chapter 14: A peaceful dinner

While the stew simmered gently over the fire, I turned my attention to the potatoes. After peeling them, I cut each one into evenly sized pieces before tossing them into a wooden bowl with melted butter, freshly minced garlic, rosemary, thyme, cracked black pepper, and a pinch of coarse salt. Using my hands, I mixed everything together until every piece was evenly coated before spreading them across a baking tray. The rich aroma of butter and herbs immediately filled the kitchen as I slid the tray into the stone oven. Beside me, Orion watched with quiet interest, occasionally asking questions about each step, while Kael leaned lazily against the counter, his eyes following every movement—not because he wanted to learn, but because he was impatient to eat. I couldn't help smiling to myself. "You're staring at the food like it might run away," I teased. Kael didn't even bother denying it. "After smelling all this? I honestly think waiting should be considered a form of torture."

I laughed softly before cracking several eggs into a ceramic bowl and whisking them together with chopped spring onions, herbs, and a splash of fresh milk. Once the pan was hot enough, I poured in the mixture, letting it cook slowly over a gentle flame until the eggs puffed into a soft golden omelette. At the same time, I sliced the loaf of bread we'd bought earlier, brushed each piece lightly with garlic butter, and placed them into another pan to toast until the edges turned crisp and golden. The scent was enough to make anyone hungry. I had barely turned my back to check on the stew when I heard the faintest rustle behind me. Without even looking, I picked up the wooden spoon resting beside the stove and lightly tapped the back of the hand reaching toward the bread.

"Ow!" Kael pulled his hand back immediately, staring at me with exaggerated disbelief. "You didn't even look! How did you know that was me?"

Keeping my attention on the bubbling stew, I stirred it slowly before answering with a smile. "Because Orion would have asked first."

Orion let out a quiet laugh from behind us while Kael placed a hand dramatically over his chest as though I'd deeply wounded him. "I was only making sure the bread wasn't burnt."

I finally turned to face him, raising an amused eyebrow. "Kael... it's bread."

"So?"

"So it doesn't require quality inspection every thirty seconds."

"That's where you're wrong," he argued with complete confidence. "As someone with years of professional eating experience, I can assure you that every meal deserves proper testing before it's served."

"Professional eating experience?" Orion repeated, unable to hide the amusement in his voice.

"Exactly."

"And who gave you that title?"

Kael puffed out his chest proudly. "I gave it to myself."

The three of us burst into laughter, and for a brief moment the kitchen no longer felt like an unfamiliar place inside the Crown Dormitory. Instead, it reminded me of the tiny kitchen Aunt Mira and I used to share, where conversations came as naturally as breathing and laughter always found its way into ordinary evenings.

After tasting the stew one final time and adjusting the seasoning, I nodded in satisfaction before carefully ladling it into a large serving pot. The vegetables had become wonderfully tender, while the chicken practically melted apart under the spoon. I arranged the roasted potatoes on a wide platter, sliced the fluffy herb omelette into neat portions, and placed the toasted garlic bread into a woven basket lined with a clean white cloth. Looking at the completed meal spread across the counter filled me with quiet satisfaction. It wasn't an extravagant banquet worthy of nobles, but it was warm, comforting, and made with care. Sometimes, that was enough.

Just as I began carrying the dishes toward the dining table, steady footsteps echoed through the hallway. A moment later, Azriel appeared at the kitchen entrance, his silver hair slightly damp as though he'd only recently finished training. His calm violet eyes swept across the room before stopping on the food covering the table. There wasn't much expression on his face, but I caught the faintest hint of surprise in his gaze.

"The chef is off today?" he asked casually.

Before I could answer, Kael grinned mischievously. "No. Our new housemate decided she didn't trust the chef with our lives."

"I never said that," I protested, laughing despite myself. "I just... wanted to cook."

Azriel shifted his attention back to me. "You enjoy it?"

I nodded. "Very much."

For a moment, he remained silent before giving a small nod of his own. "I see."

Without another word, he walked over to the dining table, pulled out one of the chairs, and sat down as naturally as though he'd been invited hours ago.

