Back from the land of the death! \(○ □ ○)/

I know I have been absence for a month.

I have been busy with final exam preparation... even until now it still hasn't been finished... the school, they only give us one week for Christmas vacation...including new year... after that they will send us to some remoted village for a month for labor...(• _ •)

I will try to fasten up my writing...planned to finish the next chapter within a week...I hope I made it...

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"You're back commoner!"(???)

Once we get inside Johan's mansion, we were greeted by a cheeky looking young girl. I think she is around 16 or 18 years old. With drill like golden hair, white skin and blue eyes, she looked exactly like a rival character from my sister's otome game, an ojou-sama type.

"*sigh*....."(Mark)

"......*yawn* hello, Catherine..."(Johan)

"Hmp! Took you long enough to get back home."(Catherine)

With a haughty pose, the girl named Catherine, walka down the stairs

"......so, you're back cookhead"(Catherine)

"...what does cookhead even mean..."(Mark)

Mark looked at Catherine with a tired face. Somehow this girl shows a great hostility toward Mark

"Cookhead is cookhead, is your intelligence so low that you don't know human language? Even after leeching on Johan for five years and abandoning him, you sure are brave to get back here"(Catherine)

"I did not-"(Mark)

"I really wished you'd never come back"(Catherine)

Scary! she is really scary! Not only she cut off Mark, she's also giving him hateful glare! She really fits to be an otome game villian!

"...Catherine, don't be rude to Mark"(Johan)

"Hmp! It's my real feeling. And I don't want to talk to someone who is enslaved by his cooking because his dishes only attract stupid people, and stupidity is contageous"(Catherine)

"Hey! Don't bad mouth Mark's dishes!"(Kena)

"They are delicious!"(Perika)

"Un! Delicious!"(Parika)

You didn't denied the stupid part?!

"Tsk, now there are more stupid people in this mansion. Thinking about it just ruined my mood"(Catherine)

Catherine walks off without looking back. Once her figure disappears from our sight, Johan faces us with apologetic face and bows toward us

"...I'm sorry about that"(Johan)

"Don't worry, I'm used to it"(Mark)

"What are you saying Mark? She is so mean!"(Perika)

"Right, right! She is mean!"(Parika)

"Althought I will forgive cute little boys and cute girls, I would still be angry if they were bad mouthing my friends"(Kena)

"...."(Lila)

"Who is she anyway?"(Crev)

"....zzz"(Johan)

Don't sleep! How can this guy sleep while standing?!

"....Catherine is Johan's wife"(Mark)

"""Eeehh?!"""

They are married?! Really?! But this Johan guy looked way younger than her! It seems everyone is also thinking the same thing.

"You guys must be thinking that Johan is way younger than that girl"(Mark)

Wha-?! How did you know?! Oh wait, our faces are really obvious...

"Just for information, Catherine is actually younger than Johan"(Mark)

"""Ehh?!"""

"...I'm 23 this year"(Johan)

He just wakes up and answers our question at the right moment?! Is that some kind of skill?

"What?!"(Perika)

"No way!"(Parika)

Is he a vampire?!

"Are you a vampire?"(Kena)

I almost asked the same question! Although there were sub-species, vampires were the demon race with the most similiar appearance to humans. Well, just like any other stories, they were described as beautiful or handsome figure... you can't call Johan handsome but he should be pass as a beautiful person....

"No, he is a normal human"(Mark)

"Eehh?"(Twins)

"But for a 23 years old guy to look like a 13 years old kid, that is't normal, is it?"(Lila)

"Well, somehow Johan's body growth are slower than normal people. That is why he is looking like this"(Mark)

"*sigh* if only everyone looked just like him"(Kena)

I just spotted a lolicon...

"...our marriage is only political... that might be the reason she hates me..."(Johan)

"Well, she hates me more than she hates you"(Mark)

"...I really hope you guys would get along though..."(Johan)

"I tried...she hated me the moment we met..."(Mark)

"..."(Johan)

Johan look gloom for a moment

"..zz"(Johan)

Wait, is he actually sleeping?!

