Chapter 456: The Dreamlike Candy House!
After dinner—
Ryohei had someone simply clear the dining table. He turned and went to the dessert kitchen, pushing out an exquisite three-tiered large cake decorated with bright red strawberries and chocolate shavings.
The "child" Second, who was already several thousand years old, stared wide-eyed at this luxurious large cake, an undisguised, brilliant smile blooming on her face.
"Second, for the candles, how about I put one in just to show the meaning?"
Ryohei moved the cake onto the table, turned his head, and asked Second.
"Mn mn, let's put one." Second nodded like a chick pecking at rice, her voice full of joy.
"Second, come here."
Persephone took out a magnificent crown inlaid with several rubies, waved to her daughter, and then personally placed it on her head.
Yurine, who was just preparing to assemble the paper crown, saw this scene and the corner of her eye twitched. She really wanted to roast—Who wears a real crown on purpose! As expected, poverty has limited my imagination!
"Atre, I want a cake like this for my next birthday too."
Ecute reached out her small hand, tugged at the hem of Atre's clothes, and pointed at the three-tiered large cake.
"This..."
Atre had a face full of difficulty.
"If I have time then, I can make one for you."
Ryohei placed a birthday candle on the top tier of the cake and smiled to smooth things over.
"Mn, then thank you in advance."
Atre bowed slightly to him, thanking him politely.
"Then you must have time!"
Ecute looked at Ryohei with a face full of hope.
"Hey—! You can't be so impolite!"
"Mmm... I really want to know when my birthday is."
Kanna said in a soft and sweet voice, a touch of melancholy "inconsistent with her age" appearing on her slightly baby-fat face.
Dragons don't have the concept of "celebrating birthdays." Let alone which day her birthday was, she didn't even know exactly how old she was this year, only knowing a rough estimate.
"If you don't know the exact date, you can choose a meaningful time yourself."
Kobayashi turned her head and gently patted Kanna's head.
"Mn." Kanna lifted her face to look at her, wagged her spherical tail, and felt this suggestion was very good.
"Ilulu, you light the candle."
Ryohei raised his eyes to look at Ilulu.
Many people present could do this kind of thing, but Ilulu was a dragon good at playing with fire. Ryohei liked to make the best use of everything and let everyone exhibit their respective value.
"Okay~."
Ilulu responded with a brisk tone, stepped forward, and with a poof, a small cluster of flames rose from her fingertip. She carefully brought it close to the candle wick.
When the candle was lit, Minos, who had already arrived beside the light switch, turned off the lights in the dining room.
Without needing to be organized, everyone spontaneously clapped their hands and sang the Happy Birthday song.
Second also brought her hands together, closed her eyes, and happily made a wish.
After making the wish, she leaned forward and gently blew out the candle. With a click, Minos turned the lights back on in the dining room.
Next was cutting the cake—
"Onii-chan, here."
Second used the cake knife to cut a large slice of cake, put it on a plate, and handed it to Ryohei with a sweet smile.
"Giving the first slice to me?"
Ryohei received it with some surprise.
"Eh? It's actually not Mother?"
Persephone feigned surprise and joked: "I'm going to get jealous~."
"Because Onii-chan put in the most effort~!" Second looked at her Mother, acting adorably and saying with a bit of coquettishness.
"Alright."
The corners of Persephone's mouth curled up in a gentle arc. She lowered her head slightly, looked at her daughter, and said:
"Serve the others first, Mother isn't in a hurry."
"Mn mn."
"..."
"Having dessert after a meal is truly amazing! This is happiness!"
(๑＞ᴗ＜๑)
Holding the cake plate in her left hand, Elma stood aside, used a cake fork to break off a piece, and put it into her mouth. Instantly, her sense of happiness overflowed!
The cream was silky and sweet, melting in the mouth. The chiffon cake carried a faint egg aroma and the gentle sweet scent of butter. Its texture was soft, moist, and fluffy, just like a cloud.
The chocolate shavings decorating the cream were melted by the temperature of her mouth, releasing a wisp of mellow aroma.
The fresh strawberry puree hidden within the cream enriched the flavor layers and released a trace of fresh fruity sourness, perfectly neutralizing the slight bitterness of the chocolate and the sweet cloyingness of the cream.
This elevated the overall flavor to another level!
"Mmm—! I see it... this dreamlike candy house!"
Tasting Second's birthday cake, Ecute murmured softly, and a different scenery emerged in the depths of her eyes.
The dining room before her eyes—
The walls turned into chiffon cake, their surfaces brushed with a layer of white cream. The glass was transparent sugar blocks, the roof and floor turned into chocolate, and the tables, chairs, and decorations all became cute cookies and marshmallows.
In the originally non-existent fireplace burned a warm honey flame, and amidst the crackling sounds, the warm aroma of caramel drifted out...
"I see it too! If I could stay in this candy house for a night..."
Tohru was also eating the cake at this moment, a bit of white cream stuck to the corner of her mouth.
Hearing Elma's words, she turned her head, glanced at her, and with a smile on her lips, interrupted: "When you wake up the next day, you'll find the house is gone. Guess what the specific reason is."
"Ahaha—!"
"Laugh."
"So hard to guess!"
Jashin-chan said playfully from the side.
"You guys..."
Elma was so angry that the curves on her chest heaved up and down.
...
More than half an hour later—
Second's birthday dinner party concluded in a warm atmosphere.
It was already getting late. Ryohei looked at Persephone, Lierre, and the vampire master and servant, and asked: "Do you guys want to stay overnight here? There are still a few guest rooms in the ranch where you can stay for a night."
Mainly considering that it was Second's birthday today, she probably also wanted to spend a bit more time with her mother.
"Mother, please stay! We'll go soak in the hot spring together later; there's a hot spring in the ranch!"
Second's beautiful eyes lit up, and she immediately looked at her mother expectantly.
"Ah—! Speaking of which, I haven't taken a bath with Sensei for a long time either!" Jashin-chan raised her hand, joining the fun.
"Will it be too much of a bother for you?"
Persephone was somewhat tempted, but also a bit embarrassed.
"It's fine."
Ryohei waved his hand and said carelessly: "The rooms are empty anyway."
"Then excuse the intrusion!"
Persephone bowed slightly to Ryohei.
"You're staying? Then excuse my intrusion too!"
Lierre glanced at Persephone, made a delicate fist, placed it by her mouth, and said thick-skinned.
"Same here!"
Atre bowed slightly with Ecute.
"You're welcome."
Ryohei smiled, looked aside, and casually picked three people: "Second, Pekola, Kyon-Kyon, I'll trouble you to take them to the guest rooms."
"Mn, okay." x3
~~~
Get early access to 20+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
~~~
Every 5 new reviews = 1 extra chapters
Every 150 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter