SAINTESS [Chapter 130: Isn’t he?] (Patreon)

The sound of vegetables being chopped on the cutting board came from the kitchen. Next came the sound of the firestone striking, followed by the gurgling sound of the broth boiling.

Milian and Winnie, two people who were completely useless in the kitchen, sat in the living room, listening to the noises coming from inside.

Dusk descended like ink spreading through water, staining the entire sky. Yet inside the two-story townhouse beneath the moonlight, there was an overflowing sense of warmth and coziness.

“You, aren't you going to help Little Dell?” Milian asked, seeing Winnie sitting there as steady as a rock.

“Help? If I go, I'll just make it worse.” Winnie gave Milian a glance. “Might even blow the kitchen sky-high. That'd be a real headache, my place wouldn't be able to cook for days.”

“Your place…?” Milian fell silent for a moment. “You've already started thinking of this as home?”

“Yeah. You knew that, didn't you?” Winnie looked toward the kitchen. “Dell and I, we don't have any living relatives anymore.”

Milian already understood this. She realized that two people who had endured similar hardships were coming together for comfort, warmth, and mutual healing.

No wonder she could never truly step into Shikondell's heart. Even if they were childhood friends, their environments and experiences had diverged enormously. Milian thought she knew Shikondell well, but that was only what she told herself.

What she knew had always been far too shallow. Apart from Shikondell's background, her history, her misfortunes, she knew nothing. If she couldn't fully empathize, how could she understand what Shikondell was thinking?

Winnie was right. Although she and Shikondell grew up together, after all these years she still understood her less than an outsider who'd spent under two years with her. That alone said everything.

Milian used to be unable to figure out why.

Now she understood.

And because she understood, she only grew more envious of the relationship between them.

But even she couldn't say clearly who, exactly, she was envious.~

'Virtue + 100.'

Current Virtue: 12879.

“There's nothing I can do about it. My cooking skills are practically nonexistent. I'm completely hopeless in the kitchen,” Winnie joked. “But you're different, Milian, aren't you? I bet you're a really good cook.”

“Uh… I, um…” Caught off guard by the sudden praise, Milian immediately became flustered.

'Virtue + 80.'

'Current Virtue: 12959.'

If it were before, Milian might've admitted openly that she couldn't cook. But now…

The more someone cares about a person, the more they feel unable to relax in front of that person. They do not want that person to know about the things they are not good at. Milian was the same.

“Ahem! You're right. This princess is omnipotent, mere cooking, of course I can do it.” Milian put on an air of full confidence, but she overdid it a little; the signs of lying were way too obvious.

“So amazing? Then I wonder if I might have the honor of tasting Princess's handiwork?” Winnie put on an exaggerated expression of surprise.

“Gulp, gulp... well, this…” Milian's eyes darted around.

“What's wrong? Is Princess not in great form today?” Winnie asked with feigned concerns.

“N-no!” Winnie's gaze only made Milian more embarrassed, so she decided to prove herself. She got to her feet and marched toward the kitchen with a determined look, as if to say, “Just watch me. I'll cook two dishes right now.”

But the moment she stood, Winnie stopped her.

"What are you doing?"

“Forget it, Milian. It's late, everyone's hungry, I want dinner. Don't let us end up not eating at all tonight.” Winnie spread his hands.

“What do you mean! Weren’t you the one who told me to go? And now you’re saying this. Do you not trust my cooking skills?” Upon hearing this, Milian immediately became upset and said very indignantly.

“No, I believe you. But you can save it for another time. Tonight, let's just sit down and enjoy a proper meal.” Winnie gently soothed Milian, helping her settle down again.

“Hmph. F-fine.” Milian sat back down, secretly relieved. Still, she kept up her proud facade, crossing her arms. “But don't you dare change your mind later. If you pass up this chance, you'll hardly ever get the opportunity to taste this princess's cooking again! Being allowed to try it is a rare privilege.”

“It's fine. Don't worry, anticipation just keeps stacking.” Winnie smiled, continuing to tease.

