Silva and Lily left the barracks and got into the carriage again. The coachman began their journey.
“Where are we headed to now? I’m really bored, to be honest,” Silva said.
“Well, it’s for your brother’s wedding. Gabriel decided that he will be helping cook for the wedding, and so he took all the master chefs he could find under his wing yesterday.
They have made quite a good number of recipes in preparation for the wedding, so now we would have you taste them all and give your review on them,” Lily said.
“Hmm, food. That’s nice. I need things like this to take my mind off the issues that are all around. But then there’s Gabriel; we are yet to save Rose.
I know you are trying your best to get a cure for her, but I promised him, and I’m yet to deliver. I could have helped you, but other things drew my attention,” Silva said.
“You should take it easy on yourself, Silva. You are already doing your best, and everyone sees that. Now shut up and let’s go eat some food,” Lily said.
Silva wanted to say something else, but then her stern look made Silva keep quiet.
They headed back into the capital and then back to the castle, where all the chefs were in the castle kitchen preparing the meals.
Silva arrived and walked into the kitchen, pushing the doors wide open.
“Alright, let’s start feeding me,” he said. Lily grabbed him by the ear and pulled it.
“For today, act like a king,” she said.
“Fine, but I still want to eat, so let’s get that started,” Silva said.
“I’m happy that you are enthusiastic to taste the food, King Silva,” Gabriel said as he approached Silva with a small plate containing some sort of grilled meat, well-seasoned and smelling crazy good.
“How about we start with this?” Gabriel said as he stretched out the plate to Silva. Silva unhesitatingly took the fork on the plate and stabbed into the meat.
He ate it in one full bite. The meat melted as soon as it touched his tongue. The flavors exploded in his mouth; it was like fireworks of spicy and sweet.
“Damn, Gabriel, what the hell is this? If you served this at the wedding, you would have everyone fighting for a taste,” Silva said.
“You overestimate my ability,” Gabriel said.
“Nah, I know what I’m saying. Now, please, are there any more things here that taste as good as this? I need them,” Silva said.
“Right this way.” Gabriel led him to take a seat, and then the plates started coming in. He was met with all sorts of dishes.
It ranged from the meaty food, which Silva loved without a doubt, to the vegetable-based foods that he didn’t really like, but they still tasted okay.
After ensuring that he had a taste of everything, he was finally satisfied.
“If I were a low-level person, all this food would have definitely caused me to have stomach issues,” Silva said as he got up.
“So, what did you think about the food?” Gabriel asked.
“Honestly, it’s amazing. I don’t really have much to add to this. If you can keep the quality of the food you have shown me here today, then you have outdone yourself.
But there’s something I didn’t see here, and I would love for you to add,” Silva said.
“What could that be?” Gabriel asked.
“The first time you spoke to me, Spark Blade. In the restaurant, when I was eating that slime recipe of yours.
I’d love it if we could have that as well. After all, it’s the thing that set the stage for us meeting now,” Silva said and started leaving the kitchen with Lily.
As soon as they left, Silva’s face changed to one of sadness because he knew that Lily was about to tell him about his next task for the day, and he didn’t want that. Find exclusive stories on empire
“You can frown all you want, but we need to get this over with as fast as possible. Luckily, you have been keeping amazing time. If we keep that up, we will be done with everything that we have to do today,” Lily said.
—
A small man in noble clothes sat in the corner of a bar, flipping a coin in his hands repeatedly while tapping his feet on the ground.
He had an impatient look on his face, as if he was waiting for someone who should have been here already.
“You need to stop that,” a deep voice spoke to the small man. The man looked up and saw a massive man in full black leather armor, with a massive sword on his back.
“You took your sweet time to get here, Raiden,” the small man said.
“I was caught up on a mission. So let’s skip all the little talk and get into business. What did you call me for?” Raiden said.
“Hmm, it’s Spark Blade. He has gone mute for weeks now, no response of any sort, but according to the sliver of his life that he gave to us, he is still alive.
I want to know what he is up to. Has he betrayed us, or has he been captured by someone? Take a full squad or two with you.
If Spark Blade has turned against us, then kill him and those around him. But if he has been captured, release him and return him.
Spark Blade is a walking information treasure trove, filled with information about the empire and lots more, not to talk about the fact that he is a very good agent for the empire.
Do you understand all that I have said?” the small man asked.
“I understand. Terminate or rescue Spark Blade,” Raiden said and got up. He walked out of the bar, and immediately after he closed the door, his demeanor changed to a dark one.
“Finally, my chance to kill that bastard. Just wait for me, Spark; I’ll have your head as a reward for all these years that I have put up with you,” Raiden said and walked away.