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Mealtimes at Puerto Valor were something Hendrik had always considered before he arrived, and for his first month of training he had received much the same as all of the other knights. The food, while delicious (especially compared to Heliodor's own fare), was meant to provide energy for training, so the chefs had been told not to be extravagant.
Day in and day out, Hendrik was able to try pure Valorian cuisine, and while mostly seafood, he found it all very palatable.
But then, on the day his second month began, he received a letter directly from Norberto, Don Rodrigo's son and his own sparring partner.
Hendrik: Are... Are you certain, Norberto?
Norberto: I am, yes - and pap- Don Rodrigo is as well. I think he sees some potential in you, and I think he wants to have a nice, little talk with you about it. I mean, you ARE sparring with me, after all; I think maybe he wants to make sure you aren't going to fall behind and lose that potential.
Hendrik frowns at Norberto's word; he hasn't learned much in the way of tact when dealing with apparent commoners, it seems.
Norberto: The meal starts at six tonight. Oh, and you'll be exempt from training after four; that should give you time to get yourself sorted. Do you have something other than your knight tunic you can wear?
Hendrik: I do, yes.
Norberto: Excellent! Well then, we will see you at the villa tonight.
With the message delivered, Norberto turns and heads for home himself to get ready, having been excused from training all day to prepare. He leaves Hendrik both excited yet nervous; he's never spoken one-to-one with Don Rodrigo, and yet here he is, invited to dine with him.
The rest of the afternoon passes in a blur, with Hendrik's head stuck in a swirl of thoughts even after he's excuse from the rest of his training. What would the Don have to say to him? How should he respond if asked a tough question? Would he be shouted at for saying anything wrong? What if he were to do or say anything that might jeopardise Norberto's standing?
...No, there's no worry about Norberto; the spotlight is firmly on Hendrik - as soon as the villa doors open for him, there's a maid waiting to greet him in and play his escort.
He follows her in silence, though taking the time to look around the grand manor; everything is neat and tidy, spick and span, almost as if no one actually lived there. At the far end of the main hall sits a gilded portrait of a lady, the only thing seemingly showing life in the place so far.
Hendrik quickens his pace when the maid stops and waits, muttering an apology to her as she opens the door to the dining hall. Norberto is already seated. So is Don Rodrigo.
Don Rodrigo: Benvingut, Hendrik! So glad you could join us! Come, come in! There is no need to stand at the door like a nervous child! For this momentous evening, you are to sit here.
Hendrik looks to the seat the Don has gestured to; it's right to his left, with Norberto on the right. He nods, bows deeply, before stepping into what feels like a hallowed hall, the doors closing behind him. Norberto glances his companion's attire up and down, a questioning eyebrow raised at what Hendrik thought passed for formal attire, but it's at least better than him trudging in in his knight garb.
Hendrik: Don Rodrigo, Nor- Señorito Norberto, it is truly an honour to dine with the two of you this evening.
Don Rodrigo: Think nothing of it, Hendrik! It is only expected that the sparring partner of my Norberto gets to see for himself the high life every now and then! Just don't expect this to become a habit of ours, alright?
Hendrik: Of course, sire! The food you and your chefs provide for us knights is already magnificent; we do not see much in the way of seafood in Heliodor, so it has indeed been exciting to try new cuisines!
Alas, as Hendrik declares his love of the newfound cuisine, a tray is set between the trio - a tray with something that doesn't look quite right at first glance.
Norberto: Cargols a la llauna!
Don Rodrigo: Indeed; it is a special evening, after all.
Hendrik: ...Forgive me, my liege; what exactly ARE these?
Norberto: They're snails! Oh, did you not see the gardener picking them this morning?
Hendrik: ...Snails?
Norberto: With garlic.
Norberto leans over, helping himself to one of the shells as Hendrik can only look-on in growing shock. He'd never been told that this dish was part of Valorian cuisine, and here he is now expected to dine upon something that had several hours earlier been roaming around the villa's gardens.
He looks up from the tray to his waiting host, expecting him to take a shell for himself.
Jasper: ...Hendrik! Hendrik, get a move on!
Hendrik snaps-to, hearing his old friend's voice. He looks around dumbfoundedly, before clapping eyes on the sign that had triggered an awful memory. There, in front of him, is a sign for several Valorian dishes - the dreaded "cargols a la llauna" topping it.
Hendrik: ...Forgive me, Jasper. I... I had a most horrid encounter just now.
Jasper: How so? Nearly walking into the sign? You ought to look where you're going, you know. Now hurry up; His Majesty expects us back at the castle soon, and we still have to suffer this cursed patrol path. Honestly, we're his top men; he should be getting some of the lower ranks to do this, not us.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Hendrik casts one more wary glance at the menu, then the restaurant, before stepping around it and continuing his walk, glad to have Jasper save him from the snails this time.