CHAPTER 267: WORSE THAN STARVING

Aristia’s mouth fell open in disbelief.

Instead of the roasted meat and polished aristocratic meals she had expected, laid out in front of her was plain porridge— it was just oats cooked in water, without honey or butter— dry bread— also without butter or cheese— thin vegetable broth— which was just watery soup with only a few turnip and cabbage pieces— boiled beans, and plain boiled fish with no herbs or sauces.

They basically removed the richness, sweetness, and indulgence she usually got, but there was enough food to fill her stomach.

[Leave out filling my stomach, just the look of it doesn’t whet my appetite.]

She stared at it, and her lips kept twitching. "...This is it?"

[Seriously. Is this a joke?]

The maid replied with a straight tone. "His Highness’s orders. It’s punishment."

Alaric leaned over from the opposite side of the table, looking into her bowl of porridge. "...That looks like pig feed."

"Al!" Aristia hissed, though she couldn’t deny it. She puffed her cheeks, sulking as she poked the bland porridge with her spoon.

[How can Papa be so cruel?] She thought, crying a bucket of tears inwardly. Wilson was not playing around.

Wilson’s calm voice came from the head of the table. "Go on, eat. This is your punishment."

[Well, when you talked about food punishment, I didn’t know you meant ’this’!] Aristia yelled mentally.

Alaric puffed up and crossed his arms. "If you’re forcing Tia to eat that, then I won’t eat my food either!"

"Enough, Alaric. This is Aristia’s punishment, not yours."

Aristia’s spoon froze midair. She glanced at her father, meeting his steady gaze.

"You acted carelessly today," Wilson said. "Do you know what would have happened if one of the guards hadn’t found you? Punishment isn’t meant to starve you. It’s meant to remind you that your choices matter."

Her lips pressed together. Slowly, she scooped up the porridge and tasted it. It wasn’t bad. But when compared to the smell wafting around the table, it tasted unbearably plain.

Owen was silent next to her. He felt a little bad, but there was nothing he could do about it.

Dinner was silent.

After dinner, everyone returned to their rooms.

Aristia had a rethink. ’This is the worst punishment ever, Millie. It’s worse than being starved. Can you imagine the horror of eating bland food while everyone ate tasty food?’ She complained to Millie.

’No, I don’t.’ Millie replied.

Aristia paused at those words.

That’s right. How would Millie know? She had been given the same tasty meals she usually ate.

The only one facing punishment was Aristia.

[The only one suffering!]

"Ughhh!!" Aristia groaned aloud.

"What’s wrong, Tia? Are you still hungry?" Aristia asked.

Owen also looked over.

Aristia shook her head. "No, don’t mind me. Actually, I enjoyed the food I ate today."

Alaric’s brows raised in surprise a d suspicion. "You did?"

[Of course not!]

But she smiled. "It wasn’t so bad."

Owen’s face was the picture of disbelief, rolling his eyes at Aristia’s words.

He could remember clearly how Aristia’s eyes had almost never left his plate since he was seated beside her.

If it wasn’t that the Grand Duke would notice and it wouldn’t turn out good for him, with the intensity she was staring, he would have offered her his plate.

Because of her gaze, he couldn’t eat his food in peace.

He even secretly blamed the Duke. But he wouldn’t say that this wasn’t a good punishment for Aristia because it was.

The three parted ways when they reached their own rooms.

Aristia entered her room with Millie.

After changing into a nightgown, she went to sleep.

***

The next day, Aristia was told that she had to attend a tea party.

She grabbed her bed hair from just waking up. "I’ve already been booked for a tea party? I literally only just woke up!!"

Adeline didn’t say anything.

The Grand Duke had ordered that Aristia receive her punishments without wasting time. She had to learn that her actions wouldn’t be easily excused.

She just helped Aristia get ready and put her in the carriage with Alaric.

"Goodbye, princess. Have a good time!" Adeline waved cheerfully.

Aristia waved back before moving from the window as the carriage began to move away.

The tea party was being held at the home of a noble family in one of the fiefs in the East.

The carriage rode for about an hour before finally arriving at the neighboring Fief.

The host family stood at the mansion’s entrance to receive them.

"Greetings, Princess and Prince. Welcome to our humble abode." The couple bowed and greeted with polite smiles.

"Count and Countess Churchill." Aristia and Alaric greeted, nodding politely.

"We are pleased to have you attend our daughter’s tea party." The couple said, then addressed a maid standing at the side. "Please, escort the prince and princess to the orchard."

Aristia and Alaric followed the maid.

[Hmm, this couple is quite sensible. They’re not overly subservient, but they’re also not lousy. Having parents like this, their daughter should be the same.]

The servant led them to an orchard planted with different trees.

There was a long table in the orchard. Children were already seated on the assigned seats according to hierarchy.

When the children saw them, they got up and bowed.

"Greetings, Princess and Prince."

Aristia and Alaric nodded in response and took their seats.

"Princess, Prince Alaric. Thank you for coming." The host curtsied, her dress rustling softly.

Aristia returned the gesture with a polite nod. "Thank you for inviting us."

Alaric didn’t bother to reply. He just squeezed Aristia’s hand tightly and followed her to their seats.

According to the seating arrangement, the host was sitting at the head of the table while Aristia and Alaric would sit at her right.

Once they took their seats, the children resumed their conversation.

A maid immediately poured tea into the teacups of Aristia and Alaric, bowed and left.

Aristia noticed that Wade was there. He was sitting opposite her.

He smiled at her when their gazes met and Aristia smiled back at him in return.

She took a sip of her tea and turned to the host of the tea party, the daughter of Count and Countess Churchill.