to pass the responsibility along. As always.
“…I’ll go ask him tomorrow.”
Charlotte read their intentions and sighed. Even the usually timid Amelia sent her an encouraging look with sparkling eyes.
#
I slept in late because I drank after such a long time. I wasn’t completely drunk, so my stomach felt fine.
“Did you sleep well, sir?”
Aaron asked, blinking. He had drunk several times more than me when he saw the chance, yet he looked perfectly fine. This was why mana users were so impressive.
“Yeah. Did you circulate your mana before sleeping? Or after waking up?”
“Come on, do I really need to circulate mana for something that minor?”
Aaron twisted the corner of his mouth. It was basically taunting me—you might need to circulate mana, but I’m strong enough that I don’t. It was obviously bravado. Still, I let it slide. No point ruining the mood.
“Aaron, tell Glock to give some compensation to the people who worked hard yesterday.”
“Wait, why am I the only one who doesn’t get this considerate treatment…?”
“You’re my bodyguard. Now go.”
Aaron sighed and left the room. Every single minute and second spent here was basically a reward, yet he was still so greedy. Should I just send him back to his wife?
‘I need to discipline him a bit.’
I got out of bed and opened the door. I was thirsty.
“Is anyone there? If so, could you bring me some water?”
“Yes, young master. Please wait a moment!”
A maid who happened to be passing by quickly and gracefully disappeared, then returned.
“Here you are.”
“Thanks.”
I took the water bottle she politely offered and drank it down in one go. It was cool and refreshing.
“Haa…! Thank you. That was perfect.”
I handed the empty bottle back to the maid. Thanks to yesterday’s drinking, my throat had been unbearably dry, so I finished the entire bottle. My throat finally felt moist again.
‘I’ll live.’
I sent the maid away and returned to my room. Aaron still hadn’t come back. He was probably hiding somewhere, trusting that the honored guests would be fine, and killing time.
“Ugh.”
I clicked my tongue alone and sat on the sofa. Well, no matter how busy the work, everyone needed free time. Since I was alone, I decided to enjoy the leisure.
Somehow, being by myself felt more comfortable than being with others. I didn’t have to watch my behavior as much.
“Young master. Are you in?”
Knock, knock.
An unexpected voice sounded at the door. It was Charlotte.
“Yes! Please come in!”
I quickly invited her inside and had her sit down. Since the head seat felt awkward, I sat across from her. I met Charlotte’s eyes and first checked her complexion. She looked perfectly fine. So the saying that heroes could handle both alcohol and women was true.
‘A woman eating a woman? That’s a kind of gourmet taste too, I suppose…….’
My stream of consciousness led me to a strange place, and I blinked. I needed to get a grip.
“Are you feeling alright? You drank quite a lot yesterday.”
“I feel wonderful. Maybe because I got pleasantly drunk, I feel refreshed. Thank you so much for serving such excellent wine.”
Charlotte smiled and bowed her head. Good. She was satisfied.
“I’m glad. But what brings you here so early in the morning?”
When I asked politely, Charlotte’s expression turned serious.
“I thought about dragging this out or speaking indirectly… but I don’t want to do that. So I’ll say it directly.”
“I’m listening.”
Why was she laying so much groundwork? It was making me nervous for no reason.
“I know this might be presumptuous, but I would like to do something helpful for you, young master. Would you allow it?”
After all that tension, Charlotte finally spoke. I had known this day would come eventually, but I hadn’t expected it to be today. Fortunately, I already had a plan, so I felt at ease. At least for now.