It did not take long, and everything was set up, which required adding a small table to accommodate all the orders. After they were done, the staff smiled and bowed.
"Enjoy your meal, sirs."
Not even a minute later, and they were all alone inside the private room. There was silence at first. One was someone who would not say something first unless asked, and the other was always losing his mind over the former to start a normal conversation first.
The two stared awkwardly at the table and the boiling broth in the pot. Savier took his chopsticks, while not the standard utensil he often used, still knew how to use them.
"Uh," he looked at the meat and seafood on the table, then shifted to Sir Rylan. "Do you know how to..." He paused and stared as Sir Rylan did not let him finish and already took his own, indicating he knew.
Sir Rylan gave a smile without speaking.
Okay.
Savier awkwardly coughed. He averted his gaze and put on a smile, taking a slice of meat and putting it into the broth. "We can cook it here, and..." While speaking, he looked up and suddenly trailed off as he saw how Sir Rylan was watching him.
His hand subtly shook, Savier immediately withdrew the meat from the broth, and fortunately, the slice was thin enough, and the broth was too hot, that it was already cooked.
His lips curled into a confident smile, thankful his lips did not twitch.
"Like this, we can now eat it." Savier quickly put it in his mouth, forgot that it was still hot and it was spicy, and he was not ready.
He could not help but his expression twisted, and a violent cough followed. Savier covered his mouth to quickly chew the meat. The corner of his eyes moistened even. Damn, that hurts.
Concerned, Sir Rylan immediately brought a glass of water and offered it.
"Your Highness, here..."
Savier shook his head. "No..." he swallowed the meat and his embarrassment. "I'm fine... really." Yeah, physically, but emotionally, he did not know.
Still concerned, "Are you sure?"
Savier lowered his gaze and firmly clenched his hand on the chopsticks. He nodded and cleared his throat again, still feeling the bout of spicy taste in his throat.
Normally, he was not that easily affected by spicy flavor, but sometimes it could still make one cough, no matter how used they were. What he just felt injustice was, did this needed to happen in front of Sir Rylan?
"Should we cook this now?"
Savier decided to forget that moment as if it had never happened. His hands caught the plate of mushrooms, before he put it inside the broth, he asked first.
"Do you eat mushrooms, Sir Rylan?" Receiving a nod, he proceeded, and the mushroom went in two broths all at once. He did not wait and also decided to put other ingredients, mostly vegetables that took longer to cook, and made the broth richer.
His eyes even shifted to some meat that had thicker slices and also brought it inside, same with meatballs. He became focused on doing this, and he somewhat forgot the watchful gaze of the alpha across from him.
"We can eat this thinly sliced meat after soaking in the broth for a few seconds, though, until you think it's cooked." Savier did not calculate and just looked at it after a bit.
He did not need to demonstrate again. In any case, even if he did not, Sir Rylan would figure it out on his own.
Savier gestured and smiled. "Go on, let's eat."
As much as he did not want any formalities, Sir Rylan was truly particular in this matter. Although maybe it helped that there were only the two of them, he became at ease enough to eat as well.
Still, he was silent. And so, the first part of their meal was spent in silence. However, Savier did not find it disappointing, but he cherished it.
The silence was comfortable, and he could help Sir Rylan by cooking some meat and putting it in his bowl. Savier was so thankful for his decision not to bring other bodyguards when he left home earlier.
Halfway through, Savier was already feeling full at this point. He glanced at Sir Rylan, who munched slowly without sounds, truly the epitome of discipline. Of course, he would praise Sir Rylan even if he was just sitting there.
His eyes caught the bottle of liquor. Ah, it seemed that when he ordered earlier, he also added a lot of types, and this alcohol, a commercial brand, was included. This was a hard liquor with high alcohol content, and even his omega father, who had high alcohol tolerance, always said to avoid it.
Savier licked his lips and put down his chopsticks; his action was noticed by the ever percetive Sir Rylan. In his hand was the bottle of liquor, which was an average and thin bottle. He stared at it and read the description. He blinked and shrugged.
It seemed not too high then. Just standard, 40% alcohol content for this kind of type. As an alpha, he could probably tolerate one whole bottle of it?
Savier was not a heavy drinker; he only ever drank wine at social events. Unfortunately or fortunately, he did not inherit his omega father's love for alcohol, and that was the same for Arle. No one did, much to their father's relief. It seemed to their royal father, one alcohol lover was enough, though his mate rarely drank as he got older.
"Sir Rylan," he called and lifted the bottle. "Want a drink?"
He did not know where he got this courage, but since this kind of opportunity was rare, why not take advantage more? Nodding at this decision, his voice was louder as he repeated, no hesitation in his words.
"Let's drink." His hand was already opening the bottle, hands were reaching for the shot glass. And pour it on before drinking it recklessly. The alcohol scratch made his throat hotter. Savier sighed.
He needed this for his courage to last! His face crunched, but not enough, though strong, the body of a dominant alpha had a higher tolerance for alcohol.
Savier also took another shot glass and poured into it, and then offered it to Sir Rylan. He was using his superior privilege to his advantage, so what?
But when he noticed Sir Rylan looking hesitant and awkward, all his courage seemed to dissipate. Yeah, one shot was not enough.
"I'm still going to drive." He said that, but still took the shot glass from Savier's hand, though he did not drink it. Only because he hated Savier offering his hand for too long.
Savier poured on his glass again and gulped it down; the strong alcohol made his eyes twitch.
I'll get drunk, then blame it on alcohol, no matter what he does!
"We'll call the others." Savier shrugged, his hands took the chopsticks again and ate the meat and mushrooms in his bowl. He made sure he was not looking at the other alpha. "Let them drive."
For him, this was not really an issue.
He finally looked up and watched the other.
Sir Rylan played with the shot glass. His eyes lifted and locked gaze with Savier. Their agzes met midair.
"Do you drink, Sir Rylan?" Savier asked. Because the moment he said no, he would immediately drop this and not let the alpha drink. This had a higher alcohol content after all, not suited for a first-time drinker.
Sir Rylan fell silent at first, but then he finally nodded. And with Savier's eyes on him, down the shot glass. His face did not even twist or anything, as if it were normal water.