[Abigail's Spoon - Ahda, 5th of Sun's Crown, 11th year of the Fourth Age]

  Lisabelle, Viena, and Gwen are standing in front of a tavern. What seemed to be unique to the pce is because there is a lot of people going by and bringing heavy heaps of meat to the back of the building. Some even had names carved on the meat as they carry them on their shoulders, making the pce looks more like a butchery than a tavern.

  "A-bi-gay-el . . . Abigail! This is the pce!"

  "Hm. This Cude guy sure has a weird taste picking such a pce."

  "Lisabelle . . . Arbona?"

  Suddenly, a voice calls to Lisabelle from behind her. The two turn around and found a young man with a blonde hair and hazel eyes wearing shabby and dirty clothes. Surprisingly, he is a little shorter than Lisabelle who is reaching 169 cm thanks to her growth spurt. At first, Lisabelle thought that maybe the height difference was due to her shoes, but she then immediately remembered that today, she only wears slim leather boots.

  "Are you Cude Valias?"

  Cude didn't immediately reply. To be more precise, he couldn't. He is greatly stunned by Lisabelle's bewitching beauty. An elegant white fx linen tunic paired with a viridian green corset belt decorated with a mint green ribbon, and also a pair of biceps bangles and a silver bracelet on her left wrist, everything about Lisabelle seemed ethereal. Undoubtedly, Cude fell harder for her than the first time he saw her.

  "(He seems absent minded, right Gwen?)"

  "(It's called dazed, Viena.)"

  "U-Uh oh! Yeah! Yeah . . . I-I am Cude Valias. I'm sorry you had to see me like this . . . I didn't think that you would actually come much earlier."

  Lisabelle realized that they indeed arrived half an hour earlier than the promised time. This is not accidental, because Lisabelle always arrived earlier whenever she had an agenda. It has become a habit for her, and it's often a helpful one. By arriving earlier, she is able to get a grasp of the situation and perhaps also assessing her view on the others.

  "I admit that I'm feeling rather feisty today. It's been a while since I get to go outside with this kid," Lisabelle pinched Viena's cheek.

  "Is that so? Well, uh . . .um . . . Please let me just drop this first while you can go to the balcony on the second floor. There is a table reserved on your name."

  There is a great shyness in Cude's face. He is embarrassed that his first meeting with Lisabelle has gone completely awry and out of the pn. He is smelly and filthy, and he is so ready to have Lisabelle call off the entire thing by now. He starts having cold sweat, and he didn't dare to look Lisabelle in her eyes.

  Cude wanted to walk away to the back of the building like others did, but Lisabelle stopped him.

  "Wait."

  Then, Lisabelle walks towards him, inspecting the game he hunted. Two rabbits, a rge duck, and a venison haunch neatly tied up and hangs on his shoulder. Except for the venison, Lisabelle, being a novice huntress herself, can tell that all of the games were hunted only by bow and arrow, judging by the wound engraved in the carcass. She also noticed that the meat of the games are already cleaned and ready to be processed.

  "Will you at least tell us about this pce?"

  ". . . Abigail's is a famous tavern amongst merchants although they might be unheard of by the nobles. Despite the amazing delicacy they serve, they only cook the meat you bought yourself. That makes the price considerably cheap while retaining the amazing taste of the food."

  "Hm. How interesting. So, they only sell the service of cooking and the spices."

  Cude is looking increasingly concerned by the minute, and Lisabelle can guess why.

  "Truthfully, I never intended for you to find out. I just want you and your sister to enjoy the food without having need for any unnecessary thought. I choose this pce purely out of my high regard to their dish. But surely, if this doesn't suit you, I can accommodate another-"

  "Enough. You have insulted me three times in such a short time. It's amazing how you managed to do that, either knowingly or unknowingly."

  Looking at Lisabelle's dissatisfied expression, Cude quickly loses heart. He knew he messed up, and it turns out that there is no room for mistake in courting the girl in front of him. He took a deep breath and looked down, before slowly pulling up his face to see through until the end.

  "First. You underestimated me, thinking that I am unable to handle the sight and smell of sweat and hard work. Second, you ridiculed me by having a prejudiced view that woman had an aversion to thinking. Third, you have the audacity to try feeding me and my sister as if you are already betrothed to me, which is overstepping, presumptuous, and conceited."

  Lisabelle makes a clear remark that she has every reason to turn around and go home. Cude is so convinced that it's done, and he unconsciously dig his nail into his skin until it bleeds a little out of frustration. Viena noticed and she empathized with him. The little girl even wanted to ask Lisabelle to hold back a little with her sharp words.

  When Viena wanted to step up, suddenly, Lisabelle hands out her handkerchief to Cude.

  "However, as it happens, I don't hate bold people who are honest and not pretending. Take your time, Cude Valias. I will be waiting upstairs."

  Just like that, Lisabelle took grabbed Viena's shoulder and leave. Gwen also followed after, but not before she enjoyed the wonderstruck face of Cude. The previously looking dead of a young man, is suddenly filled with vigor and excitement. Thus, he makes haste for the preparation like the world is burning, even though Lisabelle comforted him to do his things without worrying over her.

  Meanwhile, in the dining table, Viena, Lisabelle, and Gwen are chatting with each other. They sit on a balcony with the best view of the nearby park with old men feeding the birds, and children pying tag and postman's knock. The fresh fragrance of flowers fills the air and thaws every cold. Spring has come in full bloom.

  "The day after tomorrow will be the st day of your house arrest, Lisabelle. How do you feel?" Gwen asks.

  "I'm feeling something that you probably don't want to hear."

  The two ughed as the waiter poured their tea. Viena almost got tongue burn before Gwen stopped her. The little girl wanted to take a sip, thinking that it's not very hot, while it's actually not.

  "Lily, I thought you are not happy with that guy."

  "Am I?"

  "Hahah. It's hard to discern for kids, but to put it simply, Lisabelle is just being pyful with her words, and it's very effective. Did you see his face? Absolutely hirious. That's a splendid work."

  Lisabelle simply smiled as she pours the apple juice into the cup of tea.

  "But why though? Why don't you just make it simple?"

  "You're too small for this. Be at least 160 cm, and I will tell you what you want to know."

  Viena turns sour and gets mad until finally Gwen decides to try to expin what she understood about Lisabelle's act. The way Lisabelle gives Cude her message to command mutual respect between them as her being a strong, high-value woman. The way Lisabelle appreciates his effort to be a dominant provider for her. The way Lisabelle encouraged him to be true so that she will read him easier. Everything is being id on the table by Gwen, and the fact that Lisabelle didn't make any denial speaks loud for itself.

  "Wow."

  "Keep your chin up, Vivi. You're still at the door. There's many more to learn from," Lisabelle smirks.