The Time Stone Crystal

Chapter 11 - Venison Meat

Weng stared at the young man's hands and then looked up at him slightly. Then, she slowly reached his hand. "Rowena or Weng Quimson. Nice to meet you," she said.

"Nice name," Kristoff smiled.

"My hand." The young man still did not let go of her hand.

"Oops! Sorry," he released one's hand from her.

 "It's okay." She put her arms crossed at her chest.

"It would be nice if we could go back inside," he said.

"I think so." She did not refuse his offer, and she was feeling cold.

They stood up together and walked through the large mansion where they were staying. When entering the European house, Kairo met them inside. She saw Kristoff bowed slightly to him as a sign of respect then Kristoff continued walking inside while they were staring at each other. Kairo slowly walks through her while staring at her glimpse.

Every time she stared into his golden eyes, she felt deep nervous. She was the only one who could saw it and was surprised by that. I don't know what do I have. Do I am unique to anyone? I do not understand the curse of my destiny in this world with him. He slightly sighed.

"It's cold outside, and you shouldn't stay there even for a moment." Its face is serious as what naturally shows. "Rest first. You need to regain strength." After he spoke, it turned away.

"Wait..." She stopped him.

The young man slowly glanced at him again. "Do you need anything else?" he asked.

"H-how about Hander? He's fine?" she asked.

"He's fine. No need to worry."

"Is that so," she put her right hand on her stomach.

She's hungry and not eaten yet since earlier.

"Uhm. Before you take a rest, let's eat first."

She stared at him again. The young man seemed to feel her situation, then he turned around and walked away. She followed him instead of getting rest but his facial expressions still the same. I guess I need to train myself in what he shows on me. Whatever! I'm just hungry. 

When they arrived at the kitchen, Kristoff, Jigger, Hander, and Thiara are seated in the dining area. She also saw two people that were new to her. It was Mrs. Constancia Landrake at Mr. Pierre Landrake. The couple has a connection to Kairo, the reason why they are welcomed and helped them. She took a glance at Hander as if nothing had happened in him. His shoulder was wounded, and it finally healed. Kairo would have done something on him on her thoughts and used his magical healing power. She also took a glance at a woman whose blood boils over her, but the woman sneers at her. What's her problem anyway? What did I do to her?

"Have a seat! I have prepared delicious food especially, your favorite, Master Kairo." Mrs. Landrake said to the young man. "If you need anything else, just say so, and I'm just in the kitchen."

"You will not join us, Mrs. Landrake?" Kairo asked.

"We had taken our lunch before you arrived," replied Mrs. Landrake to the young man.

Kairo was sitting at the center while she was next to him on the left side. Kristoff was opposite to her and, next to her is Hander while opposite to Thiara. And Jigger was chosen to sit at the center side in the other corner of the table.

She looked at the food served on the table because she knew the dishes are new to him. There are fruits in the middle of the table, and the food recipes are mostly meat. She does not eat much meat and often eats with veggies. She was already holding the fork and spoon, but she still could not choose while the others had already taken their share.

"Eat that," Kairo once laid the slice of steak on his plate.

"Huh?" She looked at the young man then turned to her plate. "I-I don't eat—"

"Do not refuse the food grace. I will not give it to you if it is bad for your health." He has also begun to put food on his plate.

"That's delicious! That's the famous recipe all over Europe. It's a venison recipe I made, and it's Master Kairo's favorite. It was a symbol of the highest social status here in Europe. Only rich people with big properties the ones who can serve delicious food on the table," Mrs. Landrake explained.

"Ah... I see." She has already started tasting how delicious they said. The food was just in her mouth when she tasted the condiments used there and its tender meat. "It's delicious," she continued.

"Sometimes you also eat meat," Kairo said again.

"That's right, Weng. Our food here is delicious to taste. You will enjoy while staying here for a while," Kristoff added.

"We all do hunting. Fresh meat of animals like deer is also tastier. Just like you eat it," Hander cut in their conversation.

She frowned at what she heard from Hander. "W-what—did you said? Like I ate—a deer?" she glanced to him with confusion.

"Yeah. What to expect, Miss? Venison meat came from wild red deer. Is there no red deer from the place where you come from?"

"The deer species are endangered and cannot be a s*******r with people in my era. That's why their breed is already extinct because of your hunting in this time." She feels on her stomach to vomits. She could not also bear that in this era, hunting was rampant.

"Miss, our time and your time are different. If you live in your era when animals are sanctified and endangered. Here in the past, we have a lot of differences. It was our source of food. Hunting is one of the best activities of those in the lower classes of society." Hander explained to her their differences. "So? What did you eat in your era? A frog or an insect?"

Everyone laughed except Kairo and her.

She shook her head once. "But it is still not right. If it's doing here in the past, it has a big impact in the future. The wild animals in the forest already depleted of because of that wrong mindset," she protested. But, she remained calm.

"If you do not find a way during a complicated past, you will die here. If you are in our position, you cannot think of that thing.

