"Fine," Lilith said, her voice calm but edged with amusent. "You’re an interesting man, Ashen. I’ll gift you a tailored dress for the girl—free of charge."
She turned slightly and gestured with a flick of her fingers. "Lorien."
Her butler, a tall man with flawless posture and deep crimson attire, stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Take the asurents of this dress," she said, gesturing to her own flowing crimson ensemble, "and make a custom replica. Smaller, for that little girl over there."
Lorien nodded. "Understood, Your Majesty."
Lilith turned back to . "You’re really drawing attention these days. Stirring things up. What was your na again... Crimson Child, was it?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Crimson Child? You do know you’re only three years older than , right?"
She smirked. "True. But in royal years, that’s a generation."
"The na’s Ashen. Not child."
"Right, right," she said airily. "I had no interest in attending this event, honestly. These diplomatic festivals bore . But protocol wouldn’t let abandon it. Then, I started hearing whispers. About you. About your strength, your shadow, your na. I ca to watch you fight in the sparring tournant myself."
I gave a modest shrug. "Then I suppose I’ve disappointed you."
"Why?"
"I’m not participating in the tournant."
Lilith paused, blinked. "You didn’t enroll?"
"Didn’t see the point."
"Tch. What a waste."
I smiled faintly. "But don’t worry. You can still witness my talents. Not in the arena, but on the plate."
I gestured toward the stall, where the staff was now scrambling again under a new wave of custors.
"Co. Let feed you."
Lilith hesitated, then nodded. "Fine. I don’t have much ti. But let’s see what you’ve got."
We moved toward the stall.
I looked around quickly.
Every table was packed. Even our extended seating was filled.
Except one.
I turned to Lilith. "Would you be comfortable sitting beside Headmistress Evelyn and Queen Althea? And, uh, the Nowa princess."
Lilith studied the trio from afar, then looked at . "I don’t mind. Unless they pick a fight."
"That won’t happen. I promise."
We walked together toward the table. As we approached, all three won stood.
"Queen Lilith," Althea greeted with a gracious bow. "It’s an honor."
"Queen Althea," Lilith responded with a polite nod.
Evelyn grinned. "This table just got more interesting."
"Princess Liora," Lilith said softly, and Liora curtsied.
After the formalities, they sat.
I placed the order personally: our finest bowl of shadow ran, two side servings of fla-fried dumplings, and a special drizzle of spirit-glazed fries. All prepared by Julie under direct instruction.
When I delivered the dishes myself, Lilith blinked as the aroma hit her.
The bowl of ran before her shimred slightly—a golden broth carrying deep notes of bone marrow, aged herbs, and a faint smoky infusion of beast peppers. Floating within were hand-pulled noodles, curled just right, coated in a shadow oil glaze that shimred under the noon sun. Thin slices of star-pork, charred to perfection, rested on top beside a marinated egg that split softly at its center.
The burger were crisp on the outside, bursting with molten flavor inside. The blend was a mystery—a mixture of spicy mana-root and savory crystal lamb, creating an explosion of textures and taste. They hissed gently in their plate, garnished with tiny sprigs of fire-thy.
And the fries... long, crispy, kissed with spirit-glaze—a sweet-sour mana syrup that crackled faintly when bitten.
Lilith took her first bite.
And ti seed to slow.
She set her spoon down, leaned back, and closed her eyes for a full ten seconds.
When she opened them again, they glimred.
"I expected quality. I didn’t expect perfection."
Althea raised an eyebrow. "He gets that a lot."
Evelyn smirked. "Told you he’s good."
Lilith nodded. "No. He’s not just good. This... This is the kind of flavor that sits in your soul. You don’t just eat it—you rember it."
She took another bite, slower this ti.
"The broth alone feels like warmth after a storm. The burger carry the heat of Pyronis—but tempered. Balanced. And the fries... spirits, these fries are dangerous."
The other three laughed softly.
"He does have a habit of surprising everyone," Evelyn said.
Liora smiled. "Even when he’s pretending to be cold, he puts his heart in everything."
Lilith continued eating, her expression softening.
From where I stood at a distance, I saw them laughing.
Talking.
About .
I couldn’t hear the details, but their glances said enough.
Althea might’ve ntioned the child who once tried to roast at over enchanted candles in his palace room.
Liora... who knew what she was saying. But she was blushing again.
And Lilith?
She kept looking at Yumi between bites.
Eventually, she pointed her fork at Yumi and called, "Tell that little one she will have her dress within three days. My finest tailors will deliver it personally."
Yumi, from afar, squealed. "Thank you, fla lady!"
Lilith blinked. Then smiled.
"Fla lady. I like that."
She turned back to her food and took another slow bite, savoring every second.
In that mont, I realized sothing.
This wasn’t just about profit.
This stall...
It had beco sothing else.
A place where bonds were tested.
Where hearts opened.
Where the walls people wore cracked just a little.
Even a queen of fire and steel had found comfort here.
And I...
I was right in the middle of it all.
By the ti the sun hovered at its midpoint, the sales tally had quietly climbed to a staggering total—1,800 gold coins.
With only half the day gone.
It was unthinkable. Our stall had outperford not just every expectation, but every record ever set during the Academy Fest’s long history. We were drawing nobles, royalty, and academy staff alike, all for one taste of shadow and fla.
And we weren’t even done yet.
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