The Seven Devils – Chapter 29

Outside was lovely, and Aaron knew in his gut he was going to have a great afternoon spending his time with his best buddy Alfie.

Not wanting to waste any more time, the lord hurried down the path of the exotically beautiful garden and headed toward the east wing. When he arrived about five minutes later, he headed straight toward the back, where a majestic courtyard was located. Within a short distance, he saw a slender figure sitting under a pergola, reading a book. With short dark hair and wearing very loose clothing consisting of a brown jacket and dark pants, the human youth was, without a doubt, delightful to watch, in Aaron’s twinkling eyes.

With a bright grin on his face, the lord headed toward the being who was currently waiting for him to turn up for their promised meeting.

The moment Aaron stepped foot inside the pergola, a pretty face rose to greet him, followed by a bright smile that nearly knocked the wind out of him.

“Aaron!” Alfie said in delight. “Look! I can read this now. Isn’t it awesome?” She showed him the children’s book in glee. “In only five days. Can you believe it? In only five days, I memorized all of Aurora’s alphabet and can now read books like this. And it’s all thanks to you.”

Aaron chuckled, more than a little proud of his student. Of course, he’d be very pleased if Alfie were to give him a great big hug.

Awesome, eh? Alfie used the word awesome, and he thought that he should use it, too. Thus, he said, “That’s awesome, Alfie.” He couldn’t help himself and tousled her hair.

Hmm… Alfie has such soft hair. Thus, Aaron continued to stroke those delicate strands, enjoying himself rather tremendously.

Alfie clasped her hands together and grinned delightfully. She said, “Right, before we get started, let’s have lunch.” She touched the beautifully designed wooden lunchboxes on the table. “Look at what I’ve cooked today.”

That caught Aaron’s interest. He stopped the hair stroking and swiftly moved over to sit on the stone bench opposite Alfie. He eagerly peeked at what delicious offering the little darling had made for him today. Of course, lunch made by Alfie, which was part of a deal he had proposed in exchange for teaching her the realm’s main written language, was always something that he looked forward to.

Inside the lunchbox, which Alfie referred to as a bento box, was an assortment of goodies. Aaron recognized the white rice, since he’d had it before during his visitation to the Wulin and Yamato Kingdoms. Rice was their staple diet, after all. He must admit it was quite delicious, with its softness and sweetness gently melting in his mouth when he ate it.

Noticing Aaron’s interest, Alfie said, “This one here is prawn tempura. That’s tamagoyaki, or egg roll.” She pointed to the golden-brown, crispy prawn and the bright-yellow roll sitting elegantly on the side of the box respectively. “That’s stir-fried pork with some vegetables in teriyaki sauce. And that’s karaage, or deep-fried chicken drumstick, Japanese style.”

Aaron’s mouth started watering at just seeing the beautiful sight of the fare. He said, “Let’s dig in. I’m starving.”

“Yes, let’s,” Alfie said, opening the other bento box that was meant for her.

Aaron shifted the one for him toward his side of the table and then picked up his chopsticks. He grinned with delight as he started eating, moving the chopsticks in his hand like a pro.

He was just savoring the sweet taste of the pork teriyaki when a voice said, “So this is why you don’t want any of us to disturb Alfie, eh?”

Aaron tensed for a moment, food still in his mouth. It was Geoffrey’s voice behind him, and he suddenly realized that he had been duped. Geoffrey had lied that he was busy with the nation’s work to let Aaron’s guard down.

Once he managed to swallow, he turned, and to his shocked surprise saw not only Geoffrey was there, but Felix and Caleb as well.

Fuck!

Damn if the trio didn’t look more than a little annoyed at the sight of Alfie and him together, enjoying a rather pleasant oriental lunch.

Alfie, who was sitting opposite him, rushed out of her seat and came to stand before Lords Geoffrey, Felix, and Caleb. She proceeded to salute and said in greeting, “My lords.”

