Chapter 41 Delicacies
\[Lilia\]
In the corner of the room, Kael sat behind the table desk, browsing through his phone, while I entertained myself by toying with my fingers, my back leaned against the headboard, hoping to distract myself from my gnawing stomach.
I just realized how stupid I am. A slice of pizza or a burger would have been more appropriate instant choices. I should have held my tongue when I mentioned those ridiculous meals that are impossible to obtain in a short period of time.
Perhaps, I should go back to sleep, then maybe when I wake up again, Val will be here.
Kael should have known better than to keep asking me what I wanted to eat over and over and over again. He might have placed an order for anything. I don't have a lot of preferences. I could even eat stale bread and not be bothered to voice my displeasure.
Now I'm stuck in the waiting room with a grumbling stomach.
I instinctively let out a loud sigh, swallowing whatever moisture was left in my mouth in an attempt to at least alleviate my hunger, despite the fact that it was a fruitless endeavor. I secretly throw a glance in Kael’s direction, and he seems to be not bothered by the fact that I was starving. I glare at him, scorning how someone can be so heartless. If he wanted me to eat something, he could have just told Val to give me a piece of sausage, and I would be happy to munch it down.
Hence, he did not.
Right now, all those things were just in my head. Imagining they were indeed real.
Sleeping might be the most appropriate course of action for me right now.
However, just as I was about to lay down, the door suddenly burst open.
Val walked through the door. Immediately behind him was a man dressed in a chef's uniform and wearing a tall black toque on his head. He was pushing a stroller table cart that had a large stainless steel dome dish cover with a golden handle on the top.
This can not be true.
I blinked, trying to make sure that I was not hallucinating and my hunger wasn't making me see things that weren't real. I watched them halt right in front of my bed. The man, or as I assumed based on his uniform, is a chef. He took something underneath the table cart, and he brought me a portable wooden table, which he then placed on my bed.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. You must be very hungry, sweet cake. Your wish is our command.” Val spoke, taking my attention to him. I caught a glimpse of my reflection on the stainless steel dish cover, and I hadn't noticed that I was gaping.
“Buonasera, bella signorina. Per favore, buon appetito.” The chef suddenly said, smiling down at me with his radiant face as he picked up the enormous covered platter and placed it in front of me.
My brows immediately went to the apex of my forehead at the foreign language he said. I believe I caught a hint of the Italian language he had spoken, but I honestly have no idea what it meant. My attention was drawn to Val in the hopes that he would be able to translate it for me.
He must have noticed the confusion on my face as he smiled at me and explained, “He said he hopes you’ll enjoy the meal he prepared.”
The chef opened the dish cover. A blasting whiff of a delectable aroma permeated my nostrils, making my stomach growl even more furiously and my eyes unconsciously close, inhaling deeply.
“Oh, thank you.” I clapped my hands together and moaned in delight. I looked down at the food prepared for me. My mouth instantaneously dropped, staring at all the dishes.
They were all exactly what I mentioned earlier. Roast beef, already cut into bite-size bits, mashed sweet potato with asparagus on the side. I don't know if it was really from Thailand, but I don't care. Black truffles are adorning on top of my tagliolini pasta, no lobsters, though, and three huge yellow creamy durian flesh that was still placed on its devilish-looking spiky husk. The peculiar musty odour that hung heavily in the air, mixing with the aroma of the seasoned roast meat gave me the impression that it was indeed relatively fresh.
I haven't actually tried this fruit, but I have seen it on the television, and some said it was worth the try. What I didn't anticipate was the smell. It was pretty overwhelming. And I almost overlooked the bowl of steaming chicken soup right beside the roast beef.
“Ci hai messo dannatamente tempo. Ora puoi andare.” A deep voice suddenly spoke, jolting me out from my trance between the food the chef had prepared for me.
My head snapped towards Kael, who stood up from behind the desk and strolled towards us, his gaze fixed on the chef, and he didn't appear to be pleased with him. His jaw was tightly clenched, and his mouth set into a sneer.
I didn't know he speaks Italian so fluently as well. The accent and the gruffness of his voice are just so hot to hear. Highly attractive at that, just minus the character.
I had no idea what he was talking about, but I could visibly see that the chef was scared of Kael as he bowed lowly soon as the monster of a man halted right in front of him.
He was trembling, and his hands were fidgeting on his side.
“Mi dispiace maestro Kael, per favore perdonami. Dovrei andare,” he murmured in a shaky breath, straightening his stance and shifting his gaze towards my direction, giving me a nod accompanying his statement.
I only smiled at him in response to my gratitude for the food as he turned around and walked out of the room.
I feel bad for him. He had done so incredibly for my food, yet this man just scared him shitless, and I am sure he didn't even utter a thank you.
“What was that all about?” I mused, looking at the closed door where the Italian chef had gone.
“Not your concern. As you have requested, eat now, kukla.” Kael replied, pointing the dishes right in front of me.
My face contorted to a grimace. As much as I wanted to munch it all down, I'll be honest to myself. I could not possibly eat them all.
Though, I still cannot believe what my own eyes were seeing with all these delighted goodies.
“I'm not going to be able to finish all of these,” I conceded, returning my focus to him, whose look indicated that he did not appreciate what I had said.
“You can and you will,” he blankly stated, making me frown immediately and turning my gaze to Val, who stood right at the foot side of my bed, silently watching the two of us begin to banter with each other. Amusement lingered in his eyes, and he looked at us back and forth.
“You’ll help me, right, Val?” I quipped, tilting my head and batting my eyes. “Right?”
He looked at Kael first, and the two of them exchanged wordless conversation with their gazes before Kael sighed, and then, without saying anything, he turned his back on us and left.
Leaving me utterly confused as to what the hell was that all about.
That man definitely had some serious issues.
The sound of the door closing was the only thing that resounded before a long silence had befallen around us.
“That would be a tempting offer, sweet cake. Just eat and regain your energy.” Val stated this as he moved closer to me and took the knife that had been placed on my table, cut a piece of beef, and shoved it right into his mouth.