Kapitel 6: chapter 5
A few days ago, Lucien woke up earlier than usual. He had a plan for the day—to take Luna on an outing outside Mondstadt. But before they left, he wanted to surprise her with a homemade meal.
In the kitchen, Lucien stood over the stove, following the recipe he had painstakingly researched. His hands moved methodically, measuring each ingredient with care. "I just need to follow this recipe, right?" he muttered to himself, mixing the ingredients together.
He carefully measured out the ingredients, his brow furrowed in concentration as he read the instructions on the old, slightly crumpled recipe paper. With precise movements, he added each ingredient, mixing and kneading with a level of focus as if he were crafting a weapon.
Finally, he slid the tray of food into the oven, closing the door with a sigh of relief. He leaned back against the counter, arms crossed as he stared at the oven, silently willing it to produce something edible.
Lucien stood back, a little uncertain but hopeful. "Sigh... I hope my cooking doesn't end up being a disaster."
As the minutes ticked by, the scent of the cooking food began to fill the kitchen, but it wasn't quite as pleasant as Lucien had hoped. His nerves started to build. He was no culinary expert after all.
The timer finally dinged, and Lucien quickly rushed over to the oven, opening it to reveal the finished dish. But as soon as he looked down, his expression soured.
"What in the name of Barbatos is this...?"
The food in front of him was far from what he'd imagined. Lumpy and misshapen, the dish bore little resemblance to the pristine picture on the recipe. He held the recipe up next to the disastrous result, comparing them in disbelief.
Lucien stared at it for a long moment, a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I... better buy something from Good Hunter," he muttered, shaking his head in disappointment.
Without a second thought, Lucien dumped his attempt into the trash, shaking his head as he cleaned up the kitchen. "At least Luna doesn't have to see this disaster," he muttered to himself.
Lucien walked out the door, pulling his coat tighter against the morning chill. The early air felt crisp, a sharp contrast to the warmth of his home, but it was a relief after the tension of the past few days. The city was still quiet, with only a few people awake at this hour—mostly business owners preparing for the day or elderly residents taking their morning walks.
As he made his way through Mondstadt's cobblestone streets, he passed by an elderly man sitting on a nearby bench. Bernard, with his cane resting beside him, looked up and greeted Lucien with a warm, toothless smile.
"Out early today, Lucien?" Bernard asked, his voice raspy but kind.
Lucien nodded slightly, offering a polite smile in return. "Morning, Mr.Bernard. Just running an errand."
Bernard chuckled, his gnarled hands resting on his cane as he spoke. "You young folks should take it easy once in a while. No need to rush through life."
Lucien's smile deepened just a little, though he didn't stop walking. "I'll keep that in mind."
As he continued on his way, the city slowly began to wake up. The distant hum of shopkeepers opening their shutters filled the air, and the sound of clinking tools and voices carried from the market. He passed the fountain at the city square, its waters glistening in the early morning light, sending ripples across the surface like diamonds scattered in the sun.
When he neared Good Hunter, the unmistakable scent of freshly baked bread and sizzling meat wafted out, teasing his senses.
His stomach growled faintly, reminding him that, despite his earlier cooking failure, he had an appetite for something far better than his kitchen experiment.
Lucien walked up to the counter, glancing at Sara as she busied herself behind the stove. The familiar scent of sizzling meat and freshly baked goods filled the air. He leaned casually against the counter, watching as Sara worked.
"Hey, Sara, as usual?" Lucien asked, his tone relaxed.
Sara didn't look up, but nodded as she continued to chop vegetables. "Alright, as usual."
She moved swiftly through the motions, already accustomed to Lucien's daily routine. Every morning, he came in, ordered a large amount of food, and never seemed to mind the wait. Lucien was a regular, and Sara had learned over time to anticipate his orders.
"Oh yeah, can you add this too?" Lucien pointed to a tray of apple roly poly on the shelf.
Sara glanced over, raising an eyebrow. "Apple roly poly? It might take some time to prepare, Mr. Lucien, if you don't mind waiting."
"I don't mind," Lucien replied with a casual wave, not in any particular rush.
While Sara began to gather the ingredients for the new dish, she glanced at him with a knowing smile. "So, what are you doing with this much food today, Mr. Lucien?"
Lucien chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Ah, my daughter and I are planning to head out of Mondstadt today. We're going on an outing, so we need more food than usual. You know how my daughter is, she's a bit of a glutton."
Sara paused for a moment, her hands stilling in the middle of chopping. She raised an eyebrow and gave him a wry smile. "Aren't you the same way?"
Lucien laughed awkwardly, scratching his head. He could almost feel the memories of their past visits to Good Hunter, where he and Luna had eaten more than their fair share of meals. It was true—his daughter's appetite matched his own. And Sara had long since prepared for it, always making sure there was enough food to go around.
