Alvin sighed dramatically as he placed his hand on his forehead and began speaking with feigned sorrow: "This place is stained with blood, and so is the food. If Tulip wakes up and finds out what happened with Meril… he'll definitely be shocked."
Cloud's expression twisted in sympathy for little Tulip, and her body swayed slightly from side to side, as if she were thinking about what she had heard. Since she didn't say anything, Alvin decided to stir her pity further.
He wiped an imaginary tear from his eye and said, "Poor Tulip… he's only twenty years old… he deserves a better life than this."
Cloud stopped moving, her features creasing with irritation. She looked at Alvin, who still didn't know why she had changed, and said with contempt, "You mean: 38 years old!"
Alvin tried to salvage the situation before Cloud left him alone, forcing him to clean up and prepare food: "In my world, twenty is like thirty-eight, both are stages of childhood."
Cloud sighed in frustration at Alvin's behavior, and said irritably while pointing at the food: "What am I supposed to do with all this food? I really tired myself out making it!"
Alvin glanced quickly at the food behind him, then returned his gaze to Cloud and said, "Give it to the animals or the monsters, they'll be happy with it."
"Are you mocking me now?" Cloud shouted angrily. She raised her fist with the intention of smashing Alvin's nose. Alvin put his hands up in front of his face to protect himself while shouting, "No, I'm serious in what I say!"
"You… have no manners!" she said after lowering her hand. She sighed for a moment, her mind trying to arrange the words she would say next, but Alvin spoke before her, asking curiously: "By the way, do the morals and characteristics of planets transfer to the servants they create from their own energy?"
"Yes. And the best example of that is me. I possess the traits, qualities, and manners of my master, Elyor," she spoke calmly. She turned toward the kitchen, raised her hand, and tapped her finger.
"I see. I can tell your master's morals through you," Alvin said quietly, hiding his irritation in his heart, fearing that Cloud would turn against him and stop cleaning.
He sat at the edge of the couch, his eyes watching the cloth and cleaning bottles move by themselves, cleaning up the blood.
Suddenly, his body jolted from the sound of a crackle coming from the table. He looked there to discover that the dishes had disappeared! He shifted his gaze to the kitchen due to the loud sounds coming from there, seeing Cloud staring at him while cutting the meat.
She smiled slyly at him, pointed a finger at him, then pointed to the meat. She raised the knife high before cutting the meat violently, to the point that a piece of it fell off the cutting board.
Alvin swallowed, slowly turning his body forward. He grabbed the remote, turned on the TV, and began his search for something to distract him from the sound of the meat being cut and Cloud's dark gaze.
He didn't know how much time had passed as he watched a comedy show hosted by two monsters who were able to… talk!
Since he didn't understand the 'sense of humor' of creatures speaking a language he didn't understand, he continued watching in silence, yawning occasionally.
After a long wait, Cloud placed the dishes on the table, her expression still angry. Alvin looked at the delicious dishes with a happy smile and said admiringly, "They look so appetizing! Thank you, Cloud!"
All of Cloud's anger faded when she saw the happiness on his face because of her food and his appreciation for it… He had said, "Thank you, Cloud!" She moved shyly, a smile forming on her lips. "It's nothing, I'm always at your service!"
Alvin noticed her shyness and happiness at receiving some praise, so he decided to say more while crawling toward Tulip's bed behind the couch, to pull him toward the food: "I'm not exaggerating when I say your food is some of the tastiest I've ever had in my life! Seriously, you should consider opening a restaurant!"
"Do you really think so?" Cloud said, her cheeks turning red from embarrassment.
In truth, Alvin was sincere when he said that. The food Cloud made was truly delicious. So, he nodded and said, "Definitely. Just don't forget us once you become a famous chef."
"Tulip! Wake up." Alvin gently shook the little boy until he woke up, while Cloud, knowing that the child would wake up any moment, disappeared into the air.
Alvin helped him sit up without focusing too much on what had happened. Tulip looked at Alvin for a brief moment, then at the place around him.
He was in the process of comprehending who he was, where he was, and who the young man next to him was. But, since he was drowsy and barely opening his eyes, his mind couldn't process even the smallest piece of information.
Alvin, who understood the situation, took a small piece of meat and placed it in his mouth. "Eat," he said. Meanwhile, both Meryl and Elena entered the house, with Meryl shivering as though she had been stuck in a block of ice.
Elena pushed her out of the way when she noticed the different food on the table and ran to sit down. She filled her plate with a lot of seasoned meat and vegetables, then placed a bird soup dish next to three loaves of bread before starting to eat.
"Seeing Elena eat the food I prepared with such an open appetite makes me so happy!" Cloud said near Alvin. Though she spoke aloud, no one heard her except for him.
As for Meryl, who had just sat down, she was a little confused. Elena had told her what happened when they were in the bathroom.
Alvin had spent hundreds of thousands of coins without hesitation for her, and that was definitely a heroic act on his part.
"Alvin." She called him softly. She had to thank him for helping her. "I..."
"Just eat your food," Alvin interrupted her, sounding annoyed after understanding what she was about to say.
Meryl stared at him for a moment, while he went back to eating without caring about her gaze. He... as Elena had said, really refused to be thanked! 'Alvin hates being thanked,' Elena's words echoed in her mind.
After finishing the food, Tulip crawled to his bed and lay there, pulling his blanket and drifting back into a deep sleep. Alvin made a bed for himself near the child and also fell asleep.
Meryl lay on the couch and rested there. As for Elena, despite the redness in her eyes from exhaustion, she stood in front of the kitchen, staring at the dishes as she washed them alone.
Cloud, sensing that Elena would faint any moment, quietly snapped her fingers, causing Elena's eyelids to drop, and she fell asleep. Cloud used her power to make Elena float until she reached the couch, where she gently placed her down. She covered her with a blanket before sighing in relief.
"Mr. Elyor, why did you give them my house?" Cloud asked, her eyes scanning between them all.
"Didn't you say you felt lonely? If their presence bothers you, I'll find them another place," came the response from within her mind.
"No, my lord. I'm not bothered by them." She replied calmly as she walked outside, sat beneath the lemon tree, and continued, "I just… think they're… odd. Especially Alvin."
"Alvin has a seed of goodness in his heart, but it's wrapped in a lot of evil."
Cloud lay down on the grass, the shadow of the green tree covering her, gazing at the clear sky and conversing with her lord. Inside, a faint snore could be heard from Alvin, but none of them were awake to hear it… they were all deep in sleep.
The hours passed, the sun moved across the sky, and the temperature gradually increased. When Alvin opened his eyes suddenly, as did Meryl and Elena, it was due to the loud explosion coming from outside.