Chapter 56: Mcronald? Who is that?
Inigo leaned back against the kitchen counter, arms crossed as he watched Lyra finish the last fry. The golden light of late afternoon filtered through the open window, catching the sheen of oil still warm in the pan and casting soft shadows across the wooden floor.
"You’re serious?" he asked after a moment, his tone a mix of surprise and curiosity. "You really want to help me run this thing?"
Lyra wiped her fingers with a cloth napkin and gave him a firm nod. "Dead serious. I’m not just saying it because that burger rocked my world. This could actually work, Inigo. Elandra’s never seen food like this. If you’re really committed to the idea, I want to be part of it from the start."
He studied her expression. No trace of a joke, no hint of flippancy. Just that calm, focused look he’d seen when she sized up a monster or made a critical strike. It hit him then—not only was she serious, she was already planning three steps ahead.
He smiled. "Then let’s do it."
"Just like that?"
"Well," he shrugged, "you’re already helping me find a house, cook a test meal, and now plotting out a business with me. Might as well make it official."
Lyra leaned forward and extended her hand across the kitchen table. "Partners?"
Inigo took her hand and shook it. "Partners."
They both grinned, and for a moment, the house felt a little less empty.
By the time they stepped out into the city again, the sun had begun its descent, casting Elandra’s rooftops in gold. The two of them made their way through the streets toward the eastern quarter—the marketplace district, where merchants, food vendors, and small eateries operated in a vibrant sprawl of color, sound, and mouthwatering aroma.