Chapter 41 : Chapter 41
Chapter 41: A Luxurious Dinner, the Lady of the House
Before long, Nika returned to Ryan’s room.
The butler knew that Nika was Ryan’s slave, so he had not prepared a separate room for her.
“Master, I’m back.”
Nika spoke with a smile.
The moment Ryan saw the tear tracks still lingering on her face, he knew she must have cried for quite a while.
He could understand how she felt.
After all, Nila was her younger sister, and they had not seen each other for so long.
“How was it? Is Nila living well here?”
Ryan asked softly.
“Yes, Master. I’m sorry for making you worry. Nila is living very well here. Both the food and the clothes she gets are of the finest quality. It’s just...”
Nika hesitated, unsure how to put it into words.
“Does Nila not want to leave with us for the time being?”
Ryan asked with a smile.
“Huh!?”
Nika stared at Ryan with widened eyes.
“Master, how did you know?”
“Hehe.”
Ryan smiled and explained, “After you left, I spoke with Mr. Alfred for quite a while. He said that because of his daughter, he hopes Nila can stay here for the time being and keep her company. Once his daughter’s condition improves a little, he’ll let Nila leave with us.”
“So that’s how it is.”
Nika nodded after hearing that.
In truth, Nika wanted Nila to leave this place with her.
But although she was Nila’s older sister, she did not want to go against Nila’s wishes and forcefully take her away.
“Then, Master, are we leaving?”
Nika asked.
“No. We’ll stay with the Jurgen Family for a while. As for when we leave, let me think about it first.”
Ryan replied calmly.
“All right, Master.”
Nika was overjoyed.
If they could stay with the Jurgen Family a little longer, then she could spend a little more time with her younger sister.
Ryan looked at Nika’s alluring appearance and found it hard to restrain himself.
He immediately stood up and pulled her into his arms.
“M-Master, it’s still daytime. W-Wait until tonight, and I’ll serve you then.”
Nika’s cheeks instantly turned crimson.
“All right. We’ll talk about it tonight.”
Ryan forced himself to suppress the impulse.
This was someone else’s castle, after all. Relaxing too much would not be a good thing.
“Mmm...”
Lowering her head, Nika let out a soft murmur.
She had long since grown used to her master’s overwhelming appetite.
Rather, part of the reason she had wanted to take Nila away with her might have been because she wanted her younger sister to help share the burden.
Handling it all by herself was becoming harder and harder.
Ryan pulled Nika onto the bed and rested with her.
Nika told him about everything Nila had gone through since being sold.
Several times, she had nearly been bought by people with terrible personalities.
In the end, it was all thanks to Nila’s own wit and intelligence.
While she was a slave, she had shown an extremely strong will to resist.
Although every time she injured a customer, she was punished by the person in charge of the Slave Merchant Guild,
it was still far better than being bought by one of those perverted customers.
After all, Nila was still an asset of the Slave Merchant Guild, so the person in charge would definitely not torture her.
The two of them chatted in the guest room. After an unknown amount of time had passed, a sound came from outside the door.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
“Come in.”
“Honored guest, dinner is ready. The lord invites you to dine with him.”
Marcus had come to inform them.
“All right, we’ll head over now.”
Ryan nodded, then released Nika and stood up.
Nika quickly stepped in front of him and helped straighten his clothes.
Then the two of them followed the butler Marcus to the dining hall.
The luxurious dining hall of the Jurgen Family was located on the eastern side of the castle’s first floor, and the entire room was rectangular.
The walls were covered in creamy white wallpaper patterned with golden vines.
Brass chandeliers hung along the walls, each circular in shape and fitted with candles. Their flames burned steadily, illuminating the entire dining hall.
Golden chains hung beneath the chandeliers, connecting them to hooks in the ceiling.
At the far end of the dining hall stood a marble fireplace. The frame was carved with the family crest, and pinewood burned inside it. The flames danced and crackled, filling the hall with warmth.
Above the fireplace hung an oil painting depicting the first lord of the family on a hunt. The frame was gold, with decorative patterns along its edges.
At the center of the room stood a long redwood dining table. Its polished surface was so smooth it reflected silhouettes. The legs were carved into the shape of lion claws, and brass foot caps were fitted to the bottoms.
Twelve high-backed chairs surrounded the table. Their backs and cushions were upholstered in deep red velvet, with gold thread stitched along the edges. The legs were made of the same redwood and carved with intricate designs.
A white linen tablecloth covered the table, its edges hanging all the way to the floor without a single wrinkle.
Silver candelabras stood on the cloth, each with five branches holding white candles that had already been lit, their flames steady and calm.
Between the candelabras sat silver dinner plates decorated around the rim, the edges polished to a smooth finish.
The lavish feast spread across the table came in a dazzling variety.
At the very center was a whole roast lamb, glazed with honey and spices. Its skin was a glossy dark brown, and a red rose was clamped in its mouth. Green leaves had been placed beneath it.
Around the roast lamb were twelve roast chickens. Their skin was golden, their legs fixed in place with silver skewers to keep them from warping during roasting. Their bellies were stuffed with onions and apples, and a rich aroma drifted out through the cuts in the meat.
