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"Enjoy your meal! I hope it's enough for everyone!" Asuna said happily and clapped her hands together.
After they thanked her, the soldiers began to take their share of the stew and started eating. As the girl watched them, she noticed that the seat at the head of the table was empty.
"Drewbert and Big are here, but... where is the prince?" she wondered and tilted her head, "He's not the type of person to skip a meal... especially not when I cooked."
She didn't want to disturb their lunch, so she picked up her basket next to her feet and went to check if he was still on the training grounds herself. But she found no one there except some weapons, pieces of armor, and wooden dummies.
After that, the young woman turned around to see if he was in the royal gardens somewhere. Not far away, she could spot something lying under a tree. After taking a closer look, she saw that there were two swords next to a person, dressed in black clothing, taking a nap. An even closer look confirmed her assumption: of course it was him.
Asuna stepped towards him as quietly as she could. "Prince Kirito, your lunch is ready," she whispered but he didn't react. "When you don't wake up, the others will eat everything and you'll miss your meal," she said a little bit louder and more annoyed. She sighed when there was again no reaction.
Then she kneeled down on the grass, which was surprisingly pretty soft. A warm breeze blew through her long chestnut colored hair tied into a ponytail. You could hear the rustling leaves of the tree, the faint splashing sound of the fountain in the distance and from time to time chirping birds.
"No wonder he fell asleep... it's really nice here..." she thought and smiled at the person lying there, "he looks so peaceful and innocent... completely different from the moments I watched him during his training when he's fierce and almost threatening... He's indeed kinda cute..." Suddenly her eyes shot wide open and her face turned bright red. She shook her head and repeatedly patted her cheeks. "No, no, no! Stop this right here! I'm not supposed to-"
Her internal struggle was interrupted when the prince stirred a little, but didn't fully wake up. So Asuna got an idea. She took a plate and the sandwich, that she actually made for herself, out of her basket and placed it next to his head. Then she began to fan its smell to him with her right hand.
And it worked... but too well. All of a sudden and very quickly, he grabbed her wrist right before his nose, sat up, and opened his eyes. The two noticed how close - oh so very awkwardly close - he had pulled her to him, they could feel each other's agitated breathing, both blushing. His face turned to an even darker shade as he realized who this person was and tried so hard not to get lost in her big amber eyes. He immediately let go of her arm and rushed to hide behind the tree.
"A-Asuna, I'm so sorry! I really didn't mean to hurt you! T-that were just my stupid self-defense reflexes! Please, f-forgive me!" Kirito yelled very nervously.
"Calm down, my prince, it's alright." she replied and he peeked around the tree, "first of all, you didn't really hurt me, and second, it's probably really useful and important instead of stupid for someone like you to have good reflexes like that."
"If you say so..." he mumbled, moved from behind the tree, and sat down next to her but without looking at her since he was still too embarrassed. So his eyes fell on the plate with the sandwich instead. And she noticed.
"You can eat it if you want. Actually I made it for my lunch break but I can easily get another one." the girl said smiling and he quickly took the first bite. "Also there's some warm meal waiting for you at the soldiers' table."
"So what's on today's menu?" he asked curiously between bites.
"I made some rabbit ragout. The people back in Undine said it's my specialty." she declared proudly.
"Oh, I really have to try it then. It's probably so good that my taste buds will explode!"
"Only when I put explosives in it."
Kirito burst out laughing but Asuna just looked at him dumbfounded.
"I-It's not that funny! Stop laughing, you d-" She almost called him a dork but then remembered it might not be the best idea to insult the crown prince, her employer in a sense.
When he just wouldn't end his fit of laughter, she sighed, put the empty plate back into her basket, and stood up.
"S-sorry, I wasn't laughing at you, it was because of the joke!" he apologized and reached for her hand to stop her from leaving.
"Anyway..." the young woman began as she pulled her hand away from his, "there's probably still some ragout left. Take your chance and get it before it's gone!" she suggested with a wink and turned around to leave for the kitchen.
