KNIGHTS 06

You know that feeling of awkwardness? That’s exactly how I felt at that moment, secretly watching the four Knights I was having dinner with. The plan I’d been forming to find them had been swept away by fate, bringing me right to their doorstep. Was this a sign? A sign that Oz would rise again, and I could finally fall for Ash?

I couldn’t help but steal glances at them. Onyx Samaniego, he looked like a decent guy, the kind you wouldn’t suspect of playing with women’s hearts. He seemed kind, someone who wouldn’t do anything crazy. His good looks were truly deceptive. Then I secretly looked at Tomi Hideki, this half-Japanese guy. I wondered if during my temporary stay here, I would experience his craziness. I guess I should be nervous in the coming days. Then I looked at Zild Benitez, who was quietly eating. This guy, you rarely hear him speak. He’d just surprise you when he felt like it. He was so mysterious. And then Ash… I couldn’t help but be surprised when I saw him looking at me.

“Aza, is there a problem? You’re not eating, so I assume you didn’t like the food.” He said to me, causing Onyx and Tomi to look at me too. Zild just kept eating.

“H-huh? No, the food is really delicious. Do you have a chef here? He’s really good at cooking, thumbs up.” I said with a smile.

What I said was true. The food was cooked so well, it tasted like a five-star hotel.

“Chef? We don’t need that.” Onyx answered me with a smile, which I found strange.

“If that’s the case, who cooks your food? Is it you, Onyx?” I asked him, but he didn’t look like he was good at cooking.

“Cooking is not my thing, so I’m not.”

I told you so. Maybe he can’t even handle simple frying. Maybe Tomi is the one cooking for them.

“So you’re the one cooking, Tomi?” I asked him, turning to him, only for him to shake his head.

“Nah! They don’t let me in the kitchen, so I don’t have a chance. Raizen might give me a bump on the head if I try to cook in the kitchen.” Tomi answered me with a smile, which made me furrow my eyebrows.

“Huh? Why?”

“One time he cooked in the kitchen, the house almost burned down.” Ash answered my question, which made me turn to Ash in surprise.

“Re-really?” I said before I turned back to Tomi, who was smiling widely at me.

“He tried to make the fire in the stove stronger, so he sprayed it with gas, and the fire grew, almost burning down the house. Thanks to the Mighty Prince Raizen, the fire was put out. Otherwise, the Knights Mansion would have turned to ashes.” Onyx said, which made me slightly wince because I couldn’t believe Tomi.

Who in their right mind would spray gas on the stove just to make the fire stronger?

“Since then, Raizen hasn’t allowed me to step foot in the kitchen. I haven’t tried since because I don’t want to sleep next to Safi.” Tomi told me and continued eating.

“Raizen is the cook here in the house. The truth is, Raizen is the only one out of the five of us who knows how to cook.” Ash said with a smile, which made me look at Ash in disbelief before looking at the delicious food in front of me.

“Re-really? Raizen cooked all of this? This delicious food?” I couldn’t help but be amazed by that grumpy guy because he’s so good at cooking.

“Yup, he studied culinary in one of the famous Universities in Greece, and he also studied Hotel and Restaurant Management. He was the best student there, a topnotcher in his batch. I must say that Raizen is the best cook in all of Asia.” Ash said, which made my jaw drop in surprise.

Ash wouldn’t joke like that to praise that grumpy guy if it wasn’t true, right?

“He also studied nursing. He almost became a licensed doctor, but he declined because he studied Law.” Ash added, telling me more about that grumpy guy, which I couldn’t believe anymore.

That grumpy prince studied cooking? He almost became a doctor? Then he studied Law? Maybe he studied all the courses. Ash was too shy to tell me.

“That’s why Raizen is more popular with girls than me. He just doesn’t know how to entertain girls.” Onyx said, and we all turned to Zild, who stood up from his seat, took his plate, and brought it to the kitchen, which made me look at him.

I forgot he was eating with us. Why is he so quiet?

“Get used to Zild. He’s really not talkative.” Ash said to me, looking at Zild, who just came out of the kitchen and silently went straight up the stairs.

“You’re lucky if he even talks to you. He’ll give you the silent treatment. Raizen is the only one he talks to properly.” Onyx said, and he stood up from his seat.

“I’ll leave you guys for now. I have a date I need to go to.” Onyx said goodbye to us with a smile.

“With who? Amara?” Tomi asked, which made Onyx grin at him.

“No more. Who’s Juvia, Alyna, or Patricia?”

“None of the above, Hideki.” Onyx said with a grin before patting Tomi on the shoulder and leaving.

He didn’t even take his plate to the kitchen and just left for his date. He’s really a womanizer.

