Chương 20: 20 - Beef Stew (1.86k words)
Part of Nivi's kitchen was sheltered, allowing for cooking in any weather, while the dining area was cozily situated under a roof, overlooking the lush garden.
Perched on the bench, elbow resting on the rugged wooden table and chin cradled in my palm, I found myself enveloped in the world of Nivi and her mates.
"I'll prepare my special stew for our guests as a welcoming gesture," Nivi offered, her voice laced with excitement.
Harvey was quick to express his concern, "Nivi, you've done enough today. Please allow us the honor. You can guide us with your wisdom, but rest is more important."
Shuu nodded shyly in agreement, "I'll gather the ingredients. Just give me the list."
Before Nivi could even think of protesting, Sei had sprung into action, confidently gathering the cooking utensils and placing them just out of her reach. "Now it's our turn to pamper you," he stated decisively.
"You won't manage to cook it right without me demonstrating," Nivi's petite form leaped into the air to snatch the spatula from her snake mate. With endearing clumsiness, she landed squarely against Sei's chest.
Sei, taken by surprise but quickly adjusting, encircled Nivi in a secure embrace. He tossed the cooking utensils toward Shuu and Harvey, "Well, what is our Queen's first command?" he asked.
Nivi, snug in Sei's embrace, glanced over at Shuu and Harvey, her expression one of playful helplessness. "Alright, let's get started with the vegetables-just be careful, okay? I'll be keeping company to Yaya and her mates in the meanwhile."
Vick's gaze drifted away, signaling he had enough, "Wake me up when it's dinner time. It looks like it will take a while," he mumbled. Rising from his chair without further comment, he wandered toward a distant tree in the garden. Settling beneath its shade, he draped an arm over his eyes to take a nap, retreating from the world around him.
Curtis, on the other hand, flicked his tail from side to side, leaving no doubt about his desire to be somewhere, anywhere else but here. Observing Vick's withdrawal suggested how I'd act around Nivi, prompting him to seek refuge in the garden. With a new fabric ready, he set out to tailor new outfits.
I knew Vick didn't like Nivi, but when did Curtis grow to dislike her as well? I contemplated as I shifted my gaze back to the unfolding romantic live drama before me.
Sei released Nivi, and as she regained her balance, her gaze drifted to Muir, standing aloof and unengaged. "Why haven't you taken a seat yet?" she asked, addressing Muir's noticeable isolation.
Muir, sensing an opportunity to be involved, stepped forward. "Do you need any help with cooking?" he offered to Nivi while stealing a brief glance at me, his tone brimming with a sweet eagerness to contribute.
My expression turned sharply, the lightness draining away. With a snort, I observed the scene unfold. It seemed someone had either found an easier target for his manipulations or was attempting to stir a sense of jealousy in me.
"How could I possibly say yes? You're a guest as well; just take a seat," Nivi responded as she ushered Muir towards the table, frowning slightly how Vick and Curtis left me on my own.
Muir, after a brief hesitation marked by a reluctant nod, finally agreed to join us at the table. As he took his seat, I made no move to acknowledge his presence, embodying an air of arrogance.
"So, how did you two meet up?" Nivi asked, feeling the tension between us, "You mentioned you're still courting Yaya and need to make the best impression possible, right?"
"I first saw Lady Yaya right after a scorpion invasion had hit the village. She was there, amidst the chaos, helping the villagers recover," Muir explained, painting a vivid picture of the circumstances under which our paths had crossed, "At that moment, I was carrying four females on my back to safety, which prevented me from talking to her right then and there. May I also know how you two met?"
"Uff, where should I start?" Nivi pondered aloud, treating Muir like a trusted old friend despite her knowledge of him coming solely from a novel ─ a naivety I couldn't help but find foolish, "Yaya saved me from a group of nasty females who wanted to ruin my life," she shared, her revelation prompting her mates to emit growls filled with anger and distress, "She came and went like a phantom. Without her distinctive clothes, I might not have recognized her again. You know, I wouldn't be the person I am today without-"
"Let's avoid the whole 'mindless sheep' act, shall we, Nivi? Idolizing me as some god won't do you any favors." I cut in, halting Nivi's speech with a warning. "Stay sharp. Stay you."
"Well," Nivi said with a playful tilt of her head, "If you're curious about Yaya, you're going to have to discover that on your own, Muir."
I didn't spare Muir a single glance, my focus deliberately directed at Nivi, as if he were utterly invisible to me.
"Hmm, I will. Thank you for sharing this much with me," Muir replied, his voice betraying a hint of disappointment at her evasive reply, "I wish you all the happiness in the world. With such good mates, there is little chance that you won't."
"That means a lot coming from you, Muir. Thanks," Nivi returned, her eyes shimmering with a hint of tears, "And, yes, I hope I will."
