The long table was covered with pure white silk, which had a smoother texture and was not ordinary linen.
Despite the lighting of the crystal chandelier, there were still candlesticks with flickering flames.
The main course was a whole roasted lamb, which was placed in front of everyone. White wine was ready, and side dishes were also prepared to relieve the greasiness.
It was very quiet at first, but as lunch progressed, people started talking to each other, with Torina and Lani chatting and laughing.
Roland had to feed Miss Dixi secretly, so it was a good thing to fish in troubled waters.
The atmosphere was still a bit stressful after all. Melina was taciturn and Malenia didn't like to talk much either.
He resisted the pressure and cut a piece of lamb leg for Melina. Feeling the gazes of Malenia and Torina, Roland cut lamb for the two of them.
The atmosphere now became relaxed, and Lani smiled secretly and shook her head.
Meanwhile, Galide.
The town of Selia experienced a meteor shower that smashed many houses and walls. Soldiers and residents were cleaning up the battlefield and clearing away the monster corpses.
In the room, the red-haired strong man who looked like a giant turned over, opened his eyes, jumped off the bed, picked up his armor, and put it on.
Starbreaker Latarn walked out of the room and looked at the people cleaning up the battlefield. He picked up a huge rock that seven or eight people were carrying and threw it aside.
A man in armor walked over. If Roland were here, he would realize that this man was the future Knight of the Red Lion.
"Sir, why are you awake?"
"It's okay. I've had enough sleep. This injury won't heal in a day."
He sat aside, feeling the pain in the wounds on his body from being pulled by the movement.
"Oga, I have to go back to the academy to see Godwin."
Latan took a deep breath, "That's outrageous, how did he know that?"
"Shall I go back with you?"
"No, it's easier for me to go back and forth by myself." Latan refused.
He raised his head and looked at the sky. "I have to go back for this matter. I also need to inform you of the battle situation here."
"Sir, you have given so much, your name will surely be known throughout the border area." Oga answered him.
"probably."
He stood up and said, "Please prepare the carriage for me. I will recover from my injuries on the way."
"Yes." Oga left.
--------------
Magic Academy, restaurant.
This lunch was inexplicably filled with pressure, and Roland always felt that something was wrong.
Fortunately, they dispersed after dinner.
Torina took Malenia and Lani to go for a walk together, leaving Roland and Melina alone.
"Brother, do you have anything to do this afternoon?"
"It's nothing."
Roland was indeed very free, and even his previous research on magic was no longer needed.
The reforms in the Magic Academy are getting faster and faster, and more and more perfect. After all, one person's research is a niche. The Magic Academy has quarrels every day, and new magic can be created through quarrels.
He is now studying behind closed doors, so it would be more inspiring for him to listen to the magic professor quarreling.
It’s just that we’ve been on vacation recently, the meteorite issue has been resolved, and the magic professor has started to leave the academy.
Walking down the corridor with Melina was a rare quiet experience.
"Brother, if you have nothing to do in the afternoon, would you like to have some tea with me? I have baked some cookies myself."
"Hmm? You still have these kitchen utensils over there?"
Roland really didn't expect that he could bake cookies in the dormitory.
Moreover, he didn't know when Melina learned how to cook.
She shook her head and said, "I borrowed the cafeteria. The old people there were very easy to talk to. I discussed it with them and they agreed to lend it to me."
"That's it."
He smiled heartily, patted little Melina on the head, and was able to recognize people on his own.
The young man nodded and said, "Then go ahead."
"Yeah." Her smiling face was like the rising sun, and the blush on her cheeks was like clouds reflected by the morning glow, faint and soft. The corners of her eyes drooped slightly, revealing the shyness and sweetness unique to a girl.
The girl told him the interesting story of borrowing the kitchen and went back to the bedroom with him.
The tea was placed on the table. Roland waited for her to bring the cookies over. Her short chestnut hair was now a little longer and could reach behind her ears.
I really need to change my hairstyle.
In Roland's opinion, although Melina's game look is good, her hairstyle is a bit of a letdown.
If it could grow longer or change the hairstyle, it would look even better.
While he was thinking about this, Melina came over with a plate.
The girl's eyes were filled with nervousness and anticipation, and her heartbeat was as rapid and powerful as a drum.
"Well, I tasted it a little bit, and it tastes okay. I wonder if my brother will like it."
"it does not matter."
Roland smiled and took the plate from her hand. The cookies were neatly shaped like diamonds and not burnt.
He took a bite and found it was just an ordinary biscuit, hard in texture and without much sugar.
"delicious."