You can choose, you eat wild animals, or you starve to death. Do not compare where you come from because we all have different principles and traditions," Thiara added.

She focused on her plate again. Pity these creatures. Wealthy clans could eat other meats more than they will eat of future extinct animals. But how do they know that? They did not even think it would have a big problem in the future. After all, they have no such mindset of thinking others. Our world is different rather than thinking about the safety of others. And you agreed with this? Kairo? Eventually, she stopped arguments with them.

"I'll cook you another dish, Miss Weng. W-what do you want?" Mrs. Landrake asked her.

She looked up at her. "It's okay, Mrs. Landrake. I'm okay with this food," she replied lazily.

"Are you sure? I still have vegetables in the kitchen that I can cook," she insisted.

"I'm okay with this. Thank you very much, Mrs. Landrake."

"Let her eat that. She is lucky that she ate deliciously," Thiara added.

"Okay." Mrs. Landrake said to her. "I'm just in the kitchen." It turned around and went to the kitchen.

There’s a little vegetable left on the table so, she would eat that after. She cannot take it anymore while turning her mind that there's a repellent that happened in this era. They were also talking about the war after, but she did not participate. She doesn't want to give any more prattle to them, especially; she is not part of the group. Kairo, on the other hand, quietly listens to his comrade's conversations. Or maybe, he just feels her silently mode.

After she ate, she took an excuse to them were still at the table and continued their conversation. It was good, and she met Mrs. Landrake in the living room. Mrs. Landrake took her to a room to take a rest well and change clothes.

"Here is your nightdress. I even took it to the other room of my daughter, who used to live here before," she laid the dress on the bed at the same time.

"Thank you for taking care of me, Mrs. Landrake. Where is your daughter? I don't still saw her around," she asked as she sat on the side of the bed.

"She is in another city. My daughter is already married, so we are the only couple left living here. And then let me serve you well because Master Kairo visited here today with someone like you. Miss Thiara and the others are with him whenever Master Kairo has important to do. You know to trade-in."

"A someone like me? I don't understand you, Mrs. Landrake." She was confused again.

"I know Master Kairo when it comes to those who have been with him. He treats you differently. He told us you would come, so we were able to prepare here immediately. We fixed everything as he instructed."

"Is that so? I don't think I am that special. Maybe it's just a coincidence that he needs me in the important thing in his life. Maybe, you think there is something between us, Mrs. Landrake. I'm just saying that to you that there is nothing special. No strings attached."

"I know that thing, but we can't take it out of our minds to think about the two of you. Only now we have seen Master Kairo that he is serious when it comes to you."

"He has always been serious in his life right then, and there is nothing new to that."

"He's not only serious, Miss Weng. I saw it in his eyes that something is different," the lady smiled at the same time.

"Huh?" she stared at the lady.

"I can see the radiance of his eyes."

"Do you see his golden eyes?!" she was shocked.

"Of course not!" She rebuke then laughed. "I mean the emotion of his eyes. What are you saying about his golden eyes? There are no golden eyes!"

"Uhm... Nothing. I mean⸻his beautiful eyes."

"We've known Master Kairo for a long time. He helped us out of poverty, so I knew his every emotion. But it's different every time he stares at you. I'm also a woman, Miss Weng. I know that. Trust me," the lady seemed still lovingly trembling.

"Oh, Mrs. Landrake! Your thoughts went wrong. I don't have such things in mind like you have thoughts anymore. I'm too old for that!"

"Old? How old are you, by the way?"

"I'm forty years old."

"Forty?" she was deeply shocked.

"Yes!" she answered toughly.

"Wow! You only look twenty years old. You look so good at your age? I thought you were young!"

"I just look young, but the truth is that I am old. Well, forty isn't old." She smiled at the lady's reaction.

"You're amazing! Oh, I will go ahead and take care of the others. Take a rest well, Miss Weng."

"Yes, Mrs. Landrake. I will. Thank you."

Mrs. Landrake left the room was given to her, and then she took care of herself. She had a lot to go through that day, so she wanted to ease everything.

After a few hours, she still could not asleep. It was night outside, and she wanted to go out, walk through near the balcony that connects to her room. As she opened the door, the cold breeze of air embraces her. She quickly closed the door and then hugged herself walks through to the railings of the balcony.

From there, she could see the moon bright gives light throughout the night of the city. There are also lights used by other households and facing the Kew Palace. Everything she sees is far away from the world she came from; a Philippines country. The whole environment was quite different, and she could not hear some noise. She took a deep breath of fresh air.

She thought of many things in those moments. She is alone, and no family has sympathized with her so far. She misses them so much.

She stared at the bright moon again. I hope I can come back soon. But if I could go back, they might not even remember me. I am in a different body, but my soul is still me. I am still Weng that has big dreams for my siblings. There was a sudden pain in her heart when she thought about her family. She stooped down and sighed.

"You should not go out at this time. I told you that earlier."

She was alarmed. She turned her head where the familiar voice comes next. There she saw the young man on the other balcony almost close by and sitting on the left railings. It was staring at him, and she did not know if he was there than earlier.