Chapter 380: Special

Words : 1632 Updated : Oct 11th, 2025

Chapter 380: Special A lot more if Xavier were being honest. For when Luca started his magic, heads started turning. See, at this point, the people close to the dungeon owner had been introduced to the glory of salt and sugar, but Luca realized that maybe it was possible to introduce a little spice. So when the little cook stood up to move closer to the preparation table, his friends just had to go! The next thing you know, the heir was surrounded by a crowd who ended up having to be asked to sit down because they were blocking the light. Apologies flew out from everywhere, and for a moment, they were scared that they wouldn’t be allowed to watch anymore, but Luca just smiled at them sheepishly and said that this was the first time he was going to attempt something like this, and just hoped it would be fine. Surprisingly, he got a few cheers and encouragement, but the same sounds eventually turned into strangled noises of awe and anticipation as Luca brought out a rounded bottle. It was actually his last bottle of chili flakes, for it had been a while since he remembered to make such a thing. But he thought that, in the worst-case scenario, this was something he could replicate, just like the other thing he was planning on using. Cheese. Luca actually bit the bullet and bought cheese for 2,000 CP. Now he didn’t particularly buy more than that large enough block because he didn’t know if it’d taste okay as he imagined it, but thought that it was something they could surely use for many things until they stabilize their own cheese-making venture. And what do you know, maybe it would help inspire people to leave him with the curds! But really it was more like coercion than inspiration as a few people almost got into altercations for the cheese. If only this were a joke. Because soon enough, the crowd noticed what he was about to do. It wasn’t much, for Luca only did about four taps of the bottle as they watched red flakes falling on one side of the lobster. The color was beautiful, and for some reason, it reminded Luca of his family because it looked very much like flames. Not to mention how sometimes chili could feel just like that. He was certain this was a risk, after all, not everyone loved spicy food, but he wouldn’t know unless he tried, right? Although, just to make sure, the other half of the lobster was going to have the same base but with cheese instead of chili flakes. So Luca further amazed everyone by cutting out chunks of cheese and laying them to somehow cover the other side that was already basted with lemon garlic butter sauce. "Brother, what is that? The sides...they’re different?" asked Ollie, who managed to squeeze himself in because he followed Kyle, who figured he’d have to make a small path, or end up carrying him to see from above. "Ah, this? This side has chili flakes, while this side has cheese." "That’s going to be grilled too?" "Yes, but I’ll have to do a bit of work on the cheese so it’ll look nice." And work he did, for the onlookers, including a shocked princess, did not expect the heir to use his elemental abilities for this. Specifically, to melt cheese. Luca was careful because he didn’t want anything to burn, but he was also trying to recreate the look that he had seen so many times. It’s just that, when the little cook looked up, he was surprised to see the trembling faces of everyone who now surrounded the grill. The air shifted. The party, which had been lively and full of chatter just moments earlier, quieted into a hush like someone had dimmed the volume of an entire crowd. Eyes widened. Mouths parted slightly. Breaths hitched as even Princess Kira found the resulting product to be so shocking. Because the sight of what Luca was preparing didn’t just smell good—it looked like art. On one side, flaming red chili flakes shimmered against golden garlic butter, a glistening crown of flavor that made the lobster look like it was forged in fire. On the other hand, melting cheese oozed softly over the shell, delicate and creamy, bubbling in perfect golden threads under his careful flame. And everyone—every. single. person.—wanted it. You could hear gulps echoing in the silence. Ollie clutched Kyle’s arm like he was witnessing the culinary gates of heaven open in front of him. Luca, now keenly aware of the dozens—no, hundreds of eyes fixated on his grill, felt the pressure settle onto his shoulders like a physical weight. But he was just trying to cook for his parents! Thankfully, the flustered son didn’t have to explain himself because standing beside him, Xavier finally stepped forward. With a calm strength that could make even the most eager noble take a half-step back, the Imperial Crown Prince raised his voice gently. "This dish," Xavier said, "was prepared as a gift. For the Duke and Duchess. We hope you can all support Luca in offering this first to his parents—before the rest of you fight over what’s left." There was a collective sound of people inhaling sharply. A pause. And then Ollie, bless him, wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and whispered, "Well...That’s fair." One by one, the crowd nodded, slowly settling down. Some pressed their hands to their chests. Others wiped invisible sweat from their foreheads. A few clutched their chairs, waiting like it was a royal ceremony—and it kind of was. Over by the side, the aforementioned Duke Leander and Duchess Amelia did not know how to sit. The Duke had already stood up and sat down three times, and the Duchess kept adjusting her napkin like she was bracing for a marriage proposal rather than a meal. In fact, this might have been more nerve-wracking than all the marriage proposals she’s received from her husband. And there were dozens of them! See, these two have long been veterans and were even used to dealing with the Imperial family, but they had to admit that their little family was as awkward as it could get. And while the Duchess was partly envious of Ollie’s closeness to his parents, she knew that this would take time or a major ice breaker. So when Luca started walking towards them, the warshocked parents didn’t know how to react. Luca came carrying a plate with trembling hands. His steps were small, nervous, and full of hesitation, but still, he moved forward because he felt like he really wanted this. Because this, this moment, was the one thing he hadn’t really gotten to do. He’d made meals for so many. But this-this was the first time he’d cooked something like this with his parents in mind. "I...I know I’ve cooked for a lot of people," he said softly, placing the plate between them. "But I never really got to do this for you. So I wanted to make something special." Duchess Amelia’s hands were trembling as she reached for the fork. Duke Leander’s lip quivered like he was holding in a war cry—or a sob. "I...um...maybe try the chili side first? And then the cheese," Luca suggested nervously. "And if you like both, you can, um...mix the flakes with the cheese..." The silence was unbearable. Until the Duchess took the first bite. And everything stopped. The flavor hit her like a revelation. Her eyes went wide—so wide one might fear they’d never return to normal. She inhaled sharply, and one hand lifted to her chest because she didn’t expect such a thing. The chili side was divine, and had Luca been able to taste it, he’d likely think that way too, for there was a warm, complex, zesty explosion that balanced perfectly against the sweet tenderness of the lobster. But to the duchess, who had no words to describe it, she feared that she’d pass out by trying the other side. Thankfully, her eyes just misted over, as she felt that silkiness that added to the original flavor that they had before. It was comforting, just like the presence of this boy who suddenly beamed at them. A smile so wide, so genuine, so heart-melting, it could’ve slain armies. A few bystanders clutched their hearts. Someone whispered, "I’m weak." And the duchess could’ve said the same thing herself, if not for the aid of the marquise beside her, who offered a gentle smile, "Isn’t this a perfect time for a hug?" Yes. Most definitely, yes. And that got the duchess standing as she marched over to Luca, eyes shining, and pulled him into a tight hug, pressing a warm kiss to the side of his eye like he was still a little boy she’d just found again. "Thank you, my son. Mom really likes it!" she whispered, her voice full of trembling joy. Luca’s arms slowly wrapped around her as his shoulders eased, relaxing fully, as if years of tension had melted away as he sagged in her arms. And not to be left out, Duke Leander stormed over, eyes misty, and wrapped them both in a bear hug that he’s never really been able to do. Maybe he was made to be so big for this very moment? And the grinning boy who was squeezed between his parents didn’t mind it one bit! Off to the side, D-29 snapped picture after picture, its internal storage filling slowly with photos of more food and faces. It’s just that over in the crowd, someone still managed to whisper reverently: "...So when can we taste it?"

Chapter 380: Special

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