Chapter 222: Successfully Feeding the Princess

Inside Lance's house.

The girl was no longer crying her heart out like she had in the marketplace earlier.

Being carried away at full speed seemed to have completely vented all the grievances she had accumulated during this period.

She was now sitting beside a wooden table, holding a sizzling meat pie in both hands.

Although it was extremely hot and kept making her gasp, “Hiss—ha, hiss—ha,” she still stuffed both cheeks full as she desperately devoured it.

The poor kid had clearly been starving.

Through their brief conversation earlier, Lance had already learned that the girl's name was Elvira.

He had even discovered that she was the Pure White Knight whose reputation had recently risen alongside his own.

Elvira said that her family had specifically arranged for her to participate in the trial.

Tears still lingered in her eyes, but her eating never slowed for even a moment.

“I just... sob... just wanted to sell some apples and buy a little bread...”

Elvira chewed vigorously while making her complaints through a mouthful of food.

“Yesterday, I helped a farmer find his sheep and even fought three dire wolves for him, but he didn't even give me a single drink of water afterward...”

“And there was another village. The people there were awful.”

“They had me pulling out wooden stakes, carrying stones, repairing houses, and then they even made me hunt magical wolves.”

“When I came back, they actually made me sleep in a drafty cowshed and only gave me black bread for dinner.”

“I could smell them hiding inside their houses eating roasted meat... those people were so mean...”

“Later I got so hungry that I had no choice but to go into the mountains and gather fruit myself. But the moment I left the village, some villagers asked me to chop firewood for them while I was at it...”

The more she spoke, the more wronged she felt.

Large tears dropped onto the meat pie in her hands and mixed with the glistening grease before being swallowed together in huge bites.

Lance silently thanked his Outsider trait.

Otherwise, he probably would have been tortured to death on the way here as well.

Faced with the girl's complete trust and lack of guard,

Lance recalled a psychology video he had watched in his previous life.

When a person struggled in a hostile environment for a long time and suddenly encountered someone who showed them kindness, they would unconsciously lower their psychological defenses and even begin treating that person as a safe harbor.

Halfway through the meal,

Elvira suddenly stopped eating and rubbed her sore eyes with the back of her hand.

Unfortunately, that only smeared her face and turned her into a little soot-covered kitten.

At this moment, she possessed none of the dignity expected of a princess.

Because that dignity had already been worn away completely during these weeks of trial by all those villagers.

Ever since she had become so hungry that she was forced to use her Holy Sword to knock fruit from trees, her dignity had already shattered into pieces.

She was living an extremely down-to-earth life now.

Quite literally.

After all, during this period, she frequently slept outdoors in the wilderness while hugging her sword.

Only recently had she finally found a place to stay in Golden Harvest City.

【Heroic Spirit Clovis is observing you...】

At that moment, another notification appeared on the panel.

The corner of Lance's eye twitched slightly.

Ever since he had carried her home, this Heroic Spirit known as the Red Dragon had been staring at him nonstop.

Was that really necessary?

It made him feel increasingly uneasy, as though he had been caught red-handed by his future father-in-law.

“Take your time eating. Once you're done, head back early while it's still light outside.”

Lance turned around and poured a cup of sweet fruit wine for her.

This place was different from the outside Material Realm.

Once it became too late, going outdoors truly required carrying a windproof lantern.

“Mhm.”

Elvira accepted the wooden cup with both hands and tilted her head back, gulping down several large mouthfuls.

This blonde girl truly had an enormous appetite.

Lance had originally purchased enough ingredients for two full days of hearty meals.

Yet she had swept through everything like a whirlwind in a single sitting.

And those ingredients had been bought according to his own appetite.

When the last mouthful of fruit wine finally slid down her throat and her stomach was filled with a long-forgotten sense of satisfaction,

Elvira suddenly froze.

As her hunger faded, it seemed her rationality gradually returned as well.

Looking at the empty plates on the table, the grease covering her hands, and the amused look in Lance's eyes, her face became redder and redder.

The upbringing she had received since childhood suddenly filled her with overwhelming embarrassment.

She finally realized she had eaten far too much.

And that she had cried while eating like a spoiled child.

Panicking slightly, she quickly put down the cup and wiped her hands clean with a handkerchief.

Then she straightened her back, folded her hands neatly on her knees, and bowed deeply toward Lance.

“Thank you, Lance.”

“You are the kindest person I've met since the trial began.”

At this moment, Elvira no longer resembled the pitiful little stray puppy she had been before.

Her posture and demeanor clearly revealed the excellent upbringing she had once received.

After straightening up from the bow, her eyes flickered away nervously.

In a voice as soft as a mosquito's hum, she explained,

“About what happened earlier... please don't take it to heart.”

“I'm... normally not like that.”

“It's just that everyone has been so harsh toward me lately, and I've been feeling a little wronged...”

She did not know why.

But in front of this man, she wanted to preserve her image and explain her embarrassing behavior.

Lance found it somewhat amusing, but forcibly held back his laughter.

He decided to spare the girl some dignity.

“Of course. I didn't see anything.”

Lance smiled.

Hearing that answer, Elvira secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

After hesitating for a moment, she asked with a flushed face,

“Can... can I come visit you again later?”

“Of course. I'll be staying here for the next ten days.”

Lance nodded in agreement.

Upon hearing the mention of ten days,

Elvira thoughtfully turned her head toward the heavy spear stored on the weapon rack in the living room.

However, she tactfully withdrew her gaze and asked no questions.

“Then, I wish you a peaceful evening.”

When she reached the doorway, Elvira turned around and waved energetically at Lance.

Then she departed beneath the final rays of the setting sun.

Having eaten and drunk her fill, her steps were much lighter than before.

Soon she disappeared into the crowds of Golden Harvest City.

“This trial world feels far too real.”

Leaning against the doorframe, Lance could not help sighing as he watched the direction in which she disappeared.

He had randomly met a local resident from an instance, yet the story behind her was already this interesting.

Blonde hair, green eyes, blue ribbons, an astonishing appetite, and the identity of a knight.

Combined together, those traits were surprisingly appealing to him.

An iconic character from an anime he had watched in his previous life inevitably surfaced in his mind.

The next time she came over, perhaps he would tell her that story.

It sounded like it might be entertaining.

The following evening arrived.

After finishing his spearmanship training in the courtyard, Lance took a hot bath.

He was drying his hair when he heard a knock at the front door.

Opening it, he found Elvira standing outside.

In her hands was an enormous wild boar leg.

Her posture was upright, her eyes bright.

There was none of the embarrassment and misery she had displayed yesterday.

“Thank you for treating me to dinner yesterday. This is my payment.”

She lifted the heavy boar leg slightly, her tone carrying a hint of unmistakable pride.

That surprised Lance.

Yesterday she had been a pitiful victim bullied in the marketplace.

How had she suddenly obtained such an impressive haul today?

Seeing the astonishment on his face, Elvira felt a small sense of satisfaction.

In truth, ever since she had noticed the heavy spear in the living room yesterday, she had already formed a suspicion.

That spear was a Noble Phantasm as famous as the Sword of Kingship.

Naturally, portraits of it existed within the royal family archives.

The man before her was definitely a trial participant who had entered from the Material Realm through the Baptism Ritual, just like her.

In fact, there was a very high chance that he was the inheritor of the White Dragon.