"Do you want to eat together?"
Fiena blinked. Her white eyebrows knitted slightly. She tilted her head. "Excuse me, Master?"
"Eat together," Aldes said. He coughed softly, clearing his throat. "In my room."
Aldes turned his face slightly toward the stone wall.
Ugh. Why is it weird? I said it so weirdly.
Fiena's hands holding the tray tightened slightly. Her eyes shifted hesitantly to stare at the floor, then back to Aldes's face. "Uh. Master."
Aldes took a deep breath. He rubbed the back of his neck. "Forget it. Sorry. It must be weird. Of course it's weird. Sorry."
A soft laugh escaped Fiena's lips. The girl smiled widely until her eyes narrowed slightly. "Master Aldes."
Fiena bowed slightly. "Please allow me to get my food first."
Aldes nodded stiffly. "Uh. Yes."
Ten minutes passed.
Fiena returned carrying her own wooden plate. They were now sitting across from each other at the round table near the bedroom window. The morning sunlight illuminated half of the table's surface.
Aldes cut his wheat bread and chewed slowly. The savory taste of the meat blended with the rough texture of the wheat.
In front of him, Fiena ate in small, neat bites. There was only the sound of forks scraping against the surface of the ceramic plates.
Fiena put down her fork. She swallowed her food, then stared intently at Aldes.
"Master Aldes. May I ask a question, Master?"
"Hmm. Yes?" Aldes answered while chewing.
"Why have you changed lately, Master?" Fiena asked. Her index finger tapped lightly on the edge of the table. "Like."
"You are not as scary as usual."
"Your way of speaking has become gentle. And. Uh. The point is, Master."
Fiena left her sentence hanging.
Aldes swallowed his food, then chuckled softly. His shoulders shook slightly.
"Why did I change to be like this all of a sudden?"
Fiena nodded her head quickly.
Aldes formed a faint smile. He leaned his body forward. His right hand reached across the table, then his thumb gently wiped a breadcrumb from the corner of Fiena's cheek.
Fiena's shoulders jerked backward. Her blue eyes widened and her breath hitched for a moment.
"Hmm. I wonder why," Aldes said while pulling his hand back.
Clearly they are suspicious. Of course. Of course. But well. If I'm being honest. Because I am not Aldes, Fiena.
Aldes muttered in his heart.
He closed his eyes for two seconds, then opened them and stared straight into Fiena's eyes.
"To be honest."
"Because of a dream."
"A dream?" Fiena asked.
Aldes nodded. "Yes. I dreamed I became a king. And I was beheaded."
Fiena opened her mouth. The fork in her hand slipped and fell, hitting the plate with a loud sound.
Aldes took the fork from Fiena's plate and placed it on the table.
"The dream was very real. Truly real."
"After waking up from that dream. I felt like I was given a second life."
Aldes leaned his back against the backrest of the chair.
"And well. Maybe I will try to live a better life, you know? And. There is no point in me acting like that."
"Eh. I see. So it's like that," Fiena said softly.
Her tense facial expression slowly faded. Fiena was silent for a few seconds. Her eyes never left Aldes's face.
The girl then smiled gently.
"You are truly amazing, Master."
Aldes immediately turned his neck. He averted his face and stared straight out the glass window.
"Eh, Master, what's wrong? Are you embarrassed that I praised you?" Fiena asked in a teasing tone.
"No. I just want to look outside. That's all," Aldes replied flatly. His ears felt slightly hot.
"Do you really like cooking?"
Aldes looked back at the table. He tried to change the subject.
"Hm? Me?"
"Hmm." Aldes nodded his head slowly. "Yes."
"I like it." Fiena held the tip of her fork. Her gaze dropped to look at the food on the plate.
"My mother taught me."
Fiena pulled the corners of her lips.
"At that time I cooked for my father. For the first time. And he."
"He said it was delicious. He cried a little. He cried."
Fiena raised her face and looked at Aldes.
"Since then, I like cooking."
"Hmm," Aldes muttered softly. "Where is he now?"
Fiena bit her lower lip softly. Her facial expression dimmed slightly.
"I don't know."
"I see."
Aldes stared into Fiena's blue eyes.
"I am sorry."
Fiena chuckled. Her hand moved to touch the edge of the plate.
"Why are you apologizing, Master?"
The room fell silent again for a moment.
After his heartbeat returned to normal, Aldes turned to look at Fiena again.
"Are you happy, Fiena?"
"Happy?"
"Yes. Are you happy?" Aldes repeated.
"Why are you suddenly asking such a thing, Master?" Fiena muttered softly.
The girl lowered her gaze to look at the leftover food on the plate. Her fingers intertwined tightly on her lap.
Fiena then raised her face and carved a sincere smile.
"Right now, yes," Fiena replied.
"Yes, I am happy right now."