Next To You

Ch.6~ Just For Tonight

*In the autumn filled village, Raedon tidy up the elderly woman's kitchen for the night. Tonight's service was ran by the boy who could barely cook, and surprisingly the results went well. Raedon served every dish at his best capability, and wasn't yelled at for much. Only a couple mistakes made, but he always remembered that he wasn't perfect, and the old woman always remembered that he was still learning. Regardless customers praised him for the food through the elderly woman, saying how much he's improved since last week. Which made her smile so big, the biggest Raedon has ever seen.*

*As he finished his last dishes, she walked into the kitchen to check on him again. She pushed the kitchen curtain that covered the threshold of the door to the side to open it up.* "Does my new cook need help with anything?"
*He turned his head for a quick second to acknowledge her presence.* "Oh.. of course not grandma, you should be resting."

"Oh no worries, I barely broke a sweat. This has been one of the most calmest services I've had since I opened this place. Di- Did I tell you I was proud of you?"

"Yes, I  think this is the 5th time... more than ever." *He chuckled a bit to her grandmother like tendencies.*

"Well you need to hear it again hunny, I'm so proud of you..." *Raedon shook the water off his hands into the sink, grabbing a towel to dry. He finally turned to face her with a small smile on his face. Yet he couldn't help but wonder something in his mind.*
"Grandma... I have to ask you something..."

"Yes dear?"

"Please don't tell my mother okay?" *He paused to look around the room, checking if anyone was possibly there to hear the utter of the name he would speak. Yet he noticed no one and continued his sentence.*

"King Mikael wrote me a letter before he died..."

"Mikael? For what reason would that be" *she looked to ground as if she knew something, but Raedon didn't think much of it.*

"Well... he told me a lot of things. Please, can we sit and talk about these things?" *Night grew closer, the sun was setting yet she didn't feel like running away from the idea of this conversation.*

"Yes... we can. But you know son... I am not young anymore. If I was, I would stay up at all hours of the night to help you understand his words. He always spoke in riddles, as if someone was always going to hear him if he spoke regularly." *she spoke softly with a small chuckle under her breath, as if she was on the verge of tears.* "Bring his letter here tomorrow morning. I'll help you."

"Yes ma'am. I'm sorry to bother you with this... I need help."

*she turned to walk out the kitchen* "You may not be my blood, but I will love you like the grandson I never had."

❄️the story continues ❄️

*Zeno returned holding the door for the servant with a tray with the items requested by Saeroyi, wine and two drinking glasses. The servant even gifted her a cheese board to nibble on while drinking a wine as good as she could ever imagine. This she didn't need to ask for, since her servant knew well to add it in with her request. The cheese board was filled a variety of cheeses from across the lands; along with bread freshly baked and red vine grapes straight from the kingdom's garden. This wine was for special occasions only, perfect for the moment of the night.*

*Zeno took a seat at the small round table across the room, next to her balcony that she looked out from when the sun would set. Saeroyi could see the whole village from there, before she would track her progress this way as she was able to see if people were having troubles. Nowadays she sits there sometimes while eating her meals if she did not want to be bothered by those who requested of her. Her own personal get away from the kingdom. The servant left the wine and cheese board there and quickly departed from the room before she was even commanded to.*

*Saeroyi walked out her bathing room, dressed and moisturized with scent of roses and lavender in the air. Anyone who smelled this scent knew who it was. She stopped and looked across the room at him.* "Please respect my room, no shoes... and take off the armor. This is a safe place."