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Volume 2, Chapter 21: Resolve? I have that.

Keith brought Zeke to the dining hall reserved for chefs, apparently to eat lunch. Zeke was peckish too, so he also picked something to eat and sat down next to Keith. Keith picked a lunch set with sandwiches, salad, soup, and fruits. Zeke felt it was a lunch set that would be popular with the girls, but he decided not to comment. Zeke went with the lunch set with pan fried meat and vegetables with soup and bread.

He got hungrier when he saw the food, and he set to filling his stomach regardless of what Keith had to say. Keith also focused on his food, and they ate in silence. The two men ate quickly and their plates were soon empty.

“I heard you confessed to Lady Risa?”

Keith said as they sipped their water. Zeke almost spit his water out.

“How do you know about that?!”

“Ah well, Lady Risa was acting strangely this morning, and I hit the nail on the head on a wild guess.”

Keith smirked as he stabbed one of the remaining pieces of fruit on his plate with a fork.

“So, what are you going to do when you run to where Lady Risa and His Highness the crown prince is? Steal Lady Risa away? Do you even have that authority?”

“…”

Zeke did not know either. Although he did express his feelings to Risa, he hadn’t heard her reply yet. If he had to watch her become someone else’s, however, he would rather steal her away.

“Man, it must be good to be young, honestly. Seriously though, you’re not thinking I’m trying to stop you like this? What if I were one of the people who wanted Lady Risa and His Highness the crown prince to be together?”

“Wha-…!”

Zeke gasped. It wouldn’t be strange to think of Keith’s actions as keeping Zeke away from them. However, Keith laughed upon seeing Zeke’s pale face.

“Ahaha, I’m kidding, I’m kidding. That would require too much effort on my part.”

Zeke grunted in response, as Keith’s attitude could swing either way.

“C’mon, don’t make such a scary face. You’re so easy to tease.”

“Excuse me?”

“See, you’re such a goody two shoes; you’re so different from me. To be honest, when I first heard of your experience as a chef, I really didn’t like you.”

Keith flashed a genuine smile as he propped his face up, but his words clearly had an edge to it.

“I mean, a knight who had breezed through the academy and was groomed to be the next captain suddenly jumped ship into the culinary world? Not only that, but you were working side by side with Lady Risa. I was jealous. You had a proper family and no worries about money. There’s no way you could understand someone who can only cook…”

The smile on Keith’s face vanished.

“I have nothing else. It was pure luck that Head Chef McKinnies led me on this path, and I clawed my way up with my own power. That’s why I thought I’d reach for Lady Risa sooner or later, too.”

“Wha…?!”

“Must be nice to have the culinary knowledge, skills and intuition that she has. I’d always thought Head Chef McKinnies stood at the peak of the culinary world, so I was shocked when I met her. Besides, she’s a cute girl.”

“Miss Risa is-”

“Yeah, yeah, I know what you’re thinking. But those marriage talks with the crown prince might not be because of her personality or character. It might be because of her talent or upbringing, you know?”

Zeke glared at Keith and wondered how he could possibly have respected Keith, no matter how short lived that respect was. He somehow restrained himself as they were in a public area, but if they were alone he would have already punched Keith once or twice.

“So anyways, I’d thought to make Lady Risa mine, but I quit!”

“…What?”

Keith suddenly changed his tone and smiled brightly.

“I mean, she’s a lady with a proper upbringing, and she has a watchdog like you. If I really wanted to make her mine, I’d have to go through you, right? That’s way too much effort. No thanks.”

“…Didn’t you just say you liked Miss Risa-”

“Oh geez. There’s no way I’d have such bittersweet feelings of love and crushes that are so full of hormones like you two. Wow it must be so great to be young. I’m already a wasted old man.”

Keith roared in laughter. Zeke stared at him blankly.

“So that’s how it is. I just wanted to tease this spoiled little boy sitting in front of me right now, maybe slide in a bit of life advice too. Take it as a warning from an elder. If you really want to protect Lady Risa, you’ll have to shed that honest to a fault, goody-two-shoes act of yours.”

Keith said, his gaze piercing Zeke. His tone had changed again, and his words sat heavily in Zeke’s chest.

“I believe the marriage talks with the crown prince are probably motivated by an attempt to chain Lady Risa to this country. Her name was spread internationally over the royal conference after all. Anyone with their head screwed on straight can see that she’s a gold egg waiting to be hatched. There will be people who will stop at nothing to get their hands on her. You especially should harden your resolve if you want to be in a relationship with her.”

The resolve to protect Risa.

When we just met, she had some trouble with a drunkard…

Zeke suddenly remembered Risa the frail woman from back then instead of Risa the chef.

“Mister Keith. I’ve always had resolve.”

Zeke said with his usual blank expression.

“Oh really?”

“I decided to protect Miss Risa ever since I began working at Café Omusubi.”

“…sigh, and this is why… oh, thanks for the meal.”

Keith waved his right hand despairingly and looked away, spotting someone as he did so and made a sign in that direction.

“Your guide is finally here.”

He said, standing up and bringing his tray to the return shelf before walking towards the entrance of the dining hall. Confused, Zeke followed him.

A young maid stood at the entrance. She looked like she just came of age, and she bowed to Zeke.

“This girl waits on Her Majesty the queen. If you follow her, you’ll meet Lady Risa.”

Apparently Keith had put in some effort for Zeke. They followed the maid back to the kitchen, where Zeke loaded a trolley with cake, utensils, and plates.

Albeit very late, he asked Keith, “Is it okay if I appear in front of Her Majesty the queen in casual clothes?”

Keith answered, “It’s fine, you’re wearing a jacket.”