The four people ate dinner heartily. Maxim was right when he said the tavern had good food. Emlyn who hadn't eaten well for weeks was happy and ate a lot.
Ahh... everything was nice. The only thing missing was probably a good wine from Southberry, she thought. She had never tasted wine better than the ones produced by the wineries in Southberry.
??
"What do you think about the food? Is it good?" Maxim asked Emlyn with a smile. He loved seeing the woman enjoying her food. She no longer looked sad like what he saw earlier today.
"The food is great," Emlyn replied. "You made the right decision by taking us here."
"Well, I was here once. So, I know." Maxim sipped his wine happily. He also still rembered Emlyn's favorite dishes. She must be enjoying this dinner because the cooks prepared most of the food that she liked, as per Maxim's order.
"I haven't eaten food as good as here for maybe months..." Emlyn admitted. "Or maybe I didn't really have an appetite before. Now, I feel hungry and excited. I could eat a horse!"
Maxim understood what she ant. She must be feeling sad about her situation and didn't feel like eating anything. This made his heart ached. He took the wine jug and poured wine for all of them to lighten up the atmosphere.
"I am glad to know you like the food and you have got your appetite back," he said calmly. "Here, drink more wine."
While Emlyn and Maxim ate rrily, Lysander beca uneasy when he saw the king pour wine for him too.
He felt so unworthy to receive such treatnt because he was just a commoner. Being allowed to eat at the sa table as the king was already considered a great honor for him, but now the king served him wine too?
Whoaa.. this was unthinkable! This was sothing he would look back with fond mories when he was old. Perhaps, if he had children, he would keep recounting this story to them.
However, he tried so hard to hide his uneasiness because the king didn't want Lady Emlyn to know who he was yet. That ans Lysander had to act casually in front of the monarch.
"Thank you," Emlyn down her wine and smiled broadly. She looked so much more beautiful with a smile on her face. Maxim thought frown didn't suit her.
Emlyn then turned to look at Lysander. Now that they had rested and eaten dinner. It was ti to talk about their plans. She must let Lysander know that she won't be coming with him to et the king.
Since she had t Maxim and found out his mother could give her direction to find Myreen, she didn't see the need to trick the king to help her.
"Lysander, have you read your mother's letter?" Emlyn asked the man.
Lysander nodded respectfully. "Yes, my lady. Thank you for bringing her letter to . I've missed my mother deeply."
Emlyn cleared her throat. "I know you said you will ask her to move with you to Sumria after you make a na for yourself and have decent wealth. However... I am afraid I cannot go with you to et the king."
At this statent, Lysander could only bat his eyes in confusion. Lady Emlyn said she didn't want to et the king?
But the king was here...
Lysander stole a glance at the said king and tried to see his reaction, wanting to understand how he should react based on the king's expression.
However, the king was an expert in hiding his true feelings. He looked nonchalant and focused on his wine, pretending not to notice Lysander's confusion.
"W-why... if I may ask, my lady?" Lysander asked carefully. "I will follow your wishes."
"Well..." Emlyn looked at Maxim and then turned to Lysander to explain her reasoning. She felt sorry for the man because he had gone through a long journey to co and see her, only for her to bail on him at the last minute.
She imagined Lysander was already thinking about the reward he could get from the king. Ahh... he would be disappointed. Lyla would be disappointed too since her dream to et her son would not co true.
This made Emlyn feel guilty. She took a deep breath and then spoke gently, "I am afraid, I am not really the woman that your king is looking for. I am sorry for deceiving you..."
"..." Lysander didn't know how to respond to her statent. How could Emlyn say she was the wrong woman when the king was sitting right beside her and showed all signs that he had found the woman he had been looking for?
Emlyn quickly added, "I know you must have told the king that you know the woman nad Emlyn and you will take her to him. He must be waiting for your return with the said woman."
Lysander cleared his throat and nodded. "Yes, sothing like that, my lady."
"Well... I think it's better to co clean and tell the king that you are mistaken about the woman, than going to see the king by bringing the wrong woman," Emlyn said.
"Huh?" This ti, it was Kira who spoke. She didn't know Emlyn ca to Lakeshire and et Lysander because she promised Lysander to et so king?
Wait a minute...
Those knights they t previously talked about looking for a woman from Winterre. Was this the sa woman?
She looked at Emlyn suspiciously and asked her, "Is he also looking for that woman from Winterre?"
Emlyn cleared her throat and replied. "Yes. Lysander is looking for the sa woman. And before you ask, no, I am not the woman the king of Sumria is looking for. We only share the sa na. Besides, that woman might not even be using her real identity."
"Care to explain?" Kira furrowed her brows. She felt a bit disappointed because Emlyn didn't tell her everything before they traveled together and she had to find out bits and pieces of the information after they were on the road.
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