“Eat, Aza. I haven’t seen you take a bite yet. You might get weak if you only eat a little.” Ash pointed out, which made me smile at him.

“He’s really kind to me. I won’t be surprised if I actually fall for him in the coming days.

“The Prince is really the best cook.” Tomi praised that grumpy guy while taking more food and putting it on his plate. I furrowed my eyebrows, noticing that the guy wasn’t eating with us.

“Where is he? Isn’t he going to eat? He cooked all this food, and he’s not even here?” I asked Ash.

Maybe he’s not here because he doesn’t want to eat with me? Doesn’t he know the word sociable?

“Oh, Raizen only eats with us sometimes, for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. He prefers to eat alone. He’ll probably eat later when we’re all asleep.” Tomi answered me, and I just nodded.

“Is that so?”

That Prince is so antisocial, a loner. But it’s okay, I can’t handle his grumpiness anyway. And I feel awkward around him. I wouldn’t understand him if we ate together because of his critical gaze, and his coldness, his lack of emotion.

“Raizen is used to eating alone.” Ash added, explaining with a smile. I just nodded and started eating again.

That’s how a guy is, if he has that attitude, it’s either the woman he loved left him or he was cheated on. That’s how grumpy guys are, right?

“Raizen’s never had a girlfriend.” Ash said with a smile, and I turned to him.

“Huh? What did you say?” I asked, which made him smile even more.

“Raizen has never had a girlfriend. He was just born grumpy.” He answered me, which surprised me a little.

“Wow! Can you read my mind?”

“No, I just know what you’re thinking.” Ash answered me with a laugh, and I grinned at him. I thought Ash was a mind reader to know what I was thinking. Am I that transparent?

“The Prince is still a virgin. He’s never been in love or felt admiration for any woman.” Tomi explained, which made me lean closer to him.

“Maybe he’s gay, do you think?” I concluded, and Ash and Tomi both laughed at what I said.

Okay, I guess I was wrong.

“Hehehe I told you, I was wrong.”

“He’s not gay, he just doesn’t want commitment. And he doesn’t know what it feels like to be in love.” Ash said with a smile, and I just nodded and continued eating.

With a guy that handsome, he’s never had a girlfriend or had a crush? The woman he’ll love is so lucky. But she’ll be unlucky too because he’s so grumpy. Why am I thinking about that grumpy guy? Why do I care about his love life?

I just pushed that grumpy guy out of my mind and continued eating.

After Ash and I finished eating, they took me to the room they gave me, and they said they and Tomi would wash the dishes. I refused at first because it would be embarrassing, but Ash insisted, so I had no choice but to leave them and go up to the room they gave me. As soon as I got up, I fell onto the bed, it was softer than my bed in my apartment with Lena.

I quickly sat up from my lying position when I remembered Lena, so I immediately took my cell phone, which thankfully was still with me. I sat up straight and started calling Lena.

(Aza! I’m so glad you called. We’ve been waiting for your call. Did you arrive in our province safely?)

“Sorry Lena, I only had time to call you now. Don’t worry about me and CC, I’m okay. But I didn’t go home to our province.” I answered Lena.

(What?! Tell me, Azalhea Liem Mcphee, if you’re not in our province, where are you? Where are you staying?!)

I moved the phone away from my ear because Lena was shouting on the other line. I knew she was surprised by what I said, but she seemed to have forgotten that the speaker was near my ear.

“Lena, chill okay! I’m fine. You can still hear me, right?”

(Answer Lena’s question, Aza, where are you? Where are you staying tonight?)

I furrowed my eyebrows when I heard Mia’s voice on the other line.

“Mia? Wait, are you on speakerphone?”

(No, we’re just on conference call. This is just a secret because Wilton’s men are watching us.)

Conference call? Why do they need to do that when they’re all in the same house? My friends are always weird.

“CC, did Wilton do anything to you? Did he hurt you?” I asked, because I was worried about them.

(Don’t worry Aza, he’s just angry, but he didn’t hurt us. He’s just watching our movements so he knows where you went. He’s looking for you, Aza. That guy really likes you.)

I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that they were okay and Wilton hadn’t done anything to them.

“It’s good that that rat didn’t do anything to you, Lena. If he did, I’d really blame myself.” I said.

(Crazy, don’t think about it, the important thing is that he can’t force you to marry him. Oz is still okay, and wherever you are now, if you know that Wilton will have a hard time finding you, stay there for now.)

“Thank you guys. Be careful there.” I said to them with a smile.

(You’re talking too much, Aza. You haven’t told us where you’re staying now.)

