With her mind made up, Melusine composed herself, and with a subtle manipulation of her magical energy, the white bell-shaped skirt she wore shifted into the modern outfit Erica had once shown her.
Athena nodded in satisfaction. "I have prepared a sumptuous breakfast for you."
"Unlike humans, I have a profound understanding of what children's palates crave."
"Through my wisdom, I have synthesized the perfect flavor using ingredients collectible in human society. You will undoubtedly be astonished once you try it."
She really was slipping into that maternal role, wasn't she?
Well, no—though she said "child," her self-positioning was less like a mother and more like an "owner."
In her eyes, dragons and serpents were probably akin to how cats and dogs were to humans.
If anything, this was the most normal perspective for a goddess. Athena's attitude was actually closer to those humans who genuinely treated their pets like family.
Not that it bothered Melusine either way.
Melusine didn't particularly care about food or drink, but she always respected those who prepared meals for her. Besides, she could eat just about anything.
However, it wasn't until she actually tried Athena's "carefully prepared" breakfast that Melusine realized just how wrong she'd been.
"How did you make this?!" She stared in disbelief at the thigh meat sitting before her, steeped in a sauce of unknown composition.
"Heheh."
Despite looking like a little girl, Athena naturally let out a warm, motherly chuckle.
"Well? Melusine, are you satisfied with my culinary skills?"
Even though she could already see the answer written on the young dragon girl's face, she still wanted to hear it from her directly.
"This is absolutely amazing. I never expected you to be this good at cooking?"
Melusine examined the sauce closely, her sensitive nose quickly analyzing what made it so unique.
Erica, too, looked on with curiosity. She'd never seen Lady Melusine wear such a satisfied expression before.
"Proteins, sugars, salts, and fats—any living being finds the food they crave delicious. It's an instinct gradually evolved through life's progression and survival."
Facing Erica's curiosity, Athena didn't hide anything. "This is true for humans, and even more so for dragons."
"What humans find cloying or overwhelmingly rich is merely adequate for a great dragon, sometimes even insufficient. Preparing dragon-grade cuisine according to human tastes would never satisfy a dragon. I simply used various ingredients to create seasonings suited to a dragon's palate."
"I see…" Erica finally understood why, no matter how much she refined her cooking skills, Lady Melusine's reactions had always been lukewarm.
Melusine also realized at that moment that it wasn't an issue of this era or country making food seem unappetizing.
Her body had simply been eating "bland, weak fare" all along, which was why she'd never had much of an appetite.
"Now, try this."
Athena produced a transparent cup containing a bubbling black liquid.
Its strange odor was so potent that even Erica had to forcibly maintain her composure to keep from wrinkling her nose.
"Lady Athena… this is…?" The previous dishes at least smelled fine, but this drink… could she really give this to Lady Melusine?
Even knowing her opinion wouldn't matter, still…
Athena wasn't surprised by the human's hesitation. To put it plainly, no one understood humans better than her.
So she paid it no mind, simply placing the cup before Melusine. The proof would be in the tasting.
Melusine was indeed startled by the drink's appearance, but the scent wafting from it made her instinctively sniff the air.
After a moment's hesitation, she brought the cup to her lips and took a tentative sip.
"Super type! This!"
If the previous food had merely been delicious and enjoyable, this drink was like an ice-cold cola on a scorching summer day. One sip, and her mind felt remarkably clearer.
"As expected of the Goddess of Wisdom…!" Erica didn't understand, but she was deeply impressed.
"No matter how well you adjust the seasonings, the ingredients themselves are ultimately limited." The smile on Athena's face had grown considerably.
"But a drink can be formulated entirely to a dragon's taste. This is a beverage perfectly suited for 'dragons,' born from my wisdom."
"How do you make this?" Melusine couldn't contain her curiosity.
"Simple. Just mix all the raw ingredients together," Athena stated.
"Black beans, bamboo charcoal, kopi luwak coffee, chocolate syrup, cola, sesame oil, okonomiyaki sauce, thick chili paste, Kyushu soy sauce, Marmite, black vinegar, soy sauce, medicinal liquor, black honey, coffee, squid ink, black sesame oil, Kahlúa, naengmyeon dipping sauce, honey, fish sauce, grilled fish stock, Italian balsamic vinegar, and ink. Those are all the ingredients."
Erica's eye twitched.
Is this really a drink? It feels like it's entered the realm of ritualistic magic…
But regardless of the category, since Lady Melusine had expressed her liking for it, she had to memorize everything. "Thank you for sharing."
"No need for courtesy. This was prepared for Melusine after all." Athena was originally a goddess who taught humanity wisdom; of course, she didn't mind sharing such knowledge.
This meal, novel and delicious, lasted a full hour. It also gave Melusine her first true sense of satisfaction in this world, lifting her spirits considerably and strengthening her desire to go out.
Athena was very pleased. This single meal had brought them much closer. Now was the time to strike while the iron was hot, so she promptly dragged Melusine out the door.
After a good meal, one must take a walk.
Since all three were going out, the house was naturally left in Arianna's care. Arianna nodded solemnly, vowing that nothing would go wrong.
Capable of blocking external observation and suppressing magical signatures to nearly imperceptible levels, the suitcase containing the Gorgoneion was undoubtedly a highly useful mystic code, despite its flaw of being unable to hold overly large objects.
But no matter how useful, it was still just a mystic code.
As time passed, the Gorgoneion's aura became increasingly difficult to conceal.
Even while preparing the meal at home, Athena found herself involuntarily glancing in the direction of the Gorgoneion.
And as its effectiveness gradually waned, the leaking aura finally caught the attention of the Wolf King.
The silver-haired knight girl, who had already arrived in Sardinia and was frustrated by her inability to find the Gorgoneion, finally sensed its direction.
Liliana Kranjčar.
A great knight of the Bronze Black Cross, and simultaneously the most useful tool under the command of Marquis Voban, the Wolf King.
Upon sensing that the treasure her lord had ordered her to obtain was now within reach, she unhesitatingly hurried towards the villa.
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T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.