Chapter 128: A more crowded home

Around twenty minutes later, Elowen stood in the kitchen with an expression even more serious than when treating patients. Her silver-white hair was tied neatly behind her neck, exposing her slender throat. Before her, eggs, meat, bread, and vegetables had been arranged neatly on the counter.

Erik stood directly behind Elowen, watching and guiding her at the same time.

"Use a lighter hand."

Elowen held an egg, took a breath, then squeezed.

Crack!

The shell and the egg fell into the bowl at the same time.

She lowered her head to look at the yolk mixed with shell fragments. Erik looked down as well. Elowen immediately turned her head, her blue eyes narrowing with suspicion.

"Did you just laugh?"

"No."

"I felt your shoulders shake."

"I was breathing."

Elowen looked at him for several more seconds, but could not find anything to argue with. Erik tried to maintain a serious expression and pointed at the bowl.

"Pick out the shells first."

Elowen silently did as he said. Someone who could calmly treat severe injuries needed nearly a full minute just to pick out all the eggshells. Then she moved to the stove. This time, she carefully lit the flame, but because she was concentrating too much, she unconsciously turned it up too high.

Erik stepped up behind her.

"This only needs to be halfway."

He wrapped his arms around Elowen. One hand held her wrist, while the other reached for the stove’s control knob. Elowen’s back immediately pressed against his chest. She paused, her breathing slowing by a beat, because Erik’s arms nearly enclosed her entire body from behind.

"Then tilt the pan a little."

"Hm," Elowen answered very quietly.

Erik looked at the hand holding the panhandle. "Are you listening?"

Elowen turned her face to the side. The distance made her cheek nearly brush Erik’s lips. His familiar scent was close enough to make her lashes tremble faintly, but Elowen still tried to keep a calm expression.

"Yes."

Erik realized that the position was too close, so he pulled back slightly. But Elowen turned fully around instead, placing both hands on his chest.

She raised her head and kissed Erik.

The kiss was not long, but slow enough for their lips to press clearly together. Elowen was not as skilled at teasing as Meira or Laviana, so her movements were a little clumsy. Yet she was so straightforward that Erik could not refuse. When Erik tried to pull away, Elowen held onto his shirt, her soft lips brushing against his once more before she finally retreated.

Erik was a little surprised. "We are cooking."

Elowen looked at him, her cheeks already red. "I know."

"Then why did you kiss me?"

"I wanted to."

Erik looked at her. Elowen began to grow flustered under his prolonged gaze, but she still did not take her hands off his chest.

"Is there a problem?"

"No." Erik lowered his head and kissed her forehead, one hand gently stroking the silver hair at her temple. "Continue."

Only then did Elowen turn back to the pan. Though her expression remained serious, the curve of her lips was obvious.

Meira and Laviana came down to the kitchen not long afterward. Meira sat straight down at the table, her golden hair still not fully brushed, while Laviana held a cup of water and leaned against the counter, silently watching Erik stand behind Elowen and guide her in cutting meat.

There were no servants.

No one stood waiting for orders.

When Elowen made a mistake, Erik corrected her. When Erik was busy, Meira got her own water. If Laviana wanted something to drink, she poured it herself. The scene was ordinary in a strangely unfamiliar way.

To Laviana, this was even more unfamiliar than a meeting attended by hundreds of people. In most families she had known, Succubi always had to wake before their Partners. Breakfast, clothes, schedules, cultivation resources, everything had to be prepared in advance. Men only needed to appear, sit down, and accept what was considered a woman’s duty.

But here, Erik stood behind Elowen, one arm around her waist to keep her steady when she tilted the pan a little too far. He did not treat it as something natural, and Elowen did not look as though she were serving him in exchange for anything. She simply wanted to learn how to make breakfast for the person she liked.

Laviana watched for a long time.

Erik caught her gaze. "What is it?"

Laviana shook her head and lifted the cup of water to her lips. "Nothing."

"You have been looking at me for quite a while."

"I only think it is a little quiet."

Erik looked at Meira. "Because she has not started talking much yet."

Meira immediately turned toward him. "What does that have to do with me?"

Laviana laughed. "See?"

Breakfast was finally brought to the table. The eggs were slightly burnt at the edges, some parts of the meat were saltier than others, and the bread had not been cut very evenly either. But at least there was nothing that had to be thrown away.

Elowen sat opposite Erik, both hands resting on her knees, her eyes intently watching him take the first bite.

"How is it?"

Erik chewed slowly, then replied, "It is fine."

Elowen immediately frowned. "Only fine?"

Erik laughed. "It is delicious."

"Really?"

"Really."

Only then did she relax. Meira also tried a piece of meat and unconsciously said, "A little salty."

Elowen immediately looked at her.

Meira noticed that gaze and immediately changed her tone. "But it suits my taste very well."

Erik laughed. Laviana did not join in the teasing. She continued quietly watching the dining table before her. Elowen was eating the food she had made, while Meira sat beside Erik, occasionally sneaking food from his plate before Erik lightly tapped the back of her hand.

