If I Disobey the Duke

Unknown Story (5)

A white-robed kitchen servant pushed the food cart across the trees.
At the end, an elegant gazebo with a round ceiling was his destination.

Two people were visible through the six pillars supporting the domed roof.
A woman and a man facing each other with a round table in between.

A graceful woman who boasted a long and elegant neck like that of a doe, silver hair neatly tied up.

The man sitting next to her watched her carefully.
He was just sitting there, but he was a man with a presence that crushed the air around him.

A man with sharp features that matched a sense of intimidation.
His eyes, as sharp as his swords, looked different when facing the woman sitting next to him.

“Is it nice?”

Lily nodded her head at the gentle, relaxed low tone.
“It’s sweet, but I like it because it has a refreshing finish.
I’m already craving for more.”

The corners of Vlad’s lips twisted slightly.
“I am a little worried.
You seem to like the taste of alcohol too well.”

Lily flinched and released her hand from her glass.
She relaxed her shoulders and leaned slightly against the back of her chair.

“I think you forget what happened.”

She put her hand under the table and pouted.
“It was only once.
When I was drunk…”

Suddenly, he let out a shrill laugh, as if he couldn’t stand it.

The servants put food on the table at the right time.
There were only four kinds of appetizers.
The chef, who was waiting in front of the gazebo pillar, came to the side of the table.
“Fresh scallops flavored with herb butter, cherry wood smoked goose liver bruschetta on baguettes, grilled vegetables with lemon jam and apple puree, and beef carpaccio with truffle oil.
”

He didn’t seem to want to disturb their private time.
The chef left after a brief explanation.

All of them were mouth-watering flavors.
The other dishes were also amazingly good.

Lily, who was admiring each and every taste and how she liked it, stopped.
Because Vlad, who leaned his body on his back, was watching her.
When she realized that she was being observed, she squirmed in embarrassment.

“You always start your meal with vegetables, Lily.”

“It’s a habit.
My father told me that I should eat them in order to gain less weight…”

Vlad frowned.
Whenever she mentioned her father, his stomach twists and turns and the discomfort builds up.

“From now on, you don’t have to worry about that when you eat.
Eat as much as you want, in any order you want.”

Without the need for a signal, the chef took care of organizing the plates and serving the next menu.

Soup and fish dishes followed.
The servants lay down in front of them a couple or more of their plates for each course.

Around the time when the main menu, quail wrapped in pastries, came out.
Lily was already stuffed.
Finally, she carefully put down the tableware.

Noticing her signal, Vlad tapped the armrest of the chair.
“The amount of food you eat doesn’t seem to increase at all.”

As his sharp eyes turned to the chef, Lily added hastily.
“It’s not that I don’t like it.
As you know, I don’t eat much, so…”

Even though he knew that her appetite was smaller than average.
The difference was even more evident when she dined with her husband.

Even his eating posture was neat.
No matter what food was served, the plate was clean and there was no mess anywhere until the meal was finished.

He didn’t seem to know food etiquette at first glance, but it far exceeded that of many rumours.

Vlad turned his gaze to the chef.
“Prepare dessert right away.”

After the chef greeted him politely, the table was cleared in an instant.

Nearly twenty kinds of cakes and fruits were arranged neatly on the table.
Honey cakes and strawberries with condensed milk were also included.

Lily’s face turned red for nothing.

Food is just food… There’s nothing weird.

With that promise, Lily poked one of the strawberries with a fork for dessert.

His expression, which had been staring intently at her, softened slightly.
“Dessert is always good.”

Savoring the juice bursting from her mouth, she became embarrassed for nothing.
Looking at the dessert, it felt like there was an empty space in her stomach.

She took a sip of lemon water and rinsed her mouth.
“I like sweet things.
I gain a lot of weight eating them, but…”

“It doesn’t matter if you’re as small as a maiden, or as big as Gallahead.
So, don’t worry about that in the future.”

Lily couldn’t even imagine herself in which state she was.

“Eat comfortably, Lily.”

At his gentle invitation, she naturally nodded.

She felt as if the foreign substances that had been tightly clung to her heart all her life were melting away.
It was like her congestion was going away.

She picked up the chocolate she had with nuts and berries.

She put it into her mouth.