'Virtue + 50.'

Current Virtue: 13009.

“Ugh…” Milian suddenly lost her nerve. After a brief hesitation, she murmured, “Actually… maybe you shouldn't get your hopes up too much.”

"Hmm? What did you say?"

“Nothing! I mean, no need to keep stacking anticipation. You'll taste it sooner or later anyway.” Milian straightened up again.

“Oh, I see. Then I'll wait and see.” Winnie nodded.

Watching him like that, Milian couldn't help but start wondering.

Should she… find some time to privately ask Shikondell for cooking lessons??

“So… you like girls who can cook?” Milian asked cautiously, her tone uncertain.

“Hm? I suppose you're right. I mean, who wouldn't like a girl who knows her way around the kitchen?” Winnie said with a teasing smile.

The difference between this little blonde's confident act and her nervous behavior was simply too amusing. Honestly… it was pretty adorable.

“G-gulp.” Milian made a strange sound and went quiet on the sofa.

“Since we've got nothing else to do, how about we play a game?” Winnie suggested.

“A game? What kind?” Milian asked curiously.

“Do you know how to play cards?” Winnie took out his deck.

“Cards? What cards?” Milian wasn't that interested, but since it was Winnie who proposed it, she accepted.

Besides, anything Winnie was interested in, she wanted to try too.

“Here, I'll teach you. But we need some rules. If you lose, you'll have to accept a punishment. Since you're new to the game, I'll let you off for the first three rounds. What do you say?” Winnie suggested.

“What? Human, I've barely even started playing, and you're already talking about punishments? Tch. Are you just looking for an excuse to punish me?” Milian rolled her eyes.

“Huh? You saw through me?” Winnie teased exaggeratedly. “But surely someone as smart and brave as the Princess isn't afraid of this, right? It's just a little game. With Princess's genius, you should be able to master it in one round, right?”

“Tch, as if you needed to say that.” Just as Winnie expected, Milian immediately took the bait, proudly accepting his praise and showing no intention of backing down.

“This princess could never lose to you!”

“Heh-heh, really? But in all your battles with me so far, it seems you haven't won a single one.” Winnie teased.

“T-that was before! Tch, enough talking. Are we playing or not? It's only a few cards. I'll beat you in no time!” With Winnie provoking her, Milian predictably got fired up and refused to admit defeat.

“Alright. Listen, here are the rules.” After explaining, Winnie had Milian pick a deck, and the two began.

“Tch. I thought it would be complicated. It's really this simple? Just comparing the numbers on the cards. What's so hard about that? You people play such a simple game all day. Don't you get bored?”

“Milian, you're quite confident. Confidence is a good thing. I hope you can keep it up,” Winnie said, encouraging her.

“Of course! Learning this is nothing for me, as easy as breathing. There's no difficulty at all. Just watch me beat you in the first game!” Milian declared.

To be fair, Milian really was talented. Someone who ranked in the top three in the academy wasn't going to have poor learning ability.

But experience was something talent couldn't replace.

“Winnie, Milian, dinner's ready.” Shikondell brought the finished dishes to the table in the living room and called them over, only to see the state the two of them were in.

“Play a card, Milian. Your turn. If you can't solve this one, it's going to end again.” Winnie teased.

Meanwhile, Milian sat on the sofa, gritting her teeth. Her pretty face was covered in white strips as she stared at the cards in her hand, saying nothing.

Clearly, she was hooked.

She couldn't understand how such a simple game could leave her getting beaten by Winnie again and again, with each round ending almost instantly. Before she knew it, three rounds had passed, and she already had five white strips stuck to her face.

"Milian? Winnie?"

“Little Dell, don't interrupt me.” Milian stared hard at her cards, making Winnie think of some meme he'd seen in a past life.

When are you most nervous? (1)

“I have to make sure he gets one more strip on his face today!”

"Oh? Is that so?"

In the end, Milian thought for ages and still couldn't find a solution. She struggled and failed, then added yet another strip to Winnie's face.

