CHAPTER 163: COOKING TOGETHER

The kitchen was filled with the golden glow of the afternoon sunlight filtering through the small glass windows. Pots hung from hooks above the counter, and bundles of dried herbs dangled near the hearth. Lilith smiled as she stepped inside with her mother, comforted by the familiar scent that surrounded her. The kitchen hadn’t changed at all since she left.

"Do you remember how we used to bake together?" her mother asked, opening the wooden pantry and pulling out a bag of flour. "You used to sneak handfuls of raisins and pretend I didn’t notice."

Lilith chuckled. "You always did notice. I just thought I was clever."

Her mother passed her a bowl. "Well, let’s see if you still have those nimble hands. Start with the flour. We’ll make your favorite, honey glazed bread and some of that chicken stew you loved so much."

Lilith mixed the dough while her mother chopped the vegetables. The two of them spoke little during the process. Occasionally, her mother would hum a familiar tune under her breath, and Lilith found herself joining in without thinking.

As the stew began to simmer in the pot, filling the room with a rich and savory aroma, her mother leaned back against the counter and wiped her hands on her apron.

"You still have the hands for cooking. I thought your days living in royalty might have stripped that away," she said, watching her daughter with pride.

Lilith glanced over, smiling. "Not at all. Though I’m still trying."

"Nonsense. You’ve always been wonderful at cooking."

They placed the bread in the oven and waited a little longer until everything was ready. Her mother carefully poured the stew into bowls while Lilith sliced the warm bread. Together, they carried the food into the dining room.

Her mother set the bowls at one end of the table, smiling as she placed two glasses of grape juice next to the plates. "Go ahead and sit, dear. I’ll bring the fruits."

Lilith turned to take her seat, but her gaze caught movement just outside the open archway of the dining room. A familiar figure walked past the hallway.

"Charlotte!" Lilith called, abandoning her seat and rushing toward her. "You’re just in time."

Charlotte turned, her lips curving into a smile. "In time for... oh, I thought I smelled something delicious."

"Come, you must join us," Lilith said, grabbing her hand and pulling her gently. "I want you to meet someone."

Charlotte arched a brow but allowed herself to be led into the dining room. As they stepped in, Lilith gestured toward her mother.

"Mother, this is Charlotte. She’s become a very dear friend to me at the palace."

Her mother’s eyes lit up as she wiped her hands on her apron and stepped forward. "Ah, such a beautiful young lady. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Charlotte."

Charlotte dipped her head politely. "The pleasure is mine, madam."

"Oh, Do call me Vanessa. ’Madam’ is far too formal," her mother said warmly, ushering her to a chair. "Please, sit. There’s plenty of food."

Charlotte obeyed and took a seat beside Lilith, who passed her a slice of the still-warm bread. "My mother and I made chicken stew, and this bread. Gods, I missed this bread."

Charlotte laughed, biting into a piece. "I can see why. It smells and tastes amazing."

As they began to eat, the room filled with easy conversation. Charlotte shared a lighthearted story about the time she tried to sneak out for a ball her father had forbidden her from attending. She’d climbed out of her window, determined to escape, but her dress got caught on part of the roof. As she struggled to free herself, a guard spotted her bringing her daring escape to an end.

Lilith and her mother burst into laughter, tears forming in their eyes.

"Oh dear," Vanessa said between chuckles, dabbing her eyes with a napkin. "You are a fantastic storyteller."

"I assume most people would call it talking too much," Charlotte replied with a grin, casting a glance at Lilith. "But my life is full of interesting events I can’t help but share."

Vanessa smiled warmly. "That’s lovely. You’ll never be a boring companion, that’s for sure."

A short pause followed before Lilith asked, "Where’s Viktor? I haven’t seen him since morning. The last time I checked, he was still asleep."

Charlotte took a sip from her glass before replying, "He’s in his chambers. Said he wasn’t feeling well, had a headache. I almost feel bad for dragging him into the rain."

Lilith’s brows furrowed. "That’s unfortunate."

"Yes, it is," Charlotte nodded, taking another slice of bread. "But I think he just needs a few more hours of rest. He’ll be fine."

"I’ll check on him after we eat," Lilith said.

Her mother watched the exchange with quiet interest but said nothing. Instead, she rose and fetched a fresh glass of juice placing it in the center of the table.

"Has he had anything to eat?" Lilith asked, glancing at Charlotte.

"No. He could barely keep his eyes open when I visited. I don’t think he will be able to eat anything."

"He needs to eat," Lilith said, turning to her mother. "Do you have any medicine for fever? He needs to regain energy. Sleeping all day on an empty stomach will only make him worse."

"You’re right," Vanessa replied thoughtfully. "I have a few herbal teas for fever. I’ll warm some up for you."

Then she looked at Charlotte. "Is he a brother of yours?"

Charlotte chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Not at all. He was adopted by my parents when he was a child."

"Oh, I see." Vanessa nodded. "Well, I’ll prepare the tea and you can take it to him. He should feel much better after that. There’s still some bread left in the kitchen if he wants any."

"Thank you, Mother," Lilith said softly.

They continued eating, the conversation growing quieter this time. When they were finished, Lilith stood to help clear the table, but her mother waved her off.

"No, you two go and check on your friend. I’ll take care of this."

"Alright, Mother. I’ll be back soon for the tea," Lilith replied, smiling.

She turned and walked out with Charlotte, the other girl’s hand gently wrapped around her arm.