Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74 {Part 1}

~Chapter 117: Kitchen Counter Cocoa~

"There!" Edward hummed, setting four cups of hot chocolate onto the kitchen counter with a smile," Four cups of hot cocoa, perfect for a winters day like this."
"Thank you, Edward," Jiu smiled, handing Leora's her's, taking his own.
"Ugh, this smells so good," Soren sighed, contently; taking the cup.
Edward chuckled, sitting on the stool beside the tutor," Of course it does, I made it."
"There he goes, all smug about his cooking again," Leora rolled her eyes, playfully, sipping her drink.
"That's what all the jealous people say," Edward hummed, closing his eyes as he took a sip of his own.
Jiu shut his own eyes and took a sip. He couldn't deny it, Edward was damn good at everything he made; he was practically a connoisseur in everything he made. The flavours were sweet, but not too sweet, and warm, like a hug. There was a rich cocoa-y taste to it, but not to the point it was sickly and you could grow bored of it; it was quite aromatic and addictive in that respect.
"So, it's Christmas Eve tomorrow," The butler hummed, softly, looking up at them," Excited?"
Leora beamed," You know I am! I love Christmas; I love it, I love it. I'm sure this year will be just as great."
Jiu couldn't help but smile at her childlike optimism and excitement for Christmas.

"Remember when you used to wake me up stupidly early?" Edward chuckled," Straight to the servants quarters; crying 'Edward, Edward, it's Christmas day, it's Christmas!'."
Leora puffed her cheeks," I'll have you know, Christmas is an extremely important day of the year for me."
"More than your birthday?" Jiu chuckled.
Leora grinned," Especially more than my birthday! Christmas is much more fun."
Soren sighed, sympathetically glancing at the butler," I don't know how you managed it. I fear I would have smacked Leora if she woke me that bloody early."
Leora glared at the tutor, offendedly; Edward laughed.
"Trust me, I was tempted," The butler chuckled.
Leora glumly snatched her drink and gulped it down, pettily. Jiu chuckled, rubbing her back, comfortingly.
"So, mine and Jiu's first Christmas at the Mohan manor," Soren smiled," I'm quite thrilled for it."
Jiu nodded," As am I. It'll be fun, I've never had a Victorian Christmas before."
Soren smiled," Hopefully it can live up to whatever expectation you have."
Jiu glanced at Leora, who was sipping her drink intently. He smiled to himself.
"I'm sure it will."

"Ooh, Edward, you should make another trifle," Leora hummed.
Soren groaned, clasping his stomach," Ugh, god-! Don't even mention that dessert."
Jiu raised an eyebrow," Oh? I thought you were obsessed with it?"
"That's the problem," Soren groaned," Back at the Yule party, I-"
"He was a stupid fool and scoffed the whole bowl's worth," Edward cut in, frustratedly," Which, may I remind everyone, was supposed to serve everyone in that venue a small portion. Yet Mr Academically gifted, here, thought it would be smart to eat the whole bowl himself! Honestly, you almost deserve this karma. Soren, for someone so educationally bright, you truly are such a dimwit at times; I forget I'm talking to someone intelligent most days."
Soren deflated, miserably. Leora snickered.
The butler arched an eyebrow, disparagingly at the girl," Don't you start laughing now. I think Jiu and I both can confirm you're quite the hypocrite when it comes to 'dimwitted'."
"When have I-!?"
"Oh, where to begin!" Edward exclaimed.
The girl flushed with embarrassment, and miserably collapsed onto the counter in surrender, as if she could take no more. Jiu burst into laughter at the sight; smiling warmly. Life in the manor was, for once, looking good.