Chapter 32

Kale started by putting down small plates of dishes in front of them, teasing their tongues for the main dish.

The food was marvelous, taking Ari and Lyna out of their shells, humming and singing like little girls as soon as the food reached their mouths.

"I can't believe it," spoke Lyna while covering her mouth. "How can you be this good~?"

As he was plating the steak, Kale had his back facing them, so Ari decided to speak up.

"He learned by watching his father," she didn't say much and already had the next bite ready.

"Lucky~, I am sure your mother is lucky to have such a man." Lyna unintentionally blabbed out.

Kale turned around, placing the plates in front of them, making them drool over the beautiful sauce and the juicy medium-rare meat.

"They both are lucky to have each other," he answered, but by this time both the girls were too focused on what was in front of them to mind his words.

He smiled lightly and went to the fridge without saying a word, leaving them singing praises as soon as they took the first bite.

"MMM!" They sang with their mouths shut, holding their cheeks savoring every moment.

It didn't take much more than a minute before they were done.

Both their eyes kept staring at the emptied plates silently for a moment as if their minds still couldn't believe that this beautiful moment already came to an end.

"Ouf~!" Ari took a deep breath first, waking up from her daze.

She raised her eyes to look at Kale who was carefully handling the dessert.

She kept watching his focused eyes making sure no detail was left out.

He was always one to look serious, but this time, it was clear that he was absorbed in what he was doing as if he was in a world of his own.

And truthfully, he was.

Kale right now, even when he was handling such plain ingredients compared to the ones he cultivated in his realm, was concentrated on trying to bring out the best of what he has, whether it was the taste or a beautiful painting to the eye.

It could be said, that he loved what he was doing, even when his face was as emotionless as always, Ari could notice, the care he had for this.

He slightly turned his head to meet her eyes.

She blinked slowly. He was too focused to notice her staring for so long, but now, she was caught.

Kale stood up as he had finished, waking up from his own trance.

He caught her.

He smiled slightly, for the first time to her, drawing a small dimple on his right cheek.

Her hair started dancing in the air, the breeze of the wind brushed against her bare skin, her body curled up in the depth of his eyes, singing to her a song only her soul can hear, and her heart shuddered.

He walked over with the plates in his hand, his smirk slowly disappearing.

Their eyes didn't leave each other, or rather Ari was unable to get away from such a gaze.

Lyna suddenly clapped her hands together, "Dessert~!"

Ari slowly turned her head, but her eyes were still trying to catch as much of him as she could before she looked at Lyna.

Kale's smile only grew wider when none of the two was focusing on him.

Ari giggled with Lyna a bit.

Thud, thud.

The plates were in front of them.

Ari raised her eyes to look at him, but he had already turned around to start watching the dishes.

'Again, none for him,' she thought as she watched his back.

"Thank you," said Lyna as she dug in.

Ari noticed the freeze her friend made as soon as the spoon reached her tongue.

She couldn't wait more, spared a last glance at broad shoulders, and followed to open the dessert in front of her, watching the hot chocolate falling beautifully, she dug in.

Her eyes widened.

'What, magic is this?'

She raised her eyes once again, 'This can't be the work of a human.'

Both the girls were lost in their emotions, expressionlessly moving their hands, reaching for another bite.

This time they didn't sing, they didn't hum happily to the delicacies of what was before them.

They silently ate.

Their eyes were lost staring at nothingness rather than the plate.

Ari suddenly had a tear fall on her side of the plate. She didn't even notice it and kept eating.

It was, as if warm hands held their hearts, putting them at ease, in comfort beyond comprehension, reminiscing their entire life before them, all the worries and troubles, their minds could finally take a breath of the endless work. They were, at peace, and in warmth.

Kale could hear her snuffling behind him, but he didn't turn around nor say a word.

He listened quietly, letting them feel in their own world.

As much as she stood as a woman before his eyes, he could see the little girl that didn't heal in hers. A girl that had to grow up too fast for her own good, sheltering herself from the eyes of those around her, suppressing her feelings deep within her heart.

His mother was the same before, and he was taught about the feelings of a woman by her. If not, he and his brother, who lived through countless near-death situations, wouldn't really pay attention to how much their future partners can suffer over something they may find as not worthy to feel over. And the scene of their woman breaking in front of them was also something they had to prepare for. They had to be taught to be patient, and understanding.

While their mother kept reminding them of how delicate their future spouses would be, whether it was at the beginning of the journey or the end, their father, was a role model to follow as they saw how he treated her, whether it was as the cold-blooded empress, his wife, or the mother of his children.

Kale learned, words were not always necessary.

He could hear Lyna patting Ari's back.

"Can you, let me have a talk with him, alone?" Suddenly asked Ari, her hands on her teary eyes.

Lyna looked at Kale's back, who was washing his hands and finishing up.

"Take your time," she said, patting her a bit more before leaving quietly.

Kale didn't turn around while he was hearing Ari cleaning her tears.

"Kale," she softly said with her sweet cracked voice as she raised her red watery eyes to stare at his wide back.