Chương 532: Chapter : 532

The kitchen smelled absolutely amazing. The scent of cinnamon and roasted meat filled the air. A small square wooden table sat in the center of the room. Ken pulled out a chair. He collapsed heavily into it. He rested his chin directly on the table. Khadija placed a large bowl of warm chicken stew right in front of him. She also set down a small glass bowl. The glass bowl held rich, golden caramel pudding. Ken's dark, sleepy eyes lit up instantly. He sat up completely straight. He grabbed a silver spoon.

"This is exactly what I came for. This pudding is legendary. It could defeat a demon king in a single bite." He took a huge bite of the sweet pudding. The caramel melted perfectly on his tongue. He closed his eyes in pure bliss.

"So," Jasmin said. She sat across the table from him. She opened her thick textbook.

"The news says the Succession War is completely suspended. Everyone is talking about the Bluemoon Kingdom. The whole world is totally panicking."

"People panic way too much," Ken mumbled lazily. He took a bite of the savory chicken stew. He chewed it slowly.

"Panic is very bad for your digestion. The Emperor suspended the war. So we get a vacation. It is a very simple, logical chain of events." Khadija looked deeply worried. She wrung her hands nervously in her floral apron.

"But the news anchors said our Empire might go to war. They said dark magicians destroyed an entire country. Is it safe in the capital city, Ken?"

"It is totally safe, Mom," Ken assured her gently. He gave her a lazy, comforting smile.

"The 13th Unit estate is very secure. Zinia built a huge rock wall around the yard. And Naomi is very scary when she gets mad. Nobody will mess with us."

"I still worry about you," Khadija sighed softly.

"You do not know how to fight with a sword. You just wear your suit and carry bags."

"Carrying bags is a very important tactical role," Ken joked happily. He popped a piece of chicken into his mouth.

"I hold all the snacks. If the team gets hungry, they lose their magical power. I am basically the most important person on the entire roster." Jasmin rolled her eyes again.

"You are completely delusional, Ken." Ken ignored her completely. He finished his stew very quickly. He scraped the bottom of the pudding bowl to get the last drop of caramel. He felt incredibly full and entirely relaxed. The quiet, normal house was exactly what he needed. There were no arrogant princes. There were no exploding laboratories. It was just a perfectly normal afternoon. The front door opened. Heavy footsteps echoed in the hallway. Brandon Eliot walked into the kitchen. He had gray hair at his temples.

He wore a simple, faded work shirt. His hands were rough and calloused from working long hours at the textile factory. He looked incredibly tired. The deep lines on his face seemed more pronounced in the evening light. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

"Dad!" Jasmin smiled brightly. She closed her notebook. Brandon smiled a gentle, quiet smile.

"Hello, Jasmin. Khadija." He turned his eyes toward Ken. A tiny flicker of surprise crossed his face.

"Ken. You are home early."

"The war is on a mandatory pause," Ken explained lazily. He leaned back in his chair and patted his stomach.

"I decided to use my vacation days. The couch here is very comfortable." Brandon nodded slowly. He walked over to the kitchen sink and washed his hands with soap. He dried his hands on a clean towel. He did not say much. He seemed lost in very deep thought. Khadija bustled around the kitchen efficiently. She grabbed a clean plate for her husband.

"Sit down, Brandon. I will get your dinner ready right now." The family sat around the small wooden table. They ate dinner together. They talked about completely normal things. Jasmin complained about her upcoming, difficult university exams. Khadija talked about the rising prices of vegetables at the local market. Ken made silly jokes about his cheap shoes getting scuffed on the marble floors. It was a very peaceful, ordinary family dinner.

"Did you fix that leaky pipe in the bathroom, Dad?" Ken asked casually. He tried to balance his silver spoon on the tip of his nose. Brandon chuckled quietly. He watched the spoon wobble precariously.

"I fixed it yesterday. You do not have to worry about doing any chores while you are here."

"That is the absolute best news I have heard all day," Ken cheered. He let the spoon drop and caught it smoothly in his hand.

"My arms are completely safe from manual labor. I will dedicate my entire evening to reading my new comic book." Jasmin reached across the table and pinched his arm again.

"You are totally useless." Ken grinned a massive, goofy grin. The warm kitchen felt absolutely perfect. He loved his family. He loved his quiet, simple life. He wanted to protect this peaceful normalcy forever. After dinner, the cozy kitchen slowly emptied. Jasmin gathered her thick textbooks in her arms. She walked upstairs to her bedroom to study for her exams. Khadija hummed a soft, happy tune. She stood by the sink. She washed the dirty dinner plates with warm, soapy water.

Ken remained sitting at the small wooden table. He slouched his shoulders forward. He rested his chin on his hands. He felt incredibly full. The warm food made him very sleepy. He let out a loud, dramatic yawn that stretched his jaw.

"I think my stomach is officially preparing for hibernation," Ken announced lazily. He blinked his dark eyes slowly.

"I am going to move to the living room. I need to test the softness of the sofa cushions. It is a very critical, highly important task." Brandon stood near the doorway. The older man held a cloth towel. He wiped the remaining grease from his rough, calloused hands. He looked directly at Ken. He did not smile his usual gentle smile. He looked incredibly serious.

"Ken," Brandon said quietly. His deep voice carried a strange, quiet weight. It was not a casual tone.

"Before you go to sleep. Come out to the backyard with me for a minute. I need to check the hinges on the wooden gate." Ken stopped slouching for a fraction of a millisecond. He noticed the slight, deliberate change in his father's tone. It was not a casual request. It was a firm, disguised invitation.

"Checking hinges sounds suspiciously like manual labor, Dad," Ken joked easily. He put his goofy, lazy smile right back on his face. He pushed himself out of his chair. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets.

"But fine. I will supervise. I am a highly trained, elite supervisor." Khadija looked over her shoulder from the soapy sink.

"Do not stay out there too long. The night air is getting very chilly."

"We will just be a minute," Brandon assured her gently. Brandon opened the back door. He stepped out onto the small wooden patio. Ken shuffled out right behind him. He dragged his shoes on the wooden deck. Scuff. Scuff. Scuff. The door clicked shut loudly, leaving them completely alone in the cool, dark evening.