Chapter 127- Meeting

Chapter 127: Chapter 127- Meeting

Chapter 127- Meeting

Venera walked into the kitchen and checked the fridge for a few seconds. Rize sat on the other side of the counter, watching her with a smile on his face. The girl then contemplated for a few seconds.

"I think I know what I want to make." She said as she grabbed the apron and wrapped it around her waist. She then looked at Rize. "You better watch and learn from the best."

"I didn’t even know you learned how to cook, Venera," Rize said with an impressed look on his face as he watched her grab the vegetables needed for the dish, and then, with a knife, she started skillfully cutting them at a very rapid pace.

"I had to learn how to cook for myself since I don’t really like to go out or eat the food served by the chefs. It also helped me clear my mind whenever I was not feeling well."

"I see..." Rize said as his voice trailed off at the end. He could imagine Venera coming back to her room after a long and hard day and just trying to cook her food, alone, with no one to share it with and no family member to be with her.

The sight, as normal as it is, stung to imagine. Venera had been a lonely person ever since she was conscious, and that loneliness turned her into someone who just didn’t like people or interacting with people. Everyone wanted to use her, and no one had ever approached her to be friends or to actually know her.

"Rize? Are you ok?" Venera noticed the wistful look on his face and asked.

"Yeah, it’s nothing. I’m just watching the chef cook." He said as he smiled at her. "So, what are you going to make?"

"Just wait and see. It’s a surprise." She replied as she put everything in a pot, and the sound of sizzling finally echoed in the entire house.

Venera’s movements were skillful and precise, like a professional chef who had been in the business for years. She cut the meat, the vegetables, and added the seasonings rapidly with no mistakes or wasted effort.

Rize could only find himself completely in awe of how good she was.

’As if she isn’t already so talented. How is she able to be so good at everything she does? This is ridiculous.’ He thought to himself as he tracked her with his eyes.

A while later, the smell of food started permeating the atmosphere, and Rize found himself feeling hungrier and hungrier by the second.

"Wow, this smells so good." He said.

"You think?"

"Yeah, I’m really excited to try your food," Rize said.

Hearing that and seeing the excited look on his face, Venera felt warmth in her heart. For some reason, having someone be this excited to try her food was a very nice feeling. Especially when that person is Rize.

A while later, Venera finally opened the lid and checked the food before she nodded her head. Then, she tasted it and nodded her head.

"It’s ready." She said as she grabbed a bowl and poured some for Rize.

"Oooo, so it was indeed stew."

"Vegetables and meat stew. I’ve tried it once when I was a kid, and since then, it has become one of my favorite dishes." She said. "And grilled cheese with it."

Rize smelled the stew and smiled. Then, he grabbed a spoon and tried it. Venera watched it nervously without saying a word. She felt tense watching him taste the food.

"Woah!! This is amazing, what?!" Rize’s eyes lit up as he took another spoonful of it. "So flavorful and warm and smooth. I love it! This is the best stew I’ve ever had!"

"Really?"

"Yeah! This is amazing!"

Venera was taken aback by that reaction. Even if she said confidently that he was going to like it, deep down, she was afraid Rize might not find it good enough. However, as he started eating it eagerly, she finally smiled and exhaled a long sigh of relief.

"You should eat too, Venera." He said.

"Yes, I know. I will." She replied as she poured a bowl for herself and sat next to Rize. The two ate while chatting casually, enjoying the warm atmosphere. After a hard first day, they felt like this relaxing time was a reward for their success.

Things were bound to get more hectic, and naturally, they both wanted to use every second of peace to clear their minds and reset before things got crazier.

After all, nobody could tell what would happen in the future. Not even Rize, who who thoughts he had already learned everything this world had to offer. It seemed things were bound to move differently.

But, for now, things are calm, and for that moment and perhaps that moment only, Rize and Venera could enjoy themselves without worrying about anything else.

***

At the same time, in a far-distant place, in a small cafe in the corner of the candidate city. It was night and most people were back home, so it was completely empty... except for one person. A handsome yet also terrifying man sat at a table near the window, sipping coffee casually as he stared outside.

The owner of the cafe sat behind the counter, dozing off from boredom. The atmosphere was rather casual and peaceful... Until the doorbell rang and someone walked inside.

The man didn’t turn around to look at who came, almost as if he was anticipating that person. The person who walked in looked around before he headed toward the man and sat down facing him.

Silence took over the place, a tense, bone-chilling silence that would make normal people feel suffocated by the sheer pressure.

Eventually, the man looked at the person and asked.

"So, what did you want from me?" He asked. "If you think I will give you any sort of privilege because of ’that’, then I must disappoint you. You’re not getting what you want."