As dinner progressed, the table was filled with light conversation. The couple shared stories of their past in Blossom Peaks, threw playful jabs at each other, and discussed their plans for when they eventually moved to the city.
To say that Sharron was a good cook would be an understatement. Every bite of her dishes was delicious. Caught up in the delightful feast and the joyful atmosphere, Nero even stopped tormenting Sharron and threw everything in the back of his mind to fully enjoy the moment.
"Thank you, Uncle Carlos, for letting me have such a wonderful time before leaving the village. My heart and stomach are both delighted," Nero, who took a seat after washing his hands, said gratefully.
"Oh, come on, Nero. How can I take credit for the food? All the praise belongs to my beautiful wife. It would be best if you thanked her for having a good time," Carlos replied, chuckling from across the table.
Not yet. I hope you can go to bed so your wife can give me a perfect time. Nero said it with a shitty grin inside his mind. Outwardly, he warmly thanked Carlos and applauded him, expressing his admiration for being lucky enough to have such a good wife.
The table, now mostly cleared by Sharron, held just the Ambrosia bottle, Nero's almost finished glass, and Sharron's glass, which was half-empty.
"Go ahead, Nero. It's your special day. Finish the bottle!" Carlos urged, grabbing the bottle and pouring the remaining alcohol into Nero's glass.
Seeing the guy still taking small sips of the strong drink, just like the ladies from noble circles, Carlos burst into laughter and asked in a friendly tone, "Would you mind if I kept the bottle as a souvenir? I can't wait to show it off to my buddies."
"It's my gift to you, Uncle Carlos. I'm happy if it made your day, and even happier if you keep it as a souvenir," Nero replied cheerfully.
Carlos laughed in return and stood up with the bottle in hand, but he was wavering before taking two steps and crashed right back into his seat without hurting himself.
"Whoa, it seems your gift made me more than just happy," Carlos said with a silly laugh in a drunken stupor.
Nero took a moment to study Carlos again. It seemed the strong alcohol he chugged down like water was finally taking its toll. With his face flushed red as a tomato, the scent of alcohol wafting from his breath, and his speech slurred, the man certainly seemed like he might hit the table at any moment.
"Papa, you are super drunk. Just go to bed already." Little Jacob said, facepalming himself.
"Nah boy, I'm not drunk, just a little shaky, that's all. Do your old man a favor, put this safely in my room." Carlos said with a drunken stutter in his voice.
Jacob shook his head and grabbed the fancy booze bottle from his hand before rushing into the room.
After watching him go, Nero casually turned to Carlos and asked him, "He is right, Uncle Carlos. It seems to me you should be hitting the bed now. Should I see myself out?"
"What? There's no way you think a single bottle of booze could take this Carlos out. Listen, Nero, I've lived through the worst of what a man could go through in the western desert and still came out unscathed. I survived a massacre by an evolving minion beast when most of the caravan got wiped out. I crawled myself to safety by trudging through that treacherous desert with nothing but my piss for sustenance. The scorching desert sun, the biting cold of night, and the unpredictable sandstorms that threatened to swallow everything in their path could not break me. So tell me, to that me, do you think these fancy drinks the nobles sip could knock me down?"
Wow, I don't know whether to feel disgusted or impressed by the man's stories. At least if it were him, he would've omitted the drinking piss part.
"Haha, I was just messing with you. I know Uncle Carlos is still strong as a healthy Taurus at its peak," Nero said playfully.
Carlos nodded appreciatively while little Jacob returned and sat beside him, having stashed the bottle away safely.
Exasperated by his father's antics, little Jacob leaned back in his seat, arms crossed, and suggested again, "I took care of it, Papa. Now, can you please go to bed?"
But Carlos waved him off and his drunken demeanors became more animated by the seconds.
Nero wondered how long the guy would last and when Sharron would finally execute their plan.
To him right now seemed like the perfect time to slip the sedative into Carlos's drink while he was off the wall, ensuring they would go undetected.
Given his drunken state, Nero briefly considered letting Carlos fall asleep alone. However, he quickly dismissed the idea, fearing that Carlos might wake up in the middle of the night and come for his neck while busy plowing Sharron. Besides, they also had to take care of little Jacob.