Beside the meat dishes were various vegetable dishes.
At both ends of the table sat bread baskets woven from rattan, each filled with different kinds of bread.
In the middle of the table stood a silver wine pitcher engraved with patterns and filled with red wine. Beside it were twelve tall stemmed glass goblets, transparent and rimmed with gold. Six of them had already been filled with red wine, the liquid a deep crimson with a glossy sheen.
There was also a copper kettle filled with warm water. Its spout curved elegantly, and beside it sat ceramic cups decorated with blue patterns.
Fruit platters had been placed along the edge of the table.
Servants dressed in maid uniforms stood in the corners of the dining hall, waiting at any moment to be summoned.
When Ryan saw this, he could not help sighing at the luxury and decadence of the nobility.
Huh? The one enjoying that luxury and decadence was Ryan?
Oh, then there was no problem.
“Hahahaha, Ryan, you’re here. Come, sit down.”
Alfred, seated at the head of the table, greeted him loudly.
“Mr. Alfred, thank you for your hospitality.”
Ryan sat down together with Nika.
Originally, Nika had not wanted to sit.
Because she was Ryan’s slave, someone of her status was unworthy of dining alongside him.
But Ryan pulled her over and pressed her into a seat.
When Alfred saw that, he said nothing.
Or rather, he had already expected it.
Ryan had traveled such a great distance for Nika’s sake to come to the Jurgen Family and search for her younger sister, so it was obvious he treated Nika differently.
The fact that he let Nika dine with him did not surprise Alfred in the slightest.
Ryan held Nika’s hand tightly, and left with no choice, she could only sit beside him.
Although her face was full of helplessness on the surface,
deep down, her feelings for Ryan had grown even stronger.
“Ryan, let me introduce you. This is my wife.”
Alfred pointed to the mature woman seated beside him as he introduced her.
“Mr. Ryan, hello. I am Alfred’s wife, Greta Jurgen.”
Greta introduced herself with a smile.
Ryan had already noticed the woman sitting beside Alfred.
Greta sat in the chair to the left of the head seat, her hands resting at the edge of the table, her fingers lightly touching the tablecloth.
She wore a deep red silk dress with a rather low neckline that exposed a large expanse of skin across her chest.
The fabric of the dress was smooth and clung tightly to her body. The contours of her breasts were clearly visible, full and rounded, lifting the front of the dress into an obvious curve. The fabric stretched taut across her chest, with even the slightest folds visible.
Golden thread had been sewn along the edge of the neckline, tracing the curve of her breasts and making their fullness stand out all the more.
The dress had short sleeves trimmed with lace. Her arms were soft and shapely, her skin fair, and on her wrist she wore a wide gold bracelet set with several small gemstones that reflected a faint glimmer whenever her hand moved.
Her dark brown hair had been styled into a bun at the back of her head, secured with a golden hairpin topped with a flower-shaped setting inset with a red gemstone.
She wore light makeup. Her eyebrows had been neatly shaped into graceful arches, her eyeshadow was a pale purple, and her lashes were brushed with mascara, making her eyes appear larger.
Her eyes were a deep blue, and her gaze was remarkably gentle.
She had a high, elegant nose, and her lips were painted red, the corners of her mouth slightly raised.
There was a faint flush on both cheeks, perhaps from the heat of the fireplace.
Around her neck hung a gold necklace with a heart-shaped pendant that rested against the hollow between her breasts, swaying slightly with each breath.
“Lady Greta, hello.”
Ryan nodded in greeting.
“Hahaha, then to celebrate Ryan’s arrival, let us all raise a toast together!”
Alfred lifted his glass and invited them all.
Greta, Ryan, and Nika all raised their glasses.
“Cheers!”
“Cheers!”
“Cheers!”
After the first glass of wine, dinner officially began.
It had to be said that the cooks of the Jurgen Family were truly excellent.
Every dish on the table was delicious.
Ryan found himself thinking that once he finally had a place to settle down, he should hire a personal chef of his own.
When he had lived on Blue Star in his previous life, he had ordered takeout almost every day.
On the rare occasions he cooked for himself, it had usually been either tomatoes tossed with sugar or smashed cucumbers.
Simple, convenient cold dishes had been his specialty.
During the meal, Alfred told Ryan about many things he had seen and experienced.
Ryan did not let the conversation go cold and listened attentively.
Before long, dinner came to an end.
Alfred took the initiative and said, “Ryan, what do you think about the second matter we discussed earlier?”
When Greta heard Alfred’s words, her gaze also fell on Ryan.
It was obvious that Alfred had already told Greta about the matter.
Alfred had his concerns, and Greta could understand them.
But understanding was one thing. There was no way Greta could be happy about it.
She did not care about Gold Coins, nor did she care about the people of the Jurgen Family.
The only one she cared about was her daughter.
Still, there was nothing she could do to go against Alfred’s decision.
“Mr. Alfred, I agree. Until your daughter’s condition improves, I will not take Nila away.”
Ryan said calmly.
“Really?”
Alfred was overjoyed.
“That’s right.”
Ryan nodded.
“Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Ryan.”
Greta thanked him excitedly.