Chapter 371: Hyacine's Peculiarity

Aiden swiftly slipped out of bed. Turning back, he stole a quick kiss on the flushed face of Tifa, who was clearly pretending to be asleep, and then leaned down to peck Robin on the lips, much to her helpless and embarrassed amusement. Fully satisfied and feeling rather smug, he got dressed and slipped away to make breakfast.

The room fell quiet again, save for the heartbeats of the two girls.

Robin turned on her side and looked at Tifa, whose eyes were still tightly shut, though her trembling eyelashes betrayed her. "Since things have already reached this point, there's no need to pretend you're asleep, Tifa. It's not like you don't know what he's like," Robin comforted her with an amused smile. "Besides... we are sisters, aren't we? Even if... it was indeed a bit absurd."

Recalling the vivid details of the previous night, Robin's fair face flushed with a deep crimson.

Tifa knew she couldn't keep up the act. She slowly opened her eyes, misty and shimmering. She looked at Robin, her lips moving silently, her gaze filled with profound apology. In her eyes, she was the latecomer. She hadn't refused Aiden's advances; if anything, she had actively welcomed them, which led to this out-of-control situation. She felt she had wronged Robin, the older sister figure she deeply respected.

Robin, ever perceptive, saw right through Tifa's guilt. She reached out and gently took Tifa's hand. "Silly girl, what is there to apologize for? You know that idiot Aiden is always talking about building a harem. It's not about who got here first. However..."

A sly glint flashed in Robin's eyes. To ease Tifa's awkwardness, she deftly shifted the target to Aiden. "Last night was definitely too absurd. We can't let him off the hook so easily, nor can we spoil him. We should..." She leaned into Tifa's ear, lowering her voice to a whisper.

Initially hesitant, Tifa's eyes grew brighter as she listened. The flush of embarrassment on her cheeks shifted into excitement. Finally, she nodded emphatically. The two shared a smile, bound by an unspoken, unified front against him.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Aiden wore an apron and worked methodically. This was the heart of Palais Mermonia, boasting luxury that would make a royal head chef green with envy. Spotless marble countertops, pristine silver utensils, and the Magic Stone Stove—the pinnacle of Orario's craftsmanship—sat quietly in the corner.

Aiden expertly retrieved several prepared cuts of pale pink meat from the nearby icebox. Approaching the Magic Stone Stove, he pulled a Low-Grade Magic Stone from his pouch and casually tossed it into the slot on the side.

With a soft hum, several cooking zones on the stove flared to life with a gentle blue light. There was no smoke, just a steady output of pure heat. He placed a heavy iron skillet over one of the glowing rings, letting it heat evenly.

Next, he prepared the ingredients. With a chef's knife in his long fingers, a subtle flick of his wrist reduced the rabbit meat to an even mince in the blink of an eye. He moved so fast he left afterimages—not just mere speed, but the absolute physical mastery and control of a hardened adventurer.

A few mushrooms and herbs gathered from the Dungeon were diced finely and mixed into the meat. He shaped the mixture into perfectly uniform patties, lining them up neatly on a plate.

Pouring a dash of oil into the skillet, he waited until it was hot before placing the patties in one by one.

Sizzle—

The moment the meat hit the hot oil, a delightful sound echoed, and a rich, savory aroma filled the kitchen.

Aiden didn't remain idle while the patties seared. He grabbed a clay pot from the shelf, washed some rice, and added water along with dried mushrooms, setting it over another burner to simmer.

With the prep done, he leaned against the counter, watching the patties brown as his thoughts drifted back to last night. The corners of his mouth crept upward involuntarily. It had been messy and ridiculous, sure, but the result... wasn't bad at all.

Thinking of Robin's shy, flustered, yet ultimately compliant demeanor, and Tifa burying her head like a stiff, trembling ostrich, Aiden found it incredibly endearing.

Once the patties were seared to a golden, fragrant crisp on both sides, he plated them. The porridge was also perfectly cooked—the rice grains split open, fully absorbing the umami of the mushrooms.

He glanced out the window; the sun had already risen.

A lazy yawn came from the doorway. Jeanne walked in, rubbing her eyes, her blonde braid swaying gently. When she realized it was Aiden at the stove, a look of distinct surprise crossed her face.

"Aiden? Why are you making breakfast today? Where are Tifa and Hyacine?"

Usually, Tifa would be bustling about the kitchen by now, with the attentive Hyacine assisting her.

Flashbacks of the absurd and romantic night filled Aiden's mind, but he maintained a perfectly calm, warm smile. "They've been working too hard lately. I told them to get some proper rest."

"Is that so? They definitely deserve a break." Jeanne nodded, suspecting nothing, and naturally stepped up to help carry the food.

"Thanks for the hard work. It smells amazing."

The atmosphere at the breakfast table was as harmonious as ever. Robin and Tifa had changed and showed no signs of anything unusual. Robin maintained her elegant composure, eating unhurriedly while casually discussing upcoming adventure plans with Daphne. Tifa was a bit quieter than usual, but she smiled and responded normally to Jeanne's chatter, acting as if last night was nothing but a bizarre dream.

Hyacine sat there, displaying her usual quiet and obedient demeanor. However, Aiden's attention was largely focused on the pink-haired girl. Her gaze kept darting away; a split second before making eye contact with him, she would swiftly lower her eyelashes like a startled rabbit. Whenever she took a small sip of her porridge, a suspicious flush would creep across her fair cheeks, turning her ears a bright pink.

Jeanne was completely oblivious to these subtle shifts, and even the perceptive Robin and Tifa were too preoccupied with their own thoughts to notice. But every detail fell clearly into Aiden's sight.

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