They all call me Great Master

Although Grandma Andor had passed away, her two distant nephews and apprentices had clearly perfected her craft.

The taste of the beef in crusty pot and fried roast platter was almost the same as Arthur remembered.

A tiny bit imperfect, Arthur believed that time would definitely improve the flavors.

However, the apprentices' freestyle dish took Arthur by surprise.

Stewed chicken!

That was the freestyle dish of the two apprentices.

Called "stew," it was actually frying the chicken thighs on low heat until both sides were golden brown before stewing, then pouring in white mushrooms and garlic for sautéing before setting aside.

Then, they would start by stir-frying onions, followed by diced red carrots, and finally mixing in tomatoes until they disintegrated into a sauce. Only then did they add the previously seared chicken thighs and large prawns together with chicken broth mixed with an appropriate amount of brandy, stewing the prawns thoroughly until they were delicious.

Even though Arthur slightly minded the faint taste of alcohol, he ended up eating the whole chicken thigh.

The soup?

He took a shallow sip.

The faint fragrance of alcohol was filled with a rich taste of freshness.

It was the flavor of chicken, shrimp mixed with black pepper, basil leaves, garlic, fennel, and tomato.

The taste was not bad, but to prevent even a tiny bit of alcohol from influencing him, Arthur picked up the lemon water and began to drink it in big gulps.

People always have a tendency to be lazy.

Or put it another way...

Boundaries are always meant to be broken.

If you want your boundaries unbroken, you must guard them and never give up because of anything.

Because if you give up once, there will be a second time, and then a third time.

And after three times?

It becomes normal.

Then, it leads to the exclamation, 'It's already like this, just let it be.'

Arthur certainly didn't want that for himself.

Not that he had exceptional willpower.

Arthur was simply afraid of dying.

Marinda watched Arthur drinking water in big gulps, took a soup spoon to her mouth, gently blew on it, and deliberately winked at Arthur.

Arthur's lips curled into a smile as he placed a slice of white bread on Marinda's plate.

"Dear, have some bread," he said, his fingertips gently brushing Marinda's wrist.

Suddenly, a sense of nausea surged.

Immediately, the lady lost her appetite.

The lady gently set down her soup spoon and glared at Arthur.

Arthur responded with a smile, then his facial expression slightly changed.

Marinda stepped on his toes with her shoe.

The thick soles adequately shielded the lady's aversion to men.

"Here, have some soup,"

Marinda pushed the cream of pumpkin soup towards Arthur with an unprecedented smile,

"Hmm, okay," Arthur nodded.

But as Marinda pushed the cream of pumpkin soup, her hand trembled.

Her other foot was now being stepped on by Arthur.

"Is the bread tasty?" Arthur asked softly while exerting pressure.

"Tasty.

Is the soup delicious?"

Marinda nodded with a smile, her feet also starting to exert force.

The two stared at each other, exerting pressure under their feet, not knowing who started to rotate their ankles first, or if both started simultaneously.

The pain goes right to the heart through one's fingers.

It is even more intense in the toes.

Even for two people of robust "Physique," their faces had stiffened at this moment.

But neither of them spoke.

At this moment, speaking would mean admitting defeat.

This was something neither of them could accept.

Moreover, not only could they not speak out, but they also had to perfectly accept the other's provocation before they could retaliate.

Otherwise, they would lose.

Mysteriously, the two had reached a tacit understanding again.

Therefore—

"Darling, try adding some chili sauce."

A large dollop of chili sauce appeared on Arthur's plate.

The spiciness surged, causing Arthur's face to turn slightly red.

"Hmm, you should try this white pepper."

Arthur's wrist shook lightly, and the drifting white pepper flew towards Marinda's nostrils. Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire

Her nostrils tickled, and Marinda's eyes almost instantly turned red.

Gulp, gulp!

Julie, who had just finished a jug of wheat juice in large gulps, looked at Arthur, whose face had turned red at some point, and then at Marinda, whose eyes had reddened at some point, and the Swordsmanship Chief couldn't help but laugh.

"Your relationship is really wonderful!"

Hearing such a compliment, Arthur and Marinda simultaneously smiled slightly, then tacitly tucked in their feet and once again simultaneously rubbed the foot that had been stepped on for a long time behind the unharmed leg.

"You just wait, bastard!"

"Heh, afraid of you, bastard!"

Their gazes intertwined, sparking an extraordinary heat.

But, this only made the Swordsmanship Chief even more envious—

"With Advisor Kledos around, Marinda, your choice for Swordsmanship Chief can finally be settled, right?"

Julie inquired.

Choosing the Swordsmanship Chief?

Arthur was puzzled deep down, swiftly collected his thoughts, and subtly glanced at Marinda.

Marinda entirely ignored looking at Arthur, but the lady's finger, resting by the edge of her plate, subtly twitched under the cover.

The plate obstructed Julie's line of sight.

But Arthur could see all too clearly.

Arthur's thoughts sprang into action, and he immediately listened intently—

"Yes, Mary will be my housekeeper and manage the kitchen, as for Edwin, he will be the Head Hunter. As for Arthur, I've already discussed it with him, he will be both the Swordsmanship Chief and Guard Commander—With Arthur having won the 'Swordsmanship Competition' of South Los, I don't think there will be any objections."

Marinda nodded slightly and said.

"Of course, but have you decided on the guests yet?"

The Swordsmanship Chief continued.

"Aside from Lord Count, I haven't decided on the other guests yet. Sister Julie, do you have any suggestions?"

Marinda affectionately asked the Swordsmanship Chief.

"Lord Ernest, Lord Dibwa, and Lord Bass would be good choices. As for Baron Korol and Baron Hausman, I will help inquire for you, Marinda.

Lord Bern's health is increasingly worrying.

However, he will send an appropriate gift as an apology for his absence.

As for Lord Lisop?

Hasn't he been the theme of our dinner tonight?"

The Swordsmanship Chief smiled warmly at Arthur.

"Of course!

From start to finish, he's been our topic.

Similarly, we should also be his topic.

And furthermore..."

Arthur responded smoothly.

Having been tipped off by Marinda, Arthur had roughly guessed what the Swordsmanship Chief was about to say—As a token of gratitude for his and Marinda's openness, the Countess of South Los had not only finalized the matters of Marinda's 'inheriting the noble title' and his 'knighthood after winning the championship', but also gifted him the estate of Lord Bern.

Arthur, although not fond of the cryptic ways of noble conversation, was very accustomed to them, handling and responding with ease.

Of course, Arthur wanted more than just these.

So, under the astonished eyes of the Swordsmanship Chief, Arthur stood up, looked toward the main door, and whispered—

"3...2...1!"

As the countdown ended, the doorbell at No. 2 Cork Street rang—

Ding-ding!