She was no Rebecca, and Sain was definitely not Lowen. And she still stood by her opinion that Sain's flirtatious ways were gross.
But the sight of a man complaining of hunger on patrol aroused a sort of compassion in her. And if people see me doing something nice for a person I can't stand, they'll see me as the saint I truly am!
So she arrived at Sain's post, basket in hand and a smile on her face.
"I hope you like pheasant! I couldn't find Kent or Lady Lyndis to ask them what you like, so I had to make a lot of wild guesses," she said. Sain looked genuinely surprised.
"You...actually made me dinner? Why, Sister Serra, the last time we spoke I was led to believe you had quite a bad impression of me!" he said. "And yet, here you are coming to my rescue with food you so lovingly prepared yourself!"
Serra cursed as she actually felt herself blush.
"Well...don't look into it too much, I did it because it's what a good servant of Elimine does, right? Helping my fellow man?" She toyed with the end of her right pigtail. "So you like pheasant, right?"
"It all looks absolutely mouthwatering!" he exclaimed. "I'm truly touched by your generousity!"
"You should be," she said, but before she could blink he was kneeling at her feet, taking her hand in his own.
"A lot of our army speaks so harshly of you, but they clearly don't know the true Sister Serra...a true lady in every sense of the word." He pressed his lips to the back of her hand, and her heart flip-flopped in her chest.
Damn him and his way with words! Serra thought as she felt her alterior motive slipping away.
"Well, enjoy!" she chirped.
"Wait, Serra..." He extended an arm. "At the risk of seeming too forward, would you care to join me? You made more than enough for just one person, and I'd love the company."
Without even thinking, she nodded and sat down beside him in the grass.