Chapter 636: NOT 'OLD' ENOUGH
Thin pancakes and rolls, lightly golden, were stacked in several tall piles, each accompanied by small dishes of various dipping sauces. Numerous smaller plates held crispy fried dough sticks, slightly twisted and still warm, ready to be shared. The table also featured teapots filled with different teas, as well as pitchers of milk, filling the air with a comforting aroma.
“I made sure to prepare plenty, so everyone can eat their fill,” Emmy said with a warm smile as they all took their seats.
With 12 people to feed, the small dining room that could only accommodate six was out of the question. Instead, they decided to eat in the back garden. Gage, thinking ahead, had already set up a long table the day before, ensuring they wouldn’t have to worry about seating arrangements today.
Thomas and Casey stared at the array of dishes on the table, amazed that their sister had made them all. If this was still the sister they remembered, she would never have stepped foot in the kitchen. But now, not only could she create beautiful dishes, but she also seemed to embody the role of a homemaker—a very happy and contented one, at that.
When they heard from their sister’s husband that she had prepared breakfast, they braced themselves to eat it all, even if it wasn’t good, determined to make it seem like the most delicious food they’d ever tasted. But now, seeing the impressive spread before them, it was clear they had nothing to worry about.
They began eating, and just as expected, the food was delicious. It had a flavor profile that reminded them of the dishes Astrid had cooked for them. While Astrid’s cooking might have been more refined, this meal felt infinitely better to them. How could it not, when it was prepared by the sister they had missed so dearly?
As they ate, both of them felt their eyes well up with tears. The only thing keeping them from actually crying was their determination not to ruin the breakfast their sister had worked so hard to prepare.
“This is incredible, Emmy,” Casey said, unable to hold back his praise. “No wonder Aster is so good at cooking—he must have gotten it from you.”
Thomas also wanted to say something, but at the end, could only manage to say, “It’s very delicious.”
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Emmy had expected Casey to say something like that, but she hadn’t anticipated Tommy speaking up. She thought he and the duke would remain quiet until it was time to have a serious conversation with her. His brief remark caught her by surprise.
Hearing praise from him, even a brief one, stirred up complicated feelings in her. She and Tommy had never been particularly close—or at least, not since their mother died. There was a time when they were, but everything changed after that.
Emmy looked down and could only mumble a small ‘thank you’.
Anthony also wanted to mention how delicious he found the food, even though he couldn’t actually taste anything at the moment. It wasn’t because the food lacked flavor, but because his nerves were too frayed to allow him to enjoy it. It was a shame, really, since all the dishes looked and smelled incredible.
But what could he do? He was too tense to taste anything properly. His mind kept drifting to the conversation they needed to have, and his stomach was tight with nerves. Every bite felt like an effort, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t focus on the flavors.
He wanted to enjoy the breakfast his daughter had prepared, knowing how much effort she put into it, but the weight of what was to come kept him distracted, dulling his senses.
Really, even at this moment, he was still a failure of a father.
Unlike him, his youngest grandson had no qualms saying his thoughts.
“Aunt Emmy, everything is so delicious!”
Although he still thought Brother Aster’s cooking was better, he knew it wouldn’t be wise to say so. After all, he wanted his newly discovered aunt to like him. A little flattery wouldn’t hurt, right?
Wulfric, hearing everyone praise Aster’s mother, felt he should do the same. Truthfully, he was a bit annoyed that he couldn’t sit next to Aster, thanks to Aster’s father. As soon as they reached the long table in the back garden, Gage Townsend had quickly seated Aster between himself and Reas, leaving Wulfric with no opportunity to sit beside him.
Still, that was no reason to be rude and not acknowledge the effort Aster’s mother had put into the meal.
Maybe this could make up for his earlier blunder. He might even earn some brownie points in the process.
“The food is really good,” he started. Then, thinking that he couldn’t call the other ‘mother-in-law’, he added, “Aunt Emmaline.”
Emmy felt the muscles in her face twitch when she heard the prince call her “aunt.” She looked up at him, a smile on her lips that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m glad Your Highness enjoyed my cooking,” she said. “But I wouldn’t dare accept the title of ‘aunt’ from you. After all, I’m not old enough to be Your Highness’s elder, so how could I let you address me that way?”
In essence, she was politely making it clear that she wasn’t old enough to be Wulfric’s aunt—or his mother-in-law. It was her subtle way of suggesting that he was too old for her son.
Hildred, who had just taken a sip of tea, nearly spat it out when he heard Emmaline Townsend’s words. Instead, he forced himself to swallow, causing the tea to go down the wrong pipe. He immediately started coughing uncontrollably.