50. Lalatina.

The late afternoon sun bathed the world in warm light. The scent of flowers mingled in the breeze, birds chirped melodiously, filling the sky. In the distance, faint clouds shrouded several mountain peaks. In the courtyard, Noah was assigning tasks to his three handmaidens.

"Liora, you go incubate the egg. It's about to hatch. That little snake will hatch any day now, just keep the egg warm. You don't need to do anything else for the next few days."

Liora glanced at the egg and shook her head.

"Master, this egg is a bird's egg, not a snake's. Only bird eggs look like this. Snake eggs are softer. Don't tease me."

Noah didn't know how to respond. The system had determined it was a snake egg, so it could only be a snake.

"Liora, I'm really not wrong. There's a snake inside."

Liora's eyes widened, wet with unshed tears, as she looked at Noah and then back at the egg.

"There's definitely no snake inside this egg."

Noah realized that if he kept insisting, he might make this young girl cry. But the system always gave gifts that were most suitable for the recipient, just like how he was given this new manor. So perhaps when it hatched, everything would be fine.

"Alright, I was wrong. I won't tease you anymore. Go incubate it…"

Before leaving, she shot him a glare. Noah could only smile and watch.

Turning to the other two, he said,

"Luna Hart, I permit you to go and have a chat with Chief Steward Kim this afternoon. You seem uneasy about her. I'm sure she has much to discuss with you."

Luna Hart was delighted upon hearing this.

"Thank you, Master, for granting me permission."

Noah nodded, expression neutral.

"Hurry, before I change my mind."

Now only two people remained in the courtyard. Lalatina stood in silence, her mind wandering.

After dealing with the other two, Noah looked at the beautiful girl standing before him.

"Lalatina, do you know how to cook?"

Lalatina nodded earnestly and replied,

"I do know a bit. If you don't mind, I can cook a few dishes for you to try."

Noah inwardly nodded, thinking to himself, indeed, a noble young lady, skilled in domestic arts, gentle and well-behaved... His mother had always told him that she would only approve of a girl who could cook.

"Let's go to the kitchen."

... Sent Zhao Yu away...

In the kitchen, Lalatina donned a white apron, her long hair neatly tied up. From behind, her perfect figure was evident. Her clothes were neat, and her sleeves were rolled up, revealing her slender, flawless arms. Her eyes were focused and attentive as she cooked.

Normally, she was a stunning beauty, alluring in every way. But in the kitchen, she seemed like a completely different person—capable and meticulous, like a woman of the household. She was so beautiful…

What would she be like in bed? No, no, stop thinking about that...

...

Lalatina carefully laid out the dishes she had prepared on the table. The mouthwatering aroma filled the room.

Seeing Noah lost in thought, she gently called out,

"Master, please enjoy the appetizer."

Looking at the exquisitely arranged dishes on the table, the fragrance filling the air, every detail perfect, Noah was amazed.

Was she secretly a master chef?

This was the noble lady in the kitchen? So beautiful, so talented…

After a five-course meal, including an appetizer, soup, main course, side, and dessert, each dish was meticulously presented. Every bite was fresh, tender, and bursting with flavor. Compared to Zhao Yu's cooking, he wouldn't even be able to compete. To have such a meal in this life—what a happiness! If it were in the old world, he wouldn't even be able to touch such food… too blessed…

"Lalatina, your cooking is amazing. Will you continue cooking for me in the future?"

Lalatina was surprised. After seeing how moved he was by her food, there was a fleeting sadness in his eyes, as if he had experienced something deeply painful. But then he looked utterly content and happy.

Could it be that he was remembering someone else? She felt a bit uncomfortable. I'm not that person…

Do I resemble that person so much...? And now he wants me to keep cooking...

"Master, if you want to eat, I can cook for you anytime. But please, calm down. I am not that person."

Noah blinked. Who? Ah...

"The food was just too good… very, very good…"

...

After the meal, he swore it was the most meticulous and luxurious meal he had ever eaten. In high spirits, Noah asked,

"Lalatina, can you tell me what your life was like before?"

Seeing how happy he was after eating the food she had prepared, even though she couldn't fully understand his mood, she felt joyful as well.

His demeanor and behavior had changed completely from before.

She suddenly understood. Perhaps he had been feeling vulnerable before. Being trapped here by responsibility had turned him into someone different. Time erodes everything, even steel and stone, let alone a human made of flesh and blood.

Now, this was the real him. Confident, cheerful, relaxed, his eyes full of vitality. She couldn't imagine how he would have carried himself when he was her age. Perhaps he was elegant and unbeatable back then.

But now is good too, she thought, his eyes reflecting the power and strength of someone who stands above all. Why am I thinking about these things…?

Seeing Noah's expectant gaze, she snapped out of her thoughts, blaming herself for daydreaming. Blushing, she softly replied,

"Master, my past isn't that interesting. But if you want to hear, please don't laugh at me."

Noah thought she was shy, so he looked at her with a serious, gentle expression.

"I won't laugh. I just want to know more about you and your life in the world outside."

Lalatina paused to think before sitting properly and recounting her story.

"Master, I was born into the royal family of the Domain of Chromatica. From the moment of my birth, I was destined to be the crown princess, living a life of luxury that many could only dream of. Yet, beneath that opulence lay a profound abyss."

"The privileges of royalty came hand in hand with an unyielding duty to uphold the family's legacy. I was raised under strict educational standards, surrounded by an atmosphere where even my own siblings could become rivals. The internal strife within the royal family surpassed the imagination of any outsider. A single misstep could cost lives, for in the royal realm, one's worth dictated their fate. I was not particularly gifted, and thus, I often found myself overlooked. Were it not for the intervention of my father and mother, my status would have long since evaporated. Once lost, that status brought dire consequences. I fought fiercely to maintain my position, even compromising my principles to do so."

"Inevitably, fate intervened. The royal families of the Domain of Chromatica and the Tian Tzu Empire sought to solidify their alliance, and I became a pawn in this political game. I was to marry a royal from the Tian Tzu Empire—a man already bound in marriage, with children my age. He would need to divorce his wife to fulfill this alliance."

"This was the path laid out for me. Though I resisted, defiance would have led to political turmoil, possibly igniting a war, leaving my father in an untenable situation."

"On the night before the wedding, a celestial phenomenon graced the sky. In the Domain of Chromatica, such occurrences hold great significance, especially for firstborns. My father, recognizing its importance, postponed the wedding and sent me here instead. This was my final opportunity, and that is why we encountered each other at the gate earlier."