I was led to the kitchen by Bella, just as I requested. On the way there, we have run into three dwarven women covered in fine clothing. They were simply walking by us in the corridor. I didn’t recognize any of their faces naturally, this being the first time I saw them, however; they seemed to know exactly who I was, which felt somewhat alarming.

They gawked at me when they noticed my presence by Bella’s side. There was a certain sense of hostility in their eyes, but there was also just as much or even more uncertainty. As if they didn’t know how to react to me being there.

Still, to my slight surprise, after the initial confusion, all three of them nodded towards us, which both of us repeated as a form of greeting. Then we all continued our way without saying a single word, still I could feel the occasional glance directed at me from time to time even after we left that corridor and reached the kitchen.

Well, regarding that, the kitchen was actually not much different from the one we had back in the dwarven outpost. Meaning there were fireplaces where one could grill or cook. Some of them were built into metal or stone desks positioned over the fire, somewhat similar to modern kitchen ovens. Along with a large variety of cookware and tableware. Last one actually made from silver, which was quite a fancy touch.

In all honesty, however, compared to any modern kitchen, it was a disappointment. None of the smart and ingenious kitchen appliances were present, and for someone like me, who liked technology and cooking at the same time, the evident lack of an induction cooker felt like a huge loss.

Only if Nerha didn’t forbid me to use magic in the estate. Now I even left my staff back in my room. It was a very rare sight to see me without it, and it was partly because of my decision to practice magic without my power conduit.

“Now, what would you like to eat?” — Bella asked suddenly, waking me from my thoughts.

“Whatever there is, I am not picky.” — I answered while walking deeper into the kitchen, looking around curiously.

“Hmm... Do you like eggs? We have a fresh shipment from a surface farming settlement. It’s considered quite a treat here. Chickens don’t really like being kept underground, you know… They become sick and stop laying eggs.” — Bella explained in a lecturing tone which sounded particularly cute from the sweet child. I felt an urge to pinch her cheeks, but fought it down since doing so would likely set my “grandma” status in stone in the eyes of the cheeky girl.

I turned towards Bella with a slightly raised eyebrow. Thinking over what the girl actually said. — “I never really thought about that before, but I guess it makes sense.” — I paused for a few seconds then added, feeling confused. — “Are the eggs still fresh? Doesn’t they spoil while being carried from the surface? It must have taken a few weeks, at least for them to get here.”

“It’s fine!” — Said Bella. — “The merchant carrying them specializes in food products. They even hired a human mage specializing in ice magic to keep the food cold and fresh over the trip.”

I nodded with a slight surprise. Yep, I ought to remember that I am far from being the sole magic caster in this world.

I continued to look around the kitchen and noticed a large piece of dried bacon hanging from a rope attached to the ceiling, along with several dried sausages and other meat product. My eyes stuck to the bacon, and I immediately decided that will be my prize.

Bella noticed my gaze and smiled. — “You want that? I didn’t know elves liked bacon, too.” — She wondered aloud.

Well, I don’t know about elves, but fried bacon, onion and eggs were something a certain old man very much appreciated in a previous life.

I pulled over a nearby chair, climbing on top of it and reaching for the bacon, carefully placing it down on the kitchen counter, then picking up a large knife that seemed very well sharpened, perfect for this task. I started to slice off thin and measured slices from the tantalizing food. — “Would you like some as well?” — I asked the young girl who in the meantime climbed into one of the chairs scattered around the kitchen, watching my actions while carelessly kicking up her legs.

“What are you making?” — Came back the curious question.

“Nothing special, I am afraid. It’s an old favorite, so to speak. Fried bacon and eggs, along with some fried onions with perhaps toasted bread?” — I was not so sure about the last part. In theory, I could, of course, grill slices of bread, creating toast in the process, but doing that over an actual campfire is difficult. It might be better to leave the bread be as it is.

“Uh-hu…” — The girl hummed, eventually nodding her head in affirmation. — “Alright, grandpa also likes to make that combination, but it’s fine since I like it too. Can I help you with anything?”

Just then, I noticed several bags of potatoes placed in a corner, and I immediately smiled at the sight. — “Of course you can. Why don’t you pick a few potatoes and wash them in that basin?”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Alright.” — The girl chirped. — She was such a sweet child, I confirmed silently once again, looking after her with an appreciative glance.

I figured that I might as well grill some potatoes along with the rest.

~oOo~

Approximately one hour later, we have finished all the food we intended to prepare, proudly looking over the finished products. I was about to sit down next to the counter and eat my share, since my stomach was throwing a particularly nasty tantrum as I continued to breathe in the mouthwatering scent of various grilled food.

Alas, my attempts were thwarted by a pair of furrowed eyebrows stuck to the face of a young redhead girl. Seeing her obvious frustration, I hesitated, then asked softly not to irritate her further. — “Bella? Is everything alright?”

