Chapter 45: Eating Together

Chapter 45: Eating Together"So, why is Sister Seira here, Brother?" Inside the spacious room, Nolan, Elina, and Seira sat around the dining table, surrounded by a wide array of delicious dishes neatly arranged before them. Elina glanced at Seira sitting across from her, her expression filled with confusion and curiosity, then turned to her brother sitting beside the woman. Nolan was about to answer, but before he could, Seira reached out and hugged Nolan’s arm tightly, asking in a sad tone, "You don’t like it when Sister comes to eat with you, Elina?" Elina was speechless. The truth was, she didn’t really like Seira joining their meals—not because she hated her, but because Seira was Adalen’s older sister—her rival for the throne. She worried Seira might overhear their conversations about the succession and report everything to Adalen. As if reading her thoughts, Seira smiled and said, "I know what you’re worried about, but just relax. I have no interest in interfering in the battle for the throne between you and my brother." "Besides, our relationship isn’t good either, so I’m definitely not going to help him. You can trust me." Her tone was firm and reassuring, but Elina still looked doubtful. She glanced at her brother and saw Nolan give a small nod, as if confirming Seira’s words. Since Nolan believed her, Elina decided to trust her as well. After all, her brother was amazing at reading expressions and spotting lies. He had proven that skill many times before, so Elina felt fairly confident. Noticing the softening in Elina’s expression, Seira chuckled softly and released her hold on Nolan’s arm. Her eyes quickly landed on the dishes spread across the table. "Wow! My dear brother, you’re really a good cook! Did you make all this?" Nolan had no intention of bragging, but for some reason, he wanted to impress his annoying big sister. "Of course," he said casually. "Do you think I’m just a lazy prince who can’t do anything?" Seira looked slightly surprised, then smiled faintly and poked his cheek with her index finger. "What are you talking about? How could I think of my beloved brother like that?" she teased. "Ahem!" Nolan pretended to cough, looking down to hide his flushed, embarrassed face. For some reason, he always lost to his big sister and always fell for her teasing. Elina simply smiled at their playful exchange. Although Nolan was bold and brash with their father, only two people could keep him in check: their mother and Seira. When faced with them, Nolan deflated instantly. To Elina, it was an amusing sight. Her brother was often a pain in the ass, so having someone to push him around felt like a small but satisfying justice. Then, the three of them began enjoying the dishes spread out before them. "Um! This is delicious!" Seira’s eyes lit up as she tasted the sweet and sour shrimp. The sauce was perfectly balanced—sour and sweet with a hint of spiciness that gave it a unique kick. The shrimp meat was tender, boiled just right, making the flavor truly perfect. "The crab meat is great too! It’s soft, and the marinade has soaked all the way through," Elina added enthusiastically, cracking open another crab shell to eat the meat. Seeing their enjoyment, Nolan nodded in satisfaction. The food in this fantasy world was actually quite good—especially the dishes prepared by the palace cooks. However, since he was five years old, Nolan had noticed that most dishes here lacked spice and strong aroma, much like Western food from his previous life. With that memory, he had been practicing his cooking skills from childhood until he became as proficient as he was now. Still, to avoid drawing attention, he only cooked occasionally—for Elina or their mother. He picked up a fork, stabbed a piece of horse meat coated in black pepper sauce, and popped it into his mouth. The spicy heat of the pepper combined with the creamy touch of milk spread across his tongue, making him nod in satisfaction. "It’s perfect," he said with a pleased tone. They continued eating in comfortable silence, each absorbed in the flavors of the meal. Suddenly, Seira looked up and glanced curiously at Elina. "By the way, Elina, there’s something I’ve been wondering," she said. "Have you received any letters of cooperation from the noble families?" In the battle for the throne, the princes were expected to form alliances with the noble families of the Great Velmora Empire. It wasn’t just about cooperation—it was about gaining enough support to secure a winning position. Usually, once the succession process began, the noble houses would send letters offering support or requesting an alliance. A few even came in person, but that was uncommon. Elina paused for a moment, then answered honestly, "I haven’t received a single letter from them." In truth, her position was the most disadvantaged compared to the other princes. Unlike Aldric, Cedric, Adalen, Zarak, and Cassian, who were supported by their mothers’ noble families, Elina stood alone. That was why the protection granted by the Singularity of Chaos in the square felt like a true blessing. Although the Singularity of Chaos hadn’t openly declared his support, the protection he extended to her and her family was already a strong indication. "Well, that actually makes sense," Seira said, unfazed. She picked up a chicken drumstick and took a bite before continuing, "The succession has only just begun. Of course the nobles would hesitate before choosing a side. And now that you’ve received indirect support from the Singularity of Chaos, they’ll be even more cautious." Nolan blinked in surprise and looked at her. "Sister, how do you know that?" Only then did he realize how foolish his question sounded. Don’t be fooled by Seira’s playful, doting attitude toward him. She was the empire’s eldest daughter, highly educated, intelligent, perceptive, and undeniably powerful. Honestly, if Seira had chosen to enter the battle for the throne, Nolan was certain that Adalen, Cedric, and even Aldric wouldn’t stand a chance. That alone spoke volumes about how terrifying she truly was. "Actually, it’s nothing special," Seira replied with a casual shrug, glancing playfully at Nolan. "Back then, Adalen received a flood of letters from noble families asking for cooperation. Since our grandfather was the Singularity of Light, it wasn’t surprising." "But ever since the incident in the square, they’ve all withdrawn their letters, saying they need to reconsider their choices. So..." She turned to Elina with a knowing smile. "You’ve changed the entire dynamic of the succession, Elina."