Kael blinked several times before pointing accusingly at him. "Hold on a second. That's unfair."

Azriel looked at him calmly. "What is?"

"You didn't help us carry groceries."

"No."

"You didn't even know we were cooking."

"Correct."

"So why are you already sitting at the table?"

Azriel folded his hands together, his expression completely serious. "Because dinner appears to be ready."

Kael opened his mouth, closed it again, then turned helplessly toward Orion. "Do you hear this guy?"

Orion merely smiled. "He's not wrong."

"He absolutely is!"

Azriel finally looked toward me instead. "Would you rather I leave?"

The unexpected question caught me off guard. I quickly shook my head. "No! Not at all. There's more than enough food for everyone."

"Good."

That single word was accompanied by the faintest curve of satisfaction at the corner of his lips. It disappeared so quickly I almost wondered if I'd imagined it.

I finished setting the table before inviting everyone to eat. Just as we were about to begin, another figure walked past the dining room. Lucian carried several thick books beneath one arm, his attention completely fixed on the pages in front of him until the aroma drifting from the table caused him to pause. His golden eyes slowly lifted toward the meal before settling briefly on us.

Kael immediately waved. "Lucian! Perfect timing. Come eat."

Lucian glanced at the books in his hands before offering a small apologetic smile. "I still have several reports to finish tonight."

"Reports can wait," Orion replied.

"They're due tomorrow morning."

"So are you saying paperwork is more important than freshly cooked food?" Kael asked dramatically.

Lucian's gaze lingered on the steaming stew for another second before he quietly sighed. "Unfortunately... tonight, yes."

Without another word, he continued upstairs.

The moment he disappeared, Kael leaned closer to us and whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear, "He wanted to stay."

"He did," Orion agreed with a knowing smile.

Even Azriel calmly added, "He slowed down when he smelled the food."

I couldn't stop myself from laughing.

Dinner passed more peacefully than I could have imagined. Kael praised nearly every bite as though he were judging an international cooking competition, insisting the roasted potatoes deserved an award while shamelessly reaching for a third helping of stew. Orion asked thoughtful questions about the recipe, genuinely interested in learning how to prepare it himself someday. Azriel, on the other hand, spoke very little throughout the meal, but when he quietly finished his bowl before looking up and saying, "It's delicious," those two simple words somehow carried more weight than all of Kael's enthusiastic compliments combined.

Once everyone had finished eating, I naturally began gathering the empty dishes. Orion immediately stood. "You cooked. Let us clean up."

I smiled as I stacked the plates carefully. "Thank you, but I'm used to this. Aunt Mira always said whoever cooks should finish the kitchen too. It feels strange leaving the work half done."

Seeing that I had already made up my mind, none of them argued further. I carried everything back into the kitchen, rolled up my sleeves once again, and quietly washed each plate, bowl, and pan until everything sparkled. The simple routine brought an unexpected sense of comfort. Water flowed gently over my hands while the quiet clinking of porcelain echoed softly through the room. For the first time since arriving at Noctis Academy, the silence didn't feel lonely.

By the time I finished, night had completely settled over the academy. Moonlight poured through the tall windows as countless floating lanterns illuminated the gardens outside. After wishing everyone goodnight, I returned to my room, enjoying the peaceful stillness of the corridor. A warm shower washed away the lingering scent of herbs and smoke, and afterward I changed into a simple cream-colored nightdress with a light blue cardigan draped over my shoulders. As I sat on the edge of the bed drying my hair, my eyes drifted toward the small framed photograph resting on the bedside table.

Picking it up carefully, I traced the edge of the frame with my thumb. Aunt Mira's gentle smile looked exactly as I remembered.

"I cooked dinner tonight," I whispered softly. "You always said sharing food was the fastest way to become friends. I think... you were right."

A small smile lingered on my lips as I returned the photograph to its place. Pulling the blanket over myself, I allowed the comforting exhaustion of the day to take over. Outside, the lights of Noctis Academy shimmered beneath the star-filled sky, completely unaware that, little by little, the distance between the future Void Queen and the four Crown Kings was beginning to disappear.