She pouted, throwing me another nasty glare, but seeing my genuine confusion, she slowly retreated. — “You didn’t offer a prayer to the Gods, or the Guardians, also I wanted to eat in the garden.” — She added the last part quite sheepishly.

I honestly couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight. Which, to my surprise, scattered Bella’s frustration as she too joined in the laughter.

“Alright, then…” — I stated, after a bit, straightening my expression. — “We shall go to the garden, then!” — I lifted the tray of food from the counter, sliding out of my chair and heading towards the door, turning around to see Bella trudging along with a sparkling smile.

Good gods. I shook my head in subtle amazement. This girl could melt through one’s heart in mere minutes.

After exiting the kitchen, I reflexively turned to the right, only to feel a small hand grasping onto the side of my skirt and stopping me in my movement. I looked over my shoulder questioningly to see the confused child’s similarly questioning stare.

“Where are you going?” — She asked.

“To the garden, of course?” — I answered.

She snorted at that. — “Well, then you are heading the wrong way. The garden is in this direction.” — She pointed to the left, and I felt a bit embarrassed by my mistake, not that it bothered me too much.

I turned towards my new direction and said to the redhead girl. — “Thank you, this big sister doesn’t know her way well in this estate yet. Could you lead the way once again? It would be a great help to me!”

Bella, hearing my praise and the following quest that I entrusted to her, puffed herself up and nodded with new determination glinting in her warm brown eyes. — “You can count on me, big sister! I know this estate better than anyone!”

I smiled and nodded along, while following her lead. — “I see. It’s such a relief to have a trusty companion as you.” — I told her, feeling genuinely relieved. While this place was not big enough to get truly lost in it, I didn’t want to wander around for half an hour to find the exit, not when I was this hungry…

~oOo~

It turned out that Bella wasn’t boasting at all about her understanding of the mansions nook’s and crannies. We have found ourselves out in the garden in just a few minutes. The now somewhat familiar sight of phosphorescent moss covering a large part of the garden filled out my vision, once again reminding me of the starry sky.

My apparent gaze over the unorthodox yet still mesmerising garden was cut short by an impatient pull on the side of my skirt. I turned to the young perpetrator who was frustratedly pointing into the direction of a modest sized pavilion placed into the midst of the sea of glistening moss and giant mushrooms.

Instead of waiting for my response, Bella started to pull me along. I was mercilessly grasped by the side of my black skirt, being forced to move with the needy child if I didn’t want to lose my skirt all along. I could feel the growing tension straining the textile material around the buttons of my skirt at my waist.

“Bella?” — I called out, somewhat startled by the feeling. — “Stop that please… You will pull off my skirt if you keep going like that.” — I called out to her, fearing that the girl might manage to pull off said feat in the middle of this garden. I was far from being accustomed to wear such clothing, and didn’t know how much it could withstand from the young girl’s enthusiasm.

Bella snorted, clearly amused by the idea, but thankfully let go of my skirt and instead sighed theatrically. — “Then stop being so slow! You keep staring at everything! And I can’t grab your hand because you are holding the tray with both arms.”

I raised both of my eyebrows, surprised by her cheek, which I probably shouldn’t be remembering her antics from yesterday. I had a dreadful suspicion that the young girl was far less innocent than I initially expected, and more of a little firebrand in the making.

“Now don’t be rude.” — I said to her, while slightly hastening my steps. Almost dropping some comment about being an old man, out of habit, but miraculously catching myself in time.

She huffed, acknowledging my words. I was sure that she just rolled her eyes, even if I couldn’t see it walking behind her.

As we neared the pavilion, I noticed the silhouette of a dwarven man reading a thick book already sitting inside. He had short red hair just like the girl possessed next to me, and brown eyes, with a less imposing reddish beard compared to the dwarves I used to travel with. He seemed younger than most, too.

Bella bolted from my side, running up to the man. The shower of pattering feet immediately gaining his attention. When he looked up, I immediately knew what I only suspected until then.

The little devil tricked me.

“Brother! Look! I brought along our new sister!” — She shouted happily from his side while pointing straight at me with an energetic gesture. — “Look how pretty she is! Even mommy admitted so, but that’s a secret!”

I froze in my step, holding the tray of food in front of me as the man’s curious gaze wandered over to me.

I sighed. I really didn’t want to start the morning with a tough conversation… Alas, with the tray of food in my hands, I couldn’t even run away. I threw a subtle glare towards Bella, who sheepishly hid behind her brother’s chair, giggling occasionally.

Fine, you win. I caved silently, continuing my walk up to the pavilion, where I put my tray of food in the middle of the oval-shaped stone table. The man’s intrigued eyes were following me all this time.