"Do you like it, brother?" Melina was delighted and her eyes narrowed slightly.
"like."
Roland nodded. "When did you learn to bake cookies? How come I didn't know?"
"I've read the book before, and I asked the grandma in the cafeteria. She taught me." Melina held the tea. "They are nice people."
Chapter 105: Stroll
"Really? Melina, just get along well with them."
Roland and Lani discussed this matter. The uncles and aunties in the cafeteria were all homeless people. There was no problem except that the food they cooked was a little unpalatable.
He thought for a moment and said, "Next time you are free, please help me give them a cookbook."
"Huh?" Melina tilted her head.
"Since they take such good care of you, you should give them something in return." Roland smiled.
He was planning to write a book himself, which wouldn't waste much time, and he might even get some unexpected results and improve the taste of the cafeteria.
After all, only the fried eggs and bacon for breakfast in the cafeteria were edible; lunch and dinner were a mess and were completely life-sustaining meals.
"Is that so?" Melina took a sip of tea. "Then I'll wait for my brother."
"Well, just wait for me for a moment."
Roland could finish writing it in a day or two, as it only contains a dozen commonly used dishes.
He and Melina talked about the interesting things that happened when they returned to the royal city, of course he eliminated the other people and just described the process to her.
After all, the Royal City is the most developed city in the border area. Other cities cannot compare to it. The Magic Academy is just a small town, so it cannot compare to it even more.
Unfortunately, Melina cannot walk openly on the streets of the royal city.
The two of them ate the cookies while talking. Seeing her brother finish all the cookies she made, Melina's smile became warm.
By the afternoon, when they had almost finished their tea, Roland and Melina said goodbye.
"I'll go back and write the recipe, and then I'll ask you to have dinner with me in the evening."
"Well, don't worry about me, brother."
She gave Roland a reassuring smile, which paired with her long skirt made her look like a little white flower.
Roland closed the door for her, turned back to his bedroom, and started writing the recipe.
--------------
Since lunch, Lani has dragged Torina and Marenia away.
The small balcony facing the sky is a boundless, deep and bright sky. It is a color that is so pure that it seems to cleanse the soul, because there are no clouds and no golden light emitted by the golden tree.
The three of them sat at a table with desserts and drinks. Torina and Marlenya looked at each other from time to time, not understanding why Lani had dragged them over.
Sadly, nothing seemed to happen.
The topics were scattered, with the focus being the lunch just now. They talked about this and that, and it seemed like they were just chatting to relax.
"I have a question. Why didn't Se Lian come back with us?"
Lani brought her knees together, tilted slightly to one side, and crossed them at the ankles.
It seems that we have finally arrived at the key issue?
A drop of sweat dripped down Tolina's forehead, and she suddenly felt something was wrong.
Sister Lani, are you realizing that you like your brother?
That's not good.
She looked at Marineria and spoke to Lani half-truthfully.
"She was reading a magic book in the study, so she didn't come back with me."
This is true, but also a lie.
She didn't tell Lani that Seren would not be coming back during the holiday.
"That's it."
Lani didn't change at all, with her hands on the table, looking very wealthy.
She just asked, as if she didn't care, it was just part of the small talk.
Tolina did not continue, but just thought about finding an opportunity to test Lani's attitude towards her brother.
Suddenly, it’s dinner.
There was a suffocating and oppressive atmosphere around the dining table; the air became heavy and stagnant.
The crystal chandelier seemed dim and powerless, while the candlelight was brighter, casting a cold shadow on the dining table.
Roland really didn't expect that this atmosphere could still remain.
The women at this table could all be considered Roland's sisters, but they gave him a strange Shura-like vibe.
Malenia was cutting the meat with a knife. Her swordsmanship was getting better and better. She could cut the beef as thin as Lanzhou ramen, and it was translucent like a cicada's wing.
Tolina tried hard to find a topic, but she didn't know what to say.
Melina lowered her head and said nothing.
Lani sat in the main seat with a smile on her face, signaling the servants to keep serving the food.
"Why, dinner doesn't seem to be to your liking?"
"No."
Roland shook his head, looked at the steak on the plate, and gently cut off a piece.
He always felt it was strange that even when Se Lian and Lance were together, the atmosphere wasn't so depressing.
Melina pursed her lips, lowered herself, and kept reminding herself to be a good child and not compete for favor with other sisters.
Malenia was a little unhappy, as if her sister's position had been taken away.
Tolina tried very hard to relieve the pain, but she just couldn't do it alone.
Sweat kept dripping from Roland's forehead, and he even became very careful when feeding Miss Dixi.
