Chapter 383: You can do it

"Can I really do it?" Dart asked, the drowsiness vanishing from his eyes the moment Luke explained why he had been summoned.

"Surely, you can. You are an outgoing person with a positive energy." Luke encouraged him with a slow nod, though the amusement and anticipation in his eyes made it painfully obvious that he was looking forward to seeing how Dart handled it.

Dart groaned. "You are having fun while setting me up to do something that could go awfully wrong if I am not careful. Think, Luke. I have spent all this time building a connection with the villagers deliberately." He added the last part in a quieter voice, as though even saying it aloud made him uneasy.

Luke knew exactly what he meant.

Nadia and Dart had fled their previous village because Nadia belonged to a prominent family, and her future had already been decided for her. She was never meant to have a say in choosing her mate. But when she fell in love with Dart, the two of them decided to defy the fate others had chosen for them and start anew here.

Their arrival, however, had hardly been a smooth one.

People began whispering about them almost immediately, and matters only grew worse because Nadia had little experience dealing with strangers. Her naturally secretive temperament made it difficult for the villagers to understand her, giving rise to even more rumors.

In the end, the two had been made to feel like outcasts, as though they were intruders in a place they desperately wanted to call home. And while Dart could tolerate it, the isolation weighed heavily on Nadia.

That was why Dart had joined the forces responsible for protecting the village rather than pursuing his original passion for hunting.

He could have become an excellent hunter, perhaps even one of the most successful in the village. With his natural ability, he might have earned enough to eventually become one of its wealthiest residents.

Instead, he had chosen something that could earn him the validation and respect of those around him.

He had chosen to become their protector.

And thanks to the few incidents in which Dart had played a crucial role, along with his naturally warm and positive disposition, the villagers had gradually begun to see him in a different light.

His standing among his comrades had improved, and the villagers no longer looked at him with suspicion. Instead, they smiled whenever they saw him.

That was why his fear of ruining everything he had painstakingly built, of once again becoming someone the villagers disliked, was entirely justified.

Luke was no longer taking the matter casually. His expression sobered as he muttered, "Look, Dart. I could go there and inform them about what happened. But what the villagers need right now isn’t confirmation of what they have already heard. They need comfort. They need someone to give them hope that the future isn’t as bleak as many of them have already begun to believe."

Dart pressed his lips together and slowly lowered his head.

Before he could respond, Roxanne spoke up.

"I have seen it myself. Baldon respected your dedication, and he has spoken about you to several people in good faith. They trust you, Dart. Whatever you say today, the villagers will listen."

Dart was slightly flustered by how positively the lady viewed the matter. He had expected her to be skeptical of Luke’s decision, especially considering how little communication he had shared with her in the past.

From the side, Nadia gently squeezed his hand and said, "You can do this, Dart. Just follow your heart, like you always do, and everything will turn out right."

Dart’s eyes softened with warmth at her words.

Having so many eyes fixed on him still made him nervous. Yet the reassurance of the two people who mattered most to him eased the weight pressing down on his shoulders. Their faith in him gave him a little more courage to face what lay ahead.

After a moment, Dart nodded.

"I understand. I will deliver the message today."

The tension in the room gradually lifted after that. Luke, perhaps sensing that everyone needed something to take their minds off the grim news, smiled and suggested, "Then tonight, after the announcement, there will be a feast on me. I will do the cooking tonight, and everyone here is invited."

Monica’s brows rose in surprise.

"Luke will cook? That’s not something I get to see very often."

Ginna nodded in agreement. "Yes. Well, it would be quite a fitting way to bid farewell to the warriors who lost their lives protecting us."

Soon, Dart and Nadia took their leave, since Dart needed to prepare for the evening. He admitted that he would have to think carefully about how to begin, as he had never spoken in front of so many people before.

Luke told him to seek Gary’s help if he found himself at a loss. Gary had plenty of experience dealing with large groups of people and would know how to guide him through it.

Once they left, Monica suddenly slapped a hand against her forehead.

"I completely forgot to prepare food for us. Oh, I have been so busy chatting lately."

Shaking her head at her own forgetfulness, she rose from her chair. Roxanne and Ginna immediately followed.

"Roxanne? You too?" Monica asked, looking at her in surprise.

Roxanne offered a faint smile. "I would like to help... if that is fine."

Monica giggled. "Of course it is. Come, let me show you the way to his heart."

As she said that, she glanced toward Luke, only to find him grinning at her, his eyes narrowed with amusement.

Monica returned his smile before leading the other two women inside. Soon, the three of them disappeared into the house, leaving Luke behind.

Left alone with him, Laila said, "I will go and check on Father. Do you want to drink something first, Ilya?"

Ilya slowly shook her head. "I am good. Thank you."

Laila nodded. She glanced at Luke once before stepping away.

For a moment, silence settled over the room.

Then Ilya looked around the house, her gaze lingering on the unfamiliar surroundings. A faint smile tugged at her lips as she turned toward Luke.

"Well, since I am already here..." she began, her tone carrying a hint of mischief. "Won’t you show me around the house? Maybe start with your room?"