Chapter 26

I went to the kitchen to make some healthy and liquid food for the injured men as I heard Arashi engaging with them in various topics.

While the meal was being prepared I set their breakfast on trays and went toward the hall. Sensing my arrival, Arashi took out the small tables and placed them for each one as I placed the plates on them one by one. I went back to the kitchen to take the other bowls, and taking them, I set their tables.

I made steamed rice, plum pickles and vegetable salads. For a healthy beverage I poured barley tea as they all took their seats.

As the host of the house, Arashi had to join them but he asked me, "When will you join us?"

"Please, eat. I will join you after making their meals." I said as Arashi nodded.

"Are you expecting more guests?" Mr Wasabi asked.

"No. For my two patients." He said.

"But why are they staying in your house? Shouldn't they be moving back after you treat them?"

"The procedures aren't finished yet. It will take some time." Arashi didn't say anything further and I knew he didn't like to tell people about his patients or their injuries. He prefered absolute privacy when it came to his treatment.

For two months, I had seen many people come and go but he never uttered anything about them. He said, "Some of them come because Arashi never told anyone about their illnesses to others."

It was true. Nobody would want to disclose those and Arashi respected that. They respected Arashi and gave him whatever he wanted but I had never seen him asking for money unless they were filthy rich. He wouldn't take money from the villagers who were very poor and would take needed ingredients for food from those who can afford to pay him but he took money from only the rich or where he sold his goods.

I didn't understand his way of trading but I didn't question him since I knew he was very considerate to others. He wouldn't show it on his face but he would tell it by his work.

As they finished eating, I had finished making porridges for the wounded men. I came to the hall and took all the plates and the bowls for cleaning and said to Arashi, "Their meals are ready."

He nodded as he said to the Wasabi family, "Please excuse me. I need to feed them unless they would not recover fast. I will be joining you shortly."

They nodded as Arashi went to the kitchen and taking the small table I had set for him, he went inside his room.

I came back to the kitchen. I cut some fruits for all of them since it was good after having a meal. Besides, I had seen the first lady feeding my father fruits.

I slowly went to the family as they were arguing over something but as soon as they felt my presence, they halted. "Please have some fruits."

I placed their plates as they gave me a look.

Mrs Wasabi scoffed. "Who eats food after a meal? Do you want to make us fat?"

"But I heard if you eat fruits after a meal, not only will it help the food to digest faster but also it makes the skin look young." I said what the third lady used to say. She used to eat a lot of fruits for the sake of her beauty. Although I couldn't deny she was beautiful.

The daughters' and their mother's eyes sparked as if they got new tips on their beauty regime as they started to devour the pieces one by one.

"I had always asked you to buy me fruits everyday but you wouldn't listen!" Mrs Wasabi growled at her husband who got a bit pale.

"But fruits are very expensive..."

"Shut up!" The wife scolded him as she glared and added, "Of course, they would be expensive because they make you look young!"

I resisted myself from laughing as I told them. "Please take a rest and if you want to tour the garden, I can accompany you."

"No need!" Mrs Wasabi said, "We can do that on our own."

I nodded as a sigh left from my mouth. I went back to the kitchen as I still needed to clean the dishes and cook again for the injured men.

After a while, Arashi came back and cleaned the dishes he had with him and asked, "It might take a week for them to recover fully. Are you certain you can manage that much work?"

I nodded. It was easy since I had to cook different dishes for the first lady and third lady while my father ate different dishes. I was accustomed to it and for only two people it wasn't much hassle.

I knew he was worried because he wouldn't be able to help me while taking care of them. And as it was a large house with a lot of different works, it might be troublesome for me. But it wasn't.

I was genuinely happy because he trusted me that much.

Arashi asked, "Have you eaten yet?"

"Err... I was about to." My eyes drifted everywhere but him.

He raised a brow as I immediately took some leftovers from the breakfast in my bowl.

He nodded and went to the garden where the Wasabi family were.

For lunch, I had already prepared white plain rice, both meat and fish because I had no idea what they would eat. Miso soup and pickled vegetables.

But I knew our guests were a bit picky and won't stop from giving me some good advice so I made another few dishes. Natto and cooked vegetables. Just in case, they crinkled their noses.

But thankfully they didn't. Arashi was there and they dared to say anything offensive. They ate while I went again to make porridge with adding vegetables this time.

All day, I could not sit and take a break and I felt a little exhausted. All I did was go back and forth from the kitchen to the hall, making something, and doing all of those again.

Strange... I had done more work than this yet I felt tired. Recalling how Arashi had to take care of the wounded, I encouraged myself because, if I took a rest, he would have to do everything on his own and he might get sick from overwork.

I went back to them with their tea as Arashi asked, "Have you had your lunch?"

I nodded stiffly because it was already late and the guests would be leaving. But it seemed I could never lie to him because his eyes stayed on me for a while as I tried to make eye contact but I blinked.

Arashi's eyes narrowed a little and I knew he just caught me lying to him. I bit my tongue as my ears heated. I just forgot to eat!

I was about to resume my work again when Arashi whispered, "Stay here." And my heart thumped loudly. Was he going to scold?

I froze.

Mr Wasabi and his family stood up to leave not long after that as they still chatted about various political aspects and about new occurrences of modern things. Most of the time the family bragged about having them and suggested Arashi to buy them as well. Arashi only nodded.

They told about the new food in the market that only the upper classes could afford and said they had it only once and they loved it. It was called chocolate?

I could not understand as I stayed silent and listened to them as Arashi was the one who handled them.

As they left, Arashi looked at me with a displeased look on his face. "Why didn't you eat?"

"I—I forgot." I said looking at the ground.

Arashi let out a sigh and asked, "How could you forget eating? Sit here."

He went to the kitchen and within a moment took my platters and bowls as he placed them on the small table saying, "Eat up."

I nodded and as I started to eat, I couldn't believe I was this hungry. As the food got into my stomach, I felt regaining my energy.

Arashi had already gone to feed his patients and I sat there for a while because I still had to clean the dishes and make dinner. I wanted to sleep a little but it was almost evening. My feet ached as well as my back and I tapped on them.

I stood up and dragged my feet to go back to work as Arashi asked from behind me. "Where are you going?"

I turned around. "I still have some work left."

"Just go take a rest. I will do the rest." He said.

"Wha—! No..." I retorted, "I can do it!"

His eyes hardened as he said, "You look tired."

"I am not!"

"Cooking for all of us two times each with different dishes is very tiring, Bianka. Go take a rest." He said and took every bowl I had in my hands.

"But you have been doing a lot of work too."

"My work is not that tiring. Most of my work was done in the morning. All I am doing is inspecting them." He added, "You even cleaned the whole house and washed all the clothes. Just take a rest."

Before going to the kitchen he said, "I am coming with herbal tea and will give you a little massage."

Massage? I gawked at him until he went away.