Chapter 963 Chapter 962: Lunch With The Family
"Come on then, get to the table. Grandma, Grandpa, over here. Everyone else, find a seat. Bessie, start with the pasta, I'll plate the chicken."
The migration from the couches over to the table was a quick one, though the only one who didn't instantly take a seat was Mother, since she went ahead and took the twins and went into the other room to feed them their own meal.
"Light on the chicken for us please, Katherine. You can give part of our share to Jahi instead. She's still growing, after all."
Grandpa began to tuck his napkin into his shirt before sorting through the available silverware, placing each in a particular order that made me inwardly cringe as I recalled having to briefly learn about proper table etiquette and how to manage with all of intricate rules...
The Cowkin carted the giant cauldron of pasta over to the table and began to serve it, placing it in the center of the plates and giving me space to drape the chicken breasts around the edge like a ring; it wasn't pretty plating, but we weren't going for pretty, not with two Demoness' at the table.
And a Jackalkin who was likely just as hungry as I was, so there was that too.
"If you say so... Slide your teacups over towards the right please, and mind yourselves..."
When the chicken was on the plate, I went back around with the two teapots and poured them into the awaiting cups, with the two older Elves getting the special brew that they both curiously sniffed, clearly wondering if they were getting a medicinal concoction instead of actual tea.
Only to blink in surprise when it smelt only like tea, and not like herbal medicines - bitter and unpalatable for most people, left to cool down in their mug after three sips before being spilled out and replaced with something else.
Getting everything plated took a minute, but it happened quickly with two sets of hands working to get everything out, and I got to sit down between Jahi and Anput to a heaping pile of alfredo that was waiting to be devoured; the fruits of my labors were right in front of me...
"Looks tasty."
Twirling the pasta around my fork, I glanced at Grandma and smiled, nodding before taking my first bite and letting out a happy sigh as the explosion of creamy richness with subtle herbal undertones caressed my tongue, followed quickly by the warmth of the sauce spreading throughout my body as I swallowed everything down.
The noodles were soft and relatively flavorless, doing their job of keeping the sauce sticking to their surface perfectly and being the vehicle to carry everything from the plate to your mouth.
Meanwhile, I could use my fork to slice through the tender chicken and reveal the steaming white meat beneath the greenish yellow 'crust' that had darkened the outer skin thanks to the herbs and butter infusing into the meat; juices weeped out of the chicken and made me salivate somewhat as I stabbed the small chunk after gathering more noodles.
I was very happy when I took that bite and got the burst of tangy, slightly sweet herbs that complimented the sauces's smooth richness in the perfect way, with the soft meat falling apart as I bit down on it.
Oh I was so very happy with this; all it was missing was a bit more cheese on top, loosely sprinkled on and allowed to melt on its own... or maybe I could try baking it inside a pan with the cheese on top to give it some more texture..?
A pasta bake... wouldn't that make this a lot better, especially since I could pre make the sauce and jar it to be used for later?
Quite the idea there isn't it... well worth being remembered for when I need to create my own compendium of what I should be making for my family in the future, especially since it can feed many, many hungry mouths so long as I think it through.
As I sipped the non spiked tea, I washed down the richness with something more subdued, the simple tea reseting my palate for the gooey, creamy goodness to return in another bite, though I certainly would have preferred the smoothness and floral taste of a good white wine, which would keep in the theme of the meal.
What let me know that I wasn't alone in feeling that this was an excellent meal was the fact that everyone was silent, their attention entirely directed at the plate and cup in front of them as they ate.
Jahi and Mom were tearing up their chicken before shoveling the noodles into their mouths, whilst the Elves were all properly twirling their forks and taking collected bites, showing the difference between the races and their upbringings as they ate their meals, but even then...
Considering the lack of reprimanding from Grandma on how Mom was eating, I took that as an even better sign as I briefly watched her take another sip from her tea before cutting another piece of the chicken for herself.
Finishing my mouthful, I got up when I glanced back at Jahi and Mom and saw that they were in the process of almost licking their plates clean, heading over to the cart and getting them their next portion, before topping everyone else up with an additional scoop or two.
As we got into the midst of that refilled plate, everyone finally reached the point where communication was an option again, and it was Mom who looked up and asked "So where exactly are you two going to sleep? There is a room a bit down the hall you could use, or across the way."
"Well... if you don't mind, we could just take the couch? We'll likely only be asleep for a few hours at most, and I don't particularly want to be away from everyone; we finally got here, after all. We want to make the most of our time."
Grandma nodded at that, only to frown when Mom frowned and peeked at Mother Ria, which made Grandma ask "What? Is that a problem?"
"No... not particularly, just... the nights can get a bit noisy around here. On both sides."
That made her frown deepen as she looked between the two Demonesses, who just returned to their plates instead of elaborating, though Mother Ria sighed and said "If you're alright with the couches, we can bring out some blankets and extra pillows. They're rather comfortable on their own... and if your really, truly think it'll just be a few hours, the rocking chair has lulled me to sleep multiple times already. Alessandra loves it too."
Those piercing blue eyes remained glued to the two Demonesses as Grandma continued to judge them, before she glanced towards the window and nodded as they landed on the rocking chair instead.
"If you don't mind - and if they are alright with it - we can have the twins tonight..?"
Mother Ria shrugged her shoulders, replying "If they're alright with it, sure. It would be nice for them too, getting to know you now instead of later." before she too returned to her plate, taking a bite and nodding as she glanced at me to say "It really is excellent, Kat. I think Les would be quite proud of how far you've come."
That brought a small smile to my face as I recalled the Dwarf woman back in Asmodia Manor, her brusqueness and pride in her craft still something I remembered even after all this time; a part of me missed the interactions with the other servants, even if they were very, very limited.
My role as Jahi's personal maid meant I had little time to do much else in the Manor, so I was always with primarily Jahi, and if it wasn't her, I was with Mother tending to the general area that we all lived in.
"Thank you, Mother Ria."
Everyone else swiftly gave me their own compliments, during which Mother returned and took a seat, smiling at me before she too dug in and replenished her own energy, all whilst the twins sat on her lap and looked around before focusing on the food, demanding some for themselves despite having just been fed.
Lakshmi in particular was at war within her mind as she tried to figure out if she wanted to be on her Mom's lap, her sister's lap, or her grandparents laps, or if she wanted to have a bite of whatever it was that her Mother was eating at the moment, which looked really good...
Alessandra was craving it as well, but she was always more tame in this regard compared to her sister; even then, she was tugging on Mother's sleeve and trying to get a bite for herself, even if it was clear that Mother was focusing on feeding herself instead of them...
Though neither of the twins were going to let her 'forget' about them as they kept up their assault.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel