The banquet for the returning expeditionary forces was held both inside and outside the inner castle.

While the Grand Duchy of Renslet’s military organization differed significantly from other nations, the sheer size of the expedition—numbering in the thousands—made it impossible to host everyone within the grand hall of the Palace of Glory.

As a result, many soldiers dined outside, braving the chill winds.

Yet, not a single complaint was heard.

In fact, many preferred it this way.

Eating within the palace, where the Grand Duchess, high-ranking knights, nobles, officials, and the commander resided, would have been nothing short of a trial.

For soldiers, nothing was worse than trying to maintain decorum and restraint in the presence of their superiors while eating.

All they cared about was the taste and quantity of the food.

This banquet exceeded their wildest expectations, delivering both in abundance.

‘This is insane! Absolutely insane!’
‘This must be what food tastes like in heaven!’

Chomp chomp chomp chomp.

The soldiers were ecstatic. The banquet didn’t just meet their expectations—it utterly surpassed them.

The taste, aroma, and sheer volume of food were on a level they had never even imagined.

“Spices! I swear, this is real spice!”
“Her Grace gave us common soldiers food seasoned with spices?!”
“Ahhh! I can die happy now!”
“If only my brother Hans had survived to taste this…”

For these soldiers, who had set out on the expedition before the invention of Arad Salt, eating had been a miserable ordeal during the campaign.

The dishes, seasoned with Arad Salt, included stews, meats, and even vegetables, all of which left the soldiers in a state of shock and awe.

This was more than just a matter of taste. For them, it was like discovering an entirely new dimension of life.

“Who came up with this dish called chicken?”
“Frying potatoes makes them this delicious?!”
“How can meat smell this good? There’s no gamey odor at all! What kind of sorcery went into this food?!”

Arad himself had contributed to the banquet’s success, though not by personally preparing the food.

He had planned the menu, provided recipes, and shared his signature Arad Sauces with the palace chefs, servants, and maids.

“What part of the chicken is this? I’ve never seen it before, but it seems to come from the bird.”
“It’s so chewy! Especially when dipped in this sauce, it’s amazing!”
“And this herb? Was this even edible before?”
“I don’t know what it is, but if you coat it in spices and fry it, everything tastes good!”

Arad’s recipes weren’t just about enhancing flavor—they were designed to save costs while maximizing portions.

He had devised ways to use parts of ingredients that were typically discarded, along with foraged herbs, to create culinary marvels.

‘They’re loving it. Then again, it’s Arad Jin’s work—it’s bound to impress.’

Sir Loji, a high knight tasked with assisting Arad’s company, strolled around the outdoor banquet area with a proud smile on his face.

The sight of soldiers moved to tears by the food reminded him of his first taste of Arad’s stew in Haven, stirring feelings of solidarity with the men.

“Enjoy the food, have some drinks, but don’t cause trouble! No incidents, especially no harassing the maids or servants—those who do will face the whip!”

Loji roamed the banquet area outside the inner castle, shouting reminders to the soldiers.

“Don’t even waste time on idle chatter! Just focus on eating, drinking, and resting!”

While he was technically off-duty for the day, Loji had decided to work voluntarily.

A festival celebrating the expeditionary force would last all day in High Castle, and as a knight, he couldn’t sit idle while his comrades were being honored.

Besides, many of the returning knights were people he knew personally.

For Loji, this was his way of welcoming them back—volunteering to ensure their safety and well-being.

“If you need anything or feel uncomfortable, speak up immediately! If the servants are busy, come to me! If you have questions, I’ll answer them—anything you want to know!”

He understood that whenever people gathered, trouble was bound to follow.

The presence of hungry and spirited soldiers, combined with alcohol, made incidents almost inevitable.

This applied to knights as well—learning the code of chivalry didn’t make one immune to lapses in judgment.

“Hey, you there! It’s obvious she’s uncomfortable. If you’re looking to satisfy your urges, take them to the brothel later!”

Loji spotted a knight pestering a maid serving food and stepped in immediately.

“What’s it to you? I—ah! My apologies. I think I’ve had too much to drink.”

