Chapter 164

**Acacia Point of View**

"Jerk, put it inside the brazier." I urged him when I saw him standing there like a fool from the past fifteen minutes without a break.

He, his expressions, his body language, everything about him felt somewhat awkward-ish and guilty.

He looked everywhere but me and when I was talking to him, he did not even respond back, verbally or otherwise.

What is this? Daydream paralysis?

Why he is standing like an electricity pole?

"Uh, that, Eblilis..." He stammered and I waited for six lifetimes for him to complete what he wants to say but he only moved his lips but nothing came out of his mouth.

And even the professional Olympic range lip-reader cannot understand what exactly he was mumbling inaudibly.

This made me frown harder. So with little patience, I walked to him, pulled the charcoal from his hand and put in the brazier which was already lit. Applying some oil on the grill, I placed some veggies and meat on it with a drizzle of salt and pepper on them.

"What are you standing here like a silly? Didn't you say you know how to barbeque? Were you waiting for some auspicious time?" I grumbled while taking care of meat and veggies that are getting grilled.

Once I adjusted the heat, I quickly mixed the basic barbeque sauce for a dip. "Where's the fish you roasted, let's try it out with sauce before the meat is roasted well."

I prefer fish roast more than meat. I feel like the taste of roasted fish is much heartier than any animal meat so I'm actually excited to have a fish for a starter.

Jerk smiled at me awkwardly and looked at the meat on the grill. I raised a brow and waved my hand in front of him to give the grilled fish.

He slowly raised his hand and pointed at the brazier grill. I titled my head to the side slightly, waiting for him to tell me clearly what the heck is he doing right now.

"It's in there." He said with a few strange creepy giggles.

"In where?"

"In there." He pointed at the brazier again. I really don't know what the hell is he saying so I could only stare at him blankly.

It was only after three minutes of staring at him I suddenly understood what he meant. And when I realized it, I didn't know whether to laugh or get angry.

"Wasn't that a piece of charcoal?" Although I knew the answer by now, I was still letting the atom of my hope keep me still.

"Not at first." That was some good way to answer!

"Didn't you say you are a specialist in grilling and roasting?"

"I thought the same when I watched hundreds of videos before." I breathed out loudly when I heard him and immediately turned around to do my job of cooking well.

"Until you have firsthand experience of cooking, let the responsibility of food be in my hands in the future." I cannot really get angry at him for such a simple issue.

He was royal person to begin with and the thought of cooking for me was already enough. I cannot expect him to do a splendid job on his first try.

At least he tried; that's what matters for now.

However, he should really learn how to cook simple dishes though. I and Igses cannot eat charcoal and ash in the future.

"You will do the cooking for us?" He asked as if he was surprised.

"What else? You want me and my son to eat burnt ash and fill our stomach?"

"Alright, you will have the highest say at home in future." Something at his declaration sounded fishy but since part of my attention is on our lunch, I did not give it a much thought.

Thanks to that Jerk's efforts, he successfully helped me most of my breakfast with long minutes of kisses and short while of stroll around.

What was hateful was that I actually couldn't get myself to scold him or reprimand him about his physical intimacy with me.

I quickly served the meat, veggies, sauce and pan baked cake on each of our plates and closed the plates with a lid.

"Let's got to hobbit cave behind the oak trees to enjoy the food." While I got the food and plates, he brought carpet and other items needed.

It was a satisfyingly calm lunch and once I had my fill I jumped out of the cave before he chose to help me digest my food.

I prefer other methods for healthy digestion process, thank you.

"You thought I would kiss you for digestion?" A playful smirk crept on his face.

"I have to be careful with perverts." Without explaining further, I initiated the to walk back to the camping area.

"You are lucky then. This pervert prepared some board games to help you digest food effectively."

"If you pull out the twister and thinking of take advantage of me, then you should be disappointed."

"Cards, chess, monopoly, backgammon etc., Do they count as decent games to play?" When I saw a very clear and honest look in his eyes, I'm almost sure that there are tricks hidden these games.

This man is most cunning when he is honest.

