Flora curved the corners of her mouth and followed Xueli’s footsteps as the two of them walked into the dining room together.
Everyone was already seated at the dining table. Lena stood by her seat, still adjusting the positions of the plates. Ilya sat in the seat of honor; Lias was to her right, while the seat to her left remained empty.
Xueli sat down next to that empty space. Flora walked over and took the empty seat, with Xueli on her right. Eileen sat next to Xueli, still fiddling with the small jar.
Lena was finally satisfied with the arrangement of the plates and plopped down, letting out a long sigh. “We can finally eat!”
Ilya picked up her wine glass. Everyone looked toward her. She remained silent for two seconds before speaking. “This year…” She paused again. “There is one more person.”
Her gaze lingered on Eileen for a brief moment. “There are also many more people.” Her eyes swept over Lias, Xueli, and Lena, finally stopping on Flora. “It is quite good.”
She raised her glass, and the others followed suit.
“Yes, it really is quite good. We are all together, enjoying this beautiful night, aren’t we?” Flora said, her voice filled with expectation and joy.
“Happy New Year!”
“Mm, Happy New Year,” the others echoed.
The glasses clinked together gently, making a crisp sound.
Outside the window, the night had completely fallen. The lights of the castle were lit, surrounding the warm glow of the room into a perfect circle.
Lena stood beside Flora and patted her head. “Your Highness, you must be happy today.”
Flora pouted and turned her head away, seemingly acting in a huff. “Ah! You stopped rubbing my head and changed to patting it, didn’t you? Hmph.”
Seeing her like this, Lena had no choice but to grab her hand. “Alright, alright, I won’t pat your head anymore. Just be happy.”
“Mm, that’s more like it,” Flora said, turning back with a smile.
Looking at Lena’s smile-filled face, Flora also felt expectant for the day’s events. They had invited those important to them to spend the holiday together at the demon castle and share a meal.
Or rather, they had invited an entire ‘family’ to reunite. There were Xueli and Lias, as well as her younger sister, Eileen, who had never before stepped into the heart of the demon race’s territory.
“Well, Your Highness, I’ll go prepare the food first.”
‘A family reunion? Interesting.’
“I’ll go with you. I don’t have much to do anyway, and I can find something fun to do.”
“Sure, Your Highness, then let’s go together. I’ll check to see if we’re missing any ingredients while I’m at it.”
The two of them soon reached the kitchen.
“Winter mushrooms… we’re out,” Lena said, counting the items on her list. “And the sweet potatoes that Lady Eileen might like…”
“Then let’s have someone go get some,” Flora suggested.
“Mm…” Lena turned toward the door, hesitating about whether to call someone to the storehouse.
Just then, the door was pushed open.
Ilya stood at the doorway.
The light from the corridor slanted in from behind her, casting a faint golden edge over her deep blue hair.
She wore her usual dark dress, and her expression was no different from when she was reviewing official documents — calm, cold, and impossible to read.
Lena froze in place. “Your… Your Majesty! Why are you here!”
Ilya walked in, her gaze sweeping over the stove, the cutting board, and the list in Lena’s hand.
“What is missing?”
It took Lena two seconds to react. “Ah? No, it’s… it’s fine! Your Majesty, how could you — “
“What is missing?” Ilya repeated. Her tone softened slightly as her eyes fell on the list.
“Mother just wants to help, it’s nothing,” Flora said with a light laugh, finding the scene rather amusing.
“Just… winter mushrooms and sweet potatoes… we don’t usually keep those in stock here…”
In the next instant, Ilya raised her right hand, and a strand of faint silver-purple light lit up at her fingertips. The light rippled through the air like water and silently vanished out the door.
Lena blinked once, then twice.
About three breaths later, a soft *poof* sounded from the doorway.
A pile of ingredients was neatly stacked on the floor — winter mushrooms, sweet potatoes, and several side dishes that Lena hadn’t even had time to write on the list but definitely needed.
Lena’s mouth hung open as she looked at the pile of food and then at Ilya.
Flora, however, remained calm and patted Lena’s back. “This is just the tip of the iceberg of Mother’s abilities. You won’t be so surprised once you’ve seen more of it.”
Only then did Lena snap out of it.
By this time, Ilya had already walked to the cutting board and picked up a kitchen knife. “I will chop the vegetables.”
“Your Majesty!” Lena cried out in alarm. “This isn’t according to protocol! How could a Queen be the one cooking!”
Ilya placed a winter mushroom on the cutting board, the tip of the knife dropping gently.
“If you want to put it that way, my words are the protocol,” she said indifferently. “Besides, today is New Year’s Eve. There are no rules to begin with.”
The blade flashed.
The winter mushroom was sliced into pieces of uniform thickness, each slice looking as if it had been measured with a ruler.
The way she chopped vegetables was exactly the same as when she reviewed documents — her back was straight, her wrists stable, and her eyes focused.
The only difference was that her expression was slightly more relaxed than usual.
Lena stood in place and watched for five seconds before pinching herself hard.
It hurt. It wasn’t a dream.
The Queen was personally chopping vegetables.
She had lived for nineteen years and had never seen such a scene.
If the ministers were to see this…
But — she was the Queen; she could do whatever she wanted.
Only then did Flora take a serious look.
She watched Ilya slide the chopped mushrooms into a plate. That focus was very similar to when she handled government affairs, yet it was different — there was an extra layer of tenderness, relaxation, and caution.
The corners of Flora’s mouth curved up unconsciously.
She lowered her head and continued her own tasks, washing vegetables and kneading dough.