"That is my portion," Erik said.

Meira pulled her hand back, but only several seconds later, she tried taking some again.

Erik looked at her.

Meira immediately said, "I was only checking whether Master was paying attention."

"Have you finished checking?"

"Yes." She smiled brightly. "Master pays very close attention."

The atmosphere was so ordinary that it made Laviana feel even more at ease. She had possessed money for a long time, along with companies, power, and homes many times larger than this one. But rarely had a place truly made her feel that she did not need to do anything to prove her value.

She did not need to be prettier.

She did not need to be richer.

She did not need to be more useful.

She only needed to sit down, eat an imperfect breakfast with the others, then listen to Erik and Meira bicker over a piece of meat.

Erik suddenly tilted his head.

"Laviana."

She returned to herself. "Hm?"

"You have been quiet for too long."

Laviana smiled. "I was thinking that if I keep coming here, I may not want to go home anymore."

Erik set down his fork. "Then do not go home."

The smile on Laviana’s face froze. Elowen and Meira also looked over at the same time, but Erik did not seem to be joking at all.

Laviana looked at him. "Do you know what you just said?"

"Yes."

"I have a home."

"I am not telling you to sell it."

"I have work too."

"Go to work, then come back."

"Vylana?"

"If she wants to come, she can."

Laviana looked at Erik for several seconds more. Her red eyes, always carrying an air of confidence, now trembled very faintly. "You make it sound so simple."

"It is very simple."

Erik stood up, walked around the table, then stopped in front of her. Laviana remained seated, lifting her head to look at him. The smile on her lips remained, but it no longer carried her familiar teasing.

Erik raised his hand and touched Laviana’s cheek. His fingers brushed over her soft cheekbone, his thumb slowly stroking the skin beneath the corner of her eye. Laviana paused slightly, but did not avoid him. Instead, she raised her face a little more, as though wanting that hand to remain longer.

Erik lowered himself until their foreheads touched. They were close enough for Laviana to clearly feel his warm breath brushing across her lips.

"You do not need to come here because I need you to do anything," Erik said very softly.

Laviana’s red eyes trembled.

"And you do not need to bring news, projects, or a reason every time you come."

He continued keeping his forehead lightly pressed to hers. "If you want to stay, then stay."

Laviana was silent. Erik felt her hand slowly grab his collar, her fingers tightening faintly as though she needed to confirm that he was truly saying it.

After a while, Laviana finally asked, "Are you comforting me?"

"Is it working?"

Laviana smiled, but this time, her smile was very soft. "A little."

Erik was about to pull back when she immediately held him in place. Laviana’s arm circled Erik’s neck and pulled him lower.

"Only a little is not enough."

Erik looked at her. Laviana raised her face slightly, her red lips directly before his eyes, needing no further words.

He lowered his head and kissed her.

The kiss was not as hurried as the night before, nor did it carry any teasing now. Laviana slowly responded, the hand behind Erik’s neck gently stroking his hair while her body leaned into him as though, for the first time, she was truly allowing herself to relax. Erik placed one hand behind her neck, the other around Laviana’s waist, pulling her closer. When their lips parted, Laviana still did not let him go immediately. She rested her cheek against his chest, listening to the steady heartbeat beneath his shirt.

"That was better this time," she said.

Meira rested her chin in her hand as she watched the scene. "I need comforting too."

Erik turned to her. "You were just kissed this morning."

"That was a good morning greeting."

"What is different?"

"Different purpose."

Elowen let out a soft sigh. "Do not indulge Mother."

Meira immediately protested, "I am talking to Master."

Erik did not know whom to answer first. In the end, he only reached out and patted Meira’s head as he passed by. She was immediately satisfied, her green eyes curving with smug delight.

After sitting back down, Erik finally spoke about something he had been thinking about.

"One more thing."

Elowen looked over. "What?"

"I want to bring Felyn here once she has stabilized."

Elowen almost immediately nodded. "All right."

Meira did not object either. "The south room on the second floor is quite quiet. If Felyn stays there, I can modify the handrails and walkway so it will be easier for her to move around."

Erik nodded. "That is what I was thinking too."

Laviana asked, "Only Felyn?"

"Carmilla and Runi too."

Meira paused slightly. Erik continued, "Carmilla no longer has her old home. Runi was also driven out for standing by her. The hospital is only a place for treatment. They should not be left there forever."

Elowen thought for a moment. "Carmilla would not want to accept charity."

"I know." Erik looked at her. "So do not call it charity."

He leaned back in his chair. "Carmilla used to be the Succubus War Goddess. She has experience in combat, management, and business. Once she recovers, there are many things she can do."

Meira nodded. "What about Runi?"

"She goes with her, at least in the beginning."

Laviana looked at him, then around the kitchen that still smelled of slightly burnt eggs and overly salty grilled meat.

"Are you really planning to turn this place into a large home?"

Erik looked at Elowen, Meira, and Laviana before replying, "Is it not already quite large?"