Ⅳ
An enormous roast, bones and all, was brought to the table, accompanied by coarse bread, sweet soup, and a large bowl of lettuce. The condiments included butter, honey, cream, coarse salt, and black pepper.
For a commoner, this meal would have been a feast.
For a great noble, however, it fell short.
Anyone invited to such a meal would have felt slighted.
At the very least, there should have been a whole roast deer.
Ideally, its antlers would have been laden with all kinds of roasted fruit.
But those familiar with the Marquis of Einhaas would not have thought that way.
They would even have felt honored.
Because the Marquis had followed a tradition of the Einhaas Family-a tradition unique to Witchers.
Simple and direct.
Or rather...
Heaping portions, enough to fill anyone up.
As his guest, Arthur was extremely grateful that the Marquis of Einhaas had retained a Witcher tradition. At least the Marquis had not tortured him with a grand ball or a drawn-out salon.
Exactly!
To Arthur, these occasions where other people socialized and relaxed were torture.
Because Arthur had to keep his eyes and ears open in every direction.
Not only did he have to secretly memorize everyone's expressions, he also had to review them repeatedly to deduce things that might or might not concern him.
Was it exhausting?
Of course.
But however exhausting it was, surely it beat dying without knowing why?
Just like now-
The Marquis of Einhaas motioned for his personal valet and chef to leave together.
Arthur inwardly tensed.
He knew the Marquis must have something important to discuss.
Or something to ask him.
Whether it was a discussion or a question, Arthur had to focus his attention.
Arthur certainly did not believe that signing a Contract meant he could rest