Chapter 33 " Of course I've made more than enough , " Lorrayne said warmly . " But it's pretty tight in here . Let's move to the dining room , and I'll have Bella bring some over ." Lorrayne and Lilian stepped out of the kitchen . Vincent and Robert traded glances , both flashing wry smiles . They'd truly embarrassed themselves today - not just themselves , but they'd dragged Lilian into it too . The mix - up had been entirely their fault from the get - go , yet she'd taken the heat for all of it . " Apologize ? " Vincent ventured . Robert gritted his teeth . " Damn right we should . " A true knight never shied away from owning up to his mistakes . Just outside the dining room , the pair bowed deeply to Lorrayne in sync . " We're terribly sorry , Ms. Lorrayne ! " They owned up to their blunders , promised to make it up to her twofold , and begged her pardon. " It's fine , gentlemen . Knowing when you're wrong and making it right - that's the highest good . " Lorrayne graciously accepted their apology . Nearby , Lilian's eyes sparkled with awe . Knowing when you're wrong and making it right - that's the highest good . She savored the phrase , captivated by its peculiar rhythm - profound and weighty , rolling off the tongue with real power . Lorrayne had to come from some venerable royal bloodline , steeped in literary tradition , to craft words like that on the spot . In reality , Lorrayne had just instinctively said it . The four settled at the table , and before long , Bella brought out plates of cubed beef . Each round iron platter featured four or five bite - sized nuggets of meat , pooled with a spoonful of sauce underneath . The pieces were topped with a pair of delicate mint leaves , and a neat little pile of carrot julienne nestled beside them . The plating was impeccable - a feast for the eyes , nose , and palate . But for the two Knights , this paltry amount wouldn't even serve as a toothpick . - Even so , the mouthwatering aroma of the meat lingered teasingly , so they wasted no time pondering the small portions - they dove right in , fingers grabbing at the cubes . Lilian was starving too , but she noticed Lorrayne hadn't begun and spotted no spoons around , so she paused , Lucky she did , as Bella soon returned with a tray , setting down pairs of utensils swathed in white silk next to each dish . Lorrayne handled her knife and fork deftly , forking a cube and easing it into her mouth for a quiet , deliberate chew . Lilian stole a side glance , caught on to the fork's use , and elegantly mimicked her , lifting a piece to her lips . Meanwhile , the Knights had already plucked up their meat , sauce dripping from their fingertips . Witnessing the ladies ' polished etiquette , they froze in sudden self - consciousness , the morsels hovering awkwardly - too late to put back , too messy to eat gracefully . After a beat of hesitation , they popped the cubes into their mouths regardless and chewed blissfully . Ah , this beef - so tender and resilient , without a whiff of gamey flavor . Salty and umami - packed , laced with a gentle sweetness that clung to the palate , utterly free of any bitterness . Even Lilian felt her eyes widen briefly in surprise . Palace fare was the best money could buy , yet the meat always carried a faint bitterness . But this was astonishingly tasty . She picked up the pace without realizing it , and next thing she knew , her plate was clean . P Chapter 33 55 Lilian blinked in disbelief . At the palace , she'd never polish off that much meat in one sitting - yet here she had ? The Knights , meanwhile , lingered over the flavors with rapt expressions . As hearty eaters , this teaser had only stoked their hunger , leaving them ravenous for more . Spotting this , Lorrayne gave Bella a subtle nod . Bella pivoted and retrieved four cups of sweetened lemon water , placing them softly on the table . " Bella's got desserts ready too , but they'll come out shortly , " Lorrayne told the trio . " For now , sip some lemon water to refresh your taste buds . " Truth be told , the sweets were all set , but she feared throwing off the serving order might mute the mini cakes ' appeal , so she'd opted for the drinks first . Lemons were in circulation here , albeit rarely - it'd take centuries for them to become a staple . Lorrayne took a sip from her clay mug . The mildly sour , faintly sweet lemon water had a unique zest - not on par with what she'd known in her previous life , but decent enough . But when she glanced up , the other three hadn't so much as touched theirs . Curious , she asked , " Not a fan of lemon ? " Lilian offered a sheepish smile . " No , it's not the flavor , Lorrayne - it's just that water often gives us tummy troubles . We tend to go for wine instead . " She was too chagrined to mention that she'd pegged Lorrayne as highborn from her dining grace , only to puzzle over her choosing plain water now . Anyone with a bit of status steered clear of water ; if they indulged at all , it was pristine mountain spring water . It was common knowledge that city water was grimy and poisonous , teeming with invisible critters that'd knot your guts if ingested . The town's sewage dumped right into the rivers , and dreading waterborne sickness , most nobles forwent baths altogether , settling for sporadic rubs with wine or even boy's urine . The Knights shared the same wary looks . As frequent travelers , they'd suffered water woes firsthand , which only made them more cautious . She couldn't fathom how someone as refined about food as Lorrayne could be so