Lena finally couldn’t help but ask, “Your Majesty… have you done this before?”
Ilya’s movements didn’t stop. “A long time ago.”
“How long?”
“Longer than you think.”
After a while, Ilya spoke while chopping. “Flora, your sister should be arriving soon. Go pick her up. We can handle things here.”
“Mm, okay.”
Flora set down her work and walked toward the castle’s main gates.
In the corridor, her pace was a bit faster than usual. She didn’t know why herself, but it felt as if something was thumping gently in her heart.
Passing through the central court, she glanced up at the sky. The day had already darkened, and the castle lamps were lighting up one by one, forming a warm line in the twilight.
She withdrew her gaze and continued forward.
Outside the castle gates, a carriage had just come to a steady halt.
The curtain was lifted, and a hand reached out — it was Eileen.
She wore a light-colored coat, and her hair was longer than when they last met, tied into simple braids hanging over her shoulders.
Standing by the carriage, she first looked at the spires of the castle, then at the unfamiliar plants around her, and finally rested her gaze on Flora.
Then, she smiled.
“I’m here… um, I should call you — Sister now.”
She walked a bit slowly, as if she were still getting used to the title.
Flora stood in place, waiting for her to reach her.
Eileen tilted her face up; her eyes were bright, filled with curiosity, expectation, and a bit of nervousness.
Flora gently placed a hand on her head. “Was the journey tiring?”
Eileen shook her head. “Not at all. It’s the first time I’ve been in a carriage for so long. I was looking outside the whole time.”
“That’s good.”
Flora suddenly reached out, pulled her into her arms, and gave her a hug. “It’s good that you’re here.”
Eileen was stunned for a moment, then she laughed. “I also wanted to take a good look at my famous sister.”
Flora chuckled. “You little…”
After they separated, they walked into the castle together.
Eileen followed closely behind Flora the entire way, her eyes never stopping.
“Why do these lamps light up on their own?”
“Induction magic lamps.”
“Why do these paintings seem to move?”
“They use special pigments.”
“What about those specks of light?”
“They’re part of the castle barrier. They’re mostly just for looks.”
Eileen said “oh” while continuing to look around.
As they walked around a corner, she suddenly stopped. “So beautiful…”
She pointed to a painting on the wall. “This Queen…”
Flora followed her gaze.
It was a portrait of Ilya. Blue hair and silver eyes, she stood sideways by the endless Black Sea with a cold expression.
It wasn’t the kind of coldness that pushed people away, but a natural majesty that required no explanation.
Flora smiled. “Mother looks even better than she does in the painting. You’ll see her in a bit.”
Eileen said softly, “She already looks so good in the painting. Then in person…”
Flora couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
“Let’s go. Let’s see how they’re doing in the kitchen.”
The two of them pushed open the kitchen door, and a wave of heat rushed over them.
Lena was stirring a pot of soup, and she smiled as soon as she saw them. “Miss Eileen is here!”
Eileen felt a bit embarrassed. “Hello, Sister Lena.”
“Come in quickly — ah, wait, there’s no place to sit in the kitchen. Just stand for a bit and be careful not to get splashed by oil.”
Eileen nodded and stood to the side.
Then she saw Ilya at the cutting board.
She was stunned.
The Queen from the painting was currently holding a kitchen knife and chopping vegetables.
She blinked once, then twice.
Flora whispered, “It’s real. Mother is personally cooking today.”
Eileen opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Ilya looked up.
The moment their eyes met, Eileen froze entirely.
But Ilya simply gave a small nod.
The movement was natural and gentle.
Eileen said in a small voice, “H-hello, Your Majesty.”
“Mm.”
Ilya responded and continued chopping.
Eileen suddenly felt that she might not be so scary after all.
“Are you hungry? There are snacks over there,” Lena shouted from the side.
Just as Eileen was about to head over, there was another knock on the door.
Flora went to open it.
Two people stood at the door — Lias and Xueli.
“Are we late?” Lias asked with a smile.
“No, just in time.”
The two of them entered the kitchen.
Lias spotted Eileen immediately. “Is this Eileen?”
Eileen was a bit nervous but still nodded. “Mm… it’s me.”
Lias approached with a gentle gaze. “I’ve heard Flora talk about you. I finally get to meet you today.”
She gently patted Eileen’s shoulder.
Xueli finally walked in then, standing beside Flora.
Flora looked at her. “You seem… very relaxed today.”
Xueli said softly, “Mm.”
The sounds in the kitchen continued.
Lena stirred the soup, Ilya chopped the vegetables, and Lias and Eileen chatted about spices.
Eileen finally couldn’t resist picking up a snack and taking a small bite.
Flora and Xueli stood by the door, watching it all.
“Everyone is here.”
“Mm.”
Xueli added another sentence, “It’s quite good.”
Her expression was as indifferent as ever, but the corners of her mouth had softened significantly.
In the kitchen, the soup was bubbling, the knife made a rhythmic sound against the cutting board, and laughter broke out occasionally.
Flora was called in to help, and her hand was gently brushed by Xueli’s.
It was very light, as if accidental.
When she turned to look, Xueli had already averted her gaze.
The tips of her ears were slightly red.
Flora smiled, not calling her out.
Soon, the dishes were brought to the table one by one.
Stews, home-cooked dishes, desserts, and a sweet soup specially prepared for Eileen.
Looking at the table full of food, Flora suddenly remembered her past self who was always thinking about running away.
And now, she stood here, preparing a New Year’s Eve dinner with these important people.
She shook her head gently and smiled.
‘It’s nothing.’
Time really did fly.