SWDnovel Chapter 650: PEACEFUL LUNCH
Chapter 650: PEACEFUL LUNCH
AFTER Astrid finished cooking, the food looked incredible. The dishes were vibrant with color—perfectly roasted vegetables, golden-brown meat, and steaming bowls of rice. The aroma filled the room, a mix of savory spices and fresh herbs that made everyone's stomachs growl. The table was laid out neatly, with each dish looking like it had been prepared with care.
Compared to the earlier breakfast, which was filled with awkward silence and tension, the atmosphere at lunch was different. People were more relaxed, and the air felt lighter. There were no heavy pauses or uncomfortable glances, just a quiet sense of calm as everyone waited for the meal to begin. Whatever had weighed on them earlier seemed to have faded, leaving the room in a much more peaceful state.
Wulfric couldn't have cared less about the change in mood. What mattered to him was finally sitting beside Aster. It hadn't been easy, either. He had to go head-to-head with Nicol, the kid who seemed just as eager to grab that spot. But after a short struggle, Wulfric's persistence paid off. He managed to outlast the brat and claim the seat on Aster's left, feeling very satisfied with his small victory.
Of course, Nicol had been glaring at him since. But he didn't care. He was already used to being glared at by a member of the Grimaldi family. A little kid added to that made no difference to him.
Now that he was sitting beside Aster, Wulfric could finally tend to him during the meal. As soon as lunch began, he started placing food on Aster's plate and pouring him tea, making sure everything was within reach. The way he was acting, one would think this was his home, and he was the one who cooked the meal instead of the other way around.
Astrid couldn't help but be amused by Wulfric's attentiveness. A small smile tugged at his lips as he turned to him and said, "Thanks, Wulf."
Wulfric simply grinned in response and then began eating as well.
Once everyone had finished eating, Reas suddenly turned to his parents. "Mom, Dad, could we take a walk outside? I have some news I'd like to share with you."
Astrid raised an eyebrow when he heard that. Looking at his brother's expression, he had a certain idea of what the other would talk about with their parents. It's probably about Lauren.
Ah, he really wanted to see his parent's reaction once they found out that Reas now had a boyfriend. But he decided to just be a good supportive brother instead.
"Go ahead, Mom, Dad. I'll clean up here," he said.
Both Gage and Emmy were still a bit confused as to what Reas wanted to tell them. It was clear, though, that he didn't want others to hear it, because if that's not the case, then he wouldn't have asked them to take a walk outside. With Astrid telling them to go ahead, they exchanged a brief glance before standing up and following Reas, who was already heading toward the back door.
"We'll help out with the clean-up as well," Anthony stood up and said.
Astrid glanced at the duke. "No, it's alright. I got this... Grandpa."
It felt a little strange to call him that, but since his mother had already chosen to move on, it didn't feel right to keep addressing him as 'Your Grace.'