Chapter 12: So Good!

Hmm?

Not scolding me, and bringing me food instead?

Such a thing can happen?

If that's the case, then it seems like it's not not… wait, no!

"What are you trying to do?"

At that moment, Valentina instinctively felt something was off. Her expression turned stern as she stared at Herbert, trying to find any crack in his face.

She had no particular reason in her heart, but she just felt something wasn't quite right.

Something's wrong… there must be something wrong!

This guy is smiling so brightly — he absolutely has no good intentions!

Heh, young mortal.

You won't trick me!

Thinking of this, Valentina gave a cold snort, proudly raised her head, and said: "Kid, I don't know what trick you're trying to pull, but you can't fool the great Blaze."

"Heh, save it. Don't think a few skewers of roasted meat will buy me off!"

"Nothing in this world can make the great dragon bow her head!"

"Not even the gods!"

Valentina's words were lofty and superior, fully displaying the arrogance and defiance of an epic dragon.

However, what slightly ruined the atmosphere was that when she said this, she hadn't managed to wipe the greasy shine from the corner of her mouth.

At the same time, her slender fingers, smeared with seasoning and oil, hadn't stopped — unconsciously fumbling around inside the box…

And came up empty.

"What!?"

Realizing what had happened, the dragon Young Lady's expression changed. Moving with astonishing speed, she grabbed the wooden box in disbelief — only to see a few scraps left inside.

It's all gone!

How did it get eaten so fast!!?

In an instant, an overwhelming wave of regret surged into her heart, giving her a feeling of heartache to the point of suffocation.

This isn't right!

There was clearly so much just now…

Where did all that meat go?

Who on earth ate it all!?

And just as Valentina's face was full of despair, her lips trembling in a silent wail, the corner of Herbert's mouth curved slightly upward.

The smile won't disappear — it will only transfer to my face.

He didn't respond to what Valentina had just said, and asked with concern: "Miss Valentina, what happened? Do you feel it's not enough to eat?"

Valentina: "…Cough, cough cough!"

Asking such useless nonsense.

What do you think?

Of course it's not enough!

But facts are facts, and the situation is the situation — her proud self-esteem wouldn't allow her to lower her head and take back what she'd just said.

So, even though her heart was already bleeding, she could only walk this path to the end, swallowing all the blood and tears.

She turned her head away, her tone even a little choked, and said weakly:

"No, I'm not… hungry!"

Yes.

I'm not hungry, not even a little.

Valentina kept brainwashing herself — not hungry not hungry not hungry not hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry!

I'm so hungry!

When she wasn't eating anything before, it was fine — she wouldn't deliberately recall the feeling of swallowing food.

During the long imprisonment, she had long grown accustomed to the feeling of hunger, and had even completely forgotten about it.

As a powerful dragon at the peak of Legendary strength, only a step away from Epic, she had long been able to sustain herself without mortal food, surviving on magic power alone.

But "being able to survive" and "living comfortably" are very, very different things!

She simply couldn't give up the desires of her mouth and stomach.

Gurgle—

A wail rose from her belly, constantly reminding Valentina of its hunger and thirst.

Gurgle.

Herbert looked at Valentina's neck, accurately catching her swallowing motion, and felt delighted inside.

Good.

She took the bait, just as expected.

Seeing the timing was about right, Herbert shook his head with some regret and sighed: "Oh, so you're not hungry. Looks like I misunderstood."

"I originally thought that after being hungry for so many years, one portion alone wouldn't be enough, so I specially prepared another one."

Muttering to himself, he took out the other prepared wooden box from behind him and pushed it in front of her… right at a spot just out of her reach.

???

Suddenly realizing something, Valentina's expression twisted. She turned her head back in disbelief — and saw another box completely full of skewers.

The texture of the meat, the sheen, the doneness, the aroma… it looked even more tempting than the previous box!

She wished she could give herself from half a minute ago a slap across the face.

Damn it, you and your big mouth!

Why the rush to spout all that crap!?

What do we do now?

What do we do?!

"What do we do now?"

Just as Valentina was agonizing, Herbert spoke up leisurely, muttering as if a little troubled: "What a headache. I made so much, there's no way I can finish it all by myself. What am I to do? Am I supposed to throw it away?"

What are you going to do!!?

Valentina's heart trembled at those words, and she nearly couldn't help roaring out: If you won't eat it, give it to me!

Herbert shook his head again and sighed: "No, no, no, how could I think such a thing? Wasting food is shameful! I absolutely cannot do that."

Right, right, right!

You can't do that!

If you can't finish it, I can help you eat it!

"Oh right, I can find someone to help me deal with these skewers. It's just—who should I ask?"

The breathing inside the cell suddenly grew ragged, and Valentina nearly blurted it out right then and there.

Me!

Ask me!!!

Ask me to help you eat them—

But Herbert completely failed to take the hint, and the moment he opened his mouth, he killed her hope on the spot.

"Young Lady Valentina has already eaten her fill, so I can only find someone else!"

No!

I'm not, I didn't, don't talk nonsense…

I can still eat!

"Bai Chi? I wonder if she eats anything besides fish? Well, never mind, I'll go ask her first…"

Saying so, Herbert was about to pick up the box and head toward the second area.

At this moment, Valentina finally could not hold back any longer and broke into a violent coughing fit.

"Cough! Cough! Cough!"

"Oh? Young Lady Valentina, what's wrong?" Herbert turned his head, looking at the flushed dragon young lady in puzzlement.

"I… cough!"

Valentina took a deep breath, clenched her teeth hard, and finally steeled herself, saying in a low voice: "I can help you!"

"You help me? Help with what… Oh! You mean these skewers?"

Herbert looked blank for a moment, blinked, and asked: "But haven't you already eaten your fill?"

The dragon young lady's mouth moved, she struggled for a moment, and finally gritted her teeth and squeezed a sentence out of her throat: "…Since you're so troubled, it's not that I can't help you eat a little more."

She wasn't Bai Chi—of course she knew Herbert was putting on this whole act to make her lower her head, and that he would definitely make unreasonable demands.

She understood.

But she really couldn't hold out any longer.

That smell was just too good!

Valentina had already made up her mind: lower her head for now and get the meat into her mouth, then go back on her word later and agree to nothing.

"Then I'm truly grateful!"

But, completely contrary to her expectations, Herbert didn't make things difficult at all—instead he immediately pushed the box forward, shoving it right up against the railing.

Hm?

No demands?

Valentina was bewildered, and for a moment didn't even reach out.

"What are you still staring at? Hurry up and eat!"

Listening to that gentle urging, looking at the genuine expression on the young man's face, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly let it out.

"Haaah…"

At this moment, only one thought remained in her mind.

These skewers…

Smell so good!

(End of chapter)