Geoffrey chuckled and fondly ruffled her hair while Aaron popped another piece of teriyaki pork into his mouth, all the while glaring at the three lords in annoyance for interrupting his peaceful time with his best buddy. Of course, his annoyance turned into rage when he saw Felix grab Alfie by the arm and proceed to hug the girl tight, like a fucking lover. The bastard even went so far as to rub his damned nose against his buddy’s irresistible flushing red cheek.

“How are you doing, little elf?” Felix asked. “Haven’t seen you for days. Did you miss me, darling?” He winked at her, too, and Alfie became all flustered.

Once he finished swallowing that delicious morsel, Aaron said coldly, “Now that you’ve seen Alfie, leave. Alfie and I have a lot to do. As you can see, I’m teaching him our written language.”

Caleb came toward the table and looked at the bento box. “What are these?”

Alfie said, “They’re our lunch, my lord. I’ve been making Lord Aaron’s lunches in return for him teaching me how to read and write.”

Caleb and Felix flashed a sharp stare at Aaron. The meaning was clear. They had figured out Aaron had gone sneaking behind their backs and getting Alfie’s time and attention all to himself. And they were undoubtedly going to make him pay by making him go through hell tomorrow morning during their battle practice. Fuck!

Felix said, “Really?” He turned to Alfie. “Why didn’t you ask me to teach you?”

Aaron couldn’t help himself and said, “As if you’re any good at doing such a thing. All you’re good at is ordering your soldiers about like a maniac.” Which wasn’t far off the mark.

Geoffrey, who seemed interested in the food, came toward the table and took a good look at the fare. He said, “May I try some, Alfie?”

Alfie nodded. “Of course, my lord.”

Once Geoffrey made himself comfortable on the stone bench, he said, “Unfortunately, I’m no good with chopsticks.”

Alfie said, “No worries, my lord.” She shifted out of Felix’s arm, who frowned darkly, and moved to sit beside Geoffrey, who smiled in delight. There, she picked up the chopsticks and asked, “What would you like to try, my lord?”

Geoffrey pointed to the egg roll. “This one.”

Alfie expertly and delicately picked up a piece of a perfectly rolled tamagoyaki and brought it up to Geoffrey’s awaiting mouth. “Ahh…” She urged Geoffrey’s lips to part.

With a wicked smirk on his face, Geoffrey opened his mouth as requested, and Alfie fed him. The lord chewed, tasting the softness and sweetness of the egg roll. “Mmm…” he expressed, a grin playing about his lips. “It’s sweet and soft,” he said, his voice deep and seductive.

Alfie grinned, looking both embarrassed and pleased at the same time, which annoyed the hell out of not only Aaron, but Felix and Caleb as well. Of course, Aaron was pissed he hadn’t thought about pretending not to know how to use chopsticks, as Geoffrey had done.

Alfie said, “I’ve put honey in the egg roll, my lord, as I personally like it sweet. But, of course, you can have tamagoyaki salty if you like it that way.”

Geoffrey shook his blond head in the negative. “No, I like mine sweet, and especially with honey in it. The more the better. Honey is one of my favorite food items.”

Geoffrey’s words had a double meaning, which none of the other three lords missed. The trio saw red.

Felix was about to interrupt and pull innocent Alfie away from the cunning Geoffrey when Alfie said, “Then I’ll remember to do that if I were to make tamagoyaki for you in the future, my lord.”

“Tamagoyaki, eh?” Geoffrey asked. “A new word I have not heard before.”

Alfie said, “It’s egg roll in my father’s native language, my lord. This bento box food is from there.”

“I see.” Geoffrey nodded his head again. “It’s delicious, Alfie. I must introduce you to our kitchen staff so that you can teach them a few recipes. But, of course, the tamagoyaki you’ll have to personally make for me, with a lot of honey.”

“Really?” Alfie asked. “But I’m not a chef or anything.”

Caleb, who couldn’t stand the earnest discussion between the two, said loudly, interrupting them, “That looks nice.”

