Mira stared at the dishes before her, the tantalizing aromas wafting up from the plates, teasing her senses with their unfamiliar yet irresistible allure. The presentation was exquisite—each dish a small work of art, vibrant with color and texture. But the strange rule hung over her like a shadow: she could only choose one. The restriction gnawed at her, adding a layer of unease to the otherwise inviting scene. 'Why such an odd rule?' She wondered, her green eyes narrowing as she studied the food.
"Miss Mira," Nicole said, her voice calm but carrying a hint of formality, "Your two dishes are persimmon cakes and crab seafood porridge."
"Thank you," Mira replied, her tongue darting out to wet her lips. Her instincts as an assassin kicked in, and she discreetly slipped a silver needle from her sleeve, pricking it into each dish with practiced precision. The needle remained untarnished, its silver gleam unchanged. Mira let out a quiet breath of relief. 'No poison, at least.' This technique, taught to her by Big Sister, was a trick she'd learned from a chance discovery—a simple but effective way to test for toxins. Lucas's hushed conversation with Nicole earlier, combined with the bizarre dining rule, had set her nerves on edge, and she wasn't taking any chances.
Nicole nodded lightly, her eyes flicking to the next person. "Mina, your choices are black chicken noodle soup with fleeceflower root and garlic-dressed poached chicken."
"New dishes?" Mina's eyes sparkled with curiosity, her cat ears twitching. She reached for the steaming bowl of black chicken noodle soup, its rich, herbal aroma enveloping her senses. The garlic-dressed chicken, while tempting, didn't hold the same appeal. She cradled the bowl, content with her choice, and began eating with delicate sips.
Nicole moved on, introducing the dishes for Annie, Helen, Freya, Ayesha, and Amelia, her voice steady as she described each offering. The table buzzed with anticipation, the air thick with the mingled scents of roasted meats, fragrant herbs, and subtle spices.
Minutes later, every dish had been presented. Lucas leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes scanning the group with a faint, enigmatic smile. "Choose," He said lightly, his voice carrying a teasing edge. "Of course, you're welcome to eat both dishes if you want."
Ayesha's purple eyes widened, her cow horns bobbing as she leaned forward. "Master, we can really eat both?" The prospect of choosing just one was clearly agonizing for her, her love for food evident in her eager expression.
Lucas nodded, his smile widening. "Yes, you can."
"Great!" Ayesha exclaimed, grabbing both plates with enthusiasm. She dug in, her fork moving with the speed and precision of a seasoned eater, savoring every bite with unabashed delight.
Annie, however, eyed Lucas suspiciously, her fox tail swishing. After a moment's hesitation, she picked up her chopsticks and began eating, though she limited herself to only a couple of bites from her second dish, her instincts wary.
Freya and Amelia followed Ayesha's lead, each sampling both dishes without hesitation. Elisa, Helen, and Mina, however, stuck to one dish, their expressions cautious as they navigated the strange rule.
Mira watched as several others indulged in both dishes, their carefree enjoyment tempting her to do the same. The portions were small, barely enough to satisfy her hunger, and the flavors called to her like a siren's song. 'Why not?' She thought, her resolve wavering. She picked up both dishes—persimmon cakes and crab seafood porridge—and began to eat, the sweet, chewy cakes contrasting beautifully with the savory, briny warmth of the porridge. The meal was over quickly, the small portions vanishing in moments.
Unbeknownst to the diners, the ingredients for these dishes had been brought by Lucas from Earth, stored carefully in the castle's underground ice cellar. Nicole rarely used them, reserving the exotic ingredients for special occasions. Today, at Lucas's request, she had prepared a lavish spread, each dish a deliberate choice for reasons that would soon become clear.
"Nicole, this isn't enough!" Ayesha complained, scraping a bit of sauce from the corner of her mouth with her thumb. "Lunch can't just be this little bit, right?"
Nicole shook her head, a flicker of worry in her eyes. "Don't worry, there's porridge still cooking in the kitchen. It'll be ready soon."
"Good!" Ayesha grinned, her mood instantly brightening.
Annie's brow furrowed, her fox ears twitching as she set down her chopsticks. "Master, why the rule about choosing one dish?" She asked, her voice laced with suspicion. She had only nibbled at her second dish, her instincts warning her to be cautious.