"Hahaha," Lucien chuckled, his smile sheepish. "I guess it runs in the family."
Sara chuckled softly as she worked, expertly preparing the dishes Lucien had ordered. The sizzling sounds from the pan and the pleasant aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air, making Lucien's stomach growl in anticipation.
"Well, at least you two have a good appetite. Better than wasting food, I suppose," Sara remarked, glancing up with a teasing smile.
Lucien leaned against the counter, watching her move with practiced ease. He appreciated how Sara had always been able to manage the bustling kitchen with such calm precision. Her confidence was reassuring, almost like a quiet anchor in the chaos of the morning rush.
Sara shot him a playful look over her shoulder as she plated the food. "That's a nice way to put it, Mr. Lucien. You're a good dad. Luna's lucky to have you."
Lucien's playful grin faded into a rare moment of sincerity. He looked at the plate before him, his eyes softening as he remembered Luna.
"Thanks, Sara. I just want to make sure she has the best memories while she's growing up. Can't let her down," Lucien said, his voice quieter than usual.
Sara nodded as she moved on to prepare the apple roly-poly. She rolled out the pastry with practiced hands, sprinkling cinnamon and sugar over the filling as she spoke.
"Well, you're doing a fine job. Just don't forget to take care of yourself, too," she said, glancing up at him with a smile.
Lucien smirked, leaning back against the counter.
"Don't worry about me. I'm tougher than I look," he teased, the familiar edge returning to his voice.
Sara chuckled again, placing the dessert into the oven with a flourish. "If you say so, Mr. Lucien. Just give me a few more minutes for this, and you'll be good to go."
Lucien nodded, turning his attention to the outside street. The morning sun had begun to rise higher, casting a warm light over Mondstadt as the city came alive. People were beginning to stir, walking the cobblestone streets.
As Lucien walked through the bustling streets of Mondstadt, his thoughts wandered for a moment before he heard Sara call his name.
"Mr. Lucien?"
He snapped out of his thoughts, briefly distracted by the mountain of food in front of him.
"Ah, yes?" Lucien replied, his attention now fully back on the present.
Sara smiled and gestured to the food. "Your order is ready."
Lucien's gaze shifted to the stack of takeout dishes, all neatly packed for his outing. "Thank you, Sara," he said gratefully.
He handed over the bag of mora to Sara, who took it with a polite nod and counted it carefully.
"Thank you for choosing Good Hunter, Mr. Lucien," she said with a smile.
"Always a pleasure," Lucien replied, his voice warm. He took the bags of food and turned to leave the shop.
As he walked down the street, the early morning crowd seemed unfazed by the sight of him carrying so much food—something he was now quite used to. People gave him brief glances, their expressions a mix of curiosity and acknowledgment, but no one seemed particularly surprised.
He walked toward the city center, passing familiar faces along the way. It wasn't long before he spotted someone he recognized.
"Jean?" Lucien called out, his voice carrying over the gentle murmur of the street.
The young woman turned to face him. Jean's blonde hair shimmered in the morning light, and her gray-blue eyes met his. "Ah, Mr. Lucien," she greeted, a slight smile tugging at her lips.
"How are you?" Lucien asked with a casual tone, taking in her appearance.
Jean nodded. "I'm fine. How about you?"
Lucien raised an eyebrow, glancing at the dark bags under her eyes. "Same. But looking at those eye bags... Are you not resting since yesterday?"
Jean blinked, a bit surprised by his observation, but she quickly composed herself. Her gaze drifted briefly to the pile of food in his hands before she shrugged it off.
"Ahem, it's nothing," Jean said, brushing off the comment with a small smile.
Lucien studied Jean with a knowing gaze, sensing her reluctance to admit to her exhaustion. His tone remained light, but there was a firm edge to it.
"Really? People already know you're a workaholic, Jean," Lucien said with a slight chuckle, shaking his head. "You better rest today so you can have the energy to work later."
Jean hesitated, about to argue, but Lucien cut her off before she could speak.
"No buts," he said firmly. "What if, one day, someone sees the Acting Grand Master of Mondstadt collapse? Or worse, what if they saw you... die?" His voice hardened slightly. "Mondstadt would turn to chaos if that happened."
Jean looked at him, her tired eyes betraying just how worn out she really was. Despite the visible signs of exhaustion, she still stood tall, unwilling to let go of her duty.
Lucien sighed inwardly as he watched her struggle. His thoughts shifted, and for a brief moment, they lingered on a matter far beyond this conversation.
'Why did that old bastard, Varka, take so many capable knights on that damned expedition? Even the captain cavalry knights were horseless. And now, the only ones left behind are knights with less experience...'
