Chapter 187: Serena’s Breakthrough
Chapter 187: Serena’s Breakthrough
He quickly brought his arm up and just used his sleeve to wipe the stray tear away.
"Are you guys seriously feeding this to the commoners?" Roderick asked, his voice thick with emotion. "Isn’t this incredibly expensive to make?"
"Not really expensive when it comes to the money." Cassius replied honestly. "But it does take a massive amount of time and effort to slow cook it. But if it raises the people’s mood, then Lord Adrian told me to do it anyways."
Cassius smiled warmly.
"And I am just following his orders." Cassius added. "The people love him, and Lord Adrian loves them back. This food is his way of showing his love for them."
Cassius let out a soft sigh.
"Since this is how we quickly serve our massive workforce," Cassius gestured around the open plaza. "We do not really have chairs. People just eat while standing up and I hope you do not mind that."
"Well, I don’t really mind it at all." Roderick laughed softly. "How could anyone complain about standing up when the food tastes this good?"
Roderick shoved another spoonful of rice in his mouth.
"You guys are doing a great job here."
Roderick praised them sincerely. "I never thought that any noble would actually treat their commoners this well. You have really made me look at you in a different light."
He looked at Cassius.
"I came here fully expecting a trick." Roderick admitted. "But until now, every single thing that was written in your tax report has come out to be completely true. And you have, in fact, surprised me even more."
Roderick let out a soft, wishful sigh.
"I really wish that I could actually just stay here and eat such good food every single day." Roderick muttered. "I honestly wouldn’t even mind hauling wood and building houses all day if I got to eat this. But I am a pretty power hungry guy, so I have to head back to the capital."
He scooped up another piece of meat.
"Let’s just wait here after we finish eating." Roderick suggested. "I want to see how the people eat. I also want to see how they sell all of those iron ingots tonight. And then I will be going back."
"Sure." Cassius smiled. "Just make yourself comfortable. And if you have any needs, or something that you wish or want, please tell me. I will make sure that I do my best to satisfy your needs."
Roderick gave a slow nod.
And then the two of them just stood there, eating their massive bowls of food in silence.
Serena opened her eyes.
She slowly got up from the steel plate and took a step backwards so that she wasn’t on it anymore.
"I..." She whispered to herself, "I did it."
At first, it just sounded like she was talking to herself. Like she couldn’t actually believe what was happening inside her own body, but then she looked at Adrian.
"Lord Adrian, I did it!" Serena squealed with excitement.
Adrian opened his eyes. He stopped his own training and looked up at her with a wide smile.
"So?" Adrian asked smoothly. "The second circle?"
"Yes!" Serena nodded repeatedly. It was clear that she was extremely excited. "I really reached the second circle!"
She placed her hand on her chest.
"And I can actually feel it... my mana veins have definitely gotten bigger." Serena added. "I mean, thicker."
"Yeah, of course they have gotten thicker." Adrian smiled. "They have probably increased in rank too."
He stood up from his own magic circle and stretched his arms.
"Congratulations." Adrian said. "Do you want to continue training? Or do you want to take a break?"
Serena thought about it and hesitated for a second.
"Um," she mumbled quietly. "If you don’t mind... could I write a letter to my father?"
Adrian just let out a chuckle.
"Instead of just writing a letter, why don’t you just travel back and visit him?" Adrian offered. "I am pretty sure that hearing this kind of news directly from his daughter would make him way happier than just reading some ink on paper."
He pointed a thumb toward the heavy iron door.
"So why don’t you just go down there and tell him yourself?" Adrian offered. "Take Celeste and Caelum with you. I will give them a few tasks to complete in the capital anyway. Make sure you join them once you are done talking to your father, and just come back here once you are done with everything."
Serena nodded eagerly.
Adrian looked at the half used mana crystals on the steel plate and just as he was about to lean down and pick them up, she moved.
Serena suddenly stepped forward and threw her arms right around his neck, hugging him really tight.
Adrian froze and he was in shock from her reaction.
Because based on every single interaction he had with her until now, he knew she was a brutally shy person. A super bold physical move like this was the last thing he expected from her.
He just froze and stood there awkwardly for a second while she squeezed him.
Then he slowly brought his arms up, gently hugged her back, and gave her shoulder a soft pat.
"You worked hard." Adrian said softly. "It was pretty painful, right?"
"Yeah." Serena mumbled, "It hurt.. but I don’t regret it at all."
"I really don’t regret it." she said again, but slightly louder this time.
And then she just started crying.
She wasn’t sobbing loudly, but Adrian could definitely tell by the way she was sniffling and from the wetness on his tunic near the shoulder area. Neither of them said a single word. They just stood there quietly in the cold basement for a long time.
Serena finally pulled back.
She quickly raised her hands and started wiping her tears off. Her face was flushed completely red from the intense embarrassment of breaking her noble etiquette, and maybe something else entirely.
"I will..." Serena stammered. "I will go prepare to leave, and take the twins with me too."
She spun around and ran away, bolting up the stairs as fast as she could.