"Go with me tonight," that was out of nowhere.
"Ha?" I was stunned. "What do you mean?"
Long Dao turned her head to me, "I said go with me tonight. Is that not clear enough?"
"Well I understand your words, but WHY do you want me to go with you?"
"Always a bad idea going to a dangerous place alone. I was not planning to ask if you don't know about the arranged meeting, but since you do, it is better to have reinforcement," she answered.
"Uhm. Did I hear it right or did you just call your father's house 'dangerous'?" I asked.
But Long Dao didn't answer. She just kept silent and from that, I know the answer already.
"Now go back to training," Long Dao turned her head and started walking back inside. "Remember to come back to her at eight p.m," she reminded me before closing the door.
When everything became quiet, I started heading back to the camp. It was around 10 a.m training started. Usually, we will train for three hours with a lunch of fifteen minutes, a light walk for another fifteen for the food to digest, and then train for another three hours. But since we just came back to the capital, the captains secretly cut us some slack. We only train for four hours continuously and that was it for the day.
When we finished, it was 2:00 p.m. I didn't have anything to do so I took a nap. It felt like years that I was able to dream again.
When I woke up, the sun was setting down. I quickly grabbed a fellow soldier who was walking by and asked, "Hey, do you know what time it is?"
"It is 6:00 p.m now," he answered.
"Damn, I slept for four hours? That is a new record," I thought. "Well, thank you," I said to the soldier and he walked off.
'Rumbling, rumbling' the sound of my tummy rumbling. Yeah I know, I am not creative with words.
"I didn't eat lunch and went to sleep. I am hungry as hell right now," I told myself. "The cafeteria is not serving food until 7:30, but I need to see Long Dao at 8," I was scratching my head.
Let me tell you, I can deal with anything, except for hunger. It is the only thing that is blocking me from becoming a perfect person.
"Wait, if we are going at 7:30, that means she is having dinner now right? There is no way she will stay at the chancellor's house and eat there. She hated him." Thinking that, I ran straight to Long Dao's again. I was really a beggar this time.
When I knocked on the gate, a servant opened and asked, "What are you here for sir?"
"Can I see the general?" I replied.
"She is having her meal right now sir. Please come back later," they said and closed the gate.
"Wait wait! Can you tell her that Din is here?" I blocked the gate from closing. I was lucky that the servant stopped their motion or else my fingers would have been crushed.
The servant was hesitant but agreed to my request. "Then please stay here for a moment," they said as they closed the door.
After two to three minutes, the servant opened the gate again. "Please come in," they said and stepped aside to make room for me.
"Thank you," I smiled and entered. When I saw Long Dao, she was sitting on the table with food on the table. I was kind of surprised by how simple and little the dishes were.
"Why are you here now? Isn't it supposed to be 7:30?" Long Dao asked while wiping her mouth.
"Uhm… Can I eat with you?" I asked.
"Hm?" she glanced at me with her sharp eyes.
"I am asking you this because the camp won't have dinner until 8. Besides, you said in the morning that you don't like eating alone right?" I smiled weakly.
When hearing my explanation, Long Dao pulled back her stare and told me, "Sit down."
I immediately sat down before she even finished her words. Seeing me being so happy, Long Dao just sighed and turned to a servant, "Can you get a bowl for him?"
"Of course, my lady," the servant bowed and went inside the kitchen. Before leaving, they gave me a weird look. I can understand why.
"No talking, just eat," Long Dao gave me an order.
"I am too hungry to talk anyway," I smiled to myself.
And so, we had a quiet and peaceful dinner. No words were exchanged between the two of us. When Long Dao finished her meal, she stood up and walked away. I was about to ask where she was heading too, but then remembered her order, so I shut my mouth with food.
"Ah! food is life," I let out a satisfaction when nothing else was on the table anymore except for bowls and plates.
"My lady said that you can take a bath in the guest room after you finished eating," the servant close to me said.
"Alright then," I replied and stood up. The servant that just spoke to me then led me to the guest's bathroom while the others cleaned up the table.
"Finally, a good bath in what? Ten days plus?" I was having my time. Being here made me realize the small details that I took for granted in my world like a clean bath every day. Here, you don't get that kind of privilege unless you are wealthy.
"Oh shoot! I'm in here too for too long!" time goes by fast when you are enjoying something. So I quickly got out of the bath and quickly changed.
"Sorry, general. The bath here is so nice that I forgot the time," I smiled while walking out of the main room. Long Dao was sitting on a chair facing me.
"Took you long enough. I was about to tell the servants to come in and drag you out," Long Dao got out of the chair and turned her head back to me.
"General," I stood still.
"What?" Long Dao asked.
"You are so pretty."