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12

A week had passed, and Ranboo never left Tubbo's side. Scott was worried for him, but couldn't do much. Ranboo refused to listen to him and his loyalty to the royal family prevented him from forcefully removing Ranboo from the room so he would rest.

He had taken the satchel of fruit back from Ranboo after he ate the first day. He had been preparing different dishes with the fruit throughout the week, trying to help him feel a little less homesick with the food he remembered from home. He didn't have all the ingredients the End had for the dishes, so he did have to incorporate things from the Overworld but it was close enough. The dishes in the End did use ingredients from the Overworld, but still not as many as he was using now.

Three days ago, Wilbur and Tommy had returned. They were curious of the food, and so Scott made enough for them all to eat. He'd been living in the End, eating this food for so long that he managed to develop a taste for it. However, everyone else thought Scott's cooking was terrible because the food tasted rotten to them-at least the chorus fruit anyway. Because everyone decided to try the food-he saw it as wasteful but they didn't listen to his warnings-he had to make another trip to the End sooner than expected. This time, he brought an extra satchel that was charmed to have enough space to carry double the amount of fruit in the other bag.

Today, he'd prepared a dish very different to that of what was usually in the End. They barely ate meat, as it was so rare, and Ranboo hadn't had a chance to eat any in a while. The meat in the End was reserved for the royal family alone, and only at special events was it even prepared properly.

He had grilled chicken and squeezed out the juice from the chorus fruit before dousing the meat in it. As it grilled, the chorus fruit was absorbed into the meat. To others it would taste spoiled, but this would be considered a delicacy in the End.

He cut another chorus fruit into bite sized pieces-along with cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, and potatoes-before steaming them. He sprinkled some garlic on them, along with a small bit of lime and added them to the plate next to the grilled chicken. He added some cilantro over the meat and split a loaf of bread. He poured a cup of grapefruit juice and placed everything onto a tray so it would be easy to take upstairs.

Wilbur walked into the kitchen as he was about to leave, and looked at the food. He wrinkled his nose. "Are you sure it's safe for Ranboo to eat your cooking?" He questioned, and Scott was sure he was remembering the food he'd prepared for breakfast three days ago. He nodded. "I did tell you that the fruit only tastes good to the endermen that have lived or do live in the End. It was your own fault none of you listened to me.

Wilbur huffed. "I thought you were joking. It smells good, so why does it taste awful?" Scott shrugged. "That's just the way it is. Now, I need to get this upstairs before it grows cold."

Wilbur stepped aside as Scott left the kitchen. "One last question, why is everything you make for him so fancy?" The man thought for a moment and shrugged. "It's what he would eat at home. Everyone ate well in the End no matter their social standings, but the royal family always ate best. I know how to prepare the dishes he and his mother would eat, so why not make them? He used to know as well, but that was a while ago."

He looked to Wilbur and saw his expression. "He isn't pretentious, if that's what you're thinking. Royalty is not the same in the End as it is here and in the Nether. Though they do own a castle it is mostly used for anyone who lost their homes after attacks on the dragon. Ranboo and his mother live in a small cottage away from the other homes, and nearest the dragon to care for her. They help everyone and insure all are being treated equally. They barely have others working for them. They have people to clean the castle, but Ranboo and his mother do most of it. They have no cooks, so the queen and Ranboo would do their own cooking along with anyone staying there. They have no cleaners in their cottage, and are the only two that live there other than myself. They did, however, have a minimum of three guards following the prince at all times, and two following the queen. They have a total of 30 in the royal guard, and all are well respected. They socialize with the people as much as anyone else, even if they are working so long as there are others with them to focus entirely on their job. It helps them to gauge people's views easier which lets them know who may be a possible threat to the royal family. The royal family does get many things the common folk don't, but it isn't like here."