Chapter 39: Volume 2, Chapter 38: Lunch Discussion

1100 hours, 2 July 0145…

Inside this dining room, it was luxury and cozy. There's a long hard-wood table, hard maple chairs, red food mats, and there's a white lily pot in the middle of this dining table. This makes me feel like a knight taking a lunch in a luxurious castle.

After a few minutes of waiting, the butler arrived at the dining room whilst carrying the plate of pastas.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. Here's the lunch for you," said the Butler while putting the pasta plates into the table.

"Tagliatelle al Ragu. AKA Bolognese pasta," He explained.

"Bolognese? I freaking love Bolognese pasta!" Said Nolan in excitement.

"You can ask us for another portion if you wanted to," The Butler offered.

After the butler leaving the dining room, I saw Christine entering with a slight bitterness on her face. Now my worry about her is increasing, since Antonio is such a stern-looking person. How do I know? Unless if I ask her directly to understanding the whole context.

"Sorry to make you waiting, guys," she said straightforwardly as she sat beside Commander Katoki.

"Oh, Christine? Where have you been?" Axel asked.

"Uh… nothing… I just… have a private discussion with Antonio," she answered in a stutter.

"What discussion, by the way?" Kyoko asked curiously.

However, Christine looking the other way as she's about to drop a tear. And that causing everyone worried even more.

"What's wrong, Christine? Are you alright? You look saddened," Kyoko asked worryingly, as she's approaching her.

"I… don't think… I would tell all of you… out loud," she replied in a stutter whilst looking down at the table.

Suddenly, Nolan interrupted the talk.

"Alright, alright. How about if we talk about that after the lunch?"

"Sounds good to me. I don't want my appetite interrupted by the stressful things," Lisabelle replied, whilst picking up the fork.

When the rest of my friends eating the Bolognese pasta, I saw Christine still look downed from the previous private discussion she had. However, Commander Katoki patted Christine's left shoulder and comforted her.

"It's alright, Christine. This delicious Bolognese will heal your broken heart. We can discuss it further on, after you finished the lunch,"

Thankfully, Christine's burdens are lowering down. As she's looked at Katoki with a slight smile.

"Yes… thank you, Commander.,"

Furthemore, everyone including me enjoying this delicious Bolognese Pasta that the Cleanser Squadron butler gave us.

Despite the heavenly taste this Bolognese Pasta smeared through my tongue, I still can't let go of my mind toward Christine.

The reason I worried about Christine wasn't because I had a crush on her. I just hate seeing a precious person like her suffering under the abusive relationship in the latter time. I do not know whether it's Antonio's fault. But I dare to say that he's engaging with her for his squadron purpose.

But I have a good faith that she will find a perfect soul mate that'll make her a better person. Not a soul mate that always stomps on her.

***

We have finished the foods for around 20 minutes, and I'm stuffed as hell. Although the portion of this Bolognese Pasta may be small, but the thick tagliatelle combined with the protein meat from the ragu is already made me felt enough.

"Huff… that's feels good. And the pasta taste perfecto!" Axel exclaimed in satisfaction.

"If I got to be honest, I've ever tried making this pasta. But it ended up failed," Said Lisabelle.

"Well, maybe because you're not good at cooking, Lisabelle," Nolan replied jocularly.

Just like Commander Katoki mentioned before, I'm allowed to ask Christine about Antonio's private discussion after the lunch. So I ask her.

"By the way, Christine. Could you tell us what Antonio told you privately?"

"Oh… ok," she nodded after she's putting the glass.

Thenceforth, she straighten her sitting position and confessed.

"I'm sorry if I didn't tell all of you in the first place. Did you guys noticed the green ring on my left finger?"

"Yes, of course.," Axel nodded in understanding.

"That means I have a fiancée," she answered whilst looking down.

And it surprised the rest of my friends, except for myself.

"A fiancée? Could you tell us who that person is?" Lisabelle asked in a surprise.

"It's… Antonio," she answered stutteringly.

"Antonio? That one of the Cleanser Squadron soldier?" Nolan asked in confusion.

"Yes.," she nodded.

"What did he do to you? If I may ask," Commander Marisa asked her worryingly.

"No, he take me to a closet to discuss his engagement with me. Which means he's about to marrying me," she answered directly.

