The Luncheon (1)

Surprise flashed across Nicolaus' face as he turned to Mikael. He did not know that Lady Clarissa had paid a visit to the knights' ground, and that too this very morning… It was news to him.

Lady Clarissa addressed Mikael's question. "I merely went to see how Sir Talon was doing, my lady. But I also noticed that the knights have regained their strength after being incapacitated for days," she spoke with a measured tone.

"Oh… I imagine that brought a sense of relief." Mikael nodded while maintaining a composed facade. His mind, however, was scrambling for the right words to keep the conversation afloat.

Mikael felt a suffocating pressure in his chest as he sat across from Lady Clarissa, who looked at him with a polite but distant smile.

The room was filled with a tense and uncomfortable silence, and he was drowning in it. He racked his mind for a topic of conversation, anything that would break the ease the awkwardness.