lax when it came to drinks - apparently unbothered by hygiene . From their faces , Lorrayne could read their thoughts plain as day . She'd nearly forgotten that folks in this era saw water as basically poison . It hadn't occurred to her before because Bella , Roman , and the rest drank water without a second thought , never questioning her habits . On reflection , they were likely just too broke for wine and unfamiliar with upper - class ways , so her drinking water seemed totally ordinary to them . Lorrayne cringed inwardly . " This is well water that's been sterilized at high temperatures , so no tummy troubles . " Besides , you're all still weak from your wounds . Booze won't help you heal - better to go with disinfected water . " As a potions expert , Lilian latched onto the idea of high - heat disinfection , her eyes lingering dubiously on the cup . The liquid was perfectly clear and spotless - looking . Then she glanced at Lorrayne - if she downed this stuff daily without issues , she wondered , ' Maybe her claim holds water ? ' After turning it over in her mind , Lilian chose to take her at her word . She raised the cup with a grave air and sipped . Her eyes sparkled . It slid down sweet and crisp , with a zesty lemon kick - shockingly good , and so refreshing . Nothing like wine or beer . With Lilian sipping away , the Knights had no choice . They grabbed their cups like they were heading to the gallows and knocked them back in one go . 2/4 PO Chapter 33 They thought . What's a little gut ache ? It probably wouldn't kill us . " Steeling themselves , they braced for cramps . At that , Lorrayne tinkled the table bell . Moments later , Bella swept in with the mini cakes and bread . She uncovered the dishes , releasing a rush of sugary bliss that enveloped the room . Lilian breathed it in slowly , detecting hints of egg , milk , and grain . She thought , ' Weird - egg and dairy smells usually struck me as off - putting and rank . Why are they so inviting now ? She studied the triangular wedges of golden cake but wavered , opting first for the burnished loaf . 12 55 vouchers Lilian wasn't keen on the bread ; non - palace flour was always gritty , under - fermented , and sometimes scratchy on the throat . If she weren't ravenous , she'd have passed on it entirely . Grousing to herself , she bit in - and her face lit This bread was unbelievably plush and air instantly . loaded with creamy milkiness - sweet , aromatic , and hiding a surprise filling . She split it to reveal a dollop of pale , velvety cream that dissolved silkily on her tongue , as sweet as a dream . Lilian scarfed it down in record time , demolishing the hand - sized roll in bites before eyeing the cake . The first two items had wowed her - maybe this would deliver another thrill . Unlike Lilian , Vincent and Robert were suckers for eggs and milk , plus any baked goods blending them with flour . They snatched up the cake first , brows shooting up at its ethereal lightness in their palms , Cakes back then were basically fancy bread - tracing back to ancient Kemari , both flour - based , but cakes got a boost from honey and eggs for extra tenderness . So when Vincent and Robert hefted these fluffy , springy wonders , they were floored . They wondered . ' How the heck is this pulled off ? The rugged duo brushed it aside - questions later , chow now . One chomp felt like munching a damp , fluffy cloud - luscious and heady , like ascending to heaven . They drifted off in ecstasy . Next bite - decadent and mouthwatering , begging to be devoured whole , tongue and all . Manners out the window , they inhaled the rest in gulps , then zoned out while licking sticky fingers . Lilian savored her cake in tiny nibbles , eyes crinkling with joy . Who'd have guessed cake could taste this divine . Observing their blissful vibes , Lorrayne thought to herself that their palates really vibed with specific recipes . Sure , they'd liked the braised meat , but not with this rapt fixation . She thought , Yep , their eternal sweet craving - it's hardwired into their genes . " But then again , she'd tailored that braise to her own tastes , and without all the spices , it fell short of authentic . Small wonder they weren't obsessed . If Vincent and Robert could peek into her head , they'd set her straight : It wasn't dislike - the servings were puny . Not even a snack As hearty feeders accustomed to chowing massive hunks of meat and guzzling drinks , those tidbits vanished down their gullets before flavors could register . Plus , spice - infused meat felt almost holy , like a sacred rite . You approached it with piety , not piggish glee Title: ReelTalk EP 40 - Contract Lovers & Heartbreak CrushReel's ongoing romance series, Miss You After Goodbye, continues to captivate on the latest ReelTalk episode. Haley Lohrli dives into her daring new character, while Ben and Josh share insights into their own memorable roles, promising a blend of laughter and heartwarming moments. Exploring themes of love, loss, and unexpected connections, this episode delves deep into the intricate relationships that drive the narrative forward. As the stars reveal their on-screen chemistry and off-screen camaraderie, viewers are in for a treat with each unfolding scene. What sets this episode apart is its ability to balance humor with poignant storytelling, offering a refreshing take on modern romance dynamics. Dive into the world of Contract Lovers & Heartbreak, available to read at CrushReel for a journey that promises both entertainment and emotional resonance.