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And that surprised everyone to death, on hearing Antonio engagement with Christine.

"Marrying you? And why don't you tell us in the first place?" Lisabelle asked in a surprise.

"I wanted to tell all of you about this. But I don't want to bother you any further," she answered anxiously.

Therefore, I asked her slowly.

"Could you tell us the why he wanted to marry you?"

Furthermore, Christine explained. And everyone in this dining room paid attention to her, including me.

"He's said to me that my Divinocchi will be useful to re-awaken the spirit of frantilos. Which means their special elements to cleanse all Scorching Virus infection in this city.,"

"Recently, the Cleanser Squadron morale is on all-time low. Considering their frantilos were weakening. Because the infection rate of this city is increasing, despite their best effort to conduct a draconian lockdown.,"

"Apparently, my Divinocchi carried tons of frantilos that are descended from my mother. Considering my mother is the part of Kaliglia clan,"

"The reason he wanted to marrying me is to carrying the blood of the Cleanser Squadron further. Considering all of our families have deep allegiances to this squadron, and their deep faith toward their believes,"

"He's like a childhood friend of mine. Which he's taken care of me every time I'm in a crucial situation. Despite his harsh and over-protective attitude, he's like a brother to me."

Everyone nodded in understanding after hearing her explanation. And then Lisabelle asked her in a sudden.

"By the way, what did he do to you on the private discussion?"

However, she looked down with a slight sadness on her face, as if something was devouring herself. After a few seconds, she looked up and confessed.

"He slapped my waist harshly and scolding me, that I'm such an irresponsible girl. Running away from my family, neglecting the tradition, being delusional, and always ignoring his advice.,"

"He also told me I sold my soul toward the infidels like Minerva.,"

"Henceforth, he forces me to come back to this squadron and re-building the pride that we've stained for years. And he forced me for the sake of my mother.,"

"Despite that, I don't think my mother would see me continuing this psychopathic practice, whilst carrying the name of God and divinity,"

She silenced for a second to catch a breath from the burdens she's carrying on her minds. And then she continued.

"I just don't get it. Why would this squadron put all their pressure on me? What should I do with this? And how can I take care of these pressures if I'm not yet finished in taking care of myself first?"

"And what would you expect from an organization that's withholding these such powers?"

"Because whenever I tried so hard to run away, they could spot me easily. And every time I tried to outsmart them, I ended up fallen into their trap,"

Suddenly, Christine clenched her hands on top of her legs and looked down whilst holding her tears.

"I… can't… take this anymore…" she continued as she's about to bursting tears.

"I… don't want… to… marry him… for… this squadron…"

Thoroughly, Commander Katoki comforted her by leaning her on his shoulder and stroking her right arm. And then he said to her.

"It's alright, Christine. If there's something bugging you, just spit it out. And let me handle it for you, alright?"

Then, Christine nodded whilst sobbing to hold his tear. And that leaves everyone in this room in a suspense after hearing her explanation.

Just like I've thought previously. This psychopathic squadron uses Christine for their agenda before Enzio's electioneering day.

"If this squadron crosses the line, I'll handle it by myself," I said to everyone with a glare.

Suddenly, Antonio entered the dining room and said to everyone.

"Sorry to interrupt your discussion. Apparently, The Great Pope Enzio Busso offered all of you to meet up with him in his office,"

Commander Katoki looked back and asked.

"What does he want to do?"

"You said you wanted to discuss the Crescent's next move, right? Don't make him wait any longer," He answered with a dead-serious face.

Commander Katoki sighed and added.

"As you wish, Mr. Antonio.,"

Furthermore, everyone stood up, leaving the dining room on their way to Enzio Busso's office. But when I'm about to exiting the dining room, Antonio patted my right shoulder slightly harsh, and said to me.

"It seems like you're close to her, right?"

I looked back and saw him glared at me sharply. As if he's jealous of me. Unfortunately, I do not know what's devouring this guy. And then I approached him up close.

"Not really. Because I had to keep my eyes on you. Whenever you did something to her," I said to him with a glare.

"Including the pope," I continued as I pointed at his chest.

Wasting no seconds, I followed everyone lead into Enzio Busso's office to attending an important meeting in there.

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