Chapter Twenty-Three: Family Dinner:

We didn’t get up until dinner time. I woke up and saw the time on the golden sun clock.

“Oh,” I said. I gently shook Bayu awake.

“Honey, honey,” I whispered. “Wake up.” She shifted in place against my body. I shook her shoulder harder.

“Oi! Oi! Oi!” I said. No response. I sighed. I guess there’s only one way to wake them up. I slid off from underneath Bayu and made it down to the kitchen.

Nelly, my chef, was putting on her apron. She looked up when she spotted me.

“Oh, your highness!” Nelly said. “So good to see you again!” I looked around the kitchen.

“What’s on the menu this evening?” I asked.

“Just the usual,” she said. “Roasted beast, boiled potatoes, bitter herbs, and cubed lambs.” I took it all in.

“That sounds good,” I said. Nelly frowned as she noticed the look on my face.

“Not good enough?” she asked.

“No, quite the opposite,” I said. “I’m just wondering how she would like it.” My chef gave me a confused look.

“She?” she asked.

“My wife, Bayu,” I said. Nelly had a look of terror in her eyes.

“You brought an angel here?!” she asked. “Why?!”

“Because she was my first love,” I said. “We have a son together too.” Nelly started taking steps back.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“This is bad,” she said. “This is really bad. You know that pure angels can’t survive down here. Especially little children!”

“I know.”

“So… why?”

I rubbed my forehead. “I wasn’t thinking. It just happened.”

“My lord!”

“Look! Just make the dinner as best as you can, okay? I’ll work something out later. Understood?”

“But my lord…”

“Understood?”

Nelly lowered her head. “Understood.”

“Good,” I said. “Dinner at the usual time, right?”

“Yes, my lord,” Nelly said. She turned to the stove and got right to cooking. I smiled and walked out of the kitchen.

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Hours later, Bayu and Irani awoke to the smell of cooking. I smiled as I watched them.

“Hello, sleepyheads,” I said. “Did you sleep well?” Bayu looked around, rubbing her eyes.

“What is that smell?” she asked.

“Dinner,” I said.

“Huh?” she asked. I leaned forward with a smile on my face.

“You’re in for a really good treat,” I said. I pulled Bayu to her feet as I looked at Irani.

“You can come along too,” I said. The child stared at me with big eyes. I held out my hand to him, but he wouldn’t take it. Why can’t I read him?

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We sat at a small table together. Irani poked at his dinner.

“Why is it so dark?” he asked.

“It’s just the way that it’s cooked, baby,” Bayu said. “But look, I’m eating it.” She picked up her fork and knife and cut a piece of the roast. I watched as she took a bite. My lovely chewed for a little bit in silence. Irani watched with his fork in his little hand. Nelly was watching from the kitchen with bated breath.

Bayu finally swallowed with stars in her eyes.

“Wow!” she shouted. “What is this? This so good!” Nelly came out from the kitchen.

“This is the beast of the valley,” she said. “I only serve our king the prime cuts.” Bayu took another bite.

“This is so good,” she said. Irani took his fork and picked up a piece. I watched as he was chewing.

“Yummy!” he shouted. I took my fork and knife and cut a piece for myself. I smiled as I ate my portion of the roast beast.

“This is good,” I said. “You out did yourself this time, Nelly.” Nelly quickly bowed.

“I thank you, my lord,” she said. My chef turned and walked back into the kitchen. I joined my family and we ate up dinner. It was good this evening.