A Meal and a Proposition

He really isn’t interested in my body?

Mylian felt a pang of frustration after they had settled into their seats. Her looks were her only exceptional quality, yet the person in black opposite her seemed utterly uninterested, not even sparing her a second glance!

“Here, for your trouble.”

Stella slowly closed the menu, and as if by magic, several coins slipped from her cuff, landing with a soft tap in her palm. The waiter’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Thank you for your patronage!”

“Make the portions generous; there are two of us.”

Stella emphasized her request with two raised fingers. The waiter immediately nodded and hurried toward the kitchen.

This young master is truly generous, tipping before the meal even arrives. And what was that trick with the coins? I want to learn it.

Mylian scrutinized the ‘kind-hearted’ figure in black, but her vigilance remained as taut as her grip on the case beneath her seat.

Stella noticed Mylian’s legs clamped around her suitcase, as if she feared it might be snatched away again. A playful thought crossed her mind.

“Miss, no one wants to touch your little broken case. I merely wish for you to pass this cold night safely.”

“Hmph… who needs your help? I’ve only just gotten used to being outside…”

Mylian’s complaints were abruptly cut short by a rumble from her stomach.

Grrrrumble—

Her stomach betrayed her, interrupting her mid-sentence. Mylian quickly lowered her head to hide her blushing face.

“Haha.” Stella chuckled, covering her mouth with her hand.

“What’s so funny? Everyone gets hungry.”

Mylian lifted her head to explain herself, finding herself conversing with the person in black quite naturally.

“Indeed, you are right. So, allow me to treat you to this meal. Might it serve as an apology for earlier, my friend?”

Stella placed her right hand over her chest, her tone suddenly becoming remarkably familiar.

Suddenly inviting me to eat? Unsolicited kindness often hides ulterior motives!

Because of her harsh upbringing, Mylian held a deeply ingrained, rigid impression of nobles. She harbored little goodwill toward the person in black.

“If friends can be made simply by offering a meal, then perhaps we shouldn’t be friends at all.”

“Oh, then I shall continue to call you Miss.”

“Suit yourself.”

“Then, Miss, would you be willing to grant me your name?”

Stella asked, knowing full well the answer. However, since she intended to approach her sister under the guise of the ‘person in black,’ her persona needed to differ from that of the villainess.

“No.” Mylian had no desire to tell a stranger her name, fearing it might connect back to the family she desperately wanted to escape.

“Miss, I trust you. My name is Della.” Stella took the initiative, but her chosen alias made Mylian pause.

Della? Why such a feminine name? It sounded like some lazy creature lounging amidst vines.

Mylian narrowed her eyes, studying this ‘Young Master Della’ whose actions were so peculiar. She assumed he was male purely because his attire resembled that of a youth who adored the ‘night wanderer’ style.

“Your name is truly odd,” Mylian replied, as if delivering a judgment.

“Perhaps. But since I’ve told you mine, what is your name, Miss?”

Stella craned her neck forward, maintaining the posture of a ‘young master’ genuinely interested in Mylian, her acting perfectly executed.

“I won’t tell you.” Mylian turned her head dismissively, like an unyielding iceberg.

Indeed, it won’t be easy to enter her heart.

Stella wasn’t disheartened. After all, having followed the plot in her previous life, she knew even the Saintess had taken a long time to win Mylian’s trust.

However, Stella had an advantage over the Saintess; she knew what could touch Mylian’s heart more quickly.

At that moment, the waiter arrived.

“For you two, here are your meals. Please enjoy.”

As the mashed potatoes and steak were placed on the table, Stella distinctly felt a gaze upon them.

The freshly cooked food steamed enticingly. Mylian’s violet-amber eyes gazed longingly, and Stella caught her rapid swallowing.

She had maintained the demeanor of an ice queen moments ago, but alas, in the face of food, her true nature was revealed.

Stella gestured forward with her hand.

“Please, help yourself. No need to wait for me.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice!”

Mylian dug in, her head down, her fork and knife creating a visible ‘storm’ on the table as she devoured the food.

My sister’s table manners are truly a mess, but I had expected as much.

Stella smiled silently. She had witnessed this scene in her previous life, though the Saintess had occupied her seat then.

“Why aren’t you eating…?” Mylian occasionally looked up, but her mouth never stopped chewing, her cheeks puffed out like a little white hamster’s.

“I’m not hungry.” Stella offered a small lie. She couldn’t remove her disguise, though her own stomach was grumbling in protest.

“Then why did you order so much?” Mylian scraped at the mashed potatoes on her plate, eating as if she hadn’t had a proper meal in eight lifetimes.

Poor child, so hungry. If only I had realized earlier how easy it would be to provide for my sister… sigh.

Stella remained silent. If she had awakened her memories earlier and cherished her sister, she wouldn’t have to work so hard now.

Gulp… “You haven’t even touched your fork. Is the food here not to your taste?”

Mylian had finished her own portion, her violet eyes darting about intelligently. She suddenly seemed quite perceptive.

“You’re half right. It’s a shame it’ll go to waste.” Stella was about to push her plate away, but the other end was swiftly pressed down.

“If you’re not eating it, I will! Don’t waste food! Do you know how many commoners in this territory go hungry?”

Mylian protested loudly. Stella simply released the plate, implicitly agreeing with her sister’s point.

“How could high-and-mighty nobles like you ever understand the hardships of us common folk?”

Mylian snatched the plate and devoured its contents, all while delivering a speech filled with grievances.

“Oh, how might I understand, Miss? I ask for your guidance.” Stella smiled, trying to coax more information. Her sister’s talkative side was a rare sight.

“You should go and patrol the lower districts, see for yourself what poor people eat…” As Mylian chewed, she suddenly noticed the smiling gaze from across the table.

What a strange noble young master. Is he really interested?

Mylian’s mood inexplicably brightened. Firstly, she was full and warm. Secondly, she had met a mysterious noble young master with whom she could communicate; he was a very special person.

“Ahem… In short, if you want to understand more, then go and see.” Mylian’s face flushed slightly, and her eating speed became a little more restrained.

“Alright, I’ll consider going to see with you.” Stella spoke her true thoughts, but it hit Mylian like a hammer blow.

“Cough, cough, cough! What do you mean ‘with me’? You?” Mylian covered her mouth, nearly spitting out her food. She couldn’t believe a stranger would say such a thing to her.

“Is it strange? I find it quite normal.” Stella rested her chin in her hands, awaiting her sister’s reaction.

“Normal? We’re strangers! What do you take me for?”

Mylian pointed at the person in black, feeling a hint of offense, though her anger wasn’t truly profound.

Though I know Mylian is the female lead, saying something like this to an adoptive sister with no blood relation should be perfectly fine.

Stella formulated her answer, her cherry lips parting slightly beneath her mask.

“Do you believe in love at first sight?”

“What?!”