EIYTMA Chapter 11

Fortunately, it seemed the girl also realized that Ezekiel had not spoken with bad intentions, as she soon calmed down.  

 

“I apologize.”  

 

Ezekiel sighed at his brother’s mediation and apologized as well. In the end, it was the girl’s reckless actions that had saved the two boys’ lives.  

 

The girl, Iris, squinted one eye before accepting Ezekiel’s apology.

  

“Alright. I’m sorry for blaming Ez as well.”  

 

“…Ez?”  

 

Ezekiel flinched. Iris tilted her head.  

 

“This guy called you Ez. Isn’t that your name?”  

 

“…It is.”  

 

Ezekiel’s nickname, Ez. That name was only used by his closest family, so having a stranger call him that was unsettling. But that didn’t mean he could reveal his real name either. Étienne smiled brightly.  

 

“I’m Tien. You heard earlier, didn’t you, Iris?”  

 

His gentle tone made Iris’ cheeks turn red. Ezekiel let out a displeased sigh. If only Étienne treated Felicia the way he treated Iris.  

 

Regardless, he still had lingering curiosity, so he spoke again.  

 

“There’s something I’m curious about. Do I still have unnecessary things left to say?”  

 

“Huh?”  

 

Iris furrowed her brows. Ezekiel folded his arms and shrugged.  

 

“Madame Babin already knows you went into the water. Yet you specifically told me not to say anything unnecessary.”  

 

‘Just don’t say anything unnecessary to Madame Babin.’ That’s what she had said.  

But as far as Ezekiel and Étienne knew, there were no more ‘secrets’ to expose about her.  

 

“Or do I need to be prepared for you to create more unnecessary secrets in the future?”  

 

“…Hey.”  

 

“Ez.”  

 

Étienne, looking troubled, tried to intervene, but Ezekiel waved him off.  

 

“I’m not picking a fight. I’m genuinely asking. If there are any other secrets at risk of being exposed, I need to be careful with my words.”  

 

“…I see.”  

 

Iris grumbled. Ezekiel narrowed his eyes.  

 

“See what?”  

 

“Ez, seriously. Watch your tone.”  

 

In the end, Étienne flicked Ezekiel on the forehead. When Ezekiel looked at him with an indignant expression, Étienne simply grinned.  

 

“Ez, you’re great in many ways, but sometimes the way you talk really gets on people’s nerves. Of course, people misunderstand you.”  

 

“…Me?”  

 

“Yes. Just now, when you said ‘See what?’—even I thought you were picking a fight with Iris.”  

 

“…I wasn’t.”  

 

“You heard that, Lady Iris? He says he wasn’t angry.”  

 

“…I see.”  

 

Iris made a half-hearted attempt at a smile, looking uncertain. Étienne grinned.  

 

“So, is there another secret we need to protect?”  

 

“No, it’s just…”  

 

The girl started to say something but then closed her mouth. Ezekiel tilted his head, but for some reason, Iris lowered her head in embarrassment and waved her hands.  

 

“No, never mind.”  

 

Of course, they would soon find out why she hadn’t said anything.  

 

***  

 

Even though unexpected guests had suddenly arrived, Madame Babin was generous enough to serve them dinner.  

 

“It’s fortunate—I had just started cooking a warm meal.”  

 

“Wow!”  

 

It was a stew made with potatoes and venison.  

 

Madame Babin proudly explained, “In spring, my husband caught a fat doe. We smoked the meat to preserve it.” The dish was hearty, with lumps of hand-torn dough added to it.  

 

Of course, compared to the meals they ate in the royal capital, it was an incredibly humble dish.  

But both Étienne and Ezekiel gladly accepted a bowl of stew. Neither prince was a picky eater.  

 

“Thank you for the meal, madam!”  

 

“Thank you.”  

 

Seated at the table were Madame Babin, Iris, and the two boys—four people in total. Étienne tilted his head.  

 

“You said you had a younger brother, didn’t you?”  

 

“Oh, he’ll eat a little later.”  

 

“Huh?”  

 

Madame Babin answered Étienne’s curiosity. “This house only has four chairs in the dining room!”  

 

The princes’ expressions turned awkward.  

