The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL]-Chapter 498: Soulmate

An Orc.

One who would usually prefer any type of meat, even when they could eat other things. After all, if there were perfectly good flesh available, why would they bother unless they were spiritual relics?

And yet look at him, and that aide of his.

If other Orcs were to see them, they would’ve been suspected of being cursed. That type where they would move on their own, driven by a yearning they didn’t even know they had.

And what a horrifying reality was that?!

For the Orc King, who had lived long enough to know that humans had always taken nutrient solutions for the longest time, was out here demolishing actual greens.

What did humans even know about food? He had questions. But in the face of his nostrils flaring at the fresh scent that hit him. It was hard to focus on anything but the crisp sound that echoed everywhere.

They were eating the same damn thing like the word scarcity didn’t exist.

Oh, and he hadn’t even touched this thing called a garlic bread yet! His heart raced, and if he didn’t know it, he would’ve thought it was because he was about to win a great battle.

It was irrational. He was irrational.

But apparently, he wasn’t the only one. For from behind the counter, Luca watched as the people discovered the joys of food once again.

Normally, he would’ve been celebrating this because it was really something to watch all these people enjoying themselves like this.

But today was a bit different as the normally excited guild leader had been close to vibrating to another planet since earlier.

He’d been worried and extremely tense, especially as he hung on to King Garick’s reactions as he ate the meals that he wasn’t even supposed to be eating.

After all, the King wasn’t a member, but because Princess Kira was officially part of DG, they were allowed to experience this.

At first, Luca didn’t understand why they had to find justification for this, but Xavier explained that while it would’ve been better to give him special treatment, what was important was showing him how his daughter’s status here would benefit him.

And it seems like his husband was right because the Orc King had started to notice the gazes of the other members who didn’t have the VIP privilege.

Hopefully, that would help Princess Kira and, well, him, by extension.

Because if the King wasn’t as taken with the food as they hoped, would he continue to insist on that impossible engagement?

The little dragon’s shoulders drooped at this. He couldn’t help it.

But even as he fretted over the King’s reactions, his gaze softened when he remembered the little visitor who had arrived much earlier.

Princess Nina.

She’d been hidden away with Xavier after arriving with Lord Killian, who looked like he’d seen better years.

At first, Luca thought she was there in response to the announcements they made to all the members, but who would’ve thought that she was there to heal her little heart?

The startled guide could still remember how she jumped up at him, with tears in her eyes, and started mumbling different things that Luca wasn’t able to catch between sniffles.

"What happened? Are you alright, Princess Nina?" Luca asked softly, crouching to her level.

She was not.

Not even close.

Nina had clearly had a rough night and by the looks of it, a rough morning too. She still wore her usual neat clothes, not a hair out of place, though her eyes were watery and shimmering as she clung to him like a lifeline.

She hadn’t even brought her beloved pets with her, she confessed between hiccupping breaths. She’d been in such a rush, so desperate to see her big brother and her Brother Chipmunk, that she’d left Mr. Quackers and Snowy behind entirely.

Luca’s heart squeezed at that.

But now that she was here, safely tucked in the warm, softly lit cabin, surrounded by the people she was initially worried about, she finally seemed to relax.

Her tiny fingers clung tighter to his sleeve as he gave her head a gentle pat, murmuring soothing nonsense until her sobs quieted to little sniffles.

She stayed there for a long moment, basking in the comfort of his golden gaze and the quiet strength of the space around her.

Then, suddenly, her ears twitched at the sound of her brother’s voice.

Xavier had turned to Lord Killian, his tone sharp as he demanded, "Did anything else happen?"

And that was all it took for Nina to come back to life.

With a wriggle and a stubborn little growl, she scrambled to speak, trying to wedge herself into the conversation.

Her explanation came out between hiccups and angry little sobs, but it was clear enough: she told them all about the big, bad Orc who came to take her brother away.

Her brother.

She’d said it with such fierce conviction—like Xavier needed protection, and she wouldn’t let anyone take him.

Even though her words tumbled out in little bursts of half-sentences and tearful indignation, Luca understood perfectly.

And he couldn’t help but smile softly, his own eyes warm with pride as he stroked her hair.

What a brave little princess she was.

"You did very well," he murmured. "You were very brave to come all this way by yourself."

She sniffled again, burrowing into his coat.

"While you can’t come out of my cabin for the meantime," he continued gently, "I think you deserve to rest here for a while. And you definitely deserve the same treats as everyone else."

At that, her little ears perked up faintly.

That was how she learned about the day’s featured food items

The first thing Luca brought her was a small plate of garden salad.

Honestly, he was concerned that the child wouldn’t like it. Since even back in the orphanage, the children would usually complain about vegetables. And because some would throw them away, he had been able to get more things to plant by secretly taking them.

So, just as expected, she stared at it suspiciously at first, leaning forward to sniff it like a wary kitten. But when Luca—soft-voiced and impossibly patient—encouraged her with a gentle, "Try it. You might like it," she very delicately speared a single leaf with her fork and popped it into her mouth.

Her golden eyes went wide.

Her little cheeks puffed as she chewed.

Then she gasped, clutching the edge of her chair dramatically. "It’s...so crunchy!" she whispered, like she’d just discovered another secret.

Luca laughed softly and set down the next plate in front of her: warm garlic breadsticks.

This time, she didn’t hesitate. She tore one in half and immediately bit into it because the smell alone was so inviting that she would’ve been bewitched even if she’d tried to avoid it.

After all, she wasn’t that strong yet.

The moment the unfamiliar taste registered in her brain, she froze.

Her tiny hands clutched the breadstick like it was a holy relic, and she declared breathlessly, "It’s so soft...but also chewy...but also perfect!"

Her tail would’ve wagged if she had one, and for a moment, Luca wondered if Xavier had been like this when he was younger.

But the giggling guide’s musings were interrupted by the Imperial Crown Prince, who came over with the next dish.

It was the pizza.

Luca pushed the perfectly cut slice of cheese pizza toward her, his soft smile warming her even more than the food. "Here. I hope you end up enjoying this one too," he said.

So she tried it.

And then her chair screeched backward as she stood up like a lightning bolt had struck her.

She slapped both palms on the table, staring at the slice as if she couldn’t believe something so beautiful could exist.

"THIS...is the best thing I’ve ever eaten!" she declared, her little voice carrying across the room, earning a few amused glances from even the tired Chief of Staff.

Luca, cheeks faintly pink from trying not to laugh outright, only nodded solemnly as he cut another slice for her.

Because, of course, a chipmunk always knew how to spoil a princess.

Every time he set another bite of something in front of her, she’d react just as dramatically—pressing her cheeks, clutching her head, even hiding her face behind her hands before peeking out like she wasn’t sure if she deserved something so good.

And then, finally, he set down the last treat.

A delicate little cup of strawberry ice cream.

She stared at it.

Her eyes glistened.

Her breath caught.

Slowly, she picked up the spoon.

Her first bite was slow and cautious, but as the cool, creamy sweetness melted on her tongue, she froze completely.

One bite.

And that was it.

Her bright eyes went wide, a little spark of wonder lighting them up as she clutched the spoon and whispered in awe, "Wow!"

Xavier arched a brow from the corner, but Luca only chuckled softly.

Because the little girl had just met her soul mate.

Strawberry ice cream.

And one prince wasn’t sure if this was going to turn into an addiction.