Ruby couldn't sleep that night.
What happened before with the Fourth Prince just kept on replaying in her mind that she couldn't think of anything else, not even rest. And when her stomach started to rumble in protest, her zombie-like eyes couldn't help but crack open.
'This won't do.'
Ruby gritted her teeth. With slumped shoulders, she dragged herself out of bed and opened the door, only to be met with the grumpy stare of a certain someone.
"Yuck! Ghost!"
Ruby nearly punched the sh*t out of him with a shriek.
Mario was truly no different than a sleepless ghost.
He looked just as deprived as her and yet here he was, stubbornly guarding her door as if one slight slip and she might set the house on fire the next second.
"What are you planning to do, sneaking out at night?"
Mario questioned with his arms crossed, his tone full of accusations.
Ruby shot him a bored look. She then walked past him without care, treating him like horrid air. "Am hungry, not going to die a hungry ghost."
Mario gave her a weird gaze. But soon, he followed after her, his footsteps rhyming behind hers.
"Where is your mask? You shouldn't roam around the house without your mask on."
Mario's voice was persistent. Ruby rolled her eyes in response.
"Stop fussing about the mask, it's so annoying!" As rude as she may sound, the starving Ruby hid behind her 'Montclair's Princess' persona and lashed out as she liked.
"I left mine behind. So what? It's not like his royal highness the Fourth Prince will kill me for real if he catches me not wearing one."
"But, he will."
Ruby's footsteps suddenly paused. She just stood there, unbudged.
Mario thought that his words had scared her, a victorious smile making its way to his lips.
But then, the girl's head suddenly turned to look at him with a pair of eyes so bright and clear as if she was the calm river that had held both the moon and the stars in her grasp.
"It just came to me. Where's the direction to the kitchen, again?"
"..."
He ended up leading her there himself.
Minutes later, noises rumbled as the girl rummaged through the rows of drawers and cabinets, then the four-door refrigerators and chillers. Behind her, Mario just stood there like a statue, looking lost and confused.
Mario felt as if he had just eaten the wrong medicine. What the hell was wrong with him?!! Why was he being so obedient?
That girl wasn't his master, she's a fraud! Sooner or later, the master would find no use of her and kick her out of the house with his own feet!
"I'm going to make a simple meal. Would you like one or two poached eggs?"
Ruby's sudden question pulled him out of his thoughts. Mario's eyebrows twitched. He suddenly had a bad feeling about this.
The girl slash fraud was offering him a share of her homemade meal. What did she take him as, a fool?
Such an obvious attempt to poison him, he would never fall for such low tricks!
But then…
H-Huh?
Out of nowhere, a waft of fragrance scratched him on the nose. Mario's eyes widened. Where was he again? Why was he now seated?
He lowered his head, finding a bowl of hot steaming noodles sitting before him.
'What's this smell?'
His curious eyes roamed about, examining the bowl of soup as if it was a piece of fine art. He finally arrived at a conclusion.
It was the green onions. How could they smell so tempting? Mario's mouth unconsciously watered.
"What are you doing? Eat up. It wouldn't be delicious when it cools down."
The voice was like a beckon from the Heavens. He foolishly nodded, moving his chopsticks slowly and carefully to take a bite.
The soup simmered in his throat, the fragrance lingering on his tongue. Mario's eyes immediately brightened. 'W-What was this? How could it taste this good?'
'The soft chewy texture of the noodles, the rich soothing flavor of the bone broth…'
Mario couldn't stop himself from worshipping the bowl of noodles as if it was a craft by the Gods, his chopsticks inevitably moving faster and faster.
'Was she truly a fraud and not a fairy? How can she cook this well?'
'Can the master… not kick her out too soon?'
He thought to himself, shedding a few silent tears in between when the girl's angelic voice rang out.
"Hey, seeing as you might be guarding my room for the rest of the night, I gave you three eggs instead. Thank you in advance."
"..."
Mario bit his lips, his silent tears flowing even more abundantly.
'What fraud? She's most definitely a fairy!'
***
Ruby couldn't suppress the sly smile on her lips.
Who would've thought that the obnoxious bitch would be such a weakling when he's up against good food?
Still, his mesmerized self reminded her of her cute little brother.
'What is little Bradley doing right now? It's been half a year since I last saw him. Has he been eating well? What about father?'
Ruby stifled. She suddenly missed her home.
Ruby lowered her eyes and stirred her soup, staring at the murky reflection of her lonely self. She had everything planned in advance.
Once everything was done on her side, once she got her hands on the million dollars, she would pack her bags and leave for the countryside where she truly belonged.
No more grievances, no more drama—and only a peaceful life of tending crops, catching fishes by the riverside, and spending meaningful time with her beloved family.
The light in her eyes softened. Those beautiful pictures just flashed through her mind like a dream that was no longer too distant to be true. It can be her reality!
And for that reality to happen…
Ruby's lips slowly curved as she set her eyes on the intoxicated Mario who was engulfing his noodles as if he hadn't eaten for three days.
'I'll start with you first, silly boy.'