Much to Circe's surprise, the kitchen did not catch on fire, and instead the aromatic scent of roasted chicken filled the air. She couldn't believe her eyes when Zeke placed the steaming hot chicken thigh in front of her, staring at it with her lips slightly parted.
“That looks so good, what the fuck?” Circe mumbled as Zeke placed a plate of pastry twists beside it. Turning her head, she noticed that he'd made them using asparagus and bacon. “You weren't kidding when you said you can cook.”
Zeke scoffed as he turned back to the oven, speaking while he took something out of it. Circe noted the smell of chocolate and her heart sank, realizing that he'd also made desserts. “Why the hell would you assume I was joking?” He placed the chocolate pie on the table before he took off the baking gloves.
Circe raised her hands in defeat, “Okay, I yield. I'm sorry for doubting you,” her eyes remained glued to the roasted chicken, “When did you even make the chocolate pie? I only saw you take out the things for the chicken.”
“I put the ingredients in the inventory for a moment,” Zeke shrugged, “Thought it'd make taking them out easier.”
[Congratulations! You've gained the Aptitude:
< Aptitude Description >
Name: Skilled Chef
Rarity: Uncommon
Type: Crafting
Effects
Increase chance of getting a
Grants a 10% increase to the buffs of meals cooked by the user.
<<>>
[Cooked a
[Gained some EXP.]
[Cooked a
[Gained some EXP.]
[Baked a
[Gained some EXP.]
[‘Silas Salvador’ has leveled up! LVL: 20]
[‘Silas Salvador’ has met the requirements. S-Rank Equipments can now be used.]
While Zeke's attention was fixed on the system panel, Circe had already found herself an empty plate and utensils to dig into the food. “That didn't take as long as I thought, I would've made soup if three plates didn't edge me to twenty.”
[Equipped
[
[Equipped
By the time he looked up from the status screen, Circe had already finished the appetizer twists pastry. “Is it good?” He asked as he pulled over a chair to sit on.
With her mouth still filled with food, she nodded enthusiastically in response. As Zeke rested his elbow on the table, he hid a small smile beneath his palm. “It's nice to know that even in another world I still have my cooking skills.”
“You're not gonna eat?” Circe could finally speak, though her focus had already shifted towards the roasted chicken.
“Nah,” Zeke shrugged, “You said you wanted to eat chicken, so I'll let you have all of it.”
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“Even the pie?”
“Even the pie.”
Circe stabbed her fork into the meat a little too hard, “Sweet! Don't change your mind later!”
Watching her slice up his chicken into pieces, Zeke couldn't help but feel oddly bittersweet. Not because his methodically crafted meal was getting torn to bits, but he simply realized how peaceful things were at the moment.
.
.
.
Days passed, and the two of them now stood inside a glamorous hall dyed golden from the grand chandeliers hanging on the high ceiling. Chiseled arches framed the tall windows, covered by thick, velvet curtains which veiled the evening sky outside.
As expected of a grand event, the royal family did not hold back one bit in hosting the celebratory banquet. Soft, yet clamorous music filled the palace, and the indistinguishable scent of fine beverages whisked past their noses each time a butler waltz through.
With them standing near the food tables, they could clearly see cuisines high in both quantity and quality laid for all to pick out as one pleases. Most were desserts, but they noted some light food that one could eat in one or a few bites.
Circe wore an off-shoulder dress, seemingly woven from fine golden threads. Delicate flowers and vines embroidered on the blouse, making the chiffon band that trailed from the high collar look like pedals wrapping around her arms. The skirt flew down from the cinched waist, cascading in layers of silk and chiffon down to her ankles.
Her hair plaited in a waterfall braid, embellished with pearl ornaments which made them shimmer like stars beneath the chandelier lights. She wore thin make up, mostly to sharpen her bright violet eyes and add a shade of pink to her porcelain cheeks.
Matching with Circe, Zeke's attire alternated between ivory white and embroidered with gold. An electric blue brooch fixed to the cravat on his white dress shirt, connected to the pin of his overcoat which he draped over one shoulder. His black blazer had golden hems and buttons, contrasting his ensemble's brighter colors. An onix leather belt held together his matching trousers, with the buckle embossed with the symbol of the Salvador house.
Unlike his usual wild, untamed hair, Zeke had his blond locks slid off neatly to the side, making him appear much less like a spoiled rich brat and more of a proper noble young man. Zeke did only comb his hair a bit, but in the end Circe dragged him back inside the dressing room and tidied them up herself.
“I feel really out of place,” Zeke muttered as he leaned slightly closer to Circe. A soft scent of flowers hit his nose, “I mean, I'm already not Silas Salvador, but this kid didn't even contribute anything to the battle and I'm getting praised along with them.”
Circe chuckled, inclining her head towards him, “I think they're specifically praising Lysander and Creston, not you.”
“Of course I thought about it like that,” Zeke's brows touched, “But still.”
Before Circe could respond, the entire hall suddenly went silent. They shifted their attention to the front, noticing several people standing on top of the mezzanine. Immediately, the recognized the five as members of the royal family.