"If only Lady Yaya hadn't been so stubborn, I could have showered her with the same care and attention," Muir said. His words, though meant for Nivi, carried a weight intended to reach across the table to me.
I shot Nivi an ugly stare, a silent rebuke for continuing this conversation in my presence.
"Don't worry, Muir, there are plenty of other females," Nivi assured him with an awkward cough, "If one doesn't work out, another surely will."
"No, Lady Nivi. I'm not so sure about that-"
I edged slightly from my chair, prepared to sever myself from the conversation that had grown too pointed toward me.
Muir turned to Nivi, perhaps sensing the shift in my intentions. "Lady Nivi, if you don't mind my asking, do you plan to take in more males?" His inquiry, innocent on the surface, seemed laced with an underlying motive.
The question halted my departure, curiosity anchoring me momentarily. I remained seated, finally allowing my gaze to shift towards Muir, becoming a silent observer.
Nivi, taken aback by the sudden shift in topic, paused before answering, her eyes flicking in my direction before settling back on Muir. "Well, that's a possibility," she began, her tone careful. "But anyone interested would have to go through the courting phase. It's important for me to understand them, to see if they truly fit with me and my current mates."
Muir nodded thoughtfully, his gaze lingering on Nivi as if weighing her words. "I've always held a deep respect for relationships where both parties treat each other with kindness and respect. I cannot stand the sight of females mistreating their males, but what truly disturbs me to my core is when males mistreat their females. It goes against everything I believe in-"
I shifted in my chair, feeling as if I was being targeted again.
"Lady Nivi!" Muir hastened to add loudly, "You already have so many great mates, but would you ever consider someone like me if I were to court you?"
Why wouldn't she? Didn't Winston keep being rejected publicly all the time?
The room seemed to hold its breath; the tension among Nivi's mates was palpable.
Nivi's response came after a moment of thoughtful silence. "Muir, courting isn't something we take lightly. It's about understanding, respect, and seeing if there's a genuine connection," she explained, "You'd have to be willing to let us get to know you, to see if you truly fit our values and lives."
The conversation soon shifted to other topics, allowing for the two of them to become more acquainted. They laughed and joked around, having a genuinely good time.
It was quite the spectacle, really. Nivi's mates, being the overprotective idiots they were, watched Muir like a hawk. If anything, it felt more like a show, with Nivi, the beautiful princess, and Muir, the charming prince.
And I?
I was the evildoer, the one whose attitude no one asked for.
· · ─────── · ⊱❈⊰· ─────── · ·
A few moments later...
I set down two steaming bowls of beef stew accompanied by freshly baked bread before Vick and Curtis, "Feast your eyes before your mouths," I declared, "Consider it a special treat for being so obedient today," I added, my voice a blend of mock praise and teasing as if they were mere pets indulging in their owner's favor.
Vick couldn't resist a chuckle as he took the bowl. "Nice try. What's next, taking credit for the sunrise?"
Curtis visibly touched and almost pathetically grateful for the meal offered by me, didn't seem to catch the mocking undertone of my delivery. He observed the piping hot meal and the spoon before him, clearly unsure of the modern eating customs, "Yaya..."
Leaning in, I explained to Curtis how to eat it, "First, you must admire its aroma, let the scent fully envelop you. Then, you dip the bread just so," I demonstrated, mimicking an exaggerated, delicate dip, blowing on it slightly before I placed it before his lips, "ensuring each bite is perfectly balanced. It's the only way to truly honor the chef's ─ well, the real chef's ─ hard work."
Turning my gaze towards Vick, a provocative smile danced on my lips, "What? Do you want to be hand-fed too, little pup?"
"Sure, why not?" Vick replied, his voice thick with similar provocativeness. "Just don't forget to scratch behind my ears too."
"..." My lips twitched, ruffling his hair into a messy bird's nest, if only to momentarily disrupt his handsomeness. "Nivi is worried about you two. She told me to extend her invitation for both of you to join us at the table."
Vick's lips curled into a smirk as he leaned back, "I'll be right here, basking in Nivi's overwhelming worry until you're ready to depart."
"I'm more comfortable here, Yaya. Tell Nivi she should worry about her own males instead of yours," said the smiling Curtis, enjoying his delicious stew I've just fed him innocently, as if he just didn't roast my best friend, "Do you like this meal? I heard Nivi's detailed instructions, and I'm confident enough to replicate it on my own."
"..." With a moment of contemplation, I shifted my gaze back to Nivi, weighing the options laid before me. Did I want to return to her warm yet possibly lecture-filled presence or opt for the solitude of the sand pit?
"I'm going to the toilet," I declared finally, choosing the path of temporary escape.
╔═══ Author's note ════╗
Do you also think my chapters are getting too long? I'm afraid it might make you fall asleep midway. 🤣 Should I keep them shorter to keep you focused? 👀
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