Family Dinner
Waking up again it seems to be early evening. Looking down I’m still small and looking behind me I still have wings.
“So it really wasn’t a dream…”
Since I don’t have a mirror available I take off my clothes and try to look at myself.
“Hmm…Everything seems normal. And everything is nice and smooth down there~”
I then try to feel my face but besides knowing I have two eyes, a nose and a mouth I can’t make much out. I guess it feels a bit rounder and softer than usual.
My mouth also seems a bit different. I think my teeth are a different shape and a bit sharper. Also my tongue is a lot longer than before. If I put it out completely I can get it down to the start of my neck and I can touch my forehead with it which is kinda freaky.
I’m not sure why but when I put my clothes back on I feel winded as if I just did a small workout. Falling back onto the bed I take a breather and look at the bell.
“I guess I am a little hungry…”
Picking up the bell I try to ring it but no sound comes out, “Is it broken?”
Trying to ring it a few times nothing happens but after about a minute there is a knock on the door, “You rang, your Highness?”
“Oh! So it did work! Yeah I did, can you get Scarlet, Rayla, John and Sher Aka for me?”
“Of course, right away your Highness.”
Then after about five minutes or so there is another knock on the door as Rayla says, “It’s us. Can we come in?”
“Yeah! Let me open the door for you!”
Jumping down from the bed I walk over to the door but after getting half way there I get so winded that I need to lay down.
“Huff huff Ane, something’s weird!”
Opening the door Rayla is the first to come in, “Oko!? Are you okay?”
“I dunno pant, I tried to walk over to the door and suddenly felt weak.”
John then takes a quick look at me and says, “It’s probably not anything bad. You just overexerted yourself.”
“Overexerted? From what?”
“From walking. Your curse is not supporting your body right now so you probably have the normal constitution of an infant. The only reason you got this far in the first place is probably because of the passive benefits of the boosts you unlocked so far.”
“That’s huff so dumb. I’m not an infant.”
“Sorry to say this but I have to disagree with you. In terms of your body you very much are. Just be thankful your polymorphed form isn’t that of a baby.”
Sher Aka then picks me up and carries me to bed, “It’s alright Rose, you’ll get stronger as you get older. Let’s take it slow for now.”
“Yeah! Before you know it you’ll be as strong as I am now!” Scarlet says happily.
“Huff Fine…Not like I have a choice…”
Jumping down on the bed, right next to me, Scarlet gives me a smooch on the cheek and asks, “Did you want to do anything specific or did you just miss us?”
“I just missed you…I did want to ask if we can eat together too.”
“Of course we can! Are you craving anything specific?”
“No, not really. Although…There was this one cheesy dish that I really liked at lunch. Do you think they have that here too?”
“Cheese Spätzle? Yeah definitely, they go well with some beef and sauce.”
“Then I’d like that if that’s okay.”
“Of course it’s okay. Just say whatever you want and we’ll give it to you.”
“Then…Could I get a slice of cake too?”
“Of course you can, kikikiki.The white and creamy one?”
“Yeah!”
“That’s no problem, I’ll make sure they’ll get the one you want.”
“Thank you, manya.”
“Heh, you’re welcome little sis. But I do need to apologize too.”
“For what?”
“Seeing you cute and small like this…I just can’t hold back!”
Scarlet says with a huge smile as she licks my face and starts tickling me.
“Hahahaha, I love you too manya.”
Rayla then looms over me with a big smile saying, “So you’re ticklish? Good to know~”
Before tickling me too and sitting down on the bed.
“Scarlet was right! You are irresistibly cute like this!”
“Hahahaha, stop it ane. Ahahaha, cough cough.”
“Sorry! Did I go too far?”
“No cough cough it’s fine huff I’m just exhausted.”
Picking me up again Sher Aka holds me tight and I rest my head on her shoulder, “You two are way too rough on her. If you keep going like this she’ll be so exhausted that she’ll sleep through dinner.”
A bit annoyed John answers, “You say that and yet I’m sure you would have done the same…”
“Of course not. I’m very good when it comes to dealing with children after all~”
“Right…So, Scarlet. How does a noble order food? Is there a menu or something?”
“No, just tell me what you want and they’ll make it.”
“Anything?”
“Pretty much. Some things might not be available but it’s rare that they won’t be able to make something.”
“Alright, so what’s the most expensive food I can order that I’d never be able to buy on my own?”
“Uuhhh…Probably Onyx Strings? But I wouldn’t recommend it.”
“In that case I‘ll get those and something you do recommend.”
“Alright…If you say so. If you order that you’ll have to eat it though.”
“Sure.”
“I’ll go with something you recommend, Scarlet.” Rayla says.