"Johan, wake up!"(Mark)

Mark mercilessly slap Johan's head and wake him up

"Ah!...*yawn* can't you just give me some time to sleep...I have been busy lately..."(Johan)

"You sleep all the time!"(Mark)

"I was really busy you know, we planned to open another branch in the beastman continent...I have to do employee recruitment and give them training etc, etc..."(Johan)

"New branch?"(Lila)

"New branch for 'Tiera' restaurant'"(Johan)

"Tiera!?"(Twins)

"Don't tell me you are the owner?!"(Kena)

"Um, what about this 'Tiera' restaurant?"(Crev)

"You don't know?! Where have you been?!"(Kena)

Why do you ask, we have been together fot these past years, 2 years inhumanly training, plus a few years of journey together remember? I want to retort her but cease the thought since she has started to explaining

"Tiera is the most renown restaurant since the price is affordable for the most people and the food is awfuly delicious! It even beats the restaurant for the nobles!"(Kena)

"The foods is really delicious!"(Perika)

"They say it's heavenly foods!"(Parika)

"You guys have tried them?"(Crev)

"Ye-....no, actually I just heard it from the others. They only open at this North continent..."(Kena)

"I've tried once with my family"(Lila)

"We also have tried them once!"(Perika)

"Un! When we were still with pops!"(Parika)

"It was delicious!"(Perika)

"Really, really delicious!"(Parika)

"But Mark's cooking is more yummy!"(Perika)

"Yes, yes! More variant!"(Parika)

"But if Johan is the owner, and Mark the crazy cookhead...."(Crev)

"Hey, don't call me that!"(Mark)

"Does that mean all Mark's recipes were used for 'Tiera'?"(Crev)

"....Yes"(Johan)

"Of course everything is under lady's instruction"(Mark)

Seriously Shena, I wonder if there is anything you can't do?! The fact that you have everything under control kinda creep me out...

"....we need to have as many resources as we can to support the city. Trading and sea products are the main resources for this city. The restaurant is for information gathering and acts as Ancagon's secret base"(Johan)

"Wait, what about this secret base!?"(Kena)

"Right now it is only at the North continent but now they are starting to go to the West continent"(Mark)

"I can't wait"(Kena)

You're drooling! And not just Kena, the twins are also drooling heavily!

For a restaurant opening a branch is rare to seen, or maybe there are almost none in this world. Shena, you are planning to make food chain store aren't you....

"Master, I believe everyone is exhausted from the long journey and it is starting to get late. Please allow me to show them the rooms"(Geru)

Said oldman Geru while bowing his head. His posture is so refine just like proper butler, very different from the moment he set foot out of the mansion.

".....You're right...please excuse my insensitivity....Geru, please show our guest their room"(Johan)

"Yes master"(Geru)

It just a moment but I heard Johan's small voices

"....at last...I can sleep...zz"(Johan)

And his figure didn't move a bit from that spot until the other servant come and carry him...no, rather than carry, the maid actually drag him!? Scary! How can they treat their master like that?!

As the sun start to fall, I was guided to my room. It was near Kena's and Lila's room, they said because I'm the youngest and a growing girl, they promised Shena to take care of me. I definitely saw pile of frilly little girl clothes at the corner of their room...it can't be right? Could it be they were planning to play dress me up?....I should switch room with the twins...

As I was in my own thought, someone is knocking my room

*knock*knock*

"Yes, who is it?"(Crev)

"It is us!"(Perika)

"Us!"(Parika)

The twins enter my room with angry faces. They were also with Mark, unlike the twins he actually have uneasy face

"Is there some things wrong?"(Crev)

"It is war!"(Parika)

"Right!"(Perika)

"Eh? War?"(Crev)

C-could it be, the war already started? But I haven't done anything yet! And the war supposed to be a few years in the future, did I do something that affect the war's time?!

