Chapter690 155.1 - Case of a breakfast


    Meanwhile, Astron strolled into the Emberheart kitchen with his usualposed air, taking in the pristine countertops and sleek design. He wasn''t surprised to see the space was immacte-untouched, even. It was clear that no one here had ever truly cooked a meal.


    ''Figures, he thought. Considering the fact that, Irina was that kind of a girl, he could understand it.


    ''Hmm?"


    Yet just then, to his surprise, he saw that the fridge was stocked. Fresh vegetables, neatly packaged cuts of meat, an array of sauces and spices-all of it was there, ready to be used. It was almost too perfect, as though someone had gone out of their way to ensure it looked well-prepared, even if it had never been touched.


    "This wasn''t just stocked by her staff, he noted, a flicker of curiosity passing through his mind. His curl of mouth widened slightly as he began pulling out ingredients- eggs, bread, some fresh herbs, and a bit of cheese. It didn''t matter why the fridge was stocked; what mattered was that he had the tools he needed.


    As he moved efficiently through the kitchen, his thoughts wandered briefly back to Phantom''s Land. The memory of Irina and Sylvie sitting uselessly by the fire as he prepared their meals brought a quiet chuckle to his lips. He could still remember Irina''s defiant re as she begrudgingly ate the food he''d made, clearly hating that she had to rely on him.


    ''She hated it then,'' he thought, cracking an egg into a bowl with practiced ease. ''But I wonder if she''ll admit she''s looking forward to it now.''


    He had been seeing quite a lot of amusing things recently, and it appeared that this one was one of those.


    ******


    Back in her room, Irina stepped out of the shower, her hair damp and clinging lightly to her shoulders. The heat of the water had washed away the grime and tension fromst night, leaving her feeling refreshed. She wrapped a towel around herself, pausing for a moment as she caught her reflection in the mirror.


    Her cheeks were still faintly pink, though whether it was from the heat of the shower or the lingering embarrassment from earlier, she wasn''t sure.


    ''He better not mess this up, she thought, herpetitive streak ring as she dried herself off and began getting dressed. The memory of Phantom''s Land returned unbidden, and she found herself smiling faintly as she recalled the taste of the food Astron had made back then.


    As Trina finished drying her hair and began getting dressed, a faint, tantalizing aroma


    wafted into her room. Her movements stilled, her senses sharpening as the scent grew stronger. It was unmistakable-the scent of something cooking, something fresh and


    warm.


    Her brow furrowed slightly as she turned her head toward the partially open door. ''The door... I didn''t close it?'' she realized, her cheeks flushing slightly at her carelessness. But that thought was quickly overshadowed by recognition.


    ''Wait... this scent... isn''t this..."


    Her heart skipped a beat as the realization struck her. He''s making-?Her mind raced to put a name to the dish.


    ''Fried herb patties."


    The simple, unassuming meal was something she rarely had the opportunity to enjoy. It was a dish loved bymon folks-crispy and golden on the outside, with a savory filling of finely chopped herbs, spices, and a hint of melted cheese. It was hearty and unpretentious, the kind of food that didn''t belong in high-end restaurants or the refined meals served at the academy.


    Irina had tasted it only three times in her life, and each of those moments was etched deeply into her memory.


    The first time was during a rare outing with "him" even before she had been admitted to the academy.


    Irina remembered sneaking a bite of the street vendor''s patties, her eyes widening at the explosion of vor.


    ''Ah....''


    And as those memories were brought back, she naturally remembered about a certain someone as well.


    The second time was far more personal. She had been with "him", as well - certain someone from her childhood who had a knack for dragging her out of herfort


    zone.


    They''d sneaked away to explore a bustling vige market, and he had insisted on buying the patties for her. She could still remember the way he''d grinned at her as she reluctantly took the first bite, only to devour the rest in minutes. It was one of the few times she''d allowed herself to let go, to enjoy something without the weight of expectations pressing down on her.


    The third and final time was shortly after his absence. She had been alone, wandering through the same market, hoping to find a taste of that fleeting happiness again. She''d bought the patties herself, but they hadn''t tasted the same. The warmth, theughter --it was missing. And though the vor had been there, the memory left a bittersweet ache in her chest.


    And now... now that same aroma was filling her senses once again, pulling her back through time.


    Her breath hitched as she tightened the sash of her robe, and she stepped quickly toward the door. ''Really....This is driving me crazy....


    Irina tugged at the sash of her robe, her steps quick and purposeful as she headed toward the kitchen. Her thoughts swirled with a mix of frustration and unease. ''I don''t want to think about those memories,'' she told herself firmly. ''They don''t bring anything good.''


    Yet no matter how hard she tried to suppress them, the feelings lingered. Theughter, the warmth, the sense of fleeting freedom-they gnawed at the edges of her mind, refusing to be buried.


