Chapter 155
She would take off her shoes and socks and patter bare feet down the cent floor, jumping into puddles. The rain felt so nice and freeing and later she would catch a cold.
Mum would always scold for getting sick, she thought, with a bittersweet smile. The mory was nostalgic. She looked around the garden. It was as empty as the aisles near her ho. She liked the silence disturbed only by the pattering of the rain. She felt part of the garden, the earth. The sll of the wet soil and foliage felt wonderful. She closed her eyes, taking it all in.
After a while, she realized that the rain wasn’t hitting her at all. She opened her eyes and found Alexcent by her side. He pulled her closer to him as he shielded her from the rain. He had brought an umbrella with him.
“What are you doing standing about in the rain?” he said, “What if you catch a cold?” Alexcent had left for the palace as he had been delayed by the festival. He seed to have just gotten back.
“Did you just get back?”
“Yes.”
“I was about to head back…,” said Athyst, “why did you co out?”
“I heard you left without an umbrella, so I ca looking for you.”
“I was just walking back but it rained so suddenly,” said Athyst.
“What were you thinking about?” asked Alexcent. “You had a sad smile on your face.”
“Just so mory from when I was young,” said Athyst.
“When you were young?”
“Yes.”
“I’m curious,” said Alexcent, “Tell everything.”
She smiled. It didn’t seem uncomfortable to share about her childhood with Alexcent. “When I was young,” she began, “On the days it rained like this, I would run around barefoot in the neighborhood.”
“Barefoot?”
“Yes. I liked running barefoot in the rain,” she said, “I would run around and play in the rain. I would be soaked through. My mum would scold if I caught a cold. I was just reminded of that…”
I really sound like a crazy, thought Athyst after she said it. Maybe I shouldn’t have shared too much.
She cautiously looked up at him, gauging his reaction. She was worried what he might think of her.
“Are you saying you want to run barefoot right now?” he asked, amused.
“No!” she exclaid.
“I guess Countess Lohikin didn’t scold you enough,” he said with a smirk.
“What?” asked Aethyst, confused.
“Seeing how you are getting soaked in the rain even when you are all grown up,” he said, “She didn’t scold you enough. You might catch a cold.” He took her hand in his. “See? Your hands are freezing! We should go back, and you need to eat sothing warm. That should warm you up.
Sothing warm on a rainy day… Athyst realized sothing at his words and grabbed his hands. “You’re right!” said Athyst, “Alec, let’s go and cook sothing warm and yummy.”
“Of course.” said Alexcent and followed her seeing her so enthusiastic.
Walking side by side with Alexcent in the rain made Athyst feel very warm inside. She felt a sense of peace. Whenever she was with him, nothing else seed to matter. It felt like the clouds in her mind were finally clearing and her mood brightened. Once they reached the mansion, she headed to the kitchen straight away instead of her bedroom to change. Alexcent followed her.
“May I interrupt for a minute?” she asked the cook and the maids in the kitchen.
“My Lord, My Lady!” exclaid the staff, “What brings you here?! You should have called us if you needed sothing.”
“What I need right now is this whole kitchen,” said Athyst with a warm smile.
“Sorry, My Lady?” asked the cook, confused.
“Are you all very busy at the mont?” asked Athyst.
“Not really.”
“Then is it alright if we borrow the kitchen for a while?” asked Athyst.
“Of course!”
Alexcent leaned back on the wall. “You should first go back and change,” he nagged, “What if you catch a cold? Why did you co here all wet?”
“You are the one who said we should have sothing warm,” said Athyst, “If you are going to stand there and nag at , go back to your room first.”
Alexcent grumbled at that. Athyst chuckled. “I need so ingredients,” said Athyst to the cook, “Where can I find them?”
“Ah, please follow ,” said the cook, “I will show you the pantry.”
Athyst followed the cook into the pantry which was well-stocked with all kinds of ingredients. She gathered an armful of the ingredients she needed and returned to the kitchen to cook.
“Alec, if you aren’t going to go back,” said Athyst, “Then go wash your hands and lend a hand.”
“Madam, please allow us!” exclaid the staff not able to bear the though of the duke helping out in the kitchen.
Athyst laughed. “It’s perfectly fine,” she said, “We will handle things here. So, please take go and rest for a while. Or you can even leave for a few hours.”
“Sorry?”
“That would be best,” said Athst, “I know you will be too nervous and fretful and unable to rest with the duke here, right?”
“No, madam!” said the cook.
“Hurry and go!” said Athyst, “Before the duke stops you!”
“Will you be alright?” asked the cook.
“Of course!” said Athyst, bidding them farewell.
The cook looked at Alexcent nervously. He gave a brisk nod. The cook must have felt relieved because he visibly relaxed and made his way out of the kitchen. Alexcent then went to the sink to wash his hands.
“If you are done washing hands,” said Athyst, “Peel the potatoes.” She handed him a bowl of potatoes.
She boiled so water and added so ingredients to make the broth and left it to simr on the fire. She took so flour, mixed it with water and kneaded it into a dough.
On rainy days, warm soup is best, decided Athyst. I want to make noodles but it’s difficult. She looked over at Alexcent peeling the potatoes with an intense look on his face. She burst out laughing. His hands were so large, and he was struggling to peel the potatoes because it kept slipping from his hands.
“Alec,” she chuckled, “If you are done with the potatoes, co over here and help with the dough.”
“Sure,” he said.
“Go wash your hands once again,” she instructed.
“Alright,” he said and made his way to the sink.
It was surprising to see how obedient he was in the kitchen. Maybe I should always have conversation with him in the kitchen, mused Athyst.
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