I reincarnated as an elf .......and married the yandere villainess.-Chapter 53:Leisure

Atheline leaned against the kitchen wall his amused gaze directed at Lily. The fire flickered against her grey skin catching faintly on the sheen of sweat on her temples.

The kitchen felt too warm for her, she looked as though she didn’t belong.

The engagement party had ended a few hours ago and Atheline had brought her to his home. His parents had stayed in the palace to finish their discussion so Atheline had decided to cook to reduce the tension that was about to come with her at home.

Lilith had refused to stay in the palace in front of everyone and insisted on sleeping at his home.

He had gone to the kitchen while she was bathing hoping to give her a small surprise to raise her souring mood but she had followed him a few minutes after.

And now here they were, she had insisted on doing the cooking instead of him and Atheline had decided to let her.

He watched her struggle holding the small kitchen knife, which had been used to normal weapons while cutting the vegetables.

She was biting her bottom lip in utter concentration.

"You’re holding it wrong," he said quietly hiding his amusement.

Her hand paused mid-cut and turned slowly to look at him her golden eyes narrowing slightly.

She looked down at the uneven vegetable then back at him.

"And yet," she said evenly, " the vegetables remain cut."

"They’re uneven. "

Atheline was really trying to hold back her laughter. She looked so guarded ready to pounce on him.

"They’re edible," she insisted stubbornly.

He huffed a small quiet laugh and pushed himself off the wall and walked towards her. She stared at him as he approached until he was beside her.

"You’re supposed to curl your fingers like this," he said, and stepped behind her and reached for her fingers.

His fingers curled around her as he adjusted her grip on the knife. He held the end of a carrot and started to slice it.

She turned and looked at him curiously before looking down at the food they were cutting.

"Have you done this before?" She asked quietly, "You seem to be very good at it."

Atheline nodded.

"I have," he replied," unlike certain queens who command armies but lose to a carrot."

A small laugh escaped him. Her stare burned into his side forcing him to look at her.

"You know...I could kill you for that."

"You could, " he replied lightly," then you’ll have to finish cooking alone and no one will hold you in bed."

She rolled her eyes before a small laugh escaped her.

Atheline stepped away from her but stayed beside her as he watched her grow more and more precise with each new vegetable.

"You’re a fast learner. "

She didn’t answer for a moment.

"I’m good with knives."

Atheline just stared as she started to throw the vegetables into the water. She looked odd, but still beautiful.

"Why are you doing this?" He asked referring to her cooking.

She had really insisted on it when she noticed he wanted to cook.

"I used to cook for my mother," she said then a homourless laugh escaped her," ... or tried to."

Atheline didn’t interrupt.

"I learnt early that free meals especially from the palace were calculated, strategic," her voice softened a little, " or poisoned, sometimes."

"That explains a lot."

She ignored him.

"There was no warmth in it. No.." she paused as she tried to search for words but eventually gave up," ...this."

Her hands curled on the counter.

"... I want to understand. "

His gaze softened.

’How cute’

He leaned in closer to her while seeking her eyes.

"So you decide to conquer cooking next?"

"If necessary."

"But I want to be the one to cook for you every day."

"I’ll reluctantly let you do that when we go back home."

Atheline smiled.

"You’ll be wowed by my expertise."

"I have fine taste."

Atheline watched on the side as she cooked his taste in his hands.

’This is why you’re not supposed to know the recipe’

Half an hour later, the food shimmered between them on the dining table. He served the food himself while she sat there quietly watching him.

Atheline had gotten used to her gaze and now it didn’t bother him.

He took a small bite first and paused.

She watched him closely.

"Well?" She asked.

He chewed slowly while meeting her eager eyes then nodded.

"It’s good. "

Something flickered under her eyes crossing her face briefly.

"You hesitated."

Atheline smiled and placed his chin on his hand. She raised an eyebrow in question.

"I was making sure it wasn’t poisoned."

She stared blankly at him.

"Do you want it to be?"

Atheline tilted his head slightly as if he was thinking about her offer.

"Depends. Are you offering?"

She stared at him for a second before she laughed a small quiet laugh, almost disbelieving.

.

.

.

The next day Atheline walked down the hallway to the garden with intent.

Lilith had gone to the palace and he had managed to get her to leave without dragging him with her. He glanced behind him.

Two of her shadows followed him, tracking everywhere he went conveying the information to her.

Atheline didn’t care since he had nothing to hide, yet. Beside him, Luther, his attendant walked.

"Are you sure about the marriage master?" He whispered to him his eyes fixated on the shadows a few steps from them.

Atheline chuckled then nodded.

"She’s not as bad as her reputation perceives her," he said quietly but loud enough for the shadows to hear," I’m happy to marry her."

Luther nodded. If his master was satisfied then he was also satisfied.

Having been left behind to perform some errands and finding him missing it had scared the life out of him but it seems his master had not suffered.

At that moment Atheline passed him a small envelope and he took it fast a practice they had done a lot.

"I’ll be with my grandfather since I have something to talk to him about," he said quietly.

Luther nodded and slinked away at the next corner leaving Atheline to head to the garden.

"Atheline," his grandfather called the moment he walked in.

He was still seated in his usual place next to the world tree root.

Atheline smiled and took a seat opposite him.

"Grandfather, how have you been?" He asked quietly.

He was quiet as his eyes observed Atheline.

"You’ve changed," he said slowly, " your core has evolved. "

Atheline watched as his aging face showed excitement. He extended his arm and Atheline placed his on it.

He felt his grandfather Aether enter his body flowing like a healing balm and and onto his core.

He frowned.

"You’ve noticed it haven’t you?" Atheline said.

His grandfather nodded.

"Your core was too overwhelmed," he started," elements cannot be mixed carelessly. Your core seemed to have been forced without any prior preparation. " 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Atheline chuckled depreciatingly.

"It happened too fast for me to contest."

"You will have to soak yourself in the Aether well," he said quietly," the fruit from the world tree would prove helpful but it only produces once in a millennium."

Atheline looked at the world tree root.

"I suppose there is only one method then."

"Yes."

His grandfather stared at him pointedly.

"What?" Atheline asked in confusion.

"Isn’t there news you’re supposed to personally tell me?" He said.

Atheline frowned as he thought about it before the corners of his mouth raised.

"I’m getting married," he said excitedly

His grandfather smiled matching his excitement.

"Good, Good... you’re far better than Helther that boy refuses to marry."

"Yes... I cannot wait but I won’t be able to see you often," he said his mood going down a little.

His grandfather rubbed his head messing his hair.

"The dark elf kingdom is not far away."

Atheline’s eyes widened.

"Aren’t you going to tell me not to marry?" He asked confused.

His grandfather was quiet his gaze becoming distant.

"I trust your choice... I know you’re more clever than you seem. You take after me."

Atheline chuckled at that.