Alfie’s attention was duly drawn to the demand of Caleb. “This one?” she asked, pointing to the prawn tempura. At Caleb’s nod, she hastily picked up the crispy piece with the chopsticks and said, “Ahh…”

Caleb gladly opened his mouth, and Alfie fed him.

The moment the morsel was in his mouth, the lord widened his eyes in pleasant surprise. It was light, crispy, and juicy, with the meat of the prawn melting in his mouth. It was fucking delicious, and he wanted more.

He was about to ask for another when Felix came up and said, “Alfie, feed me that fried chicken.”

Alfie said, “You can eat that with your hand, my lord. No need to use chopsticks with that one.”

Geoffrey and Aaron cracked up laughing.

Felix wasn’t giving up. He said, “Then pick it up with your hand and feed it to me. I have no desire to dirty my hands.”

Alfie sighed. “You’re a demanding one, aren’t you, my lord?”

Felix knew Alfie was annoyed with him, hence the emphasis on the words my lord. But, of course, the demon lord didn’t give a damn about that. All he wanted was for Alfie to feed him food, preferably with those delicate hands.

Alfie reluctantly picked up the drumstick and brought it to Felix’s eagerly awaiting mouth. Felix proceed to wrap his large hand around her slender wrist and then devoured the morsel with pleasure, his lips touching and sucking on her fingers and thumb in the process.

Alfie gasped at the intimate contact and blushed severely.

Aaron noticed and snapped loudly, “Oy! That’s enough. You’re wasting Alfie’s studying time.”

Once Felix finally finished devouring the offered meat like a starving demon, Alfie hastily withdrew, her head down, eyes downcast, and cheeks hot with embarrassment.

Grinning from ear to ear and very pleased with himself, Felix said, “Still hungry.”

Aaron rolled his eyes. “You all have an army of staff to cook and serve you divine meals fit for a king. Why the hell are you all here stealing Alfie’s food?”

Geoffrey chuckled. “You’ve made a good point there.” He turned to Alfie. “Then again, Alfie’s food is very appealing. Isn’t that why you’re making him cook you lunch, Aaron?”

Damn that bastard brother of his! As usual, he was good at flipping the tables. Geoffrey got him right there, and Aaron didn’t know how to reply to that statement.

Geoffrey said, “I would love to taste your cooking, Alfie. What would you like in return for making me some lunch?”

Alfie’s eyes widened in surprise. “Really, my lord? I can ask for a favor if I cook you lunch?”

“Mm-hmm.” The lord nodded.

“Then—”

“How about cooking me lunch, too, Alfie?” Felix interrupted, as if he knew what Alfie was going to ask for.

Caleb said, concerned, “This is too much for one boy. Alfie will have no time to do his own things.”

Geoffrey agreed. “Then how about once a week—say, on a Sunday—you can cook us lunch? In return, each of us will do you a favor, whatever that may be.”

Alfie was pleased at the idea. “That sounds awesome, my lord. Then I’ll cook everyone lunch on Sundays.”

Aaron said, before any more time was wasted, “Now that’s settled. Why don’t you three leave? Alfie and I are about to start the lesson.”

But, of course, the three lords refused to heed Aaron’s words and even went further as to request a picnic lunch from the main kitchen. Hence, lavish food items were brought out and arranged neatly on the round table under the pergola. In the end, four out of the five members enjoyed their meal tremendously that afternoon.

When Geoffrey, Felix, and Caleb finally left an hour and a half later, Aaron sighed in relief, exhausted. Of course, he had spent most of the time protecting Alfie from those overly zealous comrades of his.

“I thought they’d never leave,” he said.

Alfie chuckled. “But it was fun, right? With so many of us around and chatting away about everything under the sun. It reminded me of home.”

Aaron noted the sudden change in the expression on Alfie’s face and asked, “Do you miss it? Your home?”

Alfie nodded. “Mm-hmm.”

Aaron grabbed Alfie’s hands and said, “I’ll do my best to make you happy so that you won’t miss home.”

Alfie chuckled. “Thank you, my Lord Aaron.”

Aaron chuckled and said, “No problem.”

Hence, their language lesson commenced.