Oooh no, he can’t be coming

Chapter 11

***ooh no, he can’t be coming,”

Emelia POV


As I felt my face heat up, I looked away, trying to play it cool, "Hey, no need to be embarrassed, I know you are hungry so save yourself the embarrassment and let me know if you want or not.” he said, his voice low and non challant. "I'm just stating the obvious. You're clearly starving with the look of things" He gestured to the juicy meat in front of me, and my stomach growled again, as if on cue.

I stared at the succulent deer leg Keiden offered me, my stomach growling in protest. The aroma wafting from it was tantalizing, but fear and doubt crept in, whispering warnings of potential poison or manipulation. What if he was trying to control me through food? I couldn't shake off the feeling.

With a mix of regret and caution, I bowed my head and politely declined, "I...I'm not hungry." The words felt like a lie, even to myself. My stomach betrayed me, growling louder, as if protesting my decision.

Keiden's expression remained neutral, but I detected a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He nodded curtly and withdrew his hand, leaving me feeling guilty and uncertain. Why hadn't he tried to persuade me or shown more concern? His swift acceptance of my refusal made me wonder if he was truly a gentleman.

As Keiden finished his meal and left again, my regret simmered. I thought he would have waited, or at least asked me to reconsider. His abrupt departure made me question his character. Was he really the kind of person who wouldn't even try to convince me to eat?

As soon as Keiden left the table, I stood up, trying to keep myself busy. "Time to distract myself," I muttered to myself. I headed straight to Keiden's training ground, curious about his weapons and armor.

As I entered the room, my eyes widened in awe. "Wow, these are beautiful," I breathed, running my fingers over the intricate designs on the swords. I approached the pedestal, admiring the helmet's etchings. "Keiden has such great taste."

But as I continued to admire the weapons, my stomach growled loudly, interrupting my reverie. "Oh, shut up," I whispered, trying to ignore it. But the noise persisted, growing louder and more insistent.

"Fine, I'm hungry," I admitted to myself, looking around the room. Keiden was still nowhere to be seen, and I couldn't bear the hunger pangs anymore. "Just a little taste won't hurt," I rationalized, thinking about the meat I had rejected earlier.

I made my way back to the dining area, my heart racing with excitement and a hint of guilt. I snatched a piece of meat from the plate and devoured it in one swift motion.



The flavor exploded on my tongue, but it was far from pleasant. The taste was bitter and gamey, a stark contrast to the enticing aroma. My face scrunched in distaste, and I spat it out, shocked by the unpleasantness. It was even worse than the stale leftovers my stepmother used to serve me.



As I struggled to swallow the bitter meat, my stomach growled in protest. I couldn't bear the taste anymore, so I decided to re-cook the deer leg, hoping to mask the unpleasant flavor. I remembered the wild herbs I had spotted nearby and crushed them into a paste, mixing it with the meat. The aroma of thyme and rosemary wafted through the air.

Maybe, just maybe, this would mask the unpleasant flavor. I took a tentative bite, and the flavors danced on my tongue. The bitterness was still there, but it was no longer overpowering. The herbs had added a depth and warmth to the meat, making it almost palatable. "Mmm, so good," I sighed, savoring the flavors.

Just as I was licking my fingers, I heard footsteps approaching. "No, no, no," I whispered, panic rising in my chest. Keiden was back, and I was caught red-handed – or rather, red-mouthed.


“What are you doing Emelia?” He questioned and I jumped up and the food caught in my throat. I began to cough, my eyes watering.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" I apologized, still coughing. "I didn't mean to...I was just trying to re-cook this deer leg. It was too bitter for me."

Keiden's voice came again, "What's going on? Why are you re-cooking it?" His tone was curious, not angry, and I relaxed a bit.


I explained, still feeling a bit embarrassed, "I added some herbs to try and mask the bitter taste. I'm sorry, I know it was your food...I didn't mean to waste it."


“Weren’t you the same person that I asked just few minutes ago if you care for a leg of deer and you bluntly rejected it?” He questioned arching one of this brows.

“Yes, I was the one but that was minutes ago.”



“What happened now? What changed your mind?” He threw another question at me.

“I wasn’t hungry then but I’m hungry now.”

Keiden raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement still playing on his lips. "Ah, I see. So, you're saying you weren't hungry when I offered you the meat earlier, but suddenly, you're starving after I leave?"

My face reddened in embarrassment as I tried to explain. "I... uh... I don't know,. I just wasn't hungry then, I guess. But after you left, I realized I was actually really hungry, and... and I didn't want to waste the food."

Keiden chuckled, his eyes sparkling with teasing. "And yet, you rejected the same food earlier, saying you weren't hungry. But now, you're eating it, and even reseasoning it to boot!"

I looked down, feeling my embarrassment deepen. "I know, I know. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have reseasoned your meat without asking. It's just that it was really bitter, and I couldn't eat it like that."

Keiden's response surprised me, " Emelia, it's okay. I'm not mad; Can you cook more for me? I'd like to try it with those herbs." His eyes sparkled with curiosity, and I agreed, feeling a bit more at ease.

As I cooked more of the deer leg, the aroma filling the air, Keiden thanked me sincerely, "Thank you, Emelia. I appreciate it. You're quite resourceful."

Then, he added, "You can sleep on my sofa tonight. You look exhausted. I'll make sure to keep the fire going."

I nodded, grateful for the offer, "Thank you,. I am pretty tired."


As I lay on the sofa, I couldn't help but think about the rumors I had heard about him. They had painted him as a fierce animal, a monster with no heart. But the man I had met was different. He was kind, gentle, and drew a clear distinction between love and hate.

I thought about how he had offered me food, shelter, and protection without expecting anything in return. How he had thanked me sincerely for cooking for him, and how his eyes sparkled with curiosity when he asked me to teach him more about herbs

I was still thinking about it when Keiden came inside and jolted off my thought.

“My brother is coming tomorrow to check up on us, it’s so unusual because he has never come to check up on me so I guess I might be a little grateful for that.” He said to me and my body immediately freeze immediately.”

“Ooh no!!!!, he can’t be coming!!!”

“I haven’t even thought about how to kill Keiden yet.”!!!!!