"...3 Years," Mana said looking down.
Alexander then shrugged his shoulders lightly "Then you have no right to complain."
Mana chuckled and nodded "Right indeed, i have no right. But nevertheless, I never wished for her to walk the same path as me." She spoke with a heavy tone full of burden "This path will only lead to her misery."
"..." Alexander took a sip of the tea "Bloody hell!" he spoke. "Since the moment i middle with this family of yours, all I've been seeing is depressed people all the time, first was Erina, second her father, and the last one is you."
"Fufufuf! Isn't it!!" Mana laughed at Alexander's comment, normally this would anger her, but she found in him a sense of familiarity. Maybe because he is son of Alexandra and the way he talks is just like, but whatever it may be, she liked it.
"Then, what are you going to do about this tongue of yours, will you just keep getting those IVS?" Alexander put down the cup of tea and changed the subject.
"Hm? ah..." Mana adjusted her sitting position and opened her fan "That is not my plan, my plan is already in this BLUE." She spoke.
Alexander tilted his head in confusion. Mana chuckled "I told you didn't I? I am running this BLUE in the hope to find the best chef that can make a completely new dish for me to break the circle of disgust in my taste buds. As a chef myself, I have tasted everything out there, even the new things that they come up with are just improved or diverged dished from already existing ones."
Alexander nodded "A solid plan." He said, "Though, what makes you think those here are the ones who can make such thing?"
"I have been observing each one of them, including you, well...since you were young, your mother has been ranging about you. There are many people I believe can make the new dish, The Noir Chef; Saiba Asahi, Tsukasa Eishi, and the owner of the golden tower, though the last one I doubt has participated."
"No, I am here," Alexander spoke.
"Yes, I can see you. I did not go blind yet." Mana responded. Alexander just kept looking at her while she slowly started opening her eyes with shock.
"YOU?!!" Mana shouted. Alexander gave her a "V" sign. "How?" she asked.
"What do you mean "How?" I am the owner of the golden tower, Koujy works for me after he lost to me in the Hellish Training Camp. I let him take care of everything since I have already collected the best chefs for him." Alexander explained, Taking the last sip of his tea.
Mana couldn't find words to speak for a moment "T-that explains it, no wonder you were able to copy the 4 noir chefs earlier, you have skills kid." Mana smiled.
Alexander sighed and stood up "Well, thanks for the tea. Good talk." He turned to leave.
"Ah!" Seeing him leave, Mana exclaimed "Alexander..." She called. Alexander looked at her as she smiled "Please take care of Erina." She said.
Alexander smiled "Of course.".
Alexander closed the door behind him and saw Anne at the door, he greeted her and didn't talk much, he needs to go see Erina and makes sure she is okay. She stormed out and she is clearly pissed.
"What a pain!" Alexander looked at the empty room of Erina and spoke. After navigating through the whole castle and asking around, all he met with was an empty room. "Where the hell did she go, and my phone is dead, damn that game, not only did it kill me, it also killed my phone...Revenge must be taken." Alexander said.
He then started walking and asking around the castle in the hope to run into her or someone who saw her.
After half an hour of looking around, Alexander finally, and after nearly giving up, he found her, together with Alice.
He walked to the two girls who were sitting under the tree. Erina was sleeping in Alice's arms while Alice looked at Alexander with a smile "Good evening!" she said.
Alexander looked at them with a deadpan expression "Just where did you two go? I have been looking for you for half an hour now" He sighed tiredly.
"Fufufu~ I had to calm a certain idiot before she goes nuts," Alice responded. Seeing Erina sleeping soundly in her arms, Alexander smiled and sat beside them and leaned on the tree.
"Thank you. You did amazing!" Alexander ruffled Alice's hair gently.
"Praise me more." Alice laughed in happiness.
After some time, as the night became colder, Alexander took Erina in his arms and headed to her room. He put her on her bed to sleep. Alice decided to sleep with her for the night. As for Alexander, he wanted to join, but it was a bed for 2 people. He could only walk back to his cold bed alone.
The next day, the tournament resumed and the second stage started. This time, BLUE started early in the morning. Alexander headed to his stage, this time, it was in the open; outside in the middle garden of heaven's keep.
The audience this time was small, but they still cheered for the participants. The MC introduced Alexander and the crowd cheered for him.
"..." Looking at the other side, Alexander smiled and sighed "Now I see what she meant by taking care of you." he spoke.
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