Arethia said to Mena, "Please eat."
"Thank you."
Arethia and Athena started eating, but Mena did not start. He recalled Thomas's look when he finished his meal, and when he looked at Arethia and Athena, he saw two ladies who knew table etiquette well. He, on the other hand, was an ordinary man who knew nothing about royal table manners, so he didn't know what to do as he did not want to embarrass himself.
Arethia, noticing that Mena wasn't eating, asked, "Why aren't you eating? Is there a problem with the food?"
Mena snapped out of his thoughts and said, "There is no problem with the food."
"Then why aren't you eating?"
"I will eat."
Arethia kept looking at Mena to start eating, but he didn't.
"If the food doesn't appeal to you, I can bring you something else."
"No, no, the problem is not with the food."
"Look, I invited you to dinner as part of my apology. If you don't eat anything, it means you haven't accepted my apology."
Mena felt embarrassed about the reason he was about to give: "This is the first time I've been invited to a royal dinner, and I don't know the royal table manners."
"I see. Then make yourself comfortable while eating. After all, you are my guest, and this dinner is not formal, so don't bother yourself with these thoughts."
As Arethia finished these words, Athena's eating style changed. She had been adventurous before she became the Army Commander and the Queen's Security Officer.
"Athena, I told Mena to make himself comfortable while eating, not you."
"Come on, you said this dinner isn't formal, so why should I care about table manners?"
"I did say that, but you are a noble, so you must pay attention to table manners to maintain your image."
"I hate table manners," she then said, smiling, "Don't forget this dinner is for our guest."
"Sigh... Fine."
Athena smiled in victory.
Mena, watching them bicker like friends, couldn't help but smile. From what he saw, they seemed to be good friends.
Everyone began eating. When they finished their meal, a maid entered the door pushing a serving cart that had no food, but three glass cups and wine bottles. She placed a cup in front of each person at the table and placed the wine bottles in the middle of the table.
"I apologize, Your Majesty, for the delay. Is there anything else you require?"
"Yes, we have finished eating, so I need you to take the dishes with you."
"Yes, my Lady."
The maid placed the dishes on the serving cart and exited the balcony.
Athena opened one of the wine bottles and filled the three cups. Athena began drinking.
Arethia said, "Please, Mena, drink."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Don't call me Your Majesty. Call me by my name, Arethia."
"Arethia."
"Yes, you are as strong as I am, so there is no need to use titles, right, Athena?"
"Yes, so there is no need to use titles."
"Alright."
"So, Mena, how about we chat while we drink?"
"Fine, no problem."
"Then why don't you tell us about yourself?"
"Mmm... well, I am twenty years old, and I am from planet Earth."
Arethia asked, "What does planet Earth look like?"
"Mmm... what does Earth look like? It is a planet that contains 71% water, six continents, and the North and South Poles."
Athena asked, "And what races live on Earth?"
"Only humans."
Mena said, "I am finished. Now it is your turn to tell me about yourselves and about this place."