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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Lord Fourth
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“Hmph…”
As expected, the situation wasn’t going well.
The two women, locked in a silent battle of glares, made him sigh inwardly. He felt like he was standing alone in a storm, caught between their confrontation.
“I won’t lose, at least not to you.”
Melina clung to his arm, her voice low and firm, a subtle threat in her tone, like a wild animal staking its claim on its territory.
“I’m sorry, but I have the advantage here. You might as well give up.”
Elisha, on the other hand, wore a confident, almost condescending, smile. But her smile wasn’t warm or inviting.
Her words dripped with an air of superiority, as if she was looking down on Melina.
“After all, I’m Arnold’s fiancée.”
Her following words were a decisive blow.
“No one can deny that.”
Her voice was filled with the confidence and pride of her social standing, her title as his fiancée a powerful weapon.
“Tsk……”
Melina clicked her tongue in annoyance, her expression showing her unwillingness to back down, but her silence betrayed her disadvantageous position.
“…….”
He decided to intervene, trying to defuse the situation.
“Come to think of it, aren’t you all hungry? It’s almost lunchtime. Shall we go to the cafeteria?”
It was almost lunchtime.
“Speaking of which, isn’t everyone hungry? Shall we go to the cafeteria?”
The academy cafeteria was open on weekends for the students’ convenience. He had suggested it to try and change the tense atmosphere.
“Ah, right!”
But as soon as he finished speaking, Elisha’s eyes lit up, as if a lightbulb had gone off in her head.
She clapped her hands, a bright idea seemingly striking her.
“Why didn’t I think of that?”
She muttered, as if chiding herself, and then gently took his hand, her touch soft yet firm.
“Arnold, are you hungry? I’ll cook for you.”
He hesitated at her sudden proposal, but Melina was the first to react.
“What? What are you talking about?”
Melina looked at Elisha with a bewildered expression, and Elisha smiled, amused by her reaction.
“I’m actually quite a good cook, you know.”
She looked down at Melina and said to him confidently,
“So, Arnold, I’ll make you a wonderful meal. I’ll show you that I’m more suited for you than that elf.”
Melina gritted her teeth and stood up abruptly at Elisha’s provocative words, her voice firm, her expression resolute.
“I can cook too!”
She placed her hand on her chest, her shoulders squared, and glared at Elisha with a predatory glint in her eyes, like a beast unwilling to let its prey escape.
“Oh really? Then let’s have a competition. Let’s see who can make the most delicious dish.”
Elisha smiled, as if waiting for this, and threw down the gauntlet, her voice brimming with confidence.
“Fine! The one who captures Arnold’s taste buds wins, right?”
Melina accepted Elisha’s challenge without hesitation, her eyes filled with determination.
He sighed inwardly. He had tried to calm them down, but the situation had taken an unexpected turn, escalating further.
“That’s right. Then it’s settled. I won’t lose.”
“I won’t lose either. I’ll prove that I’m a better match for him than his fiancée.”
They both moved almost simultaneously, their steps filled with determination, and then they both opened the door and walked out.
“Where are you going?”
He asked, and they shouted back without turning around,
“To get the best ingredients, of course!”
And with that, they were gone like the wind, leaving the room in silence, a strange sense of fatigue settling over him in the wake of their departure.
“Sigh…”
He pressed his fingers against his temples, a headache forming. He had a feeling their competition wouldn’t end easily.
“Perhaps it’s a good thing Eilly isn’t here.”
He thought of Eilly, who had returned to the mansion for the quarterly accounting.
If she had seen this, the situation would have become even more complicated. He was somewhat relieved that she wouldn’t be back for the day, as she had said.
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Some time later, the door opened, and the two returned, their arms laden with bags filled with various ingredients.
“We’re back.”
Elisha smiled brightly as she placed the bags on the dining table, her face brimming with confidence.
“They’re heavier than I thought.”
Melina wiped the sweat from her forehead, her expression weary, but her eyes shone with competitive fire.
“Just wait, I’ll make something more delicious than Elisha.”
She smirked, glancing at Elisha.
“You can’t beat me.”
Elisha retorted, her eyes blazing with competitive spirit.
“Speaking of which, I’ll be borrowing the kitchen. Is it this way?”
“I’ll clean up afterward, so don’t worry!”
They headed towards the kitchen, their rivalry still simmering.
He wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to have them in the same room.
“Just you wait, Elisha… I’ll put you in your place.”
“I doubt that.”
He stood by the kitchen door, a sense of unease washing over him, and as expected, they continued their bickering as they prepared their dishes.
“Arnold! Get ready for the most delicious meal of your life!”
Melina called out to him, waving her hand, her cheerful voice momentarily easing his tension, but then Elisha, glancing at her, said,
“All that boasting suggests your dish isn’t anything special.”
Melina glared at Elisha, gripping her knife.
“Shut up and focus on your own cooking!”
Elisha shrugged and picked up a pan, pouring oil into it and turning on the stove.
Her movements were graceful and calculated. As the oil heated up, she said calmly,
“We’ll see how far you get with just the basics.”
Melina narrowed her eyes at her words and then focused on her chopping, the rhythmic thud of her knife against the cutting board filling the kitchen.
“We’ll see what you’re so smug about.”
The kitchen was soon filled with the sounds of chopping and sizzling. Melina moved quickly, preparing her ingredients, while Elisha meticulously handled each ingredient, as if trying to maintain perfect control over the cooking process.
Their cooking styles were vastly different. Melina’s was driven by passion and improvisation, while Elisha’s was methodical and precise, her movements elegant and controlled.
The atmosphere in the kitchen intensified. Although they spoke less, their rivalry continued through their glances and actions.
Melina smirked and taunted Elisha,
“You won’t believe how pathetic your dish will look compared to mine.”
Elisha flipped the meat in the pan, the rich aroma filling the air, and said calmly,
“Results speak louder than words. Arnold will be the judge. He’ll decide who’s better.”
He watched them from outside the kitchen, sighing inwardly. As expected, their cooking wasn’t just a simple preparation of food but a battleground of pride and emotions.
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Hi Lord Fourth here!
I’m new to translating so if you find some mistakes or inconsistencies let me know about it on the dedicated channel on discord.
