My Orc Husband Is Rather Handsome

[Chapter 5] Salt! A party??

"Finally!" Cecile squealed with delight as Lyska handed her the large bag.

"This is—?" she asked, her voice filled with excitement as she peeked inside.

Lyska nodded, beaming at the sight of Cecile's happiness. "I also found something I know humans like," she added, handing her a smaller pouch.

Cecile opened the pouch, gasping when she saw the contents. "Lyska! I love you so much!" she exclaimed, looking up at her friend with stars in her eyes.

Lyska laughed heartily, as if Cecile's reaction was the most amusing thing in the world. "Human girl, I am the wrong person to love," she teased, her tone filled with playful insinuation.

Cecile felt her face heat up, knowing exactly what Lyska was hinting at. She had a perfectly fine man—well, orc—right there, even though Maddox wasn't around at the moment. And the way Lyska had said "love" made it clear she was talking about something more. Cecile quickly shook the thought away, embarrassed.

"If you need anything else, just ask Maddox for me," Lyska said as she headed toward the door. "I'll see you later, maybe at the feast."

Cecile's ears perked up at the word "feast." "There's a feast?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Lyska nodded. "Maddox is probably out getting some more... traditional clothes for you, so you can blend in with the other human wives."

Cecile's heart skipped a beat. Wife? She wanted to say she wasn't Maddox's wife, but if not his wife, what was she? A slave? That didn't sit right with her either. A pet? The question lingered, unspoken, as Lyska waved goodbye and left.

Shaking off the thought, Cecile rushed to the fire with the small pouch in hand. Inside was salt—and rock sugar. She nearly cried with relief as she seasoned the meat she'd been given. For once, when she took a bite, it wasn't hard to chew and swallow. The flavor actually satisfied her, and she realized just how desperately she needed better food.

If she was going to stay here for any length of time, she had to improve her diet. Vegetables, bread, potatoes—anything! Rice, even!

"That's it!" she muttered to herself. "I'll take Maddox foraging this week. There must be edible plants in the forest." She refused to believe there were no vegetables to be found. Determined, she made a plan to venture out, confident she would find something, no matter what obstacles stood in her way.

The heavens themselves would not stop her from getting a decent meal.

When Maddox returned, he was momentarily stunned. The small table was covered with plates of meat, far more than he had expected. Cecile stood by, looking immensely pleased with herself, her face glowing with pride. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.

"Welcome home!" Cecile greeted him, her voice cheerful, and this time, she spoke in Vella.

Maddox blinked, caught off guard. He hadn't expected her to even attempt to learn Vella, much less greet him in it. War slaves rarely showed such enthusiasm for adapting to their new lives, especially those forced into marriages like this. He had long since resigned himself to the idea that Cecile would never fully accept him, never warm to him. But when she smiled at him like that, her eyes bright and genuine, it was hard to keep his hopes low.

Maddox sat down, still a bit stunned by the sheer amount of food Cecile had prepared. The table was packed with plates of perfectly cooked meat, seasoned just right. Cecile watched him eagerly as he began to eat, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. He didn't hold back, devouring everything she had made, his appetite matching the feast she had laid out.