EDMUND, sitting beside Hildred, instantly reached out to pat his back. "Hil, are you alright?"
Hildred forced himself to maintain a straight face. "Yes, I'm fine." He looked around at everyone seated at the table and quickly added, "I'm sorry, it's just that the food is so delicious I was eager to clear my palate with the tea a bit too quickly so I can eat more."
Though it was an obvious lie, Hildred delivered it with such conviction that it almost sounded like the truth. After all, he couldn't exactly admit that he'd nearly choked on his tea because he found Emmy's subtle jab at Wulf so amusing. He had to save some face for his general, after all.
