Chapter 236

Chapter 236 Chapter 236 The enticing aroma of fish filled the kitchen, and Holden couldn’t help but swallow hard as he watched Elysia busily preparing the meal. Concern filled his heart as he said, “Elysia, maybe we shouldn’t have come.”

Elysia paused for a moment, taken aback. Their eyes met, and seeing the regret in his expression, she responded gently, “What makes you say that all of a sudden?”

Holden sighed. “If we hadn’t come here, you wouldn’t need to wade into the river to catch fish, and you wouldn’t have to cook for us. Elysia, it’s my fault you’re going through all this trouble.”

He regretted not learning how to cook when he was younger. Now, he felt useless, just standing there and watching her work.

He thought about how it would have been better if he had brought along two cooks. Then Elysia wouldn’t have to toil away in the kitchen.

A wry smile crept onto Holden’s lips. He could indeed hire two cooks to take the load off Elysia.

With that thought, joy lit up his face. “Elysia, I’ll go to the village right now and find two cooks–just enough to help in the kitchen.

That way, you won’t have to wear yourself out.”

Just as he was about to leave, Elysia called out, “Wait a moment.”

“Is there anything else I can do, Elysia?” Holden asked, his curiosity evident.

Elysia smiled softly, recalling why she had started cooking in the first place. It was out of concern for Jack’s health that year. She had begun experimenting with medicinal recipes to help him regain his strength.

To incorporate healing herbs into meals, she had to know about the ingredients and get the cooking right. Over time, she found a passion for cooking that she hadn’t expected.

What seemed trivial to her stirred deep sympathy in Holden’s heart.

Feeling warm inside, Elysia looked at the bewildered Holden and smiled gently. “I’m not tired, and you really don’t need to look for cooks.”

When she lived with the elders, she only occasionally made meals for them and rarely took on the role of a cook.

As she handled more responsibilities, the elders often worried and told her that too much work might roughen her delicate hands.

To help her out, they even hired a middle–aged woman from the village to learn how to cook.

However, after the elders departed for Sivro, the woman went traveling and would return a few days later. Elysia then realized that with the limited time she had left, she should care for the elders and cook for them.

Seeing Holden still standing there, speechless, Elysia added, “In a couple of days, our cook will be back. Once she’s back, I won’t need to cook at all.”

At this, Holden let out a sigh of relief. The mouthwatering scent wafted into the courtyard, making the appetites of sev people who had felt no hunger just a moment ago come alive.

Jack turned to the others while stroking his white beard. “You’re in for a treat today; Elysia’s cooking is amazing. You will absolutely love her meals.”

“Elysia can cook?” Javier said, surprise evident in his voice.

Jack nodded, a proud smile on his face. “She taught herself. This girl has always been quick on the uptake, mastering everything she tries.”

1/3 Chapter 236 Jack added. “I taught her about medicine and identifying herbs, and she blew me away by figuring out how they could help.. She even started making her own pills–all of which led her to open the Arcanum House.

“But this girl has also faced a lot of sadness. She lost her parents when she was very young, Although we care for her like she’s our own treasure, we can never fill the void left by her mother and father.

“She has always carried burdens far too heavy for someone her age, suffering in silence without bothering us with her troubles.

We know this, yet she worries that sharing her pain will only upset us As Jack spoke, tears filled his eyes. “When I first found her, she was barely alive, her body frozen and bruised. If she hadn’t been so strong, she likely wouldn’t have made it until I found her.”

Fabian and Javier listened closely, their expressions turning serious.

They felt empathy for Elysia and couldn’t help but lament why they hadn’t discovered her troubles sooner. She had endured such a harsh existence alone for so many years.

If Jack hadn’t stumbled upon her during his herbal journey, they might never have seen her again. After all this time, they owed their gratitude to these elder men; without them, it was unimaginable what Elysia might have become.

Fabian promised himself that the Evans family would always remember this kindness; without them, there would be no Elysia as they knew her today.

But as thoughts of that unseen evil crossed Fabian’s mind, a flicker of anger darkened his brow, and he clenched his hands tightly under the stone table.

He swore that one day, he would make that shadowy figure pay a terrible price.

Javier, usually gentle, had a serious look on his face. Over the years, they had enjoyed a warm and loving life in the Evans family, but much of that warmth had faded with Evelyn’s passing.

When Evelyn was alive, their home was filled with love; at least they shared happy moments.

A bittersweet smile crossed Javier’s face as he lightly mocked himself, realizing they had never thought that while they rejoiced, Elysia might have been in the corner, tending to her own wounds.

He pictured her petite frame and calm face, imagining the flicker of cold light in her eyes, along with her unwavering strength.

Surely, she felt pain too. She must have shed tears in silence, but she chose to hide her suffering, sparing her loved ones from the weight of her sorrow.

Javier’s heart grew heavy, for Elysia deserved to be cherished, treated as a precious treasure, growing up without burdens and surrounded by love.

Instead, she had carried too many hardships for someone so young. The most tragic irony was that they had only just become aware of her struggles too late.

Her reluctance to acknowledge them was understandable. Their fault was learning the truth when it felt almost too late.

Jack noticed their serious expressions and let out a long sigh without a word.

In that moment, ‘Holden emerged from the kitchen, while Phoebe and Elysia followed closely behind, each carrying a dish as they approached the table. When they noticed the serious looks on everyone’s faces, they exchanged puzzled glances.

“Jack, what’s wrong?” Elysia asked, concern in her voice.

“Nothing, Elysia. Let’s eat,” Jack replied cheerfully.

2/3 09:27 Mon, 10 Mar Chapter 236 78%1 413 The group remained still, so Jack tapped his fingers on the table to grab their attention. “This is Elysia’s cooking we’re about to enjoy, and here you all are, sulking as if you dislike her food.”