After a playful chase through the bustling streets of the Noxhaven capital and a leisurely stop to gather an assortment of foods, such as warm soups, hearty porridge, fresh fruits, savory meats, crusty bread, and sweet pastries.
Kilian and Elara finally made their way back to the humble dwelling of the feline family.
Kilian approached the familiar wooden door and rapped gently, his voice carrying warmth as he called out, "Hey, it's us again! Can you let us in? We brought something for you."
The wooden door creaked open slowly, revealing first the tip of a black-furred ear, then Domina's hesitant face, peeking out from within the dim interior.
In the nearby window, Gris and Luna were already waving excitedly at Kilian and Elara, their small faces pressed against the grimy pane.
Elara offered them a warm smile and waved back.
Domina's voice was a barely audible murmur, her head hanging low, her gaze fixed on the worn floorboards.
"I... I never expected that you would ever come back." Her ear twitched nervously.
"I came out of the room, and you were both gone."
"I thought maybe I was rude for not attending to you, or perhaps I upset you somehow, like when I attacked you earlier."
"I thought you left us."
Her voice trembled with a lingering fear of abandonment.
A soft smile touched Kilian's lips upon hearing her confession.
He then gently pushed the door open further, stepping inside, and approached Domina.
"Domina," he said, his voice reassuring and firm, "nothing you do would ever upset me."
His hand reached out, his fingers gently lifting her chin, compelling her to meet his gaze.
Her large, gray feline eyes, still tinged with residual worry, looked into his.
"I told you, didn't I?"
"I promised to help you provide for your family and live comfortably, as long as you come with me to the castle."
Domina's face flushed a deep crimson, the blush spreading up to the tips of her black-furred ears, which flattened slightly against her head in acute embarrassment.
Her tail, which had been nervously flicking, now curled tightly around her legs.
The small audience to this tender, public display had varied reactions.
Elara stood by the doorway, shaking her head slowly, a soft sigh escaping her lips.
Her eyes held a mixture of exasperation and knowing amusement, remembering how the young master had similarly disarmed her in the library just moments before.
She knew, perhaps better than anyone, the irresistible charm he now possessed.
Gris and Luna, still watching from the window, were oblivious to the emotional exchange.
Their attention was entirely preoccupied by the tantalizing aromas wafting from the assorted bags Elara held.
Their small noses twitched, and their eyes, wide with innocent curiosity, followed the bags as if they held the greatest treasure.
From a worn chair in the small, open kitchen area, the feline mother was now able to sit upright, her eyes wide and her mouth slightly agape.
She watched the unknown young man's public display of affection towards her eldest daughter with a mixture of profound surprise and dawning hope, a silent testament to the miraculous healing that had just transpired.
From the small kitchen area, the feline mother's voice, surprisingly steady and commanding, called out.
"Are you the one who saved me and my family? Please, can you come closer? Let's have a talk."
Her tone held a hint of assessment, almost as if she were scrutinizing a suitor for her daughter.
"Of course, Madam, coming!" Kilian replied, a polite smile on his face.
He then gestured to his maid. "Elara, let's go."
As they approached the kitchen, the mother's sharp gaze fixed on Kilian.
"Why did you leave earlier without saying goodbye?" she asked, a directness that matched her commanding voice.
Kilian's smile remained unperturbed. "Oh, it's because I wanted to give you and your children some time alone."
His gaze flickered towards the still-recovering mother, a genuine warmth in his eyes.
"I wouldn't want to stay and disturb something so precious for you and your family."
"We left and bought food to celebrate your recovery."
The mother's eyes widened slightly in surprise, a flicker of disbelief crossing her face.
The man who had saved her and her family had also brought them food?
"Oh no, you didn't have to," she insisted, though her voice lacked its earlier commanding edge.
"You've already done so much for us."
Domina, equally astonished by the sight of the bags Elara held, stepped forward.
"Young master, why do you keep doing these things for us?" she asked, her voice tinged with bewildered gratitude.
Kilian simply smiled. "It's fine. You don't have to worry about anything."
Without waiting for an order, Elara was already a flurry of motion.
