Chapter 136: The King of Street Food

Chapter 136. The King of Street Food

I woke up roughly six hours later.

At least, that was my best guess. The sunlight streaming through the curtains was already bright enough to make me regret opening my eyes. I stared at the ceiling for a while, trying to remember where I was.

Ah, right.

Lumenford.

I sat up, rubbed my face and looked down at my clothes. Dried blood. Dust. A few stains I didn’t particularly want to identify. I needed a bath. But then my stomach protested.

Fine. Food first. Bath later.

I got out of bed and splashed some water onto my face to make myself presentable. I didn’t bother changing my clothes entirely. When I stepped outside my room, the administrative building was unusually busy.

Servants hurried through the corridors carrying flower arrangements, white cloth, and various supplies. Several were discussing funeral preparations in hushed voices.

Elena’s funeral.

One of the servants noticed me and immediately approached. "Lord Valen! You’re awake. Would you like us to prepare something for you? The kitchen can have breakfast ready shortly."

I glanced toward the other servants rushing through the corridor. "Where’s Cassian?"

"Lord Veymont is still resting, my lord. Chief Marr as well."

Understandable. Neither of them had slept properly, and Chief Marr had spent part of the night unconscious inside a forbidden ritual. I’d be more concerned if he were already running around conducting inspections.

"And Theo?"

The servant’s expression softened. "He’s with Miss Elena’s family acquaintances, helping arrange her funeral."

I nodded. "I see."

"My lord, about your meal—"

"Don’t worry about it. I’ll find something outside." I waved a hand dismissively. "Besides, I want to walk around town."

The servant hesitated before bowing. "Very well, my lord."

And with that, I left the building. The moment I stepped outside, the warm coastal air greeted me. The red rooftops gleamed above the terraced streets, flower-filled balconies overlooked the harbor, and the sea beyond the cliffs shimmered in brilliant shades of turquoise. Ships moved lazily through the harbor while merchants called out their goods beneath colorful awnings.

I started walking toward the eastern market. And quickly noticed something strange. People were staring at me. Not with the same wary expressions they’d worn yesterday.

Yesterday, most of them had looked at me as though I might suddenly summon a demon and sacrifice their children. Today? Their expressions were different.

Some nodded respectfully. Others whispered to their companions while pointing in my direction. A few even smiled. Apparently, news traveled quickly in a town this size.

"Lord Valen!"

I stopped.

A middle-aged woman hurried toward me from a nearby stall, carrying a cup filled with a pale yellow drink. She looked nervous but determined. "Please, take this."

I glanced at the cup. ’Lemon water?’

"Fresh lemonade, my lord. I just made it."

She held it out with both hands. "My niece was one of the girls you rescued last night." That explained it.

"She’s home?"

The woman nodded quickly. "She’s resting. The healers said she’ll recover, and her parents haven’t stopped crying since she came back." Her own eyes glistened. "We thought we’d lost her."

I accepted the drink. "Glad she’s safe."

"Thank you, my lord. Really."

I took a sip. Cold. Sweet. A pleasant sharpness from the lemon. "Excellent lemonade."

The woman smiled so widely that I almost felt guilty for accepting it without paying. I thanked her and continued walking. Unfortunately, I didn’t get very far.

"Lord Valen! Wait!" A young man stepped out from behind a seafood stall, holding a wooden skewer loaded with freshly grilled squid. "Please take this!"

I looked at the squid. Then back at him. "What’s this for?"

"My fiancée was rescued last night." He smiled, although his eyes were still red from crying. "We’re supposed to get married next month. I thought..." His voice faltered. "I thought I’d never see her again."

I accepted the skewer. "Then make sure you don’t waste the time you’ve got together."

He nodded firmly. "I won’t."

I took a bite. The squid was tender, smoky, and coated in a sweet-spicy glaze that immediately made my stomach reconsider its previous complaints.

I thanked him and kept walking. Then someone handed me a small bowl of boiled shrimp covered in a rich garlic sauce. Another merchant insisted I try his fried fish cakes. An elderly woman gave me a warm pastry filled with sweet coconut. By the time I reached the next street, I was carrying enough food to feed a small military unit.

What the hell?

I’d come outside looking for breakfast. Somehow, I’d become the king of street food.

I found an empty bench overlooking the harbor and sat down to deal with my unexpected feast. The grilled squid was easily one of the best I’d tasted. The shrimp was even better, its sauce rich with garlic, pepper, and a hint of citrus.

I ate slowly, watching the fishing boats move across the water. It was strange. Only last night, this town had been terrified. Now people were laughing, bargaining, and preparing for another ordinary afternoon.

I finished the last shrimp and leaned back. My stomach was finally satisfied. And I still hadn’t reached a restaurant. Since I was already outside, I decided to explore the market.

There were dozens of stalls selling handcrafted accessories, enchanted ornaments, polished seashells, and jewelry made from coastal crystals. Naturally, my thoughts drifted toward my wives.

I ended up buying five different accessories, one for each of my wives, choosing something that suited their individual tastes. Nothing too extravagant, just a few beautiful souvenirs from Lumenford. Sure, I could make better ones myself, but that wasn’t the point. I simply wanted to bring them something special.

I stored everything inside my dimensional ring.

By then, the afternoon sun had climbed higher, and the sea breeze was becoming increasingly tempting. I looked toward the beach below the cliffs. A swim sounded wonderful.

It had been a long time since I’d enjoyed the sea. I followed the coastal road for a while until I noticed a secluded cove beyond a rocky outcrop. There were no houses nearby. No fishing boats. No tourists. Just pale sand, clear water, and a narrow strip of beach sheltered between two cliffs.

Perfect.

I flew over the rocks and descended toward the secluded beach, landing softly on the warm sand. I checked my surroundings. Nothing. Not a single person. Even the nearby cliffs offered enough privacy to keep curious eyes away.

I removed my boots first, then my coat, shirt, and trousers, storing each piece inside my dimensional ring. The rest followed. Every last piece.

Why bother keeping anything on?

I was alone on a deserted beach, and I had absolutely no intention of letting wet clothes ruin my afternoon. Then I stepped into the water.