The knight, initially defiant, fell silent the moment he noticed Loji’s armor, which bore the insignia of a high-ranking knight. He meekly returned to his food.

High knights like Loji played a vital role in maintaining discipline and order.

“Loji!”

While patrolling the area, Loji heard someone calling his name from a distance.

“Huh? Theo…? Theo! You’re alive! Theo!”

Recognizing the voice, Loji broke into a radiant smile, running to greet the young knight.

Though Theo was an illegitimate child, Loji had always treated him like a full-blooded younger brother.

“Brother, you made it as a high knight! That’s incredible! I’m so happy for you!”

The two embraced warmly, thrilled to reunite after the harrowing expedition.

“But your arm…”

“Hahaha… well, this is how it turned out.”

Loji’s happiness was tinged with sadness as he noticed Theo’s missing right arm. The sight weighed heavily on his heart.

***

 

 

 

The one-armed knight Theo led his half-brother Loji to a secluded area within the inner castle.

This section housed the injured soldiers, where healers and witches from High Castle were tending to their wounds.

“Arghhh!”
“Stop whining! Just hold still for a moment!”
“Aaaaah! The witch! She’s trying to turn me into a rat!”
“Oh, really? Want me to actually do it?”
“Eek!”
“Hurry up and get treated so you can go gorge yourself on that delicious food over there!”
“Yes! Yes, ma’am!”
“Now lift your shirt and lie down. Healer! Is the herb paste ready yet?”
“Yes, ma’am!”

The air was thick with the scent of herbs, mingling with the anguished cries of injured soldiers.

Yet, in stark contrast to the scene of pain and urgency, a group of bandaged soldiers was huddled in a corner, enthusiastically devouring their meals.

It seemed Theo, too, had been eating there earlier with his companions before bringing Loji over.

“Let me introduce you all,” Theo began, gesturing to the soldiers around him. “This is my older half-brother, Sir Loji. He’s only five years older than me but has already become a high knight of High Castle!”

The wounded soldiers, apparently Theo’s comrades, turned their attention to Loji.

“A pleasure to meet you, Sir Knight. I’m Bill, a mere soldier.”
“My name is Biorn. It’s an honor to greet you.”
“So our Sir Theo had such a high-ranking connection all along! If I’d known, I’d have tried harder to impress him. Hahaha!”

Each introduction weighed heavily on Loji’s heart.

Just like his half-brother Theo, these men bore the scars of battle.

Missing limbs, empty sockets where eyes once were, and other signs of grievous injury were a stark reminder of their sacrifices.

“Bill, could you peel this for me? My hands aren’t quite working.”
“Sure thing. In the meantime, could you fetch some wine for me? My legs aren’t what they used to be.”

Despite their injuries, the soldiers worked together to ensure everyone could eat.

Those with hands fed those without. Those who could walk fetched food for those who couldn’t.

“Brother, are you working as an executor now?” Theo asked, breaking Loji’s solemn silence.
“….”

“Wait… judging by your uniform, did you join the Frostblades?”
“….”

“Oh! Right! What on earth happened while we were gone? I heard from the witches that all this food was made with something called Arad Salt, not spices. Is that true?”
“….”

“And what about this ‘Mary’s Blessing’ everyone’s talking about, or the potato fields all over High Castle? The healers and witches explained a little, but I can’t wrap my head around it.”
“….”

Theo’s endless chatter barely registered with Loji.

His gaze was fixed on his brother and the disabled soldiers around him, unable to pull his thoughts away from their plight.

“Arad… Count Arad Jin… if anyone can find a solution, it’s him.”

The image of a single man, Arad Jin, emerged in Loji’s mind.

***

The grand banquet hall within the Palace of Glory, the largest and most elegant space in High Castle, was alive with activity.

Normally reserved for meals shared by High Castle’s senior officials and knights, the hall was now hosting a feast for the returning expeditionary forces.

While this space had historically been used for banquets and celebrations, there was nothing particularly unusual about it. Even the occasional expeditionary banquets, held every few years, were simply seen as grand events, no different from others in their grandeur.

But tonight, the atmosphere was slightly different.

