This evening, as Vanni was serving Mr. Andy Frost's dinner and about to leave the main building of the Royal Palace, she was suddenly stopped by Miss Christina de Tolleson.
Vanni was slightly surprised, "Miss, it's dinner time, you should be heading to the dining hall..."
"How could you let this happen, having Andy and Reginald duel even with you around?"
Vanni looked aggrieved, "They weren't supposed to meet, but when we approached the Royal Palace, we just happened to run into Sir Fabri's speech. He stopped to watch and ended up encountering them."
Vanni's expression and gestures almost blurted out "It's all Fabri's fault."
Christina sighed, "I really didn't expect Reginald to challenge a commoner to a duel, I thought he looked down on commoners so much, he would never allow his family's name to be associated with them!"
"Uh," Vanni appeared embarrassed, "It was Mr. Frost who threw the glove."
Christina paused, "At whom?"
"At Reginald, and I was there watching, it seemed like he deliberately aimed at the leader of those nobles."
Christina's mouth dropped, "This... It turns out to be like this! But Frost did display excellent swordsmanship while saving me from the battlefield, he instantly took down the bandit who tried to rob us..."
Vanni looked at her lady suspiciously, "Are you sure you saw a leatherworker's son display excellent swordsmanship? Isn't that a bit far-fetched?"
Christina hesitated, "It... It was very dark at that time, and it happened in a flash, I am not too sure now..."
Vanni, "Reginald's lackey thinks that the bandit just fell and directly hit Mr. Frost's blade, could that be possible?"
Christina pursed her lips, "I was very nervous at that time, I had just fired my pistol and missed, was desperately reloading, so I really didn't see clearly..."
Vanni, "I understand, it was all the beautified scene you described on your own, Mr. Frost barely managed to kill the bandit. And yet, you exaggerated the story at the salon welcoming you back this afternoon. It makes sense for Reginald to target Mr. Frost now."
"Are you saying this is my fault?"
"I didn't say anything, Miss. Regardless, it's a fact that Mr. Frost will face Reginald tomorrow who has won three duels, the least I could do is give him a bit more for dinner tonight." Vanni looked at Christina, "Miss, you should go have your meal too, or you'll be scolded by the lady for being late again."
Christina looked very downcast, "This damned Reginald, how can I make him understand that I don't like him at all, and have no interest in him?"
Vanni, "Once you go to Briena Military Academy, he will naturally understand. Right now, he seems to think your claim of going to the academy is a tease toward him."
"How could that possibly be interpreted as flirting!" Christina raised her voice slightly, and this caused her voice to be heard inside the dining room.
"Christina!" The Duchess's voice floated out of the dining room, "The whole family is waiting for you to say grace before the meal!"
"I'm coming, mother!"
Christina responded loudly, finally letting go of Vanni's hand, straightened her attire, and walked proudly through the doors into the dining hall.
Vanni smirked, carrying the large dinner tray, and swiftly left.
**
When Anning saw the dinner served by Vanni, his mood lifted, "Oh, it looks quite hearty! I thought I was going to have to accompany black bread again tonight."
Vanni, "Serving black bread to the Duke's guest would embarrass the Duke if word got out."
"Is that so? I thought this was going to be my last supper," Anning joked with a smile.
Vanni, "You still have the mood to joke? Reginald has gone crazy trying to win Miss's love, he will definitely try to make a move tomorrow, and even the Sais Priest's efforts to stop it will be futile."
Anning laughed, "Rather than worrying about that, I'm more concerned whether there will be any consequences for a commoner like me killing a noble."
Vanni slightly frowned: "Theoretically, it is honorable and legal to kill the opponent in a duel, but..."
Anning tore at the bread while finishing the Maid's unfinished sentence: "But that's an issue between Nobles."
Vanni nodded: "Exactly, Nobles generally only duel with other Nobles while commoners prefer to brawl directly. For a commoner to throw a glove in the face of a Noble like this..."
Anning stuffed the bread in her mouth, then discovered the bread at the Duke's house was damn hard. Is all the bread in France this texture?
Where on earth can I go to find that soft, fragrant bread I remember?
The main course at dinner was steak. Anning dropped the bread and picked up the knife and fork to start cutting the steak.
Vanni watched Anning's actions and asked, confused, "It looks like you've eaten steak before?"
Anning responded, "Should I not have?"
The Maid hesitated for a few seconds: "Nowadays, it's not rare for commoners to have tasted steak. I wasn't sure if a Leatherworker's family could afford it..."
The answer was no; the memory inherited from Anning's predecessor had no recollection of their family eating steak.
But that doesn't matter.
Anning was savoring the steak delightfully.
Compared to the steaks Anning had eaten in the future, this steak had fewer spices, but the cooking was definitely more appropriate than the Chinese-style steaks she had eaten; the texture of the entire steak was excellent.
Vanni silently poured a glass of water for Anning and placed it beside her, then silently watched Anning eat.
Anning glanced at Vanni: "What about your meal?"
"The servants will eat at nine, I'll eat then."
Anning uttered, "Oh."
Vanni then said: "But seeing you eat so happily, I am getting a bit hungry."
Anning said, "Then sit and eat with me. I'm not a Noble Lord; you don't need to mind so many rules."
Vanni said, "I don't really want to dine with someone who might die tomorrow."
Anning laughed, "I won't die, I'm still waiting for that favor you promised me today. You said in the afternoon that if I survive, you would grant me that favor."
"I do envy your optimism," she replied.
Anning laughed heartily.
"By the way, are you only looking after me until I go to Briena Military Academy, or will you also follow me to the academy to take care of me?" Anning raised another topic.
Vanni responded, "Let's discuss that issue after you've had dinner tomorrow."
"Alright alright, then let's discuss something else, what do you think I should wear tomorrow?"
Vanni asked, "Does it make a difference?"
"Of course it does. Tomorrow I will become the focus of public opinion, after all, I'm going to kill a Marquis's son."
Vanni: "… you … are you serious? Do you really think you can win tomorrow?"
Anning nodded: "Trust me, I will win."
Vanni tilted her head slightly, thought for a moment, and then seriously said to Anning, "Then I suggest you strike ruthlessly, because if you let him live, you will definitely be caught in endless retaliation. Regi will not forgive a commoner who has humiliated him."