Seeing that Sirius wasn't hurt, Jun Hao finally leaned back in his seat, a sense of relief washing over him.
He rubbed his hands together before reaching out to lift the silver cloche that kept the food warm.
"Alright, let's see what you're made of. I'll find out what kind of monster you really are."
Jun Hao's confident smile crumbled the moment the cover was lifted.
The first thing that reached him was the smell. There was the aroma of baked pie crust, a strong fishy scent, the smell of vegetables like mashed potatoes, and even a hint of roasted meat.
It wasn't exactly unpleasant, just profoundly odd. The kind of scent his limited vocabulary couldn't possibly capture.
Then came the visual assault. Two fish heads, one large and one small, jutted out from the golden, crispy pie crust, their mouths hanging open as if caught mid-scream.
Their cloudy, baked-over eyes stared directly at him. A textbook example of dying with eyes wide open if he'd ever seen one.
"..." Jun Hao silently picked up his knife and fork. "The presentation is... certainly unique..."
Standing nearby, Sirius lowered her head, guilt written all over her face.
"I am sorry, my honourable Master..."
"No, this isn't anyone's fault," Jun Hao gently cut her off. "I was the one who ordered this. You all simply carried out my instructions perfectly."
With that, he raised his knife, his expression strained.
'What was I thinking? Why did I insist on ordering this thing? I should've known better!' The complaint echoed bitterly in his mind.
Belfast picked up on his struggle immediately.
"Master, if you find it difficult, there's no need to force yourself. The kitchen still has premium filet mignon available. It can be prepared for you immediately."
She gestured to Dido, who nodded and prepared to dash off.
Jun Hao almost agreed. But then he remembered his earlier promise, and the way Sirius looked like she was on the verge of tears.
This was no longer just about a meal. It represented his stance and his encouragement toward the Royal Maid Corps, and even the entire Royal Navy.
With that realization, Jun Hao's eyes hardened with determination. He looked at Belfast and slowly shook his head.
"No need, Belfast. A promise is a promise."
His gaze swept across every maid present in the room.
"No matter what happens, I will finish eating it!"
Those words sounded like a mobilization speech before an army marched into battle. Hardening his resolve, Jun Hao finally brought the knife down.
"Crack!"
The pie crust split open with a crisp sound. Jun Hao carefully sliced off a corner, complete with one of the staring fish heads.
The cross-section of the pie actually looked quite normal, revealing smooth mashed potatoes mixed with bacon and diced carrots.
'Maybe it won't be so bad?'
Clinging to that fragile hope, Jun Hao brought the piece to his mouth.
First came the crispy crust, rich with buttery flavor and baked just right. Then came the filling.
The mashed potatoes were silky and soft. The bacon bits added a smoky saltiness, while the diced carrots brought a light sweetness.
Taken on their own, each ingredient was delicious. Yet when combined, the result somehow became as tasteless as chewing wax.
Jun Hao's chewing gradually slowed. He wanted to swallow the bite, but for some reason, his throat refused to cooperate.
Just as his face began to turn slightly pale, a glass of water was gently placed beside his hand.
"Master, please have some water."
'It's Dido! Dido, you're my hero!' Jun Hao thought, sending her a grateful glance.
He immediately picked up the glass and gulped down a large mouthful.
The water instantly washed away the chaotic flavor lingering in his mouth, allowing him to finally swallow that difficult bite of pie.
"Whew..." Jun Hao let out a long breath of relief. But when his eyes fell on the remaining pie on the plate, a sense of tragic heroism welled up in his chest.
That was only the first bite. It seemed this dinner was destined to be a hard-fought battle.
Meanwhile, someone was watching the entire scene unfold through the restaurant window.
The gaze burned as intensely as its owner's fiery presence: Lion.
"Commander... So a man can be this beautiful too... slurp..."
A faint and rather suspicious sound of drooling echoed.
"Thump!"
Lion raised her fist and lightly knocked her companion on the head.
"Trafalgar!"
"That hurts, Governor General."
Trafalgar clutched her head and complained pitifully.
"Look at the pathetic state you're in."
Lion didn't even bother turning toward her. Her gaze remained firmly locked on Jun Hao.
Slurp... I, the Governor General of the Nile, am about to lose all my dignity because of you."
'?????? Governor General, do you want to look at what you're saying and doing right now?'
Trafalgar watched as Lion wiped the corner of her mouth while practically pressing her face against the window.
Lion's strength was so great that faint cracks had even begun to form in the glass.
Seeing that Lion was about to throw away the last of her dignity, Trafalgar could only surrender.
"Governor General, I understand. I'll definitely pay more attention to my appearance next time."
Hearing Trafalgar's promise, Lion cleared her throat as if she had just snapped out of a trance.
"Ahem... There is an old saying in the Dragon Empery: 'To know one's faults and correct them is the greatest virtue.'"
"But Governor General, isn't it a bit strange to use the word 'beautiful' to describe a man?"
"Strange? I don't think so."
From Lion's perspective, Jun Hao gripped his knife and fork, cut another small piece of pie, and resolutely placed it into his mouth.
The slight furrow of his brow, the effort he made just to swallow, all of it was clearly seen by Lion.
"Look, the Commander clearly finds it unpalatable, so much so that he can barely keep his expression from crumbling. Even I would have taken the out when Belfast suggested changing the dish. But he didn't. To protect the honor of our Royal Navy and the feelings of the sisters in the Maid Corps, he'd rather suffer himself."
Trafalgar tilted her head, only half-understanding.
"But isn't that just being gentle?"
"Gentle is not enough to describe the Commander at this moment," Lion corrected calmly. "His behavior is a manifestation of strength. Trafalgar, you know that I, who bear the name Lion, admire those who possess true strength the most."
She paused for a moment.
"True strength isn't about dominating through power, but honoring one's word through action and safeguarding those you hold dear. You might think eating that awful pie is nothing special, but to me, it outshines any victory at sea. This man... he radiates brilliance! Even I, who pride myself on my own light, feel dimmed standing before him."
Lion praised Jun Hao with the intensity of a rapid-fire cannon, leaving Trafalgar momentarily stunned and unsure how to respond.
After thinking for a moment, she gently reminded her.
"Governor General, Her Majesty the Queen only asked you to come and take a look."
"I know, I know. We've worked together for years. Do you really need to bring up Her Majesty just to pressure me?"
Lion sighed helplessly before finally stepping away from the restaurant window, her expression full of obvious reluctance.
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Novels Available:
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