“Thank you everyone for coming today,” King Arzhel Oriens IV spoke in a booming voice. He was a middle aged man with fiery red hair and piercing crimson eyes. His resting face had a similarly frigid feeling to Creston's, though it held the wisdom of age rather than stories of untold battles.
“To celebrate the commendable feats of Marquis Creston Salvador and his heir Lysander Salvador, this banquet is hosted personally by the royal family. They had vanquished the monsters plaguing our borders for many years, buying us precious times to prepare for the future waves,” the king raised a glass of champagne, “Let us toast to our two brave heroes.”
Zeke and Circe looked at each other, and the former spoke first. “He's still pretty blunt, huh,” he picked up a glass from a passing butler, “Just a simple congratulations, this is why I like this guy when playing through the game. It was getting tedious spamming my keyboard through the dialogs.”
Circe covered her mouth with the back of her hand, silencing her chuckle, “Yeah, but I personally think he's a well-written NPC, and also the luckiest. I mean, a descendant of a high elf as his wife? Queen Ophelia is one if not the strongest holy magic mages in the kingdom.”
“I know right?” Zeke twirled the champagne along the rims absentmindedly as he responded, “I would say that only the Saint rivals her when it comes to holy magic. I read in the lore once that the queen could revive someone from the dead, that's something even the Saint couldn't—”
“Hey, Silas!”
Someone interrupted their conversation, drawing the two's attention towards them. A young boy stood with his arms crossed, his attire an alternation between black and red, matching with the color of his wild locks and fiery red eyes. He had a wide, proud grin on his face as he spoke again, “I see you've gotten yourself a fiancee! The academy's opening back up soon, right? I hope you don't get too distracted!”
Upon realizing the teen's identity, Zeke and Circe instantly responded with a courteous bow, “I greet the Star of the Empire.” They spoke at the same time.
“Oh c'mon now,” the Crown Prince Julius tilted his head with a chuckle, “I know we haven't seen each other in a year, but there's no need to be so formal to your friend now, right?”
Zeke kept a straight face. “Huh? Silas and Julius knew each other?” He quickly flashed a smile and replied, “I mean, you are the crown prince. I have to show some manners, right?”
Julius went quiet for a second, but then bursted out laughing so loudly that heads turned towards them. “Oh god! That was the funniest thing I've heard in a long while! Since when do you of all people have manners?”
Even though it was directed at Silas Salvador, his words still offended him, but Zeke remained smiling, “Is it wrong to want to look good in front of a girl you like?”
“Oh, is that so?” Julius’ gaze landed on Circe, and she unconsciously smiled, “Now that I've taken a closer look…you truly are beautiful, my lady,” the prince placed one hand across his chest, leaning forward slightly, “Might I be so bold as to request your first dance?”
“What the fuck?” Now Zeke really started to get irritated, but he carefully hid his expression. His gaze landed on Circe, expecting her to be just as shocked, and perhaps as frustrated as he felt too.
“No thank you,” Circe responded instantaneously without a moment of thought. The bright smile on her face almost made Zeke believe she'd said it as a joke, “While it may be an honor to dance with your highness, but I promised my first dance to Lord Silas already, I hope you can understand, Prince Julius.”
Zeke had to stop himself from sighing in relief. “Thank goodness…” He didn't even notice his smile grew wider.
“...Well that's a shame,” Julius straightened himself and lowered his arm. Turning to Zeke, he patted his shoulder twice, “I was kidding by the way, I'm not unreasonable enough to steal someone else's fiancee.”
Zeke laughed, though not for the reason Julius thought, “Haha, I know you're joking. I told Lady Ruelle in advance that you may joke around with us a bit.”
“So fuck off, you womanizer.”
Julius retracted his hand, “...Aren't you rather prepared? It's nice that you told her about me, I was really afraid she wouldn't take the joke well.” He turned around, facing them for a moment, “I'll leave you too alone now, it seemed I interrupted a conversation earlier, so I apologize for that. Enjoy the rest of the banquet.”
When Julius finally disappeared into the crowd, the two of them turned to each other. Circe spoke up first, “You were smiling, but your eyes were practically stabbing him, you know?”
Zeke clicked his tongue, “I can't believe Silas hang out with that kind of guy…There's character information on Julius, but this is the first time I've heard about them being friends.”
“I mean, it was harmless, right?” Circe shrugged.
Zeke shook his head, “Of course not, the game described him as an arrogant womanizer, remember? Do you not have any sense of danger?”
“Why would I feel endangered if you're here with me?” The response startled Zeke. Circe smiled at his widened eyes and continued, “What's wrong? You want to have my first dance that much?”
Zeke's eyes narrowed, diverting to the side, “It might not be real, but I can't just have some guy come over and take my fiancee from me.”
He expected Circe to start teasing him nonstop until she's satisfied, but instead only silence followed. Surprised, his attention returned to her face, and saw a small satisfied smile spread across her lips. “That's great. You did good.”
Before he could ask what she meant, Circe grabbed one of the champagne glasses from the nearest waiter. When she began drinking it, Zeke wondered if her cheeks had always been that red, or if it was just the powder making it look that way.
And if his face burned due to the frustration towards Julius, or something else.