The Crimson General Desires no Prince! (GL)
Chapter 42 - 38: My Home is your Home (I).

Chapter 42: Chapter 38: My Home is your Home (I).

Chapter 38: My Home is your Home (I).

The night settles into the camp.

Tents have been set up as Rowan watches the fire burn the firewood she collected, she kneels down promptly taking some more and throwing it into the fire. She watches as cinders spark through the burning wood.

There was a cooking pot in the middle as well as the fishes that were stabbed with clean sticks to be put upright for them to cook.

Sir William takes great care in throwing in the ingredients and smiles as the rest of the royal guards gather around him with a huge appetite for his food.

"Is it ready yet, Sir William?"

"I’m starving. We’ve worked a lot and we deserve your best cooking indeed."

"Is it done yet?"

He holds a spatula, shaking his head. "Patience all of you, I’ll give you all your share but we must make sure that the princess and the crimson general gets to eat first."

They all groan in complaints but understood his intentions, they can wait for the princess and the crimson general to eat first after all they are of high priority.

"General, I would like to report that our meal is ready. I have finished making dinner." (Sir William) holds a bowl of his fresh vegetable stew.

"How wonderful. I hope it’s alright with you that you’re the one who’s doing the cooking, you didn’t have to."

"It is alright, your highness. I enjoy cooking. I hope you’ll enjoy my special dish, I managed to pack some butter in the trunk before leaving so... I don’t want to brag but my friends tell me I could rival the royal chefs in the palace, your highness." He gives a bowl of vegetable soup to the princess and she takes it gratefully, lowering her head a little in thanks.

"Thank you."

"And for you general-"

Rowan was offered a stick of roasted fish, she looked around first. "Has everyone else eaten? I would like to make sure that everyone else ate first before I did."

Sir William blinks in confusion, another thing that made him confused about the crimson general. "You- you want to have everyone else eat first?" He laughs softly, shaking his head and orders the royal guards to eat their fill and not wait any longer.

Everyone settles into the logs, they sit down and pass around cooked trout that Jonathan and Sir William managed to catch.

"This is so good!" (Jonathan) exclaimed, his fingers grabbed the fish he couldn’t wait any longer to eat.

When Sir William said he can cook-

HE REALLY CAN COOK!

Jonathan talks while his mouth is full. "I’m impressed, Sir William. I wish you were one of our cooks- the fort could use someone like you."

"I take such high compliments with high regards." (Sir William) continues on distributing the food to everyone before pouring himself a stew.

"No kidding, if I was eating this everyday when I was at war I would’ve been so motivated."

"You think highly of me, but this is just one of the few things I do everyday. Cooking relaxes me- It’s my personal happy place I suppose."

Princess Camille took a spoonful and agreed with everyone’s praises. "This is really amazing! Nothing like the royal chefs at the palace! The soup base is so creamy and the vegetables you put in here are delectable!"

Princess Camille turns to Rowan who was right beside her, "What do you think, Rowan?"

"...munch, munch, munch."

Rowan could be seen devouring the well cooked seasoned fish like a little hamster, she didn’t say anything and only focused eating her way through the bone.

"When she eats something really good Rowan doesn’t usually reply to anything, your highness." (Jonathan) chuckles, her gluttonous side is always a joy to see.

Rowan licks the side of her lips before staring at Sir William looking a bit shy.

She slowly points at the fish that was near him and asks, "M-May I have seconds?"

Sir William was slowly getting used to the crimson general’s personality, for some reason she’s not different from a kind and obedient child. "Here you go, general."

He takes the fish in his hands and gives it to Rowan. "Munch, munch, munch."

"Here, General Bonheur, why don’t you try the soup I made?" (Sir William) gives a bowl of stew hoping that would give the girl a well balanced meal.

But it was not just any regular stew.

Vegetable stew.

"Ugh..."

Rowan eyed the bowl of vegetable soup with suspicion.

"Sniff... sniff."

She had never been a fan- mushy carrots, limp greens, and that unmistakable earthy taste she could never quite get past.

But the scent drifting up was... different.

Garlic and onions, slow-roasted to perfection, blended with the rich aroma of buttery broth. Hints of basil and pepper added warmth, and the sight of vibrant vegetables- carrots, tomatoes, green beans- floating in the golden liquid made her hesitate.

"..."

She leaned in slightly, inhaling again, her stomach betraying her with a quiet grumble.

After a long moment, she cleared her throat and, in a rare moment of politeness, asked, "Would it be terribly rude if I had the whole bowl?"

"Not at all, in fact I would be honoured."

Rowan takes the whole bowl into her hands and thanks Sir William who sat in front of her wanting to see the general’s reaction.

She takes a spoonful and swallowed the soup. "...yum."

Ding!

[Notification: The Heroine is happy that vegetables are delicious].

[Happiness: +5].

"’...huh?"