"Alright. Let's start with cards then." Cards seem to be the most inconspicuous game which is hard to tamper with right now.

"Your wish is my command." He got a bag from the van, which is stacked up with all kind of board games.

After laying down the thick carpet on the grass, he placed a small sitting table in the middle and arranged cushions for both of us to sit on. On the table was a deck of cards and something else that looked very suspicious.

I shuffled the cards like a pro, all the while observing his actions keenly. On the corner of the table is a cardboard box, covered all the sides and with a small opening enough to let an arm pass through on the top.

"What is this?"

"This is to make the game interesting." He smiled proudly.

"Interesting how?" A very bad feeling crept in my heart.

"You'll know soon. What do you want to play?"

"You ask as if you know many games."

"Of course I know. I got one of the aristocratic families under me open a chain of casinos in Arizona. Of course I know many card games." I really envy these supernatural people.

They can be unlucky in anything but their luck in making money makes me want to beat them to pulp. It's so infuriating to have such deep shit luck with money.

"Rummy, then." I quickly distributed the cards. I then picked up my own cards and arranged them neatly in order.

We took turns to take and discard the cards and in only six turns, Jerk slapped the cards on the table. "Rummy"

Already?

In only six turns?

I carefully read all his cards for over twenty times before giving in. This is only the first game so no hurry and worry.

Let's see how he will keep up with me.

"Right, we did not decide on the betting amount." To this, Jerk smirked spookily and tapped the cardboard box in answer.

"Not money but the winner will pick a card and the loser should accommodate the winner's request as per the card picked."

Without giving me a chance to refuse the idea, he put his hand inside the box and pulled out a small card.

After carefully reading it, the smirk on his face widened. "What is it?" I asked curiously.

"Dedicate a love poem to the winner." What nonsense!

"I don't agree. You prepared all the cards so you must've written all senseless dirty ideas of yours. I disagree." I shook my head vigorously.

"I knew you would say this; that is why I asked your friends to personally prepare the pick-cards. Even I don't know what is written."

Now that stopped me from making a fuss. Seems like he expected everything came prepared.

But writing a poem for him is too cringy!

"True love is a durable fire,
In the mind ever burning,
Never sick, never dead, never cold,
From itself never turning." I brazed myself and let out those super cringy words.

Once I finished reciting, I waited for him to shuffle the cards and distribute but he kept looking at me as if I'm a fool.

"What? Shuffle the cards."

"Eblilis, do you think I don't even know Shakespeare sonnets?"

Damn it! When did he read old poetry?

"You have to make one for me. Don't you think of fooling me with something else. I could tell a poem written by others and you. Come on, a love poem made by you for me." If you ask for self made poem suddenly, where would I get from?

And gosh, writing a love poem for him is so damn cheesy.

I spent five minutes in thinking and when I framed a small one in my mind, I opened my mouth to recite.

"In this love poem, I'll jest and jeer,

With mocking tone, to bring some cheer.

For love's a game, a merry sport,

So let's poke fun, with words distort.



Oh, love, you sly and fickle friend,

You toy with hearts, we can't pretend.

You come and go, without a clue,

Leaving us wandering, feeling blue.



Look at that handsome yellow face,

Like a swallow on hunger strike,

Like a skeleton of an unsolved case,

But it is hard for people to dislike.



Oh, love, let this poem fill your heart,

Help you with pumping the blood out,

May my love literary, flow through your every vein,

Causing your eyes to thunder a happy rain."

Although it was a bit of an honest poem with half truth and half flatter, I still feel really accomplished right now.

I'm sure after hearing this poem, he is crazily wildly happy!

**~*~*~*~*~*~

Hello Sweeties,

Next chapter is here. Enjoy!

What do you think about the chapter? Good?

Tzalmon has such good skills in converting things. He can produce coal so easily!

Who thinks that Tzalmon is multi talented?

Acacia's poem for Tzalmon; is it a love poem or a hate poem or a blend of both?

What more devious board games did Tzalmon prepare to bring them closer to each other?

Please shower me with votes and comments.

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Lots of Love

Lady Prim**