Time was ticking, and every passing minute meant losing valuable SP points.
Just as Nero was thinking of how to urge Sharron into action, Carlos suddenly bellowed at the top of his lungs, "Sharron, my beautiful wife Shaarroon~, can we have dessert already?"
He peppered his words with a boisterous laugh, even banging the table for attention.
"In a sec," Sharron's voice echoed from the kitchen, emerging into the dining hall with two plates.
"Oh, my sweet, sweet Sharron! You know the way to a man's heart is with a good cake! Look, Jacob, your mama made your favorite dessert, sweet chocolate cake!" Carlos leaned forward with exaggerated enthusiasm and howled like a drunken dork in a tavern when she placed one before him, his eyes sparkling with delight.
"Wow, that looks amazing!" Jacob exclaimed, his eyes wide with anticipation.
Then she turned around, bending over the table to set the second plate for him.
Nero's eyes were immediately drawn to her juicy breasts swaying in front of his face, but he quickly averted his gaze, reminding himself that he could enjoy those later after they had drugged both her husband and son. And thankfully for that, he didn't miss when she wordlessly muttered with her lips.
Don't eat the dessert.
Before he could respond, she walked back and stood behind the seats of her husband and child. She gave a playful knock on Carlos's head and said in a sweet, admonishing voice, "See, this is why I hate it when you drink."
Nero marveled at how effortlessly the woman shifted between her actions and expressions, not giving anyone a hint of doubt. He realized he could still learn a lot from her about the art of deception.
"Your cake is still the best I've ever had, honey!" Carlos exclaimed, laughing heartily and oblivious to their secret exchange.
Nero glanced down at his plate, which held a slice of chocolate cake drizzled with raspberry sauce and topped with a dollop of whipped cream.
Looking at it, a mischievous grin spread across his face, and he chimed in tune with Carlos.
"I second that Uncle Carlos. Having eaten Mrs. Sharron's cake before, I can confidently say they will always be the best. They look incredible even now!" Nero praised with his eyes roaming over her.
"Thank you, Nero! I hope you enjoy it. It's my little way of celebrating your last night here," Sharron stifled a chuckle and replied with a sly smile, glancing knowingly at Nero. She discreetly took two steps back from her husband and son and turned to the side to show off her rear view. Then playfully grabbing the hem of her wrap dress she pulled it to the front, allowing Nero to fully appreciate her taunt ass clearly outlined in the tight dress.
"Mama, you should open a bakery so everyone can enjoy your amazing cake," Jacob added, not wanting to be left out.
"Well, I might have to do it when Carlo's too tipsy to pay attention," Sharron said playfully, winking at Nero.
Mistaking her words as a jab at his potential for future alcoholism and deadbeat fatherhood, Carlos, in a drunken stammer, assured her otherwise.
"No matter how drunk I get, I will always work hard like a mule to provide for you and our son. But as for opening a bakery…" Carlos shook off his drunken stupor and put on his merchant hat to analyze its feasibility before shaking his head and dismissing it. "The bakery business is tough, especially in the city. It is a cut-throat market and you will be competing with people with compatible food paths, so I think you shouldn't even consider it."
"Don't worry Mrs. Sharron, I'll be a loyal customer of your bakery as long as you feed me your cake daily," Nero said with a smirk, not missing a beat.
"Since you're the only one who seems to care about me, it's only fair for me to keep feeding you my cake, Nero. Isn't that right, my dear husband?" Sharron responded in a provocative voice.
"Of course, Nero can have your cake whenever he wants. But let him finish the one in front of him first,"
Nero, who had been smiling ear to ear hearing till the first half of Carlos's sentence, immediately lost it. He felt like he was digging a trap for him till now.
As per the cue from Sharron, his dessert was laced with sedatives, just like others. If he ate it, he would be off to la-la land till morning, like the two sitting across from him.
Seeing him staring at the dessert without touching it, Carlos asked curiously, "What happened, Nero? You're not one to shy away from sweets, right?"
