Towards the Winter Cabin of Serenity and Madness, Cinderella Runs - Chapter 11
Complaining about dishes was the furthest thing from Roel’s mind, her face paling as she frantically waved her hands in denial.
“No, no! I was just worried. Eating just dried meat might leave you hungry, so I thought maybe I could make something else for you…..”
“Can you cook?”
The question made it seem as though cooking was a skill unknown to some. The flustered Roel nodded vigorously.
“Of course. If it’s okay with you, I could make some soup. And I, I don’t need to eat. I usually skip breakfast anyway.”
Roel hastily explained, casting cautious glances at the man, shrinking herself as if to show she had no intention, nor the strength, to covet the food in the cabin.
“If there are ingredients for the soup…”
“Do whatever you see fit.”
The man grunted and turned his head away, seemingly realizing his mistake and losing interest. Roel breathed a sigh of relief.
Sneaking glances at him, she cautiously inspected the pantry, only to find it nearly empty.
Sprouting potatoes and shriveled carrots were all she found, but luckily, there were spices, butter, and salt. After a thorough search, she also found a pot of suitable size, covered in dust, hinting at how long it had been since it was last used.
With the water he had presumably drawn from the stream, Roel economized every drop to clean the vegetables and the pot. Though fresh meat would have been ideal, she made do with rehydrated dried meat, frying it in butter until it released a delicious aroma.
Meanwhile, the man sat in the living room and sharpened an ax blade. He glanced up when the scent of frying meat filled the air, clearly enticed by the smell. He watched the woman bustling about in front of the hearth for a moment before turning his attention back to his task.
Roel added the prepared vegetables to the pot, seasoned it with salt and spices, and soon, a passable soup was ready. Due to the scant ingredients, the quantity was limited. Wiping her palms on her apron, she filled a bowl with soup.
She approached him with a tense expression, worried if it would suit his taste.
She offered the bowl hesitantly.
“Here, please have some.”
Steam rose from the hot soup, looking surprisingly appetizing despite the lack of ingredients.
The man accepted the bowl with an indifferent face. Their hands brushed briefly, making Roel’s heart skip a beat. She had been terrified enough of Roniti’s slaps, but the thought of being hit by his large, thick hands made her fear for her life.
Without a word of thanks, the man consumed the soup quickly. Its broth warms his insides despite no special ingredients. Noticing how swiftly he finished the bowl, Roel stood there, dumbfounded.
The man raised an eyebrow at her.
“You?”
“…No, I’m fine.”
Roel quickly shook her head, taking the empty bowl from his hands and turning away. Eating would probably displease him. She gulped and glanced around cautiously.
Despite being hungry, she felt good seeing him finish all of her cooking.
As Roel was cleaning up, the man stood up. His bulk seemed to match his weight, as the floorboards creaked with every movement he made.
Roel abruptly looked up at him. He was gathering his knife and leather pouch, putting on a coat made of fur. As if to see him off, Roel stood up, clasped her hands together, and asked.
“Where, where are you going?”
“Checking the traps.”
After getting ready to leave, he paused at the sight of Roel, looking like a frightened deer. Though he was reluctant to leave a stranger in his home, her timid appearance reassured him she wouldn’t cause trouble.
“Stay put.”
“Yes, of course!”
Roel nodded with surprised eyes. Her eyes were wide with fear, resembling a startled rabbit.
After leaving Roel inside, the man paused at the door, feeling uneasy about leaving even a seemingly harmless woman alone in his cabin. He decided to block the door with a heavy log from the yard.
The log was too heavy for a man to lift, ensuring it couldn’t be opened from the inside. This way, if she attempted to flee with any stolen goods, she’d find the door impossible to open.
Satisfied with securing Roel inside the cabin, the man left. Unaware of her confinement, Roel began to diligently clean the house. She finished the little leftover soup, washed the dishes, and swept and dusted the cobwebs here and there.
She was eager to show she hadn’t been idle upon his return.
The warmth of the cabin filled with firewood made the chores feel almost relaxing compared to the harsh winter outside. The hardest tasks during the cold season were doing laundry and fetching water, as the cold never became more bearable.
