“Where’s the knife?” I handed him another one from the drawer, the blade cool and heavy.
“Here.” Then curiosity got the better of me.
“Have you ever cleaned fish before?” “Many times.” He picked one up effortlessly, his fingers finding the gills.
“We did it often on the battlefield.” His movements were smooth and practiced, the knife moving with surgical precision.
Despite being blind, he worked faster than I did.
I stared for a moment before returning to my own fish.
The scales came off in silver flakes, scattering across the counter.
We needed to hurry.
Theo could return at any moment.
“I thought armies traveled with chefs,” I said, trying to fill the silence.
“They do.” “So why were you cleaning fish?” Garrett shrugged, the motion casual.
“If it’s a large campaign, we have cooks.” His knife moved neatly along the fish, gutting it with practiced ease.
“But smaller missions are different.” He smiled faintly, a distant look in those black pits.
“Nature feeds us.” “Nature?” I couldn’t hide my surprise.
The word felt foreign on my tongue.
I’d never actually been to a battlefield.
Even as the Sol, my responsibilities had always ended before the fighting began.
I blessed the knights, prayed for their victory, watched them march away.
I never saw what happened after.
“That’s where I learned to catch fish with a stick,” Garrett continued.
“When we didn’t have knives, we’d even clean them with our swords.” “Heavens…” I stared at him, a mix of horror and fascination.
“You people are terrifying.” He laughed.
A proper laugh this time—warm and genuine, the first I’d heard from him since he’d arrived.
“You get used to it.” “That sounds unbelievably stressful.” I pushed the remaining fish toward him, the pile of un-gutted catches gleaming wetly.
“You finish these.” “I’ll prepare the vegetables.” “Gladly.” I washed my hands before beginning to dice onions and carrots.
The knife moved in a steady rhythm, the familiar motions soothing my nerves.
The comfortable silence between us lasted only a minute.
“It is stressful,” Garrett admitted.
His voice was softer now, more reflective.
“That’s why very few people truly want to become knights.” “Not really.” He looked in my direction, his head turning.
“I had a friend growing up.” “He dreamed of becoming a knight.” “Really?” I nodded before remembering he couldn’t see me.
“Yes.” “He became one when he was seventeen.” A smile found its way onto my face without permission, the memory warm and bittersweet.
“I still remember that day.” “He was so happy.” “It felt like all our dreams had come true.” For a brief moment, I could almost see Derek standing proudly in his new armor, grinning from ear to ear.
The image was vivid, painful in its clarity.
Garrett remained silent, letting me continue.
“For aristocrats and royals, becoming a knight might not be something they dream about.” “But for commoners…” I smiled bitterly, the expression not quite reaching my eyes.
“It’s our escape.” “It’s one of the few ways to earn money, honor, and respect.” I said Garrett wiped his knife clean, the blade glinting.
“You think nobles don’t dream?” He asked “I think they do.” I replied “But most of them inherit their positions.” “The general’s son becomes the next general.” “The duke’s son becomes the next duke.” “The knight commander trains his heir.” I shrugged, the motion heavy with years of observation.
“They’re born with choices already decided.” “We commoners have to fight for everything.” Garrett was quiet for a while before speaking.
The only sounds were the steady rhythm of knives against boards.
“Nothing is free in this world.” “The lives of aristocrats look easy from the outside.” “But most of them sacrifice their own dreams for their families.” He said “They’re expected to become whatever their bloodline demands.” I nodded slowly, acknowledging the truth in his words.
“I know.
But life is still easier.” I continued chopping vegetables, the motion automatic.
“Try being born with nothing.” “Hopes and dreams don’t really exist for most commoners.” “You don’t ask yourself what you want to become.” “You ask yourself…” My knife paused.
“…Will this job feed my family?” “Will it buy clothes?” “Will it keep a roof over our heads?” I looked down at the vegetables, the chopped pieces lying in neat piles.
“Some commoners don’t even know if they’ll survive until tomorrow.” “But an aristocrat rarely has to worry about food.” “Or clothes.” “Or a home.” “If all those things were already guaranteed…” I smiled faintly, the expression fragile.
“…Wouldn’t you have the luxury to dream?” Garrett didn’t answer immediately.
He simply stared in my direction, those sightless eyes somehow seeming to see through me.
“To an aristocrat,” I continued quietly, “being a knight can be a duty.” “A burden.” “Something their family expects.” “But to a commoner…” I smiled.
“…it’s salvation.” “The greatest dream they could ever have.” Silence settled over the kitchen.
Before either of us could say another word— “Syly!” Theo’s cheerful voice echoed through the house.
My eyes widened.
He was back.
Already?
I looked at the uncooked fish.
Then at the stove.
Then back at the fish.
“…Oh no.” I rushed toward the kitchen door, my heart pounding.
“Go get changed!” I shouted, my voice carrying through the house.
“But—” “Bath first!” “But Syly—” “No arguments!” “Go wash up and change your clothes!” “…Okay!” I waited until I heard Theo’s footsteps disappear down the hallway before letting out a long sigh of relief.
My shoulders slumped, the tension draining from my body.
Garrett looked at me as though I’d completely lost my mind.
“What are you doing?” “We have to cook.” I hurried to light the stove, my hands moving quickly.
“Before Theo comes back.” I replied “…Why?” “He can’t see me cooking.” “…Why?” “Because he won’t eat it.” Garrett frowned, his brow furrowing.
“I thought you said you were going to tell him the Goddess sent it.” “I am.” “But Theo isn’t foolish enough to believe the Goddess personally walked into our kitchen carrying raw fish.” I stirred the fire, coaxing the flames to life.
“If he sees me preparing it, he’ll know exactly what happened.” Garrett blinked, his expression one of complete confusion.
“…Then what was your plan?” I looked at him as though the answer were obvious.
“If it’s already cooked before he comes back…” I placed the fish into the pan, the sizzle of oil filling the kitchen.
“…Theo won’t have a choice.” “He hates wasting food.” “So even if he realizes what happened…” I smiled triumphantly.
“…He’ll still eat it.” Garrett stared at me for a very long time.
Then…
He gave me a look that clearly said, This man is an idiot.
I pretended not to notice.