"You'll find out soon enough," Lucas said, setting down his own chopsticks. His gaze swept over those who had eaten both dishes, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Consider it an experiment."
"An experiment?" Freya raised an eyebrow, glancing at her empty plates with a mix of curiosity and unease.
"Yes," Lucas said, taking a sip from his water glass. "An experiment—and a warning."
"A warning?" The word sent a ripple of confusion through the room, the beastgirls exchanging uncertain glances. Mira's ears twitched, her long feathers swaying as she leaned forward, her curiosity piqued.
Lucas set down his glass, his expression turning serious. "Today, I'm teaching you all a lesson," He said, his voice calm but commanding. "A lesson in invisible assassination."
"Invisible assassination?" Mira's eyes narrowed, her wings rustling slightly. The term sent a shiver down her spine, her assassin's instincts flaring.
"Master, does this have to do with the two dishes?" Mina asked, her eyes wide with realization.
"Exactly," Lucas said, nodding. His smile returned, a subtle curve that carried a hint of mischief. "It's all about the dishes."
Annie's jaw dropped, her voice rising in disbelief. "Master, you're not saying… those who ate both dishes are going to die, are you?" She didn't truly believe he would harm them, but the possibility sent a jolt of fear through her.
Lucas's dark eyes glinted with amusement, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "Of course…" He said, pausing for dramatic effect, "You're not going to die from eating both dishes."
A collective sigh of relief swept through the room, the beastgirls' tense shoulders relaxing as their fears dissipated.
"But," Lucas continued, his tone turning serious again, "Greed comes with consequences. A small lesson is in order."
"What kind of lesson?" Helen asked, her voice tinged with concern as she glanced at Annie, Ayesha, Freya, Amelia, and Mira—all of whom had eaten both dishes. Their faces were a mix of apprehension and curiosity.
"Just a small one," Lucas said with a light chuckle, his demeanor infuriatingly cryptic.
The "lesson" Lucas referred to was the result of food incompatibility—a mild discomfort caused by combining certain ingredients. In this case, the consequence was diarrhea, a minor inconvenience rather than a lethal reaction. On Earth, food incompatibility was understood to depend on an individual's constitution and the quantity consumed. Beastkin, with their robust appetites, could eat enough to feed two humans without issue, but consuming large amounts of incompatible foods could push discomfort into poisoning. In this era, with limited medical knowledge, food poisoning could be deadly. Lucas had carefully calibrated the portions to ensure the effects were mild—just enough to teach a lesson without causing real harm.
Half an hour later, the atmosphere in the dining hall was thick with unease. Those who had eaten both dishes sat fidgeting in their chairs, their faces a mix of anxiety and confusion. The uncertainty of what was to come was almost worse than the punishment itself.
A low gurgle broke the silence. Freya's cheeks flushed a deep crimson as she clutched her stomach, her orange eyes wide with embarrassment. Without a word, she bolted from the room, her footsteps echoing down the hall.
Another gurgle followed, this time from Ayesha. Her purple eyes widened in shock, and she froze for a moment before shoving her chair back and sprinting after Freya, her cow horns bobbing with each frantic step.
Mira's face twisted in realization, a strange expression crossing her features as she pressed a hand to her own stomach. The telltale rumble confirmed her fears, and she darted out of the room, hot on Ayesha's heels, her wings flapping slightly as she ran.
"What…?" Annie and Mina stared after them, their mouths agape. The sudden exodus left the remaining diners stunned, their eyes turning to Amelia as her stomach let out a similar groan. She frowned, her green eyes flashing with irritation, before she too stood and rushed out of the room.
The dining hall fell silent, the remaining beastgirls and elves staring at Lucas, waiting for an explanation. Their expressions ranged from shock to curiosity, the air heavy with unspoken questions.
"Master, are they really okay?" Nicole asked, her voice laced with worry. Guilt gnawed at her—she had prepared the meal, after all, and seeing her friends suffer made her stomach twist.
"They're fine," Lucas said, shaking his head. "It's just a bit of diarrhea. A couple of trips to the bathroom, and they'll be back to normal. Think of it as a detox." His tone was reassuring, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes.
Nicole exhaled, her relief palpable. "That's good to hear," She said, her shoulders relaxing.
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