“Hahaha, Milian, you grew a beard?” Winnie laughed outright, mercilessly mocking Milian, whose face was covered in white strips. “Look at you, all white-bearded, take care of yourself. How'd you end up like this so young?”

“You bastard!” Milian was furious.

'Virtue + 80.'

Current Virtue: 13089.

“Can I take these off now?!” Milian demanded, huffing.

“Sure, sure. If you don't take them off, how will you eat?” Winnie put down the cards, stood, stretched, and loosened his joints. “I'm going to eat first. Princess, take your time peeling them off. Oh, and go wash your face afterwards.”

“Guh!” Milian glared at him and ripped the strips off her face in one go.

“Hey, don't do it like that. I forgot to tell you. If you rip them off like that, it'll be troublesome.” Seeing this, Winnie couldn't help saying.

“What? What's troublesome?”

“Here. Look.” Winnie didn't explain further, he simply held a small mirror to his chest, angled toward Milian.

Only then did Milian notice her reflection in the mirror. Her face was covered with scattered little white scraps that were impossible to peel off cleanly.

“You did this on purpose again!”

“How is that me messing with you? You're the one being all rash, had to rip them off so fast.”

“Alright, stop moving. I'll help you.” Winnie leaned in, tore open a disposable handkerchief, lifted Milian's chin, and began wiping.

“Mm… y-you, don't come so close!” Seeing Winnie's face right in front of her, and feeling the warmth from the fingers lightly pinching her chin, half of Milian's face instantly flushed red, especially when she saw how serious he looked, carefully wiping her cheeks with meticulous focus.

'Virtue + 120.'

Current Virtue: 13209.

For some reason, Milian, on tiptoe, didn't dare move. Her hands pressed tight against her skirt, her olive-colored almond eyes fixed on Winnie's face, unmoving.

Suddenly her throat felt a little dry, and her body felt strangely hot.

“Alright, that's all taken care of. You should go wash your face again.” Winnie examined Milian's face and, after making sure all the pieces of paper had been removed, nodded.

“Milian?” Seeing her silent for so long, Winnie waved a hand in front of her.

“Ah, ah! I know! No need for you to tell me!” Then Milian hurriedly dashed into the washroom.

Inside, staring at her own blazing-red face in the mirror, Milian's heart was a complete mess.

That guy, so annoying.

So why was she…?

The love-at-first-sight potion incident from before was still vivid in her mind. Winnie kept insisting that what she felt then was fake, just an emotional fluctuation, not real heart-throbbing.

But…

It seemed the fake act had turned real.

Milian placed a hand over her chest, feeling her heart pounding, and stared at herself in the mirror. The adorable blonde elf girl in the reflection had a charming blush spreading across her cheeks, making her look incredibly captivating. Her feelings became complicated.

She began studying herself carefully.

Her looks… were pretty good, right?

Among humans, she'd be top-tier, right?

For the first time since she was born, Milian didn't feel so confident about her appearance.

In the past, she never cared about such things. It was like telling the richest person in the world that he was poor, he wouldn't care, he'd just laugh.

Something beyond doubt, so what if others deny it? It wouldn't matter.

This might have been the first time in her life she'd feel even a hint of appearance anxiety.

Clearly she was pretty good, her looks were definitely superior, and her figure too.

Milian didn't understand men, but in those men's eyes she was absolutely the kind of alluring treasure you could only admire from afar.

But for that guy…

Why did she seem to have no appeal at all??

Was that guy not a man?

Milian couldn't help thinking that.

After agonizing for a bit, she finally tidied her slightly messy golden bangs and walked out of the washroom.

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1 - When are you most nervous? = 你什么时候最紧张？= Nǐ shénme shíhou zuì jǐnzhāng?

It's a Chinese meme like how should I explain its kinda meme trend first it will start with When are you most nervous? Then they will show you some of the moments they are nervous but most of them are funny. If you don't understand just copy 你什么时候最紧张？this in Google and search you will find.