CHAPTER - 185

  Narrator: It was still eleven in the morning when Dav woke up earlier than expected at the academy.

  After accompanying Selene to her evaluation, he found himself wandering through the well-appointed corridors of the royal castle.

  Sunlight filtered through the windows as his footsteps echoed in the silence of the royal castle.

  Selene, walking a few steps behind him, heard his stomach growl and looked at him with curiosity, her eyes shining with slight concern.

  “Are you hungry?” she asked, her voice sweet but tinged with a hint of amusement.

  Dav looked at her with an ironic, yet slightly tired smile.

  Despite his facade of strength, he felt the weight of a long morning.

  “If you'd like.. I can cook something for you?

  I've learned a few things at the academy with Iris and Mrs. Margherita.

  But if you'd prefer not, that's fine too!”

  she added, trying to appear indifferent but with a genuine smile.

  Selene looked at him, a bit surprised but also enthusiastic.

  Cooking for him was an opportunity she wouldn't pass up.

  “What will you make me?”

  he asked, curious, with a calm smile and visible patience.

  “You love hamburgers and fries, right?

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  I'll make you a fresh one, with top-quality fries!”

  Selene's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.

  A promise of something she would prepare with care, a dish that, though simple, held special meaning.

  Dav looked at her with an amused and affectionate gaze, almost as if he were accustomed to her ways.

  “Alright, my chef.”

  Dav's calm tone, as if everything were normal, made Selene smile, but at the same time, made her feel as if something greater was happening between them.

  Selene, slightly paralyzed by the sweetness of Dav's gaze, noticed a moment of sincerity that touched her deeply.

  Then they headed to the kitchen, where she, with her apron tied tightly, immediately got to work, arranging the knives on the counter with her usual grace.

  The professional chefs present in the kitchen watched her with curious eyes, but none dared to approach or disturb her.

  The presence of Dav, the legendary hero, right there, with one of the royal guards cooking for him, caused a certain stir among the staff.

  No one would have expected to see him like this, engaged in a normal daily activity.

  Selene began peeling the potatoes with surprising precision.

  She filled the basin with fresh water, immersing the freshly peeled potatoes.

  Then she approached the refrigerator to find high-quality ground meat.

  She took A5 ground beef, the kind she found in the refrigerators for special dishes, along with bread crumbs and milk.

  The act of soaking and squeezing the bread crumbs brought her back to past moments in the kitchen with Iris, to those small lessons that made her feel lighter, more

  at home, freer.

  She mixed the meat with fresh parsley, being careful not to overmix, creating a perfect balance of flavors.

  With great care, she divided the mixture into small round shapes, with a precision that surprised even her.

  Then she placed everything to chill in the refrigerator.

  She returned to the potatoes, beginning to cut them into one-centimeter-thick rectangles.

  Her cutting was precise and swift, a result of her experience with the sword, where no mistakes could be made.

  The fries had to be perfect, without any imperfections.

  She placed the fries in the fryer, and in the meantime, took the hamburgers out of the fridge.

  She carefully placed them in a non-stick pan, ensuring they didn't overlap.

  She turned them gently, maintaining control over the cooking.

  Meanwhile, the fries cooked slowly, and Selene, after lifting the basket to drain them, returned them to the fryer to achieve perfect crispiness.

  She salted the hamburgers with an expert hand and placed them on an elegant tray, even though the dish was simple.

  The fries were ready, and the fryer stopped automatically, raising the baskets.

  With silent satisfaction, she arranged everything carefully, creating a light salad with fresh tomatoes, thinly sliced onions, and a drizzle of oil, adding a pinch of salt to

  balance the flavors.

  When everything was ready, Selene approached Dav with a smile she couldn't hide.

  She handed him the plate, with a slight hint of shyness in her gaze.

  Her heart beat faster as she looked at him, curious to discover what he would think.

  The dish was simple, but there was something special in the act of preparing it for him.

  END OF CHAPTER - 185