Kirito's eyes widened and his cheeks blushed. After his heartbeat began racing, he stood up and tried to say something but his mouth slightly opened without any sound coming out of it. Then he squinted his eyes, clenched his fists, and bit on his bottom lip.
"Asuna, I..."
She stopped in her tracks and looked over her shoulder.
"I... I..." he stammered.
"My prince, you what?" she asked, fully turned around, and tilted her head.
Her long hair was waving in the nice warm breeze and shining in the sun of the early summer, her cute expression was directed at him. Her beauty didn't make this any easier for him right now.
"I... I am..." he suddenly bowed to her, "very grateful for all the times you cook and bring food to me and the others, it's always a pleasure."
He lifted his head again and saw her smiling. The most adorable one she showed towards him so far. Then she bowed to him.
"I'm deeply honored by that, my prince." the girl said and raised her upper body again, "but you actually don't have to thank me. It's my job here after all and I am paid well for it. I'm the one who must be grateful for the opportunity."
"You're too humble, Asuna."
"If you say so, my prince."
"I mean it. With your amazing skills, you could totally be the boss of the kitchen staff here! So when that restaurant in Undine closes down again, you should totally return to the royal palace!"
Asuna just stared at him in disbelief, still processing what he had just said. She was really close to dash forward to slap him. He's indeed a dork, but right now more in a stupid, or even jerk-ish way.
"What did you just say?" she snapped at him with a reddened face, clenching her fists. "Are you seriously wanting that my family's business goes downhill just so you can get more of my cooking?"
He took a step back with a shocked expression, just now realizing how it must have sounded to her.
"N-no, of course not! I'm so sorry! That came out wrong!" Kirito bowed deeply, completely embarrassed, "W-what I meant was that if you were to return, you could easily get this job here again, maybe even at a higher position!" He put his hands in front of his face in an apologetic manner. "Please forgive me!"
The woman first shook her head and then let out a load grumble.
"Fine. But next time, think carefully about what you want to say before you actually speak. Otherwise you might cause wars one day, at worst." she remarked and turned around, "have a nice rest of your lunch break, Prince Kirito."
"T-thank you! Wishing you a nice lunch too, Asuna!"
She just waved without facing him and left. All he did was watching her go until she was out of sight and mentally kicked himself because of his awkwardness. He really should think more about what he's going to say.
What they didn't realize, they were observed by two certain guards for quite some time.
"It's kinda tragic, isn't it?" Drewbert said and sighed.
"What do you mean?" Big asked confused.
"Just look at our prince and his longing gaze at her! He's hopelessly in love with Lady Asuna!"
"Oh, that. Yeah, it's really obvious. Even I realized it, and I'm not the brightest guy." Big stated matter-of-factly. Then he crossed his arms. "And what about her? What do you think, how does she feel?"
"Hm, let's see..." Drewbert mumbled and put his hand on his chin, "as far as I can tell, I can think of three possibilities. One, she doesn't have any feelings towards him. Two, she's really good at hiding them. Or three, she doesn't have them yet and she tries her best to not let them develop at all." He sighed. "Either way, I'm dreading the day she will leave."
"Yeah, that will be hard for him." Big nodded.
"What are you two talking about?"
Meanwhile, Kirito entered the scene and startled the guards with his surprising appearance.
"N-nothing, my prince!" Drewbert answered.
"Only about Lady Asuna's feelings!" Big blurted out. And the other guard facepalmed and groaned.
"Wh-why are you talking about her feelings?" Kirito questioned but couldn't hide his blush, "Th-that's something between her and m-, I mean, that's only her business!"
His guards shared a knowing look and back to the prince. He just huffed at them.
"Anyway... I was told there's some lunch waiting for me!"
"It is, my prince. Follow us, if you please." Drewbert said and lead the way.
The three man went to the table under the porch, where the rest of the soldiers were already preparing for their next training session and about to leave.
Kirito sat down on his chair and excitedly took his share of the rabbit ragout.
And it was the best meal he's ever had so far.