 

So, usually, only four people had seats at the dining table: Madame Babin, Iris, her younger brother, and Baron Querluxia, who was often absent.  

 

But today, there were two uninvited guests, so her younger brother had to eat separately.  

 

“Oh dear, I feel so sorry about this.”  

 

“It’s fine. Henri is often unwell and usually eats in his room anyway,” Iris replied nonchalantly.  

 

Étienne nodded, acknowledging her words. If the host had already decided, it would be impolite for the guests to feel too guilty about it.  

 

“Let us all pray. Oh, which god do you two believe in?”  

 

Madame Babin paused before the prayer and asked cheerfully. Étienne grinned.  

 

“I pray to Adelia, the goddess of water. My brother has yet to decide.”  

 

In Muirenas, people choose their deity at the temple when they come of age and devote themselves to that god for life, offering prayers before meals.  

 

The royal family followed the same tradition. Étienne had only recently chosen Adelia, the goddess of water, compassion, and justice, as his patron deity.  

 

Madame Babin smiled.  

 

“We believe in Udahl, the god of storms, thunder, and truth! Since Adelia and Udahl are friendly deities, shall we let the guest lead the prayer today?”  

 

“Would that be all right?”  

 

Étienne chuckled and playfully offered his prayer.  

 

“Oh, Adelia, I feel blessed that you have saved my brother and me through a friend. Thank you for this meal! We are grateful in the name of the Seven Gods! I’m starving, so that’s it for today!”  

 

“Oh my!”  

 

Madame Babin laughed heartily at his casual prayer, clearly amused. Iris also smiled and picked up her spoon.  

 

If this household had been strict about such things, the servants and the hosts would never have dined at the same table.  

 

Maybe it was hunger, or maybe the cold had made it taste better, but the stew was delicious.  

 

Both princes finished their bowls completely. That was when Madame Babin subtly gestured toward them.  

 

“I’m sorry to ask, but could you wash the dishes? I need to bring dinner to Master Henri.”  

 

A squire’s duties included taking care of a knight’s meals, so she likely assumed dishwashing would be a familiar task to them.  

 

Ezekiel instinctively took the wooden bowls.  

 

The problem was that Ezekiel had never done such a task before. Étienne whispered quietly.  

 

“Need help?”  

 

Unfortunately, Étienne had never washed dishes either. And if both of them fumbled around, it would be too obvious.  

 

Ezekiel sighed.  

 

“I’ll figure something out.”  

 

His thought process was simple: just dunk the dishes in water and scrub them somehow.  

 

Although he had handled swords and taken care of horses in preparation for his future, washing dishes was an entirely different skill.  

 

Ezekiel found himself stuck as soon as he reached the courtyard.  

 

Should I draw water from the well to wash them? Or is there a specific place for this?

 

Madame Babin hadn’t said anything when he took the dishes outside, so it was clear they had to be washed outdoors.  

 

Having settled on that, Ezekiel headed toward the well.  

 

But even there, he encountered difficulties. Fetching water itself wasn’t easy.  

 

After splashing the bucket in the well several times, he finally managed to collect a small amount of water.  

 

Once he had the water, what next? Pour it over the dishes?  

 

As Ezekiel was fumbling around, a voice spoke from beside him.  

 

“I figured this would happen.”  

 

It was Iris.  

 

Ezekiel, who had been rubbing a dish with his palm, startled so hard that his face turned red.  

 

Iris clicked her tongue.  

 

“Be honest. You’re not really a squire, are you?”  

 

“……”  

 

He couldn’t exactly confirm or deny it.  

 

Iris, seeing his flushed face, wordlessly took the dishes from his hands.  

 

“Give them here.”  

 

Her cold fingers brushed against his briefly before pulling away.  Iris placed the dishes in a small water channel beside the well and picked up the bucket.  

 

Ezekiel unconsciously leaned in to watch her movements. Unlike his own failed attempts, the bucket quickly filled with water. Iris pulled it up with a grunt.  

 

Ezekiel hurried to help.  

 

“I got it. Uh—oh.”  

 

Splash.  

 

The bucket that had been coming up smoothly dropped right back into the well. Iris silently turned to look at Ezekiel, who had intruded on her task.  

 

She neither scolded nor mocked him, but Ezekiel still felt utterly humiliated.