Chapter 143

Chapter 143: Chapter 143

There was a lot of grumbling and dissatisfaction but Dulce did end up in the kitchen, looking through what was stocked up before deciding what to make.

There were a lot of dry ingredients which was reasonable as they were non-perishable. Most dishes needed fresh vegetables so he would have to settle for a pie with meat filling.

"I was the only one to say I was hungry," Ruoxi pouted, trailing after Dulce. "I don’t see why you have to humor everyone."

Asael shot him a dark look from across the kitchen, he had spent the night staring at the wall while Kath’tan had snuck into Dulce’s room to fall fast asleep, it was enough to feel dissatisfied.

The Fiend in question wasn’t in the kitchen yet, remaining on Dulce’s bed to doze in the sun for a while longer, it made Asael’s teeth ache.

"You can eat after breakfast," Dulce said calmly, preparing the portions needed to make several pies.

Asael’s expression only darkened further at the conversation, stepping up next to Dulce, "What do you need help with?" He asked directly.

Dulce looked up at him, surprise in his silver blue eyes. "Can you cook?"

Asael’s expression shuttered, he had spent most of his life alone yet he still didn’t know how to make a decent meal, but that was unnecessary. "Simply give me a task." He said frigidly.

"I don’t know how to cook so I’ll offer support," Ruoxi said shamelessly, wrapping his arms around Dulce’s waist and resting his jaw on his shoulder.

Asael’s gray eyes darkened at that, it didn’t help that Dulce regarded him skeptically, about to turn down his selfless offer.

By the time the servants who had been sent down from Marlen by the Bodywns arrived, breakfast was no closer to getting made.

"I’ll take it right from here, my lords." The well-endowed cook said respectfully.

A slew of servants had arrived from the village, living in Dewmire so they could easily make themselves readily available to care for the cottage.

Dulce was shooed out of the kitchen, without even getting to measure out the flour. The cook had brought fresh vegetables and fresh meat with her, right away assigning maidservants to getting started on washing the fresh produce.

Dulce was only able to request that they make some savory pies, leaving for his room to get ready for the day.

Kath’tan sat up when he walked in, the Demon pushing his long hair out of his face, his arm propped on a knee.

He paid little mind to him, walking right for the bath despite being trailed by two more Demons. Without breakfast to worry about, he wanted to explore the land around the cottage. He wasn’t very hopeful, but there was a chance a few of his farm animals had managed to survive.

When he stepped out, there was still a crowd in his bedroom, three pairs of eyes looking up at him expectantly. They were still in their bedclothes, even Asael wore his complete set of nightclothes, a robe thrown over them, all unwilling to get ready for the day

"Where are you going?" The Shadow Demon asked.

"I used to have a farm, I wonder if I’ll find any of the animals wandering the fields." He replied, the hope in his eyes hard to miss.

Kath’tan looked away, staring out of the open windows to the flower fields which were one of the first things he had seen after being taken away from the battlefield. He had thought the Vampire foolish then, and now... he still did sometimes.

But despite his wealth, Dulce had returned to the quiet, hilly countryside to continue his little farm. The Vampire had no drive or ambitions, it was startling.

"A farm?" Ruoxi asked curiously, intrigued.

"Yes, it had cows, sheep, and chickens." Dulce explained briefly, heading for the door. "I’ll return before breakfast."

"I’ll come with you," Ruoxi invited himself, making no move to get into respectable clothing.

Asael glanced at the Incubus, not missing the dark glint in those gold eyes. He wisely stayed out of the expedition to hunt the lost animals, instead returning to his room to clean and dress up.

Kath’tan didn’t invite himself for other reasons, being back in Dewmire reminded him of how cruelly he had treated Dulce at their first meeting. No wonder the Vampire was so jumpy around him, if it were him, he wouldn’t forgive the other party so easily.

He laid back down on the bed instead of returning to his room... Dulce never held it against him, if anything, the Vampire kept worrying that he was angry.

Kath’tan touched his face, attempting a smile. He couldn’t see his face but he could tell that it was an unsettling expression.

He shot to his feet and left for his room, Dulce would never hold his bad-tempered nature against him, so it was only right that he made some effort to be gentler.

Ruoxi’s charming smile flashed in his mind’s eyes, it made him scowl, right away forgetting his decision to be gentler. But as aggravating as the Incubus was, he was suave. He was better with words and Dulce was certainly not worried that he was angry all the time.

He went right to the lavish bath, the servants providing hot water. There was a wide window right by the polished bathtub which provided a pleasant view of the tall, distant trees.

The cottage had just been built, and the measly shed that once stood in its place couldn’t be called a home, yet Dewmire felt familiar. He had spent only a day and then some in the green countryside but it felt like he had always lived here, autumn flowers blooming, the evergreen trees remaining unchanged.

Threnval was never a home, it had been survival for him, and Ashford handed to him on a platter what he had chased all his life. But he had lived as a Wrath faction Fiend for far too long, and his mother cared for him regardless of who he was and what he did, so he had no care for the throne.

Kath’tan sank into the warm, scented water, resting his head on the rim of the porcelain tub. It had been almost two months since he left Ashford, perhaps he should pay a brief visit to his mother.

-+-

It looked to have rained in Dewmire very recently, so Dulce fished out rain boots for them before they went stomping through the grass, searching for farm animals.

Dulce caught the belt of Ruoxi’s robes after the Demon finished putting on his boots, concern furrowing his brows. "It’s cold, will you be fine with just a robe?"

Ruoxi glanced down at the Vampire’s deft fingers tying his robes close, momentarily distracted by his long, pale lashes and flushed cheeks. "Yes." He said, looking past Dulce to the wide pasture speckled with fruit trees. "If I get too cold you can warm me up," He teased, starting down the cobbled pathway.

Dulce placed a hand to his forehead, he was a Vampire so he was cold, he had little warmth to offer Ruoxi. He went after the Demon, there was a lot of ground to cover but he was in no hurry, he was content in Dewmire so he had no plans to leave.

Travels couldn’t be entirely avoided, but he would always return.

They walked side by side over tall grass, the crabapple trees nearby were fruiting, the branches weighed down with unripe fruit.

Despite it being a field, it wasn’t a flat visible terrain, shrubs and trees pockmarked the somewhat open space before the dense cover of trees.

The last of the morning dew fell on their rain boots even as the sun grew warmer, slow-moving clouds in the blue sky.

After they searched in silence for a while, Dulce frowned, they hadn’t gotten even a glimpse of any of the animals. "Perhaps they wandered into the village or were picked off by wild animals."

Ruoxi had almost forgotten that they had a task, enjoying the peaceful walk. "You could buy more." He suggested lightly.

Dulce thought about it for a moment, "Perhaps not."

Having a farm had been a poor substitute for company, it had been more efficient in procuring finances than easing his loneliness.

"Breakfast should be ready soon," He went on, deciding to stop his search for the day. "We should return."

Ruoxi glanced at the stone cottage complete with a thatched roof, climbing vines slowly starting up the sides of it. It was quite a distance away, obscured by trees.

"Let’s walk for a bit longer, the sun is pleasantly warm." He said with a smile that held bad intentions.

Dulce glanced at the Incubus, still worried that he had walked around in the cold without properly covering up. He easily agreed, leading the way to a patch of flowers in the distance.

He slowed down when they got to the flower patch, it was a lovely view, one that he was so focused on that he didn’t notice Ruoxi’s attention until the Demon swooped down on him.