"I think I've had enough for the night, Uncle. I'm good with just this," Nero replied, waving his glass of alcohol and enjoying the pleasant burn from a single sip.
Little Jacob eagerly chimed in, "Can I have it then?"
"Sure, why not?" Nero, who saw his way out, happily attempted to pass his plate to Jacob.
However, Sharron intervened, saying, "Come on, Nero, you don't have to do that. If you're not hungry now, you can eat it later. Since you love my cake so much, why don't you stay until you finish it? Make sure he eats it, Carlo?" she said, emphasizing the last part looking seriously at Carlos.
"Of course, honey. As an excellent host, I will make sure he eats it." Carlos answered with a loud laugh.
Sharron added and smoothly walked towards the kitchen, "And Jacob, yours is in the kitchen. If you want extra, you can take Mama's. Come help me with the dishes."
Jacob thanked Nero for the latter's willingness to share before tailing her with excitement.
Nero watched Sharron and Jacob disappear into the kitchen while his mind tried to make sense of the situation.
What now? Aren't you supposed to help me here? Why did Sharron spike my food also with the sedative when she prepared them, and why should I have to deal with it in the first place?
I had been pushy and overbearing with her earlier in the kitchen. She also seemed hesitant about sleeping with him at the dining table. Did that mean she was calling off the night and planning to put everyone, including him, to sleep with the sedative he gave her?
No, if that were the case, there would be no need for her to warn him about the dessert. It seemed she rather had changed her mind at the last minute.
After thinking it through again, Nero understood his current situation.
If Sharron had mixed the sedative in the entire dessert, it was only natural that he would end up with his share of spiked food. And if she decided not to serve him one now, it would raise suspicion.
Taking Jacob to the kitchen was likely a precaution. If he passed out from eating the dessert before Carlo, things would go downhill quickly.
He realized Sharron was filling in the gaps of his half-baked plans to ensure everything went smoothly.
Geez, it's true that the more attractive a woman is, the more clever and cunning she is.
The only question remaining was why Sharron had a change of heart.
Nero didn't know if it was because he was convincing enough, out of pity, or simply from the sadness of separation. Regardless, he was certain that Sharron was onboard and his to play with. That meant he would receive SP points from her tonight, and that's all he cared about.
Now all he had to do was wait for Carlos to fall asleep and avoid eating the dessert.
"Nero," Carlos started, his voice slightly muffled by the cake in his mouth, "why don't you dig in a little and take small bites of your dessert? Don't worry, I will keep you company even if you decide to finish it at a snail's pace."
"Haha, what are you saying, Uncle Carlos? If I even touched Mrs. Sharron's cake, I wouldn't be able to take my mouth off of it. It's not the right time yet, but don't worry, I won't leave until I eat it." He said with an awkward laugh.
Carlos shrugged his shoulders in response, deciding to leave him on his device.
Nero suspected that Carlos would keep pestering him until he fell asleep and might even force him to eat the spiked dessert, so he desperately changed the subject.
"Uncle Carlos, will you leave with the trading caravan this time or will you extend your stay and take a rest like a normal person for once?" He asked with a joking tone.
"Oh, come on, Nero, it's not that I don't want to stay. I have to go to the city to arrange the move." Carlos replied with a chuckle swaying in his seat.
Nero was relieved that Carlos didn't catch on to his attempt and also disappointed that he had to leave tomorrow. Otherwise, he could've enjoyed this guy's wife until he returned to the village.
"I hope you don't mind me asking, but why the rush, Uncle Carlos? This is where you grew up, where your parents rest and you've invested so much in this house, right? You've even told me that there's very little monster activity here, so why the need to leave everything behind and make a quick move to the city?" Nero asked with genuine doubt in his voice.
"Do you think I'm being hasty, Nero?" Carlos asked, finishing the last bite of his dessert.
"Yes, and honestly, I thought you'd stay here until Jacob passes his Ascension ceremony, considering all the money you've put into this place. It seems like you've had a change of heart and are in a hurry to leave everything behind to get your foothold in the city." Nero stated confidently nodding his head like he was sure of being right.
