"I cannot let my esteemed guest who saved my son leave without a proper dinner," Cedric said with a bright smile.
Lucas froze for a moment.
Did he just say… food?
A bit of drool almost formed at the corner of his mouth.
I haven't had any good food since coming here… finally!
How could I possibly let this chance go?
Arcelia opened her mouth.
"I think that might be too much—"
"Of course! How could I refuse your generosity?" Lucas answered instantly.
Inside his mind, he looked at her with firm determination.
I will NOT let you snatch this opportunity away from me.
Cedric laughed happily.
"Very well! Prepare a grand dinner for our esteemed guest tonight!"
Lucas's eyes sparkled.
Hehehe… I can't wait to see the food.
Just how grand will it be?
His imagination immediately began running wild.
Roasted meats… food coated with edible gold and silver… rich soups made up high grade meat and Veggies… sweet desserts from far off lands…
Dish after dish appeared in his mind, each looking more delicious than the last.
A thin line of drool slowly formed at the corner of his mouth.
Lucas quickly wiped it away before anyone noticed, straightening his posture like nothing had happened.
But his grand dreams shattered into pieces the moment the dinner began to be served.
Lucas watched with excitement as the servants approached.
What could it be…?
Steak with garlic butter? Maybe creamy pasta… or grilled salmon…
Wait… what if they have some special dessert too? Chocolate cake? Ice cream?
Dish after dish appeared on the table.
But the moment Lucas saw the food—
His excited expression slowly froze.
Then it twisted into pure shock… and despair.
Just… what is this…?
Cedric looked pleased and asked with a bright smile,
"So, how does the food look?"
Lucas stared at the plates in front of him.
His mind struggled to process what he was seeing.
Food…
Food…
FOOD…
FOOD!?
This is —
Seriously? Eggs?
Butter-glazed boiled eggs with herbs
Lucas stared at the table.
His excited smile slowly twitched.
…What?
An irritated smile crept onto his face.
Fuck this…
This is just some damn eggs.
I literally used to eat this every day when I was dirt poor or becomed rich.
And you're telling me this is your grand dinner?
Beside him, Adrian eyes suddenly sparkled with excitement.
"Really, Father? We're eating eggs today!?"
Cedric nodded proudly with a bright smile.
"Yes, my son. After all, we cannot serve improper food to our hero."
Lucas felt something inside him crack.
Improper…?
Ha… hahaha…
Fuck, this is the very definition of improper.
Arcelia looked at the table and then at Cedric.
"Uncle, I did not expect you to serve this," she said calmly. "This truly shows your generosity."
Lucas felt a strange irritation rising inside him.
Why does that sound so annoying for some reason…
Cedric then turned toward him.
"So, what are your thoughts?" he asked Lucas.
Lucas forced a polite smile onto his face.
"It is truly very generous of you to treat a commoner like me to such a grand dinner."
Inside his head, however—
Grand?
Fuck the grand.
This isn't even the G of grand.
Adrian looked at the plate with shining eyes.
"Father, isn't this from a bird called chicken? The one that is very rare?"
Cedric nodded proudly.
"Yes, my son. That is why these eggs are so precious. Not like the normal monster eggs we usually eat."
Lucas's eye twitched.
…Right.
I completely forgot.
That lunatic made chickens an extremely rare bird in this world… and their eggs are rare too.
He stared at the egg on his plate.
Just kill me.
No really… kill me for having such high expectations.
"…Whatever," he muttered quietly as he picked it up.
Maybe it will at least taste better than normal eggs.
He took his first bite.
Cedric leaned forward slightly.
"So? What do you think?"
Lucas forced a bright smile.
"Truly… out of this world. The taste, the texture… it is simply too—"
Cedric raised a hand with a satisfied expression.
"I know. You do not even have the words to describe it."
Lucas nodded slowly.
Inside his head, however—
Words…?
It's just a damn egg.
And the texture and taste is worse than the ones I used to eat.
Around the table, everyone enjoyed the meal with full satisfaction, savoring each bite as if it were the finest delicacy.
…Everyone except one person.
---
After dinner ended, the servants began clearing the table.
Lucas wiped his mouth with the napkin and stood from his chair.
"Well then, my lord," he said with a small bow. "Thank you for the meal and your hospitality. I should take my leave now."
Cedric raised a brow.
"Leave? At this hour?" he said. "Nonsense. You are our guest. Stay the night."
Lucas waved his hands politely.
"No, no, I couldn't possibly trouble you further. The dinner itself was already… quite generous."
Inside his mind—
Generous my ass. That egg is still emotionally scarring me.
Cedric chuckled.
"It is no trouble at all. We have more than enough rooms."
Lucas shook his head again.
"I truly appreciate it, my lord, but I should go."
He turned and took a few steps toward the exit.
Suddenly—
tug
Lucas felt a small pull on the edge of his sleeve.
He stopped and looked down.
Adrian was standing there, lightly holding his clothes. The boy avoided eye contact, looking slightly embarrassed.
"…Stay," Adrian said quietly.
Lucas blinked.
The boy's grip tightened just a little.
"…Tonight."
Lucas stared at him.
Big eyes. Slightly nervous expression. That shy tone.
…This brat.
He doesn't even need words.
He's definitely going to grow up into a complete woman killer.
Lucas sighed internally.
Seriously… how can a kid be this cute?
Adrian looked up for a moment, then quickly looked down again, still holding Lucas's sleeve.
Lucas rubbed his forehead.
"…Fine," he said with a sigh. "Just tonight."
Adrian's shoulders relaxed immediately.
Cedric laughed warmly.
"Excellent! A room will be prepared right away."
Soon after, a servant guided Lucas through the quiet halls of the mansion and into a guest room.
The room was large—far larger than any room Lucas had ever stayed in.
A soft bed, thick carpets, tall windows… everything screamed luxury.
Lucas dropped onto the bed with a long exhale.
"…At least the room is actually grand," he muttered.
He stretched his arms and stared at the ceiling.
Today was insane.
Monsters… nobles… rare eggs…
Seriously, what kind of world did I end up in?
Eventually, the mansion grew quiet as night deepened.
Lucas slowly drifted toward sleep.
---
Sometime Around Midnight
Creeeak.
The sound of a door slowly opening echoed through the dark room.
Lucas's eyes snapped open.
He turned his head toward the doorway.
…Who could that be?