“Ultimately, we failed to exact revenge,” Suun, the towering "Northern Wall," reported somberly to Arina as he stared at the untouched food before him.

“We searched every corner of the frozen seas beyond the Extreme North, looking for those white orcs from that day… but they were nowhere to be found.”

Despite the array of dishes that smelled and tasted better than anything Suun had ever experienced—perhaps even rivaling foods seasoned with exotic spices—his voice was heavy.

The expedition, which had begun with the rallying cry of vengeance, had ended unsatisfactorily.

They had merely culled a few Extreme North orcs, frost monsters, and barbarian tribes scattered across the ice fields, before ultimately being forced to withdraw and return.

While such an outcome was still a worthy pruning effort, deserving of high praise, to Suun, it was an outright failure.

“If I had gone, they would have shown themselves,” Arina said, wiping a bit of fried batter off her lips with a handkerchief.

“That would be unacceptable,” Suun replied firmly.

“Why not? I’m an adult now. Things are different than before.”

“Even so, it is absolutely out of the question.”

“Hmph.”

“……”

The two faced off briefly, with Arina pouting in frustration while Suun remained resolute in his stance.

“Hahaha! Come now, Suun, this isn’t the time for such talk,” Balzac chimed in, breaking the tension. The seasoned knight was seated nearby, holding a chicken leg in each hand.

“We’ve already received the major reports via carrier pigeon, so we’re well-informed. Let’s leave this discussion for later, shall we?”

Suun, realizing his breach of decorum, lowered his head in apology.

“My apologies, Your Grace. It seems I’ve brought up unnecessary matters during the meal.”

“It’s fine. Truly, you’ve worked hard,” Arina said, her earlier sternness melting into a soft smile.

“Instead of brooding, why not enjoy the food? Many things have changed in this land while you were gone—especially the food,” she added warmly.

Suun hesitated briefly before picking up a large ladle to scoop some stew. His hands were so massive that normal utensils were of little use to him.

“Hmm…”

The moment he tasted the stew, a subtle but genuine note of surprise escaped his lips.

It was truly delicious, so much so that even Suun, a man who rarely displayed emotion, couldn’t help but express his admiration.

However, a shadow of concern crept over him.

“Isn’t this a bit excessive? Using so many spices like this…”

Still unaware of the invention of Arad Salt, Suun cautiously raised his doubts.

“Oh, that’s right! We haven’t told Suun about Arad Salt yet!” Arina chuckled, her usual composure giving way to amusement.

“Hahaha! No wonder you looked so concerned despite the food being so good!” Balzac added, laughing heartily.

“Indeed, many things must have seemed strange on your journey back to High Castle. Suun, ask us anything. We’ll explain it all,” Isabelle, the Great Witch, offered, smiling enigmatically.

Suun, still confused, tilted his head slightly. “Perhaps we should have included some of this information in the carrier pigeon reports?”

Balzac smirked knowingly. “If I recall, it was our Great Witch here who insisted we keep it secret to surprise you.”

“Oh my, how could my words have been twisted so? All I said was that the soldiers at the front lines needed stability. Information in pigeon reports always has a way of leaking, after all,” Isabelle replied slyly, her lips curling into a teasing grin.

“……”

Suun remained as stoic as ever, clearly still struggling to grasp what was going on.

“Rest assured,” Arina interjected, her voice calm and soothing. “I remain as frugal as ever. The food before you contains no foreign spices. The flavor and aroma come solely from herbs that grow in the North and salt stones unique to this land.”

“…Is that so?”

“It is,” she affirmed.

“I believe it’s a good time for Your Grace to explain the events that have transpired here to Suun and the knights who joined the expedition,” Haitai, the diligent administrator, suggested.

“An excellent idea. It’s the perfect conversation for a banquet,” Arina agreed.

“Now then, where shall we begin?” Balzac asked Suun with a jovial grin. “Go ahead, old friend, ask away.”

“Then… first, I’d like to know about the changes in Your Grace’s aura,” Suun said unexpectedly, his question catching everyone off guard.

“Your presence feels… different. Cleaner, but also weaker somehow.”