Kissing Hellfire: Marry Me, Evil Lord
Chapter 158: In the Kitchen

Chapter 158: In the Kitchen

From the castle of Evardin, Alec and Lauren were teleported by Alec’s portal to a manor in Acheron.

"Where are we?" Lauren looked around and found no one else in the huge house. The large windows were covered by dark curtains, not letting a glimpse of sunlight pass through. But even though the manor was dark and giving off an eerie air, she noticed the surroundings were clean and organized.

"Perhaps are we in your relatives’ house?" Lauren remembered that his uncle, Mr. Hendricks and her daughter Samantha were living in Acheron.

"We are not meeting them," Alec said. He still hated how his spoiled brat of a cousin asked for Lauren’s blood. He respected his uncle as an elder, but he didn’t care much about them. "Coming to Acheron had nothing to do with my relatives, so why would we. We are in the manor of my mother’s family. No one resides here for decades."

Speaking of Alec’s family, Lauren remembered they were not able to continue the talk about his family. She just didn’t say anything about it because they were not in a place for storytelling.

"Right. You mentioned your mother was from Acheron. Did you live here when you were young?"

Lauren went to a corner where an antique vase was. She could see it used to have flowers, but now it was left with dry stems of roses.

"No. We lived in my father’s house. This manor is located in the outskirts of the town. Do you want the curtains up?"

"Yes," replied Lauren and the curtains rolled up themselves. The sunlight went across the huge hall of the manor. Although it was drizzling outside, she could see the sun was up.

"The elder mage we will meet named Anthony, it appears he hasn’t returned to his home for the past few days," Alec said.

He stood a few steps behind Lauren who was looking out the window. Last night while Lauren was asleep, he made some arrangements. He sent a missive to Vincent and apart from asking him to come, he also told Vincent to have his men check Anthony’s home. Before they left the castle, he received a missive from Vincent’s men saying Anthony was nowhere to be found.

"But I know someone who always knows where he goes."

Lauren’s eyes remained at the meadows beyond the manor. Although it was drizzling, the sky was bright and clear.

"Who is it? His family?"

"No, just someone who’s watching him. I’ve sent him a missive. We will meet him later."

"That is good then..."

Alec stepped closer to her until he stopped a few inches behind her. She could almost feel his chest brushing against her back but she didn’t move away. She still felt cold even though it was only raining in Acheron. But when Alec was near, she felt better. It was like there was an invisible shield of warmth around her.

"What do you want for lunch?" Alec’s hot breath tickled her ear.

"Will we go to a tavern?"

"No. I will cook."

Surprised, Lauren turned to her shoulder. She gasped when the tip of her nose hit Alec’s. He was crouching and whispering to her that’s why he was too close.

Alec’s lips twitched when he saw how Lauren’s eyes widened a bit. He was about to give her a peck, but she quickly moved her head away and brought her gaze back in front.

Lauren chuckled, "What do you mean you will cook? We brought nothing with us, and like you said no one lived in this mansion for decades. There must be nothing to cook."

And what he would cook if there was, anyway? Before becoming the king, he was a lord with servants on his feet. She knew little to nothing about his family but she heard the Everston bloodline had always belonged to the upper crust. So Lauren found it ridiculous to hear him offering to cook for her.

"In the missive I sent to Vincent last night, I also told him to store some food and drinks in this manor."

Lauren turned to face him. "Really?" If he meant that, does that mean he was serious about cooking for her?

Alec narrowed his eyes at her. "Why, do you think I cannot cook?"

"You really can?"

One of the corners of his lips rose, confidence glittering in his gray eyes. Lauren had doubts if Alec really could cook but with how he was smirking at her, she had a feeling that he was not bluffing. What was there an Alec Everston could not do, anyway?

"If you insist, cook for us then. I will eat anything. But if you have ingredients for a bowl of hot noodles, I’d prefer it." She stifled a smile. "Show me your cooking skill, Your Majesty."

The kitchen was facing the garden. Lauren stayed on the table near the large glass panel where the garden could be seen, while Alec was doing wonders in the kitchen. Soft sunlight passed through the glass, making Lauren’s auburn waves appear brighter.

She stared at how Alec cut the vegetables seriously. She leaned her elbow on the table while her palm supported her jaw.

"I guess this is what marriage is for. I was taught that ladies were prepared to please and serve their husbands that’s why I never considered getting married before. If I only knew husbands are capable of doing a lot of things including cooking for their wives, I would have married sooner."

Alec looked at her sharply. "I am cooking for you and you think about marrying before you married me? Do you wish to eat lunch or not?"

Lauren grinned. "The point is, my views of married life would have been different."

He laid both of his hands flat on the island counter and held her gaze, his eyes smoldering.

"Most men love their wives serving them so you shouldn’t think it would be like this if you happened to marry someone else. I am the only one for you, Lauren. I refuse to believe someone else is deserving of you..."