Ⅱ
Under the Marquis of West Berlin's gaze, Catherine reluctantly sat to Arthur's left and cut his roast pork chop with a table knife. West Berlin's pork was famous throughout South County, especially its wild boar. For a considerable stretch of time, wild boars had been seen as symbols of valor, so much so that during the Silver Age, the nobles of West Berlin required their young heirs to hunt an adult wild boar alone as part of their coming-of-age ceremonies.
Crunch, crunch.
The skin-on pork chop crackled beneath Catherine's knife.
Thanks to the chef's exceptional skill, the thick layer of fat had turned wonderfully crisp, while the tender meat beneath released a rich aroma the moment she cut into it.
There was a hint of pine resin, along with a strong scent of garlic and pepper.
Arthur savored it carefully.
On his other side, Jacqueline silently poured him juice.
Arthur had declined alcoholic drinks before the meal.
The chefs in the Marquis of West Berlin's castle had therefore provided him with a wide variety of juices, ranging from common choices such as apple and peach to the much rarer wild sea buckthorn juice.
Arthur, however, preferred coconut juice.
Watching Arthur alternate between bites of meat and sips of coconut juice, the Marquis of West Berlin smiled in satisfaction.
Of course, the marquis knew it was all an illusion.
His two daughters had merely chosen to compromise because they dared not confront him.
As for Arthur?
He was simply playing along.
But what did that matter?
If the illusion persisted, who could say it would never become real?
Besides, the marquis was quite confident.
As long as he was around, all of this would continue.
He picked up the Honey Butter Wine before him.
He savored its sweetness, followed by