Chapter 68: Cooking
Edward turned as the voice reached him.
A young girl, maybe around his age, hurried toward Arthur. Her long dress trailed softly behind her as she moved, blonde hair catching the sunlight that spilt into the courtyard. The soft glow of it made her look almost unreal—graceful yet grounded, her steps light but certain.
"Brother...?" Edward muttered under his breath, brow furrowing.
The answer came quickly. "This is my sister, Elara."
Elara turned to face them, her blue eyes bright with curiosity. "Elara, this is Aeris, Seraphine, and Edward."
At the mention of Edward’s name, her gaze lingered a second too long. A small, polite smile curved her lips as she extended her arm—not in the usual handshake, but a poised, formal gesture Edward didn’t quite recognise.
He hesitated, then took her hand gently. Unsure what he was supposed to do, he followed the half-remembered image of how nobles greeted ladies in the movies back on Earth. Leaning forward, he kissed the back of her hand lightly.
As he straightened, a faint shiver prickled the back of his neck.
He didn’t need to look to know where it came from. The air behind him had suddenly dropped several degrees. Both Aeris and Seraphine stood frozen—Aeris’ arms crossed, her expression unreadable, and Seraphine’s eyes narrowed as if assessing whether Elara counted as a new threat.
"Did I overdo it?" Edward questioned himself.
Elara, oblivious to the sudden tension, smiled politely. "My brother speaks very highly of you," she said.
"Does he?" Edward managed, trying not to sound as awkward as he felt.
Arthur gave a short nod, either not noticing or pretending not to notice the frost in the air. "We’ll talk more tomorrow," he said. "I have things to discuss with my father and sister."
He turned to Edward. "Get some rest. You’ve earned it."
Edward inclined his head. "You too."
Arthur gave one last glance at his friends before walking off, Elara close behind him.
The moment they disappeared around the corner, Edward exhaled in relief.
Then, the three of them also left.
The walk through the capital’s outer streets took longer than expected. The roads here were quieter, lined with older buildings patched and repainted a dozen times over. Faded banners still hung from balconies, and in the distance, the sound of merchants closing shop filled the air.
As they walked, Edward told them everything that had happened since they split up—the undead, the Lord’s fall, Auren’s sudden appearance. The girls, in turn, shared their story—how they were followed by an assassin, their arrival in the capital, the king’s refusal to help, and the tournament that Aeris had won.
By the time he finished, they’d reached a small, two-story house tucked between a bakery and a tailor’s shop. Smoke drifted faintly from its chimney.
"This is where you two are staying?" Edward asked.
"Yeah, the king... or rather Arthur said we can stay as long as we wish," Aeris replied.
The inside was modest but clean. Polished wooden walls and simple furniture filled the space, everything arranged neatly. The faint scent of lavender lingered in the air, and though the home was small, it felt... peaceful.
They settled around the dining table, the day’s fatigue settling into their shoulders.
Then Seraphine suddenly clapped her hands together. "I’m gonna make us some food!" she declared proudly.
Edward blinked. "You... cook?"
"Of course I do," she said, already bounding toward the kitchen. "You’ll love it!"
Aeris groaned softly, rubbing her temples. Her reaction sent a twinge of unease crawling down Edward’s spine.
"You okay?" he asked.
"For now," Aeris muttered, eyes locked on the kitchen doorway.
Edward tilted his head.
"She’s scared of her cooking?" he wondered, studying the girl’s expression. "It can’t be that bad, can it?"
It was.
A short while later, Seraphine placed three bowls of something steaming in front of them. The smell hit first—sharp, smoky, and slightly metallic.
Edward hesitated, then took a bite. The moment the taste of the food reached his mouth he was hit with instant regret.
A foul, rot-like taste flooded his mouth. It was as if the ingredients had staged a rebellion and lost. He chewed slowly, eyes watering, forcing himself to swallow before Seraphine noticed the internal battle.
"How is it?" she asked, leaning forward eagerly.
"Um..." Edward forced a pained smile. "It’s... food."
Her grin widened. "How’s the taste?"
He swallowed again—painfully. "Y-Yeah, it’s okay."
"See!" Seraphine turned triumphantly to Aeris. "Just because you’re a picky eater doesn’t mean my cooking’s bad."
Aeris gave her a flat stare. "I reckon poison tastes better."
"No, it doesn’t!" Seraphine said, puffing her cheeks in mock offence. To prove her point, she scooped a spoonful and shoved it into her mouth.
Two seconds later, she gagged and spat it back out into the bowl. "It’s awful!" she cried, grabbing a napkin.
Edward just smiled weakly. But Aeris? She laughed—a soft, rare sound—and for the first time in what felt like weeks, the tension in the room eased.
The rest of the day slipped by quietly. The three of them talked, laughed, and filled in the gaps their stories hadn’t covered. The city outside was peaceful for once, the chaos of war feeling like a far-off memory.
As the sun dipped below the rooftops, painting the room in a warm orange hue, Edward leaned back, content for the first time in days.
After some rest, he asked if he could look around the house.
"Sure," Aeris said, standing to lead him. "There’s not much to see."
She showed him the small living area, the kitchen, and a narrow staircase leading to the upper floor. The walls were decorated with simple drawings and a few wilted flowers in glass vases. It wasn’t luxurious, but it felt lived in—safe.
At the top, there were only two doors. Aeris pointed to one of them. "That’s mine. The other’s Seraphine’s."
Edward nodded before a realisation dawned on him. "Wait... there’s no guest room?"
A mischievous grin spread across Seraphine’s face as she looped her arm around his.
"Sooo..." she began slowly, her tone playful. "Which room are you gonna sleep in tonight?"