Sumire sat quietly on her side of the table. She wasn't expecting to join the Duke for dinner. She thought that they would simply let her go when all the confusion was cleared up. But the Duke was strangely kind enough to give her the honor of eating at his table. She felt so out of place on the banquet table, and her seat mate, Ruby likely felt the same way, judging from her behavior.
"Hey, why are you acting so nervous?" Sumire asked her seatmate.
"I-I don't know how to act in front of the Duke… I'm even surprised he invited me here…"
"I know right?" Sumire said silently, relating with Ruby on that feeling.
"How do his relatives act so calmly though?" Ruby asked as she and Sumire stared at the two youngsters sitting close to Haru.
"Now say aah." Penny said affectionately while waving a spoonful of food.
"Damnation, Penny! I can eat on my own!" Millicas protested, while averting his gaze to actively avoid the spoon being shoved at his face.
"I'll keep doing this until you love me." Penny teased as she tried to bring the spoon closer to Millicas's mouth.
"I-It doesn't work that way!" Millicas exasperatedly screamed while shutting his mouth.
"It won't hurt to try!" Penny retorted as she then made a final push with the spoon. "Now eat your beef stew!"
"No—mmph!" Millicas sounded before the spoon entered his mouth, gulping down the food. "I'm not a baby, you know!"
"Oh shut up and eat!" Penny said playfully as she then took another scoop of food. "How about another bite?"
"I'm not playing this game with you." Millicas said indignantly as he then again tried to avoid the spoon.
Ruby and Sumire watched with absolute confusion. Being in a society where women were leaders, seeing a woman so subservient to a man was a sight to behold. Though Haru and Rias didn't seem that surprised as they continued their dinners.
"Lady Penny, I will have to ask you to stop feeding my nephew. Though you may be his betrothed, he is mature enough to eat on his own."
"Yes milord." Penny said sheepishly as she then put down her spoon and returned to eating.
Millicas then takes the opportunity to say his piece.
"Uncle, do you not think that it is time for me to also aid your efforts in the upcoming war?"
Haru stops eating, and glances at Millicas. The silence of Haru was so heavy that the other people at the table stopped eating. Ruby squeaked while Sumire tried not to look directly at Haru. Lady Rias merely stared at Millicas, who suddenly felt small from his uncle's heavy gaze.
"I am quite sure that we discussed this before." Haru said stiffly.
"Yes, but I remain adamant that I can help." Millicas replied with a small tone of contempt.
"You still have your squire duties to accomplish." Haru added.
"But the tasks you have bestowed upon me can be completed with little to no effort! I could finish your given tasks five times over and still have the rest of the day to myself!"
Rias gave a sort of disapproving look at her husband, who looked a bit sheepish for unknowingly spoiling his nephew.
"You'll be safer in the castle."
"But I don't want to be safe!" Millicas replied indignantly. "I want to be of help to my country! I want to help cleanse the filth of this land!"
"And you will soon." Haru said firmly. "But now is not the time."
"But uncle! I've heard the stories! Stories of when you were nearly my age! You weren't shut in a castle with servants at your beck and call to spoil you. You were out there, slaughtering the enemy and bringing glory to the Kingdom of England!"
Haru stiffened at the mention of his old days. Haru closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He gives his nephew a very somber glance as his eyes bored into Millicas.
"Believe me Millicas. I didn't have a choice there. I never actively pursued the glory of battle, it was a weight that was pushed onto my shoulders, and God help me, I wish you to never experience it. I would never forgive myself if you ever experienced the pain I did. I just want you to have a safe and secure life for now."
Millicas hung his head, realizing that he opened some old wounds for his uncle, feeling ashamed for being so rebellious towards his uncle.
"But, your desire to aid us is most admirable and it will definitely not go to waste." Haru added in. "Tomorrow, you can join the commanders in training the citizens."
Millicas's eyes brightened at the sudden change of heart of his uncle.
"R-Really?" Millicas asked with much shock in his voice.
Haru merely smiled and nodded.
"Y-You will not regret this uncle! I will not let you down!" Millicas said with much gratitude.
"Of course you won't." Haru said before standing up and signaling the servants to clean his plate.
Haru leaves the table, with Lady Rias also standing up and telling the servants.
"I will be in the palace gardens."
And that left only Millicas, Penny, Ruby and Sumire at the table. Millicas looks fearfully at Penny, who had a spoonful of food ready for him as he then booked it, with Penny running after him. Ruby and Sumire were left on the table as they then began to converse.
"So how did you come into servitude under Haru?" Sumire asked with much curiosity.
"It was by chance that he found me. I personally asked him to be his apprentice and he obliged."
"That's strangely brave of you. Knowing that guy, he could probably do things to you while you're his apprentice." Sumire said suspiciously.
"I-I don't think he's that kind of person." Ruby protested. "I overheard a conversation he had with the Grandmaster, and it had something to do about his sister."
"Interesting…" Sumire said while stroking her chin. "What do you think happened to his sister?"
"I-I'd rather not invade his privacy." Ruby replied defensively.
"Come on! Aren't you the least bit curious?"
"The only thing I am curious about is why someone as beautiful and charming as that woman Penny would fall for someone like Millicas?"
"Actually, I was curious about that too. Not to insult Millicas, but that girl's way above his league, even if he's the nephew of the Duke."
"Let's go ask her now!"
Ruby and Sumire see Millicas run across the hallway, panting and screaming.
"I'll outrun you eventually!"
"Running only makes me want you more!' Penny screamed as she chased him.
"Maaaybeee when she's less preoccupied." Sumire added in, watching the spectacle unfold.