“I’ll do the same.” Sher Aka adds.
“Allright, I’ll order then.”
After thinking for a bit Scarlet rings the bell. Shortly after the butler appears and Scarlet asks for the chef, who after some more time comes to our room and Scarlet orders our food in Dwarvish. After about forty minutes there is another knock on our door and some servants bring in our food. It smells amazing.
The butler says, “I hope the food will be to your satisfaction. Contrary to what is customary we have given you porcelain plates and wooden tableware to avoid any reflecting surfaces.”
“Thank you. That is all Butler.”
“I will take my leave then.”
We then all sit down, with me sitting on Sher Aka’s lap because I’m too small for the chairs. The food looks and smells absolutely amazing, the only thing that looks out of place are the Onyx Strings John wanted. They look like black, stinky noodles.
John, looking at his meal, asks, “What exactly is this, Scarlet?”
“They’re the Onyx Strings you wanted.”
“I can see that but…What is it?”
“They’re the defecated remains of a wyverns nest.”
“So it’s shit?”
“Basically yeah.”
“I’m sorry but why do people eat this?”
“Apparently it has some medicinal properties that help against xxx. It’s popular in Xin Jin Huang.”
“So, nobles from Xin Jin Huan eat literal shit to get their hard on?”
“If you want to phrase it like that, sure.”
“And I have to eat this?”
“Yeah, I’m not letting you waste something this expensive.”
“Do I just…Eat it the way it is?”
“No, you soak it into that herbal soup and then eat it.”
“I see…”
Putting the Onyx Strings into the soup it turns completely black and a strange medicinal smell fills the air.
Taking a spoonful, John lets out a sigh, “If nobles eat this it can’t be that bad, right?”
Almost the second he puts it in his mouth he starts coughing and spits it out in disgust, “Holy shit, this crap is vile!”
“I told you I wouldn’t recommend it.”
“You could have at least warned me that it’s literal shit!”
“It’s not my fault that you aren’t educated enough to know that~”
“You little-”
“But I anticipated this. Go eat the other thing I ordered for you first then drink the Guavir. It will make your tastebuds go completely numb for about two hours and you won’t be able to taste anything, you can finish your soup then.”
“Alright…I guess I’ll do that.”
A little confused, I say, “So this is what people mean when they say ‘eat shit’ as an insult?”
Hearing this, everyone except John and I chuckle a little.
Brushing through my hair Sher Aka answers, “I don’t think that’s what people mean when they say that Rose. Now open wide, you can’t reach your plate like this.”
“Okay. Aaaaa…Mmhh! This is really good!”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“Hey! Don’t talk like you ordered that food for her, I did that!”
“You ordered something really good, thank you manya!”
“Kikikiki, you’re welcome.”
Continuing our meal, we all have a great time. It is about an hour later when the food has already been eaten and dishes taken back to the kitchen, that I start feeling tired again so Rayla tucks me into bed and gives me a kiss on the cheek, “Scarlet and I will join you later. The Duke asked us to join him for dinner.”
“Okay. Just make sure you take a bath before. You all smell really strongly.”
“What do you mean we all took baths while you were nap- Oh no.”
“What?”
“Scarlet, I thought you said that we have another half year until her next imprint.”
“On average, yes. Being around papa for so long and talking to mama must have triggered it to happen early…”
“So, I’m starting an imprint again?”
Scarlet answers, “Yes, most likely. But it’s fine, you’ll probably have another day before it starts and you can just imprint on Rayla and me again.”
“Would that…Would that make the feelings stronger?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.”
“Then what if I don’t imprint on anyone? Can’t you just leave me alone when it happens?”
“If we do that. There is a chance you’ll imprint on some of the lingering smells in the room instead, so that’s not a good idea.”
“I see…Could you guys step out for a second? There’s something I’d like to talk about with Sher Aka.”
“Oko, you aren’t actually considering imprinting on her, are you?”
“I don’t know yet. That’s why I want to talk to her.”
Scarlett adds, “If you do that it would mean that for the rest of your life you’d see Sher Aka as family and if she dies or leaves you you’d be very depressed for the rest of your life as well.”
“I know. Don’t worry I know it’s a big decision that’s why I want to talk about it first.”
Rayla asks, “Are you really sure you know what that means, oko? A decision like that will impact you for the rest of your life. You can’t take it lightly.”
“Yeah, I know. Can you leave us alone now so I can discuss this with Sher Aka?”
“I guess…” Scarlet says.
“Sure, oko.”
“Just don’t make a rash decision, Rose.” John adds.
“I won’t.”
A bit reluctantly they then leave the room leaving just me and Sher Aka behind.