Stein almost laughed. This guy was no small deal. Now he really wanted to know if he was someone from the holy empire.
"Don't be such a feisty lion." He said and approached, waving the maid off and she scurried out of there. "I just wanted to make your stay more comfortable by finding out what you like to eat."
"There's no way I'll be comfortable when I know there's someone out there to kill me." Yeon Jin said and tilted his head. "All the food, no matter what it is, I won't be comfortable eating any. I'll get suspicious that there is either poison in it or some type of killing medicine."
"That can still be counted as poison." Stein pointed out.
"Anyway, the fact that I can die at the drop of a hat still remains and I definitely can't keep my guard down." He said and Stein started laughing.
"You... I like you." He said, shocking Yeon Jin.
"What?"
"I like your character and your attitude. Someone who doesn't fear death and at the same time, tries his every best not to die... You're a fighter." He exclaimed and Yeon Jin folded his arms.
"Aren't you one of that guy's men?" He asked him, his eyes turning glaze as he observed Stein. "Why are you so interested in me, a prisoner and a spy?"
"The moment you walked out of that cell with all limbs intact and a sane mind, you were bound to be the most interesting subject in this entire empire." Stein started.
"You're sounding crazy."
"Please, there are so many crazy things in this palace. A little interest in your character is completely normal." He said but Yeon Jin simply felt freaked out and he said,
"I'll eat anything your chef makes." He picked up his strap and covered his eyes.
"Can you see with that?" Stein asked and Yeon Jin turned to him.
"Yes." He said. "My eyes work well even with a blindfold."
Yeon Jin was a character meant to be observed. Those were Stein's thoughts. He was such a guy that you wouldn't help but look at for hours and still not get tired.
"Why are you still here?" Yeon Jin asked him.
"I am yet to introduce myself."
"Neither am I but I believe we're better off not knowing each other's names." Yeon Jin said, his eyes trailing down to his sword around his waist. "But you can do me a favor and take me to the dining room."
Stein nodded and turned around, heading for the door.
"Come." He opened the door and started heading out with Yeon Jin on his toes. "You know, for someone with such a body, you seem like you can tackle a bull."
"Don't mention it." Yeon Jin said, voicing his dissatisfaction to continue such a topic.
As they strode down the halls, Yeon Jin looked around. Everything looked so expensive and fancy. There were a lot of things he swore were made of gold.
The eyes on him did not bother him but what actually bothered him was how to ascertain if there was poison added to the food.
'Should I eat his portion instead of mine?' He wondered till the doors to the dining room opened.
He beheld a long dining table and at the end of it was the tyrant currently seated to have his meal. As soon as he saw Yeon Jin, his left eye brow ticked.
"What is he doing here?" Beric asked with a deep gruff and dissatisfied tone.
"You wouldn't want your favored to starve, would you?"
"My favored?" Beric's eyebrow tilted up and he looked at Yeon Jin who went to sit in the place he found most comfortable and safest. Right next to Beric.
"What?" Yeon Jin asked, acting like he did not know the reason for that look. He had a feeling Beric wouldn't want to dine with him so this was all that Knight's doing.
But since he was already there, there was no need to leave, even if Beric didn't like his presence there.
The meal was served shortly and Yeon Jin watched Beric's meal. It was the same as his and the confidence Beric had while setting his cutleries up, ready to eat, gave him a certain assurance.
If he was confident his own food wasn't poisoned then that was the food he was going to eat.
"Wait." Yeon Jin said, just before Beric cut the steak. "I want that one." He said and without waiting for a response, snatched the plate and dropped his own plate in front of Beric. "I don't know if mine is poisoned." He said and started eating, ignoring whatever glare was being thrown at him.
Stein watched this with his eyes shining in surprise and delight and he found it amusing. But the most amusing part was the fact that Beric wasn't going to do anything about it. Though he glared, there was no single murderous intent thrown at Yeon Jin.
It was as if he had grown soft when it came to things related to the spy.
'Ah, this is more fun than I thought.'
Beric ate Yeon Jin's portion of the meal. He had an immunity to poison from the moment he became the demon himself. That was why he never worried about what he was going to eat.
Suddenly, Yeon Jin's fork fell and so did the iron cup next to him, earning a resounding sharp noise as it landed on the floor.
Beric's eyes turned bold and yet narrowed as he saw blood seeping down Yeon Jin's nose. Yeon Jin touched it and looked up at Beric.
"So, this is how you wanna play."