    ''And then there''sst night,'' she thought, her cheeks heating again as fragments of the evening reyed in her head. That guy... he''s so irritating. But she couldn''t deny the quiet sense offort she had felt in his presence, a feeling that seemed to carry over into this morning.


    As she stepped into the kitchen, the scene before her brought her to a halt.


    Astron moved with practiced ease, his calm demeanor as steady as ever. The air was filled with the tantalizing aromas of cooking, each scent distinct yet blending harmoniously. Her eyes darted to the countertop, where an array of dishes wasing together.


    A pot of tea steamed gently on one side, its faint floral aroma mingling with the scent of herbs. The fried herb patties were already ted, their golden crust glistening enticingly. Nearby, slices of potato sizzled in a pan, their edges crisping to a perfect golden brown. A small skillet held a mixture of eggs and tomato sauce, the vibrant colors blending with a sprinkle of spices.


    And then there was the meat-thin strips of bacon-like cuts, their marbled texture revealing the quality of the special meat. It wasn''t just any bacon; it was Emberboar bacon, a rare delicacy known for its rich vor and tender texture.


    Irina''s gaze swept over the variety, her brows furrowing as a question formed in her mind. ''Where did he get all this?"


    She was sure her fridge hadn''t been stocked with this many ingredients. She had prepared it with only the basics-herbs, cheese, and a few fresh items after that time in Phantom''s Land, but nothing like this.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Astron seemed to sense her presence, ncing over his shoulder with his usual calm expression. "You''re up," he said simply, turning back to the sizzling pan in front of him.


    "Perfect timing"


    Irina crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing slightly as she leaned against the doorframe. "Where did you get all of this?" she asked, her tone sharp despite the faint


    flush creeping up her neck.


    Astron didn''t look at her immediately, instead focusing on ting the fried potatoes with a casual precision that only irritated her more, "Your fridge was a good start," he said, his voice even. "But I improvised."


    "I can see that," Irina replied, her tone tinged with disbelief as she stepped closer. "But there''s no way my fridge had these herbs for the patties. Or that tea blend. Or half of


    these spices."


    Irina''s brow furrowed as she scanned the countertop again, her gaze settling on the neatly ted Emberboar bacon. Of course, she had that-it was something only her family could provide. The Emberboar was a unique breed, raised specifically by the Emberheart family. These boars were fed special, nutrient-rich food and periodically exposed to the Emberheart fire, which infused their meat with a distinct smoky vor and unparalleled tenderness.


    However, the meat was rare. There was only a limited amount produced each year, reserved for the family and their most prestigious guests. She had no idea how Astron even knew about it, much less how he''d decided to prepare it.


    Her lips pressed into a thin line as she crossed her arms, trying to make sense of what she was seeing. She remembered stocking her fridge impulsively after that time in Phantom''s Land. Watching Astron cook back then had irked herpetitive streak, and on a whim, she''d filled her fridge with high-quality ingredients.


    But even then, she hadn''t been thorough. Sure, the Emberboar bacon, eggs, and


    cheese were her doing, but she had no idea where he''d found those herbs, that tea blend, or the spices. She didn''t know much about those things-her meals were usually prepared by staff or served at high-end establishments, leaving her clueless about


    such details.


    Her gaze shifted back to Astron, who seemedpletely at ease as he worked. His


    movements were precise yet unhurried, his focus split between the sizzling skillet and the tea he was pouring into two cups. The way he moved, the quiet confidence with which he handled every step-it was infuriatingly captivating.


    "Okay," she said finally, her voice cutting through the quiet hum of the kitchen. "I get that the bacon is from here. That''s my family''s specialty. But where did you get everything else? The herbs, the spices, the tea blend-none of that was in my fridge." Astron nced at her over his shoulder "You''re right," he admitted. "They weren''t." Irina raised an eyebrow, her arms tightening across her chest. "Then?"


    "I brought some things with me," he said simply, turning back to the stove as he flipped thest strip of bacon onto the te. "Call it a habit."


    "A habit?" Irina repeated, her tone incredulous. "You just... carry herbs and spices


    around with you?"


    Astron shrugged, his calm demeanor unshaken. "You''d be surprised how useful they can be. Especially when someone forgets to stock the basics."


    Irina bristled, her cheeks flushing as she took a step closer. "I didn''t forget," she


    snapped. "I didn''t think they were necessary."


    Astron turned to face her, holding out a te with a perfectly bnced assortment of


    food. "And yet, here you are, questioning my methods while your stomach growls loud enough to wake the dead."


    Irina''s cheeks burned as she red at him, but her traitorous stomach rumbled again louder this time. She snatched the te from his hands with a huff, her eyes


    narrowing.


    "Shut up....


    Irina was hungry.


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