"You are right. I have a lot of ties with this land, and I wish one day to rest in it. That's why I invested so much. But didn't I say it before now? All I care about is my child and his future. I'm willing to leave everything behind for that. As for what prompted me, you will probably find your answer in Craft Woods village and if you don't, I will fill you in the details when the trading caravan docks there on the journey back," he explained letting out sleepy sighs in between his words.
Without waiting for Nero's response, Carlos added, impressed, "You don't miss a thing, Nero. As I said earlier, you have a good head on your shoulders."
I have an even better 'head' below my shoulder that your wife loves. Nero thought nastily in his mind noticing the alcohol began to weigh heavily on Carlos.
The combination of the spiked sweet cake and the alcohol worked faster in Nero's favor, as he could see the sedative taking effect. Carlos's laughter began to fade, his eyelids drooping, and the swaying in his seat becoming more pronounced.
"Hey, Uncle Carlos! You alright there?" Nero pretended to be concerned as he watched the man struggle to focus his gaze.
Right at that moment, Sharron emerged from the kitchen, holding little Jacob, who was peacefully asleep in her arms with his head resting on her shoulder.
"He is already asleep?" Carlos asked sleepily.
"It is his bedtime now," Sharron replied in an oddly tense voice.
"Looks like it's bedtime for you too, Uncle Carlos," Nero said softly.
"Around the clock," Carlos mumbled with a dreamy smile.
While they were talking, Sharron walked into Jacob's room with him in her arms.
"Maybe it's time for you to hit the hay and get some sleep, Uncle Carlos?" Nero suggested, his voice hypnotic, feeling relief and anticipation.
Carlos seemed to agree as if he was about to surrender to sleep when Sharron returned.
"Don't fall asleep in the hallway, Carlo. Come on, let's go to bed," Sharron scolded.
However, Carlos, seemingly not hearing that, half-closed his eyes and appeared ready to sleep.
"At least tell me you made sure he ate the dessert," she said with enough seriousness to awaken the sleepy man.
"Oh, I'm sorry, honey. You'll need to make sure Nero eats your cake before he leaves," Carlos apologized, his head bobbing as he struggled to stay awake.
"Don't worry, Uncle Carlo, didn't I already tell you? I won't leave until I eat her," Nero said the last part in a hushed voice, but it was clear, at least to her.
"Come on, Carlo, that was your last chance," Sharron muttered, shaking her head. Nero frowned upon hearing her words, but quickly concealed it when she turned towards him.
"Nero, lend me a hand. Let's get this guy to bed."
Nero wrapped Carlos' left arm around his shoulder and lifted him. Sharron did the same on the other side to lighten his burden.
"You guys... have a great time..." Carlos mumbled half-asleep as they carried him on their shoulders.
"That's the plan, Uncle Carlos," Nero replied, ensuring he kept his tone light and cheerful. His idle right hand moved down and grabbed her taunt ass which she had been tempting him with till now.
Startled by the sudden touch, Sharron twitched, and Carlos kept asking her something in a mumbled voice, but everything sounded gibberish and unintelligible.
Ignoring him, she silently walked to the bedroom, staring at the floor and allowing Nero to do whatever he pleased.
Nero helped the wife drag her now almost comatose husband to Jacob's bed, feeling her ass in his grip move with each step she took.
Once they reached the bed, he gently turned Carlos around and laid him down next to little Jacob. Sharron covered them, aware that the night might become cold for them.
"Good night, sweet dreams," Nero said with a gleeful grin as Carlos finally succumbed, snoring deeply. He then turned to Sharron. "I think he's out for the count."
Sharron ignored Nero and retrieved something from Jacob's study table drawer. Holding an incense stick, she signaled to him to leave.
Nero stepped out of the room, silently praising her caution and for never letting the guard down.
Within a minute, she joined him in the hallway, quietly closing the door behind her.
She stood there, staring at the floor, refusing to meet his gaze.
Nero looked with amusement at the woman standing meekly in front of him, who had cunningly drugged her husband and son to have cheating sex with her lover one last time. She would be his plaything until morning, or rather, his dessert for the night.