"We will make that woman submit us!"(Perika)

"Ooou!"(Parika)

Woman? Who?

I look toward them puzzled

"They meant Catherine"(Mark)

"Johan's wife?"(Crev)

"Yes! She is mocking Mark's cooking!"(Perika)

You guys are still on that?

"Although she hasn't tasted them yet!"(Parika)

"Unfogivable!"(Perika)

"Yes unforgivable!"(Parika)

"...And you guys are here because?"(Crev)

"We need a recipes!"(Parika)

"The one that makes people kneel down on the floor"(Perika)

"There is no such recipes!"(Crev)

I retort them sharply.

They are asking the impossible thing, if such recipes are exsist, I would have conquer the world!

The twins keep pressing me even thought I told them I don't have such recipe, it's irritating...

"...then, do you have any recipes that make girls happy?"(Mark)

With Mark's question, the twins suddenly stop pressing me and looking at my face very intensely. I personally think as long it was made for them and with lov- I mean affection, then everybody will happy..t-that is what my sisters said! Definetly not my opinion or anything!...but if you talking food that mostly girls like...

"....there is might be some of those recipes...that girls commonly like"(Crev)

"! Then-"(Mark)

"But!"(Crev)

I cut Mark and the overjoyed twins

"I need to know what are your true intention, what for?"(Crev)

I'm staring directly to Mark's eyes, since he said 'recipes that make girls happy', I assume he want to win over Johan's wife. But I want to know why he would do that, knowing him, Mark would never fussed over something other than food ingridients

"....I want to.."(Mark)

"You want to..?"(Crev)

"....get along with her"(Mark)

Mark frown while looking troubled. Are you an elementary student?! Althought honestly I think he is acting cute right now. On contrary, the twins actually looked disatisfied

"Ehh!?"(Perika)

"Why?!"(Parika)

"...I cann't really stand her attitude, unfortunately she is my best friend's wife. So I want to get along with her at least a little...because Johan did said he want us to get along"(Mark)

"Uuh..."(Parika)

"If Mark-mark said so..."(Perika)

What's up with the nick name thing?! Since when you guys getting so close?!

"Well....I might tell you just one...that is.."(Crev)

After I told Mark the recipe, he note down neatly and drag me off to the kitchen right away. We both do trial and error together with the twins as our tester. It took us sometimes until find the perfect ingridients and once we succeed, Mark told me that he will present it at the dinner. I hoped it goes well

.....

"You are late commoner"(Catherine)

Chaterine is looking toward us with annoyed face. Today is the day, Mark and I actually late because we prepared the secret dishes first.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"You have no courtesy aren't you, as expected from commoner"(Catherine)

"Cann't you show a proper ettique? This isn't your usual low-birth dinner table"(Catherine)

Catherine keep commenting on what's Mark doing while we eating. I was surprised how Mark hold himself. On contrary, the twins and Kena are almost exploded with anger, their vein is visible every where. Me and Lila have hard time in restaining them. When it finally the time, Mark raised from his chair and looked directly at Catherine's eyes

"...I'm know that we might have different status and upbringing. I might have offended you in someways without me realizing it. I hoped you will accept this dessert as my apology and token of reconciliation" (Mark)

Mark said his part smoothly, good job!

This is it, the dishes Mark and I made! the heart of every girl! Strawberry shortcake! Althought instead of strawberry, we used beluberry instead. But they are actually the same berry! So it is okay!

"Um! delicious!"(Twins)

"Uwaaa! Amazing!"(Kena)

"Un..."(Lila)

Right of the bat! I almost pull out victory pose for this! Way to go strawb- I mean beluberry shortcake!

"..."(Catherina)

"This is...a new recipe?"(Johan)

"Yes, they are originaly from Crev"(Mark)

"Well, they aren't originaly from me you know"(Crev)

They aren't, they just come from another world

"Rather than that, I'm amazed at how Mark manage to get the right ingredient just from the discription only...and right at the spot"(Crev)

While the process are exactly the same, we still meed to adjust the ingridients. Mark get the right in just a few tries

"Yes, Mark is amazing"(Johan)

Johan smile happily as I compliment Mark. They both really close friend aren't they...

"..."(Catherine)

Catherine, how would she respon-... Eh, she looked kinda weird?

"This is....beluberry?"(Catherine)

Her first reaction is a weak question. She took a bite.

"....it is good"(Catherine)

Great, she's seems like it! First step in getting along is success!

"...*sob* hic..."(Catherine)

Eh? EEHH?! Wh,why is she crying?!

"Chaterine?"(Johan)

"...you, you like this dish don't you?"(Catherine)

Chaterine asks Johan with anger in her eyes. Everyones stay silent looking at her

"....uh...."(Catherine)

Holding her tears, she suddenly jumps up and run out the room.

"*sob* you and your stupid friend! If you likes him that much, why don't you marry him instead you IDIOT! STUUUPPPIIIDDD!"(Catherine)

She just run with unbeliavable speed leaving us dumbfounded. Mark look towards me with eyes full of question and I answer him with my stare

Even if you give me those questioning eyes, I also don't know what was just happend! And it definetly not the food's fault!

"Uh, what just happend?..."(Kena)

"*sigh*  even if you question me, I don't have the answer...it's feel just like afternoon drama movie..."(Crev)

"Afternoon drama mo-fee? What is that?"(Kena)

Ops...I accidently said it out loud..

"N-no nothing at all...em...don't you think the last words she said a bit weird?"(Crev)

"Eh? Which part?"(Kena)

"Well, it might be just my imagination...but she's sounds jealous toward Mark"(Crev)

"What? No way, she clearly hate Mark! Why would you thinks that?"(Kena)

"Well, then what does she's meant by marrying?"(Crev)

"I don't know, may be she hated them so much to the point she wish they just stuck together for eternity? So she can destroy them both at the same time"(Kena)

"Well, that is..."(Crev)

"What?"(Kena)

...scary...

I just hold the word at my throat and asks Lila instead

"...what do you thinks Lila?"(Crev)

I tried to asked Lila opinion, but she is looking pretty weird right now... holding her flushed cheek and smiling on her self

"He....Mark and Johan...no way...noble and a traveler...no wait, master and servant is even better....fua!"(Lila)

She is looking really weird! Her eyes is blank and there is steam coming out from her head!

"Li-Lila? Are you alright?"(Crev)

"Uu..."(Lila)

"She is alright"(Kena)

"Are you sure? She is totally red right now"(Crev)

"Trust me...she does that times to times. Just called it maiden fantasy"(Kena)

Really? Isn't she seems weird? Are every girl secretly like this?

That night I talk with Kiel about today's incident

Said Kiel after hearing my stories

Because Kiel is women and tend to attend ball dance to expand her connection, she might know something.

So there are really no clue at all

Huh? Isn't that sounds entirely different

<...maybe...I'm not entirely sure myself>

So which is it?!

Huh? HUH? wait isn't that sounds as if she totally in love with Johan?

Wha, what? Which is it?! Is she love Johan or not?!

.....women sure are a weird creature...

<...Is she done something bad to you?>

Kiel is keep telling me those words over and over. She's worrying to much...

...how should I put this...having a girl worrying you is feel pretty great...totally different feeling from that stup- I mean annoying brother of mine...

Althought I'm happy, it isn't nice to make her worried.

After I'm done talking with Kiel, I could heard the clock bell indicating it already pass midnight. I'm on my way to the kitchen... I'm suddenly just a bit hungry and definetly not because I'm a glutton! Just want to have some snack, maybe some fruit or something light! Not because of glutton! I'm in my growth! So I need to eat a little bit much!

....

Okay, maybe I eat a lot lately..

But it might be because I'm in my growth... and definetly not because I'm a glutton!

Just when I hold the door knob, I heard something from the other side of the door

"...*sob*...*sob*..."(???)

