In the early morning, as birds chirped in the clear skies of Stormwatch, Kole entered the kitchen in what seemed to be a light workout outfit—A simple shirt and pants while humming a tune to himself.
Unfortunately, he couldn't find anything more appropriate to wear for training in his wardrobe, which was filled with gentlemen-like clothes of the current world he was living in.
Also, most, if not all of his clothes couldn't fit him anymore.
"Damn, I need to go out and buy new clothes…"
Kole briefly pondered if they had servants; he would've tasked them to complete the job in his stead.
Although he didn't hate his current lifestyle, he couldn't help but think how much life could be easier if people were there to serve you at your every beck and command.
And Faneia had the means to achieve that, but she didn't and not only did everything on her own but even taught her children to do their own jobs instead of throwing them on someone else.
Not that she was wrong by any means. Instead, her teachings were extremely helpful.
Caroline has long established herself and stood on her own feet to support herself, while Kole has never had any excessive arrogance.
Hum… Well, she is right. If I want servants, I'd have to get them by my own means… Another reason added to Kole's list for improving himself, gaining strength and status, and not just staying Heir Akerse for the rest of his life!
As he stepped into the kitchen, a faint fragrance of his mother's delicious cooking wafted in his nose.
Ah! I love her cooking…
Faneia, for some reason, was able to make food that catered to his tastebuds without even mentioning it. The right amount of salt, sugar, and condiments… everything was just perfect.
Soon, Kole's gaze fell on Faneia, dressed in her usual long complicated gown, who was busy flipping the pan over the gas stove. She looked just as hot as the pan.
"Hum. Mother, add another serving today. I am feeling extra hungry from the events of last night." Kole smirked as he sat over the counter, and his lips only stretched further as he mentioned the last few words.
"Alright," Faneia said succinctly—without any changes in her emotions whatsoever.
"Hmph! Playing hard to get!" Kole grumbled in an almost inaudible tone, but he knew it wouldn't escape Faneia's keen senses, and that is why he said it in the first place.
However, he was left disappointed as Faneia merely ignored him.
Soon, Faneia placed scrambled eggs, bacon, peas(which Kole has always hated, but they were still made despite his protests), sauteed mushrooms, fish stew(which was a typical dish in most average households of Stormwatch since they had an enormous market of seafood trade), and freshly baked bread over the counter.
It was then that Kole's eyes fell on the final dish—Milk, as he made a nasty expression.
"Um, Mom. You know how much I hate drinking milk, right?" Kole frowned; his eyebrows knitted, "Then why milk?
"Oh well, you will need a lot of nutrition to keep up with torture… Cough!... training for today."
"…" Kole wasn't smiling anymore.
As Faneia was about to pick up the dishes, to take them to the dining hall, Kole grabbed her wrist unexpectedly.
Faneia paused as she raised an eyebrow, craning her head to look at her son with an expression that said: 'What is it?'
"Why bother with such trivialities?" He gently pulled her to the seat at the counter, "It's not like anyone's watching us…"
Faneia didn't respond as she gently took a seat with an indiscernible nod.
She also didn't care in the least. It was just that, over the years, it had become a habit to eat in the dining hall like proper aristocrats of noble birth.
With that, the mother and son relished the meal, though it was mostly Kole wolfing down everything with satisfaction on his face.
"Mother, did you by any chance hear about… you know… what happened between, me and Alice?" Kole breached the topic with a teasing smile.
He was really expecting his mother to give him a hand with the promises he made to Alice.
He was by no means a coward to accept the fact—that he made love to Alice, and she was his woman. But everything needs to be done in moderation. After all, not only the marriage, but Alice's dignity was also at stake here.
Although he could be a tyrant in relationships—a ruler who controlled, he was not a jerk. He could be caring and kind when needed.
As such, he had no intention to f*ck Alice's reputation down the drain by letting the entirety of Stormwatch know how she gave herself to him when she was supposed to engage someone else—and force Count Moore to annul the engagement because of Alice's questionable integrity.
He could only take the long route where Alice's honor wouldn't be tarnished, and he could marry her with no uncouth rumors in the wake.
Faneia shook her head, "What do you mean?"
"…" Women! Who knows, she might even be able to spy on the King, yet she pretends to be clueless about what transpired in her own garden! So typical of them, Ugh!
"Cough! Well, I had my first time with her." Kole glanced at her, but when he didn't notice any visible changes in her expression, Kole sighed as he said, "You know, I made a promise to her that I would take responsibility… However…"
Kole deliberated for a moment as he continued, "She has a pre-arranged marriage with the son of Count Moore. But he was hurt in the recent Storm Daily fiasco and is undergoing treatment.
"Because of which, even their engagement ceremony has been pushed back indefinitely."
Kole put on a pleading mask, "Dear mother if you take this opportunity and show your intentions of marrying me off to Alice; Although the Moores' will be displeased, they wouldn't be able to object.
"After all, they don't know when their son would recover or would he ever make a full recovery in his entire lifetime."
Faneia nodded gently, "Frankly, I couldn't care less whom you are sleeping with."
Kole's eyelids twitched but waited patiently for Faneia to continue, his eyes brimming with anticipation.
Once this is done, I will plan our marriage and coincide it with my coming-of-age ceremony. Then I will plan our honeymoon on some uninhabited island and explore the world for a couple of months with my lovely wife.
Kole also had aspirations, and he knew in order to grow; he needed to broaden his horizons.
Staying at home, and training with his mother forever, would only make him a shut-in keyboard warrior, just like the author of this sto… Cough!
"However, marriage is a big deal." Faneia nodded slightly as she drank a sip of wine from her wineglass with an expressionless face.
Kole smiled as he felt he might've misunderstood his mother all these years.
Despite all the torture she has inflicted upon him in the past few days, she has been the one to feed him and cook more for him without any complaints.
She has a stone-cold appearance and a gentle heart!... Kole's smile widened.
Exhaling slightly, Faneia looked into Kole's eyes with a smile that wasn't a smile, "But…
"I don't see how that is my problem."
Kole froze: "…"