“I’ll tell you, Lena, you’re worse than Mom. If I tell you where I’m staying now, guys, don’t freak out okay?” I reminded them, knowing that even though I couldn’t see them, they were all furrowing their eyebrows together.

(Why would we freak out?)

“Because Mia, you won’t believe where I’m staying now! Even I still can’t believe I’m here now.” I said.

(Where are you? Just tell us.)

“Okay, CC, Lena, Mia, I’m staying at the Five Knights’ house now.” I told them, which made them furrow their eyebrows and I was surprised because they were silent.

“Hello? Guys? Are you still there?” I asked, looking for them.

(Aza, where are you now? Can you repeat that? It’s like we went deaf when you said it.)

I thought they were gone from the other line.

“Lena, I said I’m staying at the Five Knights’ house now.”

(OMG! IS THAT TRUE AZA?)

I laughed a little when they were all surprised by what I said.

“It’s surprising, right?”

(How did you end up there? Don’t tell me you went through with your plan! Admit it!)

“No Lena! It’s a coincidence that I’m here now, even I still can’t believe it, but I know I’m safe here because Wilton won’t think I’m hiding here.” I explained to them.

(She’s right Lena! Aza is safe there, it’s surprising how she ended up at the Five Knights’ house, but Aza, be careful okay. As long as Wilton’s looking for you, stay there for now.)

“Thank you CC.” CC is so understanding.

(Wait, wait! If you’re staying at the Five Knights’ house, are they really handsome? What are they like? Are they trustworthy, Aza, tell me!)

“Lena, calm down, they’re fine, the fi--hello? Lena, Mia, CC, hello?” I furrowed my eyebrows and put down my cell phone and looked at it when I saw it was dead.

“Oh no! I’m out of battery. Too bad I didn’t tell them that one of the Five Knights is my crush, and they’d be even more surprised that I’m with a prince here who’s good at cooking, a licensed nurse who almost became a doctor, and a lawyer.” I said, which made me pause in my seat when I realized what I was saying.

“Wait? Am I impressed by that grumpy Prince’s skills? Aish! Erase erase, no matter how talented that grumpy guy is, he still fails in good manners and right conduct.” I said when I felt thirsty.

I immediately stood up from my seat and put my cell phone on the bed. I walked out of my room and walked straight down the stairs. I couldn’t help but look at a room that, as far as I remember, was where the grumpy guy came out.

“Why is that grumpy guy’s room downstairs? Ash is upstairs, but the prince is downstairs?” I asked myself, shrugged, and went straight to the kitchen. I stopped when I saw the grumpy guy, who stopped eating and looked at me.

Ash was right, he was eating alone.

Raizen’s cold gaze quickly left me and went back to his food. Introvert is another word I can call that grumpy guy.

“Uhmmm, I’m just going to get some water.” I said, because I didn’t want him to think I was feeling at home in his mansion, but he didn’t answer me, and I was like air that he couldn’t see.

Okay, Zild’s the one.

I sighed and went to the fridge to get some water. As I poured water into my glass, I didn’t know why I felt so awkward around that grumpy guy.

“You should not feel at home while you’re here, it will not last, so if I were you, I wouldn’t get used to it.” He said coldly, and I almost choked on my drink because he spoke so suddenly.

I looked at the grumpy guy, who was just staring straight at his food after telling me not to feel at home.

“I know that, you don’t need to remind me.”

He’s so grumpy, so different from Ash.

“That’s good.” He said before standing up from his seat and turning to me seriously.

“Knowing your place while you’re here is safe for you.” He said coldly as he walked towards me, which surprised me.

Why does he have to come closer? I’m already awkward around him!

I flinched in surprise when the grumpy guy suddenly took the glass I was holding, which still had water in it. My eyes widened when he finished the remaining water in my glass.

“Te-teka, th-that’s mine…” I said softly, and after he finished the water in my glass, he put it on the counter behind me before turning to me, his handsome face still poker-faced.

“What?”

“Ka-kasi, th-that’s my water?” I answered, and he gave me a look without any emotion.

“So? That’s our property, besides, I’m too lazy to open the fridge just to get water when you’re already holding it.” He said, then moved away from me and turned his back on me.

“Wash my plate before you go to your room.” He ordered before leaving me in the kitchen.

I was left standing there, not knowing what to think, and I just looked at his plate, which I couldn’t help but frown at.

“Tss! I’m his dishwasher now! What can I expect from that grumpy prince? He doesn’t know how to wash dishes. He even steals water from someone who already has water! Property, I’m not claiming his glass, I was just drinking from it.” I said angrily, taking his plate to wash it.

“I wish I hadn’t come downstairs! Annoying!”

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