“Human, although the porridge you made is a bit worse than Flora's, I suppose it's still edible,” Velyan said after taking a sip of the seafood porridge.
“Are you praising me?”
“Mm! Of course I am praising you.” Velyan lowered her head and took another sip, whispering, “It’s just that the shrimp in the porridge is a bit overcooked.”
“I believe you are a picky eater now,” Chen Mian said, leaning back in his chair with a touch of helplessness.
“So there are things even Mr. Chen Mian isn't good at~” Flora chuckled as she took a sip of her porridge. She looked up and said, “But I think it's delicious. Even if the shrimp is overcooked, the flavor of the porridge is wonderful.”
“If even Flora says the shrimp is overcooked, then it really is,” Louise said, taking a sip of tea. Her purple-gold eyes held a trace of mischief. “But it's quite rare for Chen Mian to wake up early just to cook porridge.”
“I think so too.” Velyan nodded solemnly, then scooped herself another bowl. “So to avoid wasting it, I have decided to finish all the leftovers.”
“Do you call that avoiding waste? You're just greedy,” Louise teased with a light laugh.
“What do you think, Loviki?” Louise's gaze landed on Loviki's face, the corners of her lips curling slightly.
“Ah? What?” Loviki slowly raised her head, asking with a blank expression.
“Is the porridge Chen Mian made delicious?”
Loviki froze for a moment. She looked down at her nearly finished bowl of porridge, a flush slowly creeping onto her ears. “...It's delicious.”
The dining table fell quiet for a moment.
Louise's hand holding her teacup paused in midair, and she let out a soft chuckle. “Oh.”
“What do you mean by ‘oh’?” Loviki looked up, a hint of wariness in her voice.
“Nothing.” Louise set down her teacup. “I just think it's quite rare. I recall someone usually saying things are ‘just okay,’ yet now she's outright calling it delicious.”
“I... I was just...” Loviki opened her mouth, trying to explain herself, but she swallowed her words back down, her cheeks gradually turning red.
“That was the truth,” Flora added with a smile. “Loviki has always been very honest.”
Loviki looked at Flora, then at Louise. Finally, she lowered her head and picked up her spoon again, scooping the last bit of porridge from the bottom of the bowl into her mouth. She mumbled, “Mm! I am very honest.”
Chen Mian's gaze shifted from Loviki's bright red ears to Louise's mischievous smile. His lips twitched slightly, but he said nothing.
“I think it's very delicious!” Velyan looked up, her cheeks puffed out. “It's just that the shrimp is a bit overcooked!”
“You already said that,” Chen Mian said, withdrawing his gaze with a smile. “I'll improve it tomorrow.”
“You're cooking tomorrow too?” Loviki looked up, her voice rising slightly.
“Mm. It's quite far from here to the market on the main street, and it's not convenient for Flora to go out and buy groceries. So, just rest up.”
Loviki lowered her head, gently playing with the remaining porridge in her bowl. Her voice was very soft. “...You should rest more too... I mean, it's fine if breakfast is a bit late tomorrow... We can wait.”
Louise placed her empty teacup on the table. As she got up and passed by Loviki, she whispered, “Look at you, knowing just what to say.”
Loviki's fingers paused on the rim of her bowl. The blush on her face deepened, but in the end, she simply pretended not to hear, lowering her head to swallow the last bite of porridge.
After a moment, she set her bowl down, looked up, and said, “I need to return to my family.”
“Now?” Flora set down her teacup, tilting her head to look at her.
“Yes, there are some things I need to clear up with my father,” Loviki said as she stood up and pushed her chair back under the table. “Besides, my return can't be hidden from the Lawrence Family or the royal family. The Second Prince will definitely send people to keep an eye on me. It won't be good if I drag this out.”
“I'll go with you.”
“No need.” Loviki shook her head, a hint of a smile in her tone. “I can handle it myself. You guys just wait for me here. I'll be back once I'm done talking.”
Louise leaned back in her chair, still holding her half-finished tea. Her gaze lingered on Loviki's face. “Are you sure?”
“I'm sure.” Loviki had already walked to the door and was bending down to change her shoes, her back turned to everyone. “This young lady is a Diamond Rank adventurer, after all. Besides, my own family wouldn't make things too difficult for me.”
Having said that, she stood up, preparing to step outside.
“Wait a moment.” Chen Mian stood up from the table and walked to the door.
Loviki paused in her tracks and turned back to look at Chen Mian. “What is it?”
Chen Mian walked up to her, retrieved a silver hairpin from his storage space, and handed it to her.
Loviki looked down at it for a couple of seconds. “...This is?”
“It's for you,” Chen Mian said casually. “Keep it with you. If there's something you can't handle, I can help you.”
Loviki's gaze lingered on the hairpin. She reached out to take it, then looked up at Chen Mian with surprise, an indescribable emotion swirling in her eyes. “When did you make this?”
“Take a guess.”
“I'm off.” She squeezed the hairpin tightly in her palm, the corners of her lips curving upward slightly.
“Mm.”
Loviki turned around, took two steps, and then stopped with her back to him. She raised her hand and tucked the hairpin into her hair beside her ear.
Having done this, she continued forward, her steps slightly lighter and swifter than before.
“When did you make that?” Flora's voice drifted over from the sofa, carrying a touch of curiosity.
“Back at the apartment. Even though Loviki said she would handle it herself, I couldn't just do nothing.” Chen Mian helped Flora clear the empty bowls from the table.
“The array inside that hairpin—is it a defensive array?” Louise leaned back, setting down the book in her hands.
“Mm, a defensive array and locating magic.” With that, Chen Mian turned and walked into the kitchen.
“You know, couldn't you have just told her directly that you made her a protective amulet? She won't be able to sense the mana fluctuations on it. On her way back, she'll probably spend the whole time overthinking what you meant by those words.” Louise set her book aside and stood up to help clear the table as well.
Chen Mian placed the washed bowls on the drying rack. “She's incredibly stubborn. If I did, she'd think I have no confidence in her.”
“How did I never notice you were so thoughtful before?”
“Is that so?”
...
Loviki stopped in front of the Lawrence Family manor.
The double cast-iron gates stood wide open, and the stone pathway inside was neatly paved. Maids stood on both sides with their hands lowered respectfully.
Loviki stepped over the threshold. The front two maids curtsied in greeting, and she walked straight down the stone pathway.
An elderly man in uniform walked over slowly, stopping three paces away from her. Placing his right hand over his chest, he bowed slightly. “Eldest Miss, you have returned.”
The elderly man was Herman, the butler of the Lawrence Family. He had been with the family for over forty years, managing everything in the manor since her grandfather's generation.
“Uncle Herman, is Father here?”
“The master is in his study, currently speaking with a guest.” Herman paused, his voice calm and even. “It's someone sent by the Second Prince. They have been here for a while.”
Loviki's fingers tightened slightly beneath her cloak, but her expression remained unchanged. “Is that guest still there?”
“They are still here,” Herman answered truthfully. After a brief pause, he added, “The master's intention is likely for you to head over a bit later, Eldest Miss.”
Loviki stood in the foyer, her gaze drifting over Herman's shoulder to the tightly shut study door at the end of the hallway. After a moment of silence, she asked, “Does Father know I'm returning today?”
“He does.” Herman nodded slightly. “The moment you entered the city, the news spread. It's no secret in the Royal Capital, so the master guessed you would return home today.”
Loviki withdrew her gaze, adjusted the ties of her cloak, and turned to walk down the other end of the hallway. “I understand. I'll wait in the drawing room.”
Rate on N.U.