The heck?! Who is crying in the middle of the night at this time?! D,don't tell me it's....

Gaaah! No, no, no!

"Stupid husband!"(???)

Eh?

"How could he accept that dish! It have beluberry in it! Beluberry I say!"(???)

I open the door and take a little peek

"It almost Palaga day! And he actually accept beluberry from that guy! If you love him so much just say so!"(???)

Just like I suspect, the owner of the angry voice is none other than Catherine. She looked so angry as she is swinging a knife in her hands and cutting something

"Hmp! I also can cook! My dish is much more greater that that stupid cookhead! "(Catherine)

She's keep grumbling while put things she just cuts into a pan.

"You will kneel and apologize to me once you tried them!"(Catherine)

I observe her for a moment...she keep mixing everything! It was a disaster! The food, what ever she makes, have the color of another dimention....no, it is the color of destruction! No one can eat such suspicious looking color!

"...."(Catherine)

Even the cook herself paled after see those color!

"...we,well! The important part is the taste! Right, the taste! I bet they taste amazing!"(Catherine)

She take a spoon full and eat it. After a moment, she throw up

"HUEEEEK! *Huff*...*huff*...the..the ingridients is rotten! It definetly rotten!"(Catherine)

You just excuses yourself and blame it on the food!

"Let just try again"(Catherine)

She is keep repeating the same process over and over again to the point where I'm start to feel sorry for her...her eyes are swirling aroung

"...*gulp*...urrp...*huff*...it because of the weather....the weather is no good today..."(Catherine)

Even her excuses doesn't make sense anymore...poor her...

"Uuh...*sob*sob*...who I'm kidding....I can't cook and Johan will...Johan will..."(Catherine)

Catherine slump down while crying

"Johan will marry that damn cookhead!"(Catherine)

...Johan will marry who?

"And I will be a young beautiful widow who loses her husband from a male peasant! And he is a MALE!"(Catherine)

Why?! Just why?! Where did she get such idea in the first place?!

"...If it end up like that...*sob*...Dear mother, I'm sorry for tainting our family name, I will atone my sin by killing my husband and then kill myself!"(Catherine)

Wha,what!? No, don't be rush!

"Wai-"(Crev)

"WHO'S THERE!"(Catherine)

*stab*

In flash, Catherine throw the kitchen knife and it pierce the wall, just a few inch from my face...I could see a few strands of my hair falling down

"....you...you saw me didn't you..."(Catherine)

"...*gulp*..."(Crev)

"...hah...hahahaha!"(Catherine)

S-she lost it?!

"This shamefull behavior...you will take it to the grave right?"(Catherine)

S-she is looking at me with scary eyes!

"You saw nothing, right?"(Catherine)

She is cornering me against the wall... Scary! Scary! At her question, I can only answer her with a nods

"...you...you are that peasant right?"(Catherine)

Which peasant?!

"The one who help that cookhead to cook that beluberry dish"(Catherine)

Ah, that peasant

Once again I nods at her words

"..."(Catherine)

Catherine seems to be thinking about something and she lets me go

"Clear up your schedule for tomorrow"(Catherine)

"Huh?"(Crev)

"...I will take you on a date tomorrow"(Catherine)

Eh?!

"W-why?!"(Crev)

"Because I said so!"(Catherine)

But that doesn't make any sense!

_____________________________________

-Jugalam City- Demon continent-

*snap*

Kiel accidently snap the quill into two causing the ink dirtying the important document.

"Somehow I just feel unpleasant all of sudden..."(Kiel)

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To all my reader, I'm sincerely apologize

https%3a%2f%2fencrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com%2fimage...zA0nHuuOcQ [https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSEvanMsS3lz2kmFL77mrzL4Rc3DV93wcylMGWLxrXAzA0nHuuOcQ]

And thank you for keep reading my story despite my slow realease (^_^)/

Thanks to neiden for helping me editing it...

I just reliaze how often I mix up Catherine with Chaterine... (•_•)