After that, Eliza locked Dn inside the pocket farm and stepped out into the courtyard.


    "Tina," she called, "go send a message to the Prince Regent for me. Tell him I need a favor."


    It didn''t take long. Nn arrived not long after-alone, galloping in on horseback. Less than an hourter, he was standing in Eliza''s courtyard.


    "Serenity. I''m here," he said..


    At that moment, Eliza was still in her small kitchen, preparing dinner. Her cooking skills weren''t anything special-no borate feasts-but she could manage a few simple dishes. Since she was a nun, all her meals were vegetarian.


    "You came quickly," Eliza said from the kitchen. "Go sit at the stone table outside for a bit. I''ll be out as soon as I finish these two small dishes,"


    She had taken sacred vows-meat was forbidden to her. Everything she cooked was strictly vegetarian, crafted with care and quiet devotion.


    “No need,” Nn replied. “Til help. Is the fire in the stove hot enough? Do you need more wood?"


    Even if it was just a humble veggie meal, Nn was genuinely delighted. This was, after all, the first time he''d ever tasted food made by Eliza herself.


    "You''ve never had my cooking before?" Eliza blinked in surprise. "Oh-right, I remember now. That time I made spaghetti, it ended up going to Gilbert."


    The moment the name left her lips, Nn nearly snapped the firewood in his hands.


    "Gilbert?" he repeated, his tone a shade darker. "That outsider ate your spaghetti?"


    "Yes," Eliza said casually. "I made it to lure him in so we could interrogate him for intel"


    She didn''t notice that Nn was already drowning in jealousy.


    It''s fine, he consoled himself bitterly. Just a bowl of spaghetti. And she only made


    it to catch a criminal. He''s just a puppet. What''s the point of being jealous of a puppet?


    Eliza, wide-eyed, stared at the split log in his hands. ''How strong is he? That thick log just snapped like a twig. If that were someone''s neck...


    She shivered at the thought.


    Nn immediately noticed her expression. "What''s wrong? Did you burn your hand? Let me see."


    Pulled from his vinegar-soaked thoughts, he rushed over, clearly worried.


    "No, no," Eliza waved him off. "I was just lost in thought."


    "I still want to check," Nn insisted, reaching for her hands.


    He turned them over carefully, examining them front and back, even checking between her fingers like a hawk. Only when he was absolutely sure there was no injury did he let g


    go


    Nn was finally reassured. Eliza, on the other hand, was stunned stupid by the intimacy of it all.


    Hisrge hands had wrapped around hers, warm and rough, and he''d handled her fingers with the gentleness of a man


    10:43 Sat, 19 Apr w


    inspecting a priceless treasure. It was... mortifying


    Her cheeks flushed crimson, like she had been burned. She yanked her hands back in a panic.


    -It''s fine. Really, I''m fine," she stammered, quickly turning around to hide her face. Nn stared at her retreating figure, suddenly realizing what he''d just done.


    His own face turned red, from cheekbones to ear tips.


    T-it''s good you''re not hurt, he mumbled, crouching back down. "TII. I''ll tend the fire."


    He ducked beneath the stove, practically trying to bury himself.


    What the hell was that? he scolded himself. ''Why did I have to grab her hands like


    that? Like some lunatic? You''ve got no self-control. Idiot!"


    Under the stove, Nn gave himself a smack-meant to be discreet but loud


    enough to drown out the sizzle from the pan.


    Eliza paused mid-stir, expression nk


    Nn was also silent.


    Eventually. Eliza finished cooking, cleared her throat, and called out, "Dinner''s ready. Come out and eat."


    "Okay," came Nn''s muffled reply from under the stove.


    As Eliza set the dishes down, she chuckled softly. I haven''t brought out utensils yet-bring three sets of forks and tes, please."


    Nn''s expression froze.


    "Wait. Three? But there are only two of us... unless.... Gilbert?!


    Storming out with the utensils, Nn scanned the table-only to find Tina already seated, silently waiting.


    He blinked. ''Oh... right. Tina


    He''dpletely forgotten she existed.


    Usually, when he came to see Eliza, Tina wasn''t around during meals. But today''s dinner was cooked by Eliza herself, so of course she wouldn''t let Tina go hungry.


    "Of course," Eliza said, raising a brow. "What if Gilbert had tried something? I wouldn''t have been able to take him down by myself. Besides, I always cat with Tina."


    She gave Nn a sweet smile but didn''t ask whether he minded.


    Some things didn''t need to be asked-just observed.


    And Nn had always given her a sense of quiet reassurance. Like earlier, when she told him to wait outside, and instead of actually waiting, he''d crouched under the stove and tended the fire withoutint.


    That ease, that familiarity-it didn''t feel like he was Bortend''s most powerful prince. He looked more like a husband in a humble kitchen.


    Yet when she looked up at his handsome face and noble demeanor now, it was impossible to pretend he was anything but royalty.


    10:43 Sat, 19 Apr M


    While Eliza pondered that, Nn was having a very different internal crisis.


    The realization hit him like a brick. The true culinary rival was in the room all along.


    And she wasn''t going anywhere.


    Nn sulked harder. Meanwhile, Tina-aware of the burning gaze-just sat there


    with her te, deadpan and deeply. unimpressed.


    ?