Chapter 16: Come with me

Something sneaky was happening in the kitchen—someone else was cooking!

Luline hurried to the dorm entrance, setting down her various bags.
She whispered a spell at the door seam.

“[Lock Release].”

Click.

No key needed—the door slowly swung inward.
A delicious aroma hit Luline’s nose instantly.

‘That smell… my saintess cherry tomatoes!’

Luline rushed toward the kitchen but slowed as the clanging of a spatula grew louder.
She leaned against the door, listening.

The kitchen door, like the bathroom’s, was frosted glass, showing only a blurry silhouette.
But an ice chain stretched into the hallway, catching Luline’s eye.

‘Strange. That’s the ice chain Ophelia used to bind Charis.
Is Charis cooking in there?’

As Luline pondered, a soft hum and carefree muttering came from the kitchen.

“Hehe, all mine now.
Eat it quick and destroy the evidence.”

A silver-haired figure poured the pot’s contents onto a plate, then opened the door with a whoosh, carrying it out.

“Charis, what are you doing?”

“Uh… you’re back?”

Charis froze, plate in hand, her face panicked, a fork dangling from her mouth.

“Why can’t I be back?
You’re using the kitchen to cook?”

Luline frowned slightly, eyeing the plate’s contents.
One word came to mind: indescribable.

The plump, juicy, slightly sweet saintess cherry tomatoes were chopped and stir-fried with odd yellow-white chunks, slathered over boiled noodles!

“Uh… yeah, I was cooking.
I was hungry.”

Charis lowered her head, gripping the plate’s edge tightly.

Luline said nothing, inwardly fuming.
Charis had secretly used her saintess cherry tomatoes to make this bizarre dish!
And it looked awful!

But the strange, enticing aroma came from the plate.
Luline stared at it and spoke.

“What’s this you made?”

“Tomato egg noodles.”

“Hm?”

Luline had never heard of such a “weird” dish, nor seen its preparation.

“It’s edible!
I didn’t waste anything.
I was just so hungry I wanted to make something.”

Charis’s stomach was flat, too empty to puff out for show.

“This is edible? You sure?”
Luline felt her throat swallow involuntarily, shocked that she was craving it.

“It’s fine. Watch, I’ll eat some.”
Charis lifted the plate, twirling a forkful of noodles coated in sauce, stuffing it into her mouth with satisfaction.

Seeing Charis’s blissful expression, Luline was convinced the dish wasn’t tampered with.
She reached for it.

“Let me try it.
I’ll give you something else to eat.”

“Okay…”

Charis swallowed her bite, obediently handing over the plate, waiting for Luline’s trade.

“Here, take these.
A whole bag—eat whatever you want.
They probably won’t get up for breakfast.”

Luline cast a spell, summoning a bag from the doorway.
A paper bag steamed with goodies—milk, bread, and grilled meats, each smelling far better than the noodles!

“Thank you, Big Sister!”

Charis beamed, clutching the bag, practically dancing.

‘Jackpot!
I thought my hard-cooked meal was stolen, but this is a win!’

Charis dug in without hesitation, occasionally glancing gratefully at Luline.

‘This dragon can cook?
Did she develop this dish from living wild?’

Luline sat at the dining table, picking up a fresh fork and twirling noodles coated in pale red sauce, chewing slowly.

“Hm?!”

Luline’s emerald eyes lit up, her usual calm demeanor turning to surprise.
She poked at the yellow-white chunks, eating them with the chopped tomatoes.

The tomatoes’ sweet-tart flavor stood out, perfectly balancing the egg’s rich oiliness.
It wasn’t heavy but appetite-whetting, and the noodles filled her satisfyingly.

“Delicious…”

“Hm?”

Charis looked up, thinking Luline called her.

“You did great, Charis.”

Luline set down her fork, her gaze serious, like a cool-headed examiner giving a high score.

“Delicious… then eat more!”

Charis kept munching on a meat chunk.
Luline said little, quietly savoring the unique flavor.

Morning light rose outside, a gentle breeze lifting the living room curtains.
Soft rays bathed Luline and Charis, creating a harmonious, almost familial dining scene.

“So full… another satisfying day.”

Charis emptied the bag, leaning back in her chair, utterly relaxed, her belly bulging again.

“You did well.”

Luline gave a fair assessment, wiping her mouth with a napkin, her emerald eyes on Charis.

“I just threw it together.
If you like it, Big Sister Saintess, I can try making something else next time.”

Charis grinned, her words heartfelt.
Luline believed her.

“You know other recipes?”

“Yeah, I can stir-fry, steam, boil, grill—a bit of everything.”

“Good. Then come with me today.”

Luline stood abruptly, heading toward Ophelia’s room.

‘Huh? What’s the saintess going to Ophelia for?’

“Wait, she’s not in her room.
She’s in mine—the empty one.”

“Ophelia’s in your room?”

Luline turned, surprised, but quickly pieced it together.
She opened the door Charis indicated.

Bang.

Luline entered and shut the door.
Charis stayed outside, confused, noticing the ice chain on her neck twitch briefly before settling.

Zzt.

The ice chain suddenly broke.
Charis looked up to see Luline approaching, holding the severed piece.

“Huh?”

“Charis, I spoke with Ophelia.
She doesn’t need you this morning.
Come with me—I’m taking you somewhere.”

Luline tied the chain to her wrist, casting a spell to make Charis’s neck chain invisible.

“Somewhere? Where?
Are you selling me?”

Charis’s heart raced with unease, but Luline’s cool face broke into a smile.

“No. Your ownership belongs to all three of us, so selling you needs two votes.
I just want you to help me shop for ingredients.”

“Why bring me?”

“Because a dragon’s nose can sniff out fresh ingredients—it’s your instinct.
Plus, I want you to try cooking more dishes.
Do well, and there’s a reward.”

Luline tapped Charis’s nose.
Charis instantly understood—she was being enlisted as a grocery-sniffing dragon and head chef.