With practiced efficiency, she began setting up the small, worn table, spreading out the feast they had brought.
Rich, steaming soups were carefully placed, alongside bowls of soft porridge.
There were glistening fresh fruits of various colors, tender cuts of savory meat, and thick, crusty bread.
The aroma filled the cramped space, warm and inviting.
Gris and Luna, who had abandoned the window at the first sight of the food, stood mesmerized by the spread.
Their eyes sparkled like polished gemstones, mouths agape, each clutching a spoon in one small hand and a fork in the other, utterly oblivious to the adult conversation.
Domina, still processing the sheer abundance, looked at Kilian, her brow furrowed.
"This is too many," she protested, waving a hand at the overflowing table.
"We can't possibly accept such—"
Kilian cut her off gently, his gaze unwavering as he looked directly at her.
"It's fine, really."
He then looked at the speechless mother.
"This is just a small gift to celebrate your mother's recovery from the disease."
The mother, who had been watching the exchange with a keen eye, finally broke her silence.
Her gaze shifted from Kilian to her still-protesting daughter, a mischievous glint entering her eyes.
"If you don't want him," she announced, her voice surprisingly strong and laced with a playful humor, "I might just take him for myself."
"I happen to be single at the moment."
A stunned silence fell over the room.
Everyone, except for Gris and Luna who were already happily shoveling meat into their mouths without a care, stared at the mother.
Kilian, after a brief moment of wide-eyed surprise, let out a hearty chuckle, a booming laugh that filled the small house.
Elara's mouth dropped open, a comical picture of shock.
And Domina, her face flushing an even deeper shade of red, shrieked, "MOTHER! What are you saying?!"
The mother simply threw her head back, laughing at her own audacious joke, her eyes twinkling with renewed life.
---
After enjoying their meal, a lively affair filled with random chatter, shared jokes, Domina's occasional shocked exclamations, and the delightfully messy, loud eating of the children, the time came for goodbyes.
The mother, visibly stronger but still needing rest, was assisted back to her bed by Domina, Gris, and Luna. Kilian and Elara waited by the door leading out of the house.
Kilian turned to Elara.
"Can I ask you to return to the castle for me first, Elara?" he requested, his voice low.
"I still have something to talk with Domina, and I think alone is the best way to do that."
Elara, whose knowing expression suggested she had anticipated this request, nodded immediately.
She understood the unspoken reasons behind it.
"Yes, young master," she affirmed.
As she turned to leave, Kilian's hand gently, almost instinctively, caught hers.
Elara slowly turned back, her gaze meeting his, a question in her eyes.
"Do you hate it when I do things like this?"
Kilian asked, his thumb lightly stroking the back of her hand.
Elara looked at him, her expression soft, a profound honesty settling over her features.
"I could never even imagine that I would like someone I was so terrified of all my life working in the castle," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.
Her eyes, filled with a warmth that mirrored his own, were earnest.
"But the warmth and care you gave me today was enough to soothe my heart."
She then added, a flicker of her earlier astute perception returning, "I know there's a greater purpose to why you need her by your side too, young master."
She gently squeezed the hand holding hers, her fingers intertwining with his.
"As long as I can still feel your warmth, I could never ask for more."
Kilian's heart skipped a beat at her words.
Her unwavering loyalty, her genuine affection, and her insightful understanding moved him deeply.
He reached out, his hands gently cupping both sides of Elara's face, his thumbs brushing lightly over her cheekbones.
"I promise you, Elara," he said, his voice husky with emotion, "as long as you stay by my side, I will treat you with as much warmth and care as you could ever want."
After a second, his eyes crinkling at the corners, he added softly, "You really are beautiful, Elara."
A radiant smile bloomed on Elara's face, her cheeks flushing with joy, her eyes sparkling with unbidden tears.
She didn't speak, but her grateful gaze conveyed everything.
With a final, gentle squeeze of her hand, she turned and, with a spring in her step and a genuine lightness in her posture, walked out of the house, leaving Kilian to his private conversation with Domina.
***
/I hope you enjoyed this chapter! If its alright, please drop a comment or a powerstone to help me keep making this world bigger!