Inheriting a Lost Bloodline, My First Task is to have heirs?!
Chapter 84 - 84 - Community Kitchen Duties

It was only around three in the afternoon now. It is still a bit early to start cooking for dinner but who doesn't want to eat early if you've been waiting for it the whole day. I slowly walked to the community kitchen lost in my thoughts. Technically, I already touched Lark so he's my person now though he's currently labeled as my slave. I finally remembered to check on the handbook and I was right. Taking in slaves or helping out people in need earn you points even if it was done outside the academe.

I passed by the bread shop and thought of dropping by. I saw the owner who is kind of busy packing some cooked loaves of bread. It should be part of the 50 loaves I ordered. He saw me and was surprised. I then smiled and said, "Don't worry, I am not hurrying you. I just thought of placing orders in advance. I can only cook in the community kitchen during weekends so I don't know what those people will eat on weekdays." The bread shop owner looked at me and gave a helpless smile. He then said, "You have to trust in them a bit. They've been doing just fine before you started helping them. They should be able to find a way to eat on those other days." I nodded in understanding and said, "But just in case someone asks for food, just give them a loaf or two. I will give some money in advance to pay for it." He still accepted the money and nodded in understanding as well. I left three silvers with him. A loaf of bread only sells for about 10 - 30 coppers so that should feed quite a few people.

I arrived at the community kitchen at around 3:30pm. It was earlier than usual but I saw some people already waiting for me. Besides the seven boys I fed last time, there were also a few men with children that are already seated in the dining area. When they saw me approach, they welcomed me and said that they will help out in the preparation and cooking of the meal. I gladly accepted their help. You shouldn't stop people who are willing to volunteer for the greater good. I brought out all the onions, tomatoes, carrots and potatoes. I asked my little volunteers to wash the ingredients and peel off their skins. I then told them that I will show them how to chop it once they are done. The volunteers gladly carried the heavy sacks of vegetables I gave them towards the water tap. As for me, I brought out the pots, chopping boards and knives. I brought out the wild boar meat and chopped it into smaller cubes for the stew. Since a lot of people are working together, the peeled ingredients were washed quite quickly. I showed them how each one needs to be cut and they were able to learn it quite quickly. The preparation was completed in less than an hour. I was able to start cooking at exactly 4:30 in the afternoon.

The smell of onions and tomatoes being sauteed wafted in the air within a few minutes. In one of the pots, I have already started boiling some bone broth to make the stew more delicious once I mix it in later. After the tomatoes and onions are done, I sauteed the pork in. While waiting for the pork to cook, one of the workers from the bread shop arrived with my delivery. I gave them the other half of the payments that I owed. They dutifully packed each loaf in its own paper bag which made me glad. I told them to place the boxes down on one of the tables for distributing later. The stew took about one and a half hours to cook. A few minutes before serving, I told everyone to get their bowls since it is about time to eat. Everybody scampered back to their houses to get theirs. I couldn't help but smile at how eager they are to eat what I have prepared compared to yesterday. While nobody was looking, I poured two vials of healing potions and mixed the stew to distribute it evenly in the pot. I heard some slow footsteps approaching and when I looked up, I saw a face I did not expect to see again.

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Aurum's POV

As I made my rounds, I made sure to pass by the community kitchen and as expected there she was again, my wife. She's busy cooking and feeding the people from the slum area just like yesterday. She would definitely make a proper princess for sure but I know she would not like that. This is the reason why I gave up the crown prince position before because I did not want to put unnecessary pressure and danger to my future wife. I have not met her yet at that time but somehow, my decisions before definitely seem to align to how she wants to live her life in this world and I can never be too glad about my previous choices. I was quite absent-minded that before I noticed, I already found myself walking towards her and it was too late to stop since I was already standing in front of her. When she looked up, she looked shocked as for me I felt relief. At least, she didn't look like she despised me.

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I couldn't believe that I have been meeting the men I was avoiding during these last two days. First, I was entangled with Lark. Next, I was tailed by Keeran. Then, almost got stalked by a pervert and now, this guy and his minions. I don't even have energy to feel anything anymore. Besides the initial shock, I simply looked back in to the stew I was mixing and asked, "Do you need anything sir? You don't look like you live here so I know you are not after the free stew." I waited for an answer but there wasn't any even after I have doused the fire since the stew is done. When I looked up, he was simply staring at me like an idiot. I then told him, "If you don't have anything to say, kindly leave. A line of hungry people will soon start on the spot you are standing on." When I told him to leave, he finally snapped back to reality and responded, "I was doing my usual rounds when I saw you here. I just got curious as to what you were cooking since it smells so nice. Is there a chance that you can give us some?" I stared at him as if asking him if he was seriously asking for free food from me. He shamelessly smiled at me like telling me, What's the big deal? I placed my open palm in front of him and said, "Two silvers for all five of you." His eyes widened but he still touched his robe pockets seemingly looking for money. He then looked back to one of his aides and asked him if he brought money. After much effort from the five of them, they hurriedly gave me five silvers. I raised my brow and asked, "Why are you giving me too much?" He then said, "It's for our food and also to donate towards your project of feeding the people here." I closed my palm to take the money. I conjured five medium-sized bowls and filled it with the stew. I also gave them a loaf of bread each to complete the meal. I also took some for myself too. They sat on one of the nearby tables to eat as for me, I stayed near the stove top and ate my fill while waiting for my customers to come back. As for these guys, they seem to be observing how I was eating and then started copying me. Oh, they were nobles and the other one was a royal. They must have not tried having stew in a bowl for soup with some cheap bread.

After about ten minutes, a crowd has started to make its way to the community kitchen area. Before they were able to get in line, they stopped walking and stared at the five people eating on one of the tables. When the prince and his minions noticed it, they immediately stood up and bid their hasty goodbyes. They even used cleanse magic before returning the bowls to me.

After the noblemen left, a play button seemed to have been pressed and the people started falling in line in front of me. The seven boys are in front of the line and I hurriedly gave everyone a bowl of the stew and a loaf of bread each. Soon enough everyone got their fills and I even gave some seconds and even thirds for the older men in the line. I also gave whole loaves of bread for the younger children. If they can't eat the whole thing, they can keep it for the next time they were hungry.

Cleaning up was a breeze since my volunteers helped till the end. I then told them that I can only cook for them by next weekend since I have to go back to the academe over the weekdays. Some of them looked sad but they nodded in understanding and still smiled as they said their goodbyes and their "See you next weekend" greetings. The seven boys are the saddest of the bunch for some reason. I understood how important it has been for them to have at least this one full meal in a day. I put a hand on each of their heads and ruffled their hair. I then whispered, if you get very hungry, go to the bread shop where I bought the bread loaves a while ago and they'll give you something to eat. They looked up and gave me their sweetest smiles.