Chapter 29: (Not) Helping in the Kitchen

Bianca's mood was uplifted. She brought out some pea vines and several corns on the cob, placed them on a high table, and motioned Mikaela to wash his hands and sit on a high stool.

On the other end of the table were food condiments and ingredients. One by one she arranged things in order and came back to Mikaela's side to explain his role. She demonstrated, picking up a pod on a vine.

"These are pea pods. You need to take out the peas like this," she pitched the sharp sides of the pods and pulled them apart only taking the good, green, and full peas. Afterward, she they the pod aside and set the peas in hand on a bowl.

"Help can me like so, with this vines and set them on this bowl. Later, you can help me separate the corn from the cob. Like this," Bianca used her thumb and long nail to pluck out a row of corns, vertically, making the whole process easier going horizontally.

Mikaela observed all this in relish his hands itching to get started. It seemed easy enough.

"Do you understand, Kaela?" asked Bianca.

"Yes, Auntie," Mikaela answered as he nodded excitedly.

"Okay, Kaela, you do that as I make do the rest," she added with a smile.

'How obedient.' she thought.

Bianca walked back to her end and washed the ingredients carefully using aqua magic. She peeled them easily with her improved knife skills. She sliced some, diced some, and others were left as they were. This was the finesse that came along with years of practice.

Once done, she peeked at Mikaela's progress.

Ah? She tilted her head.

She was dumbstruck for a while before acknowledging that Mikaela was just a child. It was also his first time helping out in the kitchen. If that was not enough reason, his hands were unlike those of an adult's which could hold a pod easily.

She almost giggled in laughter.

Mikaela undid the pods, not understanding the principle behind his Aunt's actions. His goal was to simply tear the pods apart and pick out the peas before setting them in the bowl. This was easy enough for him, but without understanding the importance of his aunt's actions, this process became a lot more difficult.

It seemed like he was wrestling with a vine army and pod soldiers. His tongue stuck out on the side of his lips expressing his great focus and determination to win this battle with peas. His unrelenting will was unmatched.

At unlucky times, the pod would burst open sending the peas flying in different directions. 

"Pfft!" someone finally let out a suppressed muffled laughter. 

It wasn't Bianca, however.

Looking at the door, pairs of eyes were observing this sight as well.

Mitchell and Lucien could hardly hold it in. Merlin's emerald eyes were calm as stagnant water. Not a trace of a smile was visible. Even then, he observed this hilarious spectacle in concentration.

Bianca glanced at them for a second before returning her concentration to Mikaela's hard work.

Mikaela seemed unaware of the audience as he continued battling with the pod prisons and pea captives. After doing a few and setting them neatly in the bowl, he smiled in pride.

"Auntie, I did it! I-I did it!" He announced excitedly before noticing the smile in Bianca's eyes. He looked around and found people looking at him. 

His father had a smile on his face, while Lucien could hardly hide his laughter covering his mouth.

"Pfft~ Hahaha~" Lucien could not hold it in any longer, "What are you doing, Kaela?"

Lucien's face was already red with the suffocation. His eyes even teared up a bit looking like he would die of laughter. He was only short of rolling on the floor. 

"Auntie…?" He looked back to Bianca, his eyes, evidently questioning why everyone was amused.

"Kaela, my little nephew, you did great," Bianca praised.

She glared lightly at the observing crowd and walked towards the bowl. She found the mixture of unripe, ripe, and rotten peas in the bowl. 

Her perfect smile almost cracked, but she restrained herself. She knew Mikaela was especially sensitive to emotions.

"..." 

He looked at Lucien and his father and gave them a stinky tongue before harrumphing in pride.

Hmph!

"..you have been very helpful, Kaela. I will start cooking now." Bianca said in amusement.

She didn't expect to have made work harder on herself.

She successfully diverted Mikaela's attention from the poor corns which would be ravaged if not for her merciful distraction.

Dinner was a simple broth but it was surprisingly good.

"See, I can help make delicious food too," said Mikaela.

He felt very proud of his achievement.

That night ended in suppressed laughter.

….

At some time, mid-winter, snow covered the landscape as far as the eye could see. Even the mountains in the distance were all white. It gave the illusion of a short distance between them when in truth, they were very far away. 

Inside the house, the fireplace was on, leaving the house comfortably and pleasantly warm. 

In a room, was a huge basin filled with boiling water. Inside was a mixture of minerals, plants, seeds, and many more. Merlin was beside Bianca drawing a magic circle over it using their mana. Once they were done, they infused mana as Merlin did a few silent chants before it activated.

The liquid mixture in the basin turned bright vermilion as the ingredients melted into the liquid and mixed within perfectly. The liquid gave off an ominous but attractive allure. Air sacs bubbled away on the surface popping from time to time.

The concoction was a success. Bianca smiled at Merlin.

"Thank you, Honey," she said, hugging him in exhaustion.

"Mn." Merlin held her feeling her weight fall on him. 

He understood her sentiment. They had worked on this for hours without rest.

'You sure know how to make things complicated, Anette,' she grumbled secretly.

However, deep down, she could not but admire the level of detail and mastery Anette had in making this recipe. It was something even senior mages could not complete in a short time let alone a year. Anette did so while handling several other matters. 

Bianca smiled at the thought, she was relieved that such a perfectionist, was the one finding a solution out there.

Mitchell came in to find the couple publicly hugging. His brown eyes became like dead fish eyes as they lost all emotion.

"I will get Kaela," he said.

He didn't want to be a third party in such an atmosphere. Partly because he was jealous and missed Anette. 

'This dogshit, I can't stand it. Come back soon, Dear,' He prayed, deeply crying in his heart.

He found Mikaela who was in a robe having finished washing up. His hair was still wet sticking to his face and his body was covered with a layer of hot steam.

"Time to go," beckoned Mitchell.

Mikaela followed silently. He knew it was called a medicine bath but…would it be painful?

His eyes hung pitifully low not daring to ask.

○( ＾皿＾)っ Hehehe…