Unsung Valor
The cafeteria at the knights’ academy was lively, full of smiling faces and happy laughter.
“I don’t like to talk about other people, but Meltina sure does eat a lot! She’s the first other person I’ve seen who eats as much as us! Right, Chris?”
“No one but you, me, mother, Aunt Irina, and Rafael.” In other words, ‘us’ there referred to a particular set of blood relatives.
“Maybe Meltina’s related to us too!”
Inglis laughed. “You know, we just might have some shared blood.”
“What do you think? Maybe I should ask mom sometime?”
As their idle mealtime chatter continued, though, sharp stares followed them.
“It’s no use! We’re out of ingredients!”
“Keep talking, c’mon, keep talking!”
“This lunch break needs to end before they get up for more!”
The cafeteria workers behind the counter were locked onto Inglis’s table. The cafeteria staff were the ones who had been most impacted by Imperial Princess Meltina’s arrival at the knights’ academy. She was a third threat alongside Inglis and Rafinha, one which they were exposed to without any particular increase in staffing, and it had placed quite the load on them. Whenever any of the three in question were in the cafeteria, they couldn’t let their guard down for even a moment; now, they watched with bated breath.
Principal Miriela appeared, alongside Rochefort and Arles. “Everyone, it’s almost time for afternoon classes, so get to your classrooms!” she said.
“If you’re late, I’ll start taking off points. You know I know your faces,” Rochefort said in self-satisfaction.
“Ross, you don’t need to threaten them like that...” Arles winced.
The students wasted no time in getting a move on.
“Ah, oh no! We talked so much, I didn’t get quite enough to eat,” Rafinha said.
“It’s okay, Rani. You can have plenty at dinner,” Inglis said.
“Yeah, they do say it’s better not to stuff yourself...”
“Exactly. Anyway, let’s go!”
Inglis and friends joined the rapidly departing stream, and as the lunch ladies watched them go, they let out deep sighs.
“Phew... They’re gone...”
“They’re the cutest little things... Except for their dreadful stomachs.”
“Aaagh!”
Clatter!
One among them dropped the ladle she used to stir a large pot to the floor.
“What’s wrong?!”
“A-Are you all right? You look terrible!”
The stricken one laughed. “I thought I was better than this, but I...I can’t lift my arm... This is as far as I go.”
“Natashaaaaaaa!”
“What’s wrong?” Miriela asked, peeking her head behind the counter.
“Ah, Principal Miriela!”
“We’re getting chewed up out here! Natasha got taken out stirring the pot!”
“Ever since that Meltina girl showed up, there hasn’t been a day we’ve had enough food!”
Miriela laughed awkwardly. “Well, the palace is paying for her tuition, room, and board, so we’ll pull through somehow.”
“What about our labor?! Especially the next shift without Natasha?!”
“We can’t do this on the same old pay!”
“Weeeeelllll... There’s not exactly room in the budget for a raise...”
While Miriela prevaricated, though, Rochefort rolled up his sleeves. “Then I’ll pay in sweat.”
“That’s a good idea, Ross,” Arles agreed. “We don’t have much money, but we can lend a hand.”
“We were once loyal to Venefic, so, y’know. Miriela, you can help out too.”
“M-Me?”
Thus the three of them could be spotted in the cafeteria working during meal breaks until more staff could be hired.
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