Lucien's frown deepened, a quiet frustration building within him. He understood the weight of duty, but sometimes he wondered if some decisions were made without fully considering the consequences.
Lucien gave Jean one last look, his expression softening. "If you don't rest today, I'll have Lisa make sure you do."
Jean's eyes widened for a moment, and her face flushed at the thought of Lisa's intervention. She quickly shook her head, visibly taken aback by the suggestion. After a brief hesitation, she gave in with a reluctant nod.
Lucien smiled, satisfied with the outcome, and handed her the apple roly poly. "Here, eat this to regain some energy."
Jean's hands trembled slightly as she took the food from him, her ears turning red from the unexpected kindness. She avoided meeting his gaze, clearly flustered.
"Ahem," she coughed, trying to maintain her usual composure. "I'll go rest now."
"Alright, take care of yourself," Lucien said with a lighthearted tone.
Jean nodded silently, her expression softening as she turned to leave, still holding the pastry in her hands. Lucien watched her go, feeling a small sense of satisfaction knowing he'd managed to get through to her, even if just for a moment.
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At home....
Lucien stood at the door, his gaze softening as he watched his daughter sleep so peacefully. Her hair was spread out across the pillow, and her body twisted in an unusual yet adorable sleeping posture, as if she had fought with the blankets during the night.
He sighed, a small smile tugging at his lips, but his smile faltered when he heard her mumbling in her sleep.
"Hehehe... pretty lady..." Luna's voice was soft and laced with a dreamy giggle.
Lucien raised an eyebrow, wondering what dream his daughter could be having. He shook his head, trying not to laugh at the innocent yet strange mumble.
"Typical," he muttered under his breath, stepping closer to her bed. He couldn't help but admire her carefree slumber, but he knew that she would wake soon, likely with an appetite for all the food he brought back.
Lucien walked over to her side, sitting on the edge of the bed for a moment. He brushed a few stray locks of hair from her face, carefully not disturbing her too much. He wanted to wait just a little longer before waking her.
"Guess it's time to get up, Luna," Lucien said softly, nudging her gently.
Lucien stood by Luna's bed, watching her sleep soundly despite his gentle attempts to wake her. He sighed and shook his head, a small smirk tugging at his lips as she mumbled, still lost in her dreams.
"Five more hours... zzz," she mumbled without fully waking, her voice muffled by the pillow.
Lucien's expression softened as he watched her, thinking about how much she reminded him of himself when he was younger—always sleeping in and never wanting to get up. But today was different. He had plans for the two of them, and he wasn't about to let her sleep through it.
His mind wandered for a moment, wondering how long he could allow her to rest before they missed out on their day. He glanced toward the food on the table in the kitchen, the smell of breakfast already filling the house.
With a soft chuckle, Lucien leaned closer to her, a playful grin crossing his face. He knew what he had to do. Gently, he nudged her again, this time with a little more persistence.
"Luna, come on... time to wake up. We've got a day ahead of us."
"Hmmm still no respond alright you ask for it" Lucien stepped out of the room, heading to the kitchen to grab the food. The sizzling sound of meat filling the pan and the rich smell quickly spread throughout the house. He carried the plate back to Luna's room, the warm, savory aroma wafting inside.
Luna, still fast asleep, stirred slightly. The scent of food seemed to drift into her dreams. Her face relaxed into a small smile, and without even opening her eyes, she mumbled sleepily, "Mmmm... food..."
Lucien placed the plate near her, the smell becoming even more overwhelming. Luna's nose twitched in her sleep, and as if on instinct, she sniffed the air, her mouth opening in anticipation. Just as she was about to take a bite, Lucien swiftly pulled the plate away, a mischievous grin on his face.
"If you don't wake up now, I'm eating it all and leaving nothing for you," he teased, his voice calm but firm.
It was like a bolt of lightning had struck Luna. She shot up from the bed, eyes wide and furious, her face flushed with the indignation of having her food denied. "Grrr, don't you dare, Dad!"
Lucien only smiled, taking a leisurely bite of the meat in front of her.
"Mmm, delicious," he said, savoring the taste, his eyes twinkling with playful defiance.
Luna's eyes narrowed in frustration as she lunged at him, reaching for the food. "Give me that!" she shouted.
Lucien, still holding the plate out of her reach, chuckled. "Nope. You wash up first. Then, you can eat."
Luna stopped in her tracks, glaring at him for a moment before she sighed dramatically. "Fine!" she grumbled, knowing there was no way around it.
(A/n: 2.5k word. Have you guys heard of Ggz?)
(A/n: anw wayyyyyyyyyyyy give me more power stoneeeee.... ah yes i forgor to make synopsis...)
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