After reading the notification, Princess Camille thinks that was too adorable.

’Pfft... not liking vegetables... That’s cute. I’m glad that she’s eating them now though, the stew that Sir William has made is truly amazing.’ She thinks to herself but suddenly frowned realising something.

If this bowl of vegetable soup made Rowan happy... and even gave out some happiness points...

’Should... I ask him for the recipe?’ Her eyebrows furrowed, and proceeds to also stare at Sir William.

Sir William could feel her staring and awkwardly asks, "Is there something wrong, your highness?"

"Oh nothing!"

Rowan smiles feeling a lot more happy and relaxed after eating his cooking. "I don’t... usually eat vegetables but you’ve made quite a dish. I... don’t hate it."

"Thank you...?"

"You know Sir William, in Rowan’s own way, that means she really likes it- love it even. It’s not everyday you can get her to eat vegetables." (Jonathan) assures him that his best friend was just one awkward gal who doesn’t know how to give a compliment without making it seem something to be misunderstood.

Princess Camille stares at her bowl of vegetable stew and considers asking Sir William for the recipe to make Rowan happy. "So Rowan doesn’t like vegetables? Is this one of the only few times that she eats them?"

"Your highness, when you settle down I hope you feed our great crimson general well. She’s rather picky, she’ll only eat meat everyday which is alright but it’s rather concerning that she doesn’t have a well balanced meal. We only eat out, hopping from one restaurant to another because we both don’t know how to cook."

Rowan feels her eyelids blinking, and her body slowly drifting off to sleep but her mouth just can’t stop eating the fish-

"...munch."

She can’t even clearly hear the two talking.

"I have noticed that the general doesn’t like vegetables indeed. She’s more fond of meat the most, on our date in the city it was all she could ever eat." That was true, Rowan was indeed more of a carnivore than a herbivore.

"Since we have time, your highness, I have a few more stories I could tell you of our past adventures and days at the military academy. You will see my best friend in my eyes!"

"J-Jonathan I don’t think the princess is interested in my past-"

"Nonsense!"

"Please my good sir tell me all about her."

"With pleasure!"

...

An hour has passed, the two still kept talking and laughing- exchanging stories about Rowan. "And so one time this classmate of ours really hated her guts for becoming the top student in training, we heard from one of our pals that he was planning on messing with Rowan by the end of class."

Many has envied Rowan Bonheur and her position in the military academy, it’s not easy for men to accept that a woman has bested them in somewhere they excel.

"Apparently she was challenged to a duel! Duel of exchanging their blows in swordfighting. This bully was playing dirty the whole time, apparently Rowan’s armour was bent to the side and he knew it was one of the top spots to give a strike."

Princess Camille was so invested in learning more about the heroine’s past, the more she saw Rowan in a brighter light.

"And then what happened?!"

"Rowan hit him so hard in the crotch with the pommel part of her sword that he started praying! Hahaha! He kept saying, oh god, please forgive me!"

Sir William who was also listening in chimes, "He should know better than to mess with anyone who’s considered the top one student in their school."

Jonathan nods, "I really wanted Rowan to punch him some more or at least give that bully a good beating but instead she became the bigger person and just apologized, even escorting him back into the clinic after the duel!"

"Ever the kind hearted person you are, General Rowan."

The four of them were the only one left hanging out in the wooden logs, the other guards hung outside and took turns watching.

Rowan, who was tired from the whole ride and teaching the princess how to ride the horse, leans her body over Princess Camille’s shoulders.

"...zzz."

She does off on the princess’ shoulders, Princess Camille realizes that they should head to their tent and get a good night’s rest.

"Well I’m afraid that she’s falling asleep- the whole night she must’ve been tired. The two of us should get going, it was nice getting to know General Rowan better through the stories of her friends." The princess holds Rowan’s hand carefully, staring at this precious little thing softly.

Some stories that Jonathan told today made her understand the heroine a lot better.

"It was my pleasure, your highness. I never expected for you to be quite a down to earth kind of person. I truly hope... you’ll take care of my best friend from now on." (Jonathan) pinches himself to stop the tears forming in his eyes continuing. "She’s clumsy, forgetful, overly serious and her awareness for social cues is nonexistent but just know she’s loved you for years now."

"That love might be distant and she would often tell me that it was a dream she could never have... I’m glad the universe proved her wrong."

"Lieutenant Jonathan..." (Princess Camille) notices that he doesn’t seem to be doing very good, looking like he wants to burst out in tears.

Jonathan being the soft motherly type assures the princess that everything is alright. The eyes being the color red is because of all the dust in this forest.

"Ah this is nothing- something must’ve gotten in my eyes and you know... ugh damn dust." He stands up from the log and stretches. "Anyways go ahead and take your rest, your highness. I’ll be taking the first watch."

Sir William stands up as well walking over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I’ll accompany you."