Reborn As A Maid

Chapter 79: Chapter 79 - Farewell To Jennie ( Part 3)

There were five days left.

As peacefully as every other morning, the morning came.

Warm golden sunlight crept through the windows of the small wooden house, shining in patterns across the floor.

For the first time in years, Jennie wished that time would stand still.

It wasn’t because of the enemy.

It wasn’t because of any danger.

Every hour simply brought her closer to the moment when she will have to say goodbye.

Quietly sweeping the front yard and humming a tune that Elena once taught her, Jennie felt her father’s presence nearby.

The sounds of wood splitting came from the yard.

Arthur had started splitting wood with calm and experienced swings.

Noticing that Jennie watched him, he smiled.

"Good morning."

"Good morning, Dad."

Arthur rested his axe against the chopping block.

"Perfect timing."

"I went to the market early."

"So early?"

"Yes."

"I bought every ingredient."

"For what?"

With a gentle grin, Arthur answered:

"For your favorite dinner."

Jennie’s heartbeat suddenly increased in speed.

My favorite...?

Scratching the back of his head, Arthur added:

"You’ve worked so hard lately."

"I figured..."

"...that my daughter deserves a proper meal."

Jennie stared at her father for a few moments and lowered her head.

"...Thank you."

"Don’t thank me yet," Arthur chuckled.

"It still has to taste good."

From inside the house, Lucas laughed out loud.

"Mom is cooking, right?"

"Well, I am helping too," Arthur coughed.

"Helping by taste-testing?" Lucas opened the door enough to look outside.

"That’s a very important responsibility," Arthur crossed his arms.

Jennie couldn’t help but laugh.

Some things never change.

And she was grateful they didn’t.

The whole house gradually began filling with the smell of delicious food.

Bread was baking in the oven.

A rich stew was boiling in the pot.

Meat was slowly roasting, as Arthur turned it gently with experienced movements.

Elena was happily humming a tune as she was preparing her daughter’s favorite herb sauce.

Jennie quietly stood in the doorway of the kitchen.

Observing.

Listening.

Memorizing.

Every movement.

Every laugh.

Every everyday moment.

Seeing her daughter staring at herself, Elena smiled.

"What are you standing here for?"

"To watch."

Laughing, Elena suggested:

"Then come to help."

During the next hour, mother and daughter were preparing dinner together.

They were chopping vegetables.

Kneading dough.

Preparing the stew.

Sometimes Elena corrected Jennie’s technique:

"No."

"Just like this."

Obeying her mother, Jennie copied every move.

"...Still not perfect."

Smiling kindly, Elena said:

"It doesn’t matter."

Looking at her mother, Jennie asked:

"...Really?"

Elena carefully pushed a strand of silver hair behind Jennie’s ear.

"As long as you cook with love..."

"...the food will always taste great."

Lowering her head in order not to cry, Jennie stayed silent.

When the evening came, the family gathered around the dining table.

Proudly carrying the final dish, Arthur exclaimed:

"There!"

"A feast worthy of a hero."

Seeing all the food on the table, Lucas whistled.

"Dad."

"You really went all out."

Arthur smiled.

"My daughter deserves it."

Gently sitting down, Jennie was silent for a few moments.

How many times did they have dinners like this?

Hundred? Thousands?

It was impossible to imagine that one of them will be the last.

Clapping his hands, Arthur said:

"Alright."

"Let’s eat."

"Thank you for the food!" everyone said at the same time.

Whispering the words softly, Jennie thanked her parents: freēwēbnovel.com

"...Thank you."

Just like usual, the dinner was lively.

Lucas immediately took the largest piece of roasted meat.

Frowning, Arthur objected:

"That’s mine."

"It was."

"Then it’s mine now."

I raised a thief," Arthur sighed dramatically.

Laughing hard, Jennie almost dropped her spoon.

"Elena smiled.

"You two never grow up."

Arthur pointed at Lucas.

"Tell him."

After thinking for a while, Jennie finally said:

"Hmm..." ƒreewebɳovel.com

"I think..."

Lucas was waiting confidently.

"...that Dad deserves the bigger piece."

Gasping, Lucas cried:

"Traitor!"

Giggling, Jennie confessed:

"I’ve always been on Dad’s side."

Raising his fist victoriously, Arthur yelled:

"Victory!"

And the whole room was filled with laughter.

For a little while...

Jennie almost forgot about the promise of seven days.

Almost.

During half of the dinner...

Elena saw Jennie’s plate.

"You have eaten nothing."

"I am eating."

"Not enough."

Before Jennie could protest...

Another generous serving of stew appeared on her plate.

"And more vegetables."

"And another slice of bread."

Looking at the huge portion of food, Jennie said:

"...Mom."

"What?"

"I cannot eat all this."

"Nonsense."

"You’ve always had a small appetite," Lucas laughed.

Jennie blinked.

"I don’t."

"You do," Lucas and Arthur answered in unison.

Serious nodding his head, Arthur explained:

"I’ve counted."

Jennie stared at both of them.

"You’ve really counted?"

Laughing, Lucas cried out:

"You believed him!"

And even Arthur couldn’t keep a straight face anymore.

Soon...

The whole family was laughing again.

Jennie smiled so widely that her cheeks were hurting.

She wished that this moment will never end.

The laughter died down.

Looking around the table, Jennie saw the warm smiles of her parents.

Father’s warm smile.

Mother was carefully watching that everyone has enough food.

And brother, pretending not to care, silently placed the last piece of roasted meat on her plate.

None of them noticed.

But tears were running down Jennie’s cheeks.

She was still smiling.

Desperately trying not to make a sound.

Arthur was the first who noticed this.

He stopped smiling.

"...Jennie?"

Quickly wiping her eyes, Jennie answered:

"I’m fine."

Looking at his daughter with concern, Arthur gently asked:

"Then..."

Tilting his head, he continued:

"Why are you crying?"

The room fell silent.

Worried Elena looked around.

Lucas slowly put down his fork.

Seeing the delicious meal before her, Jennie knew that she couldn’t tell them the truth.

Not yet.

So she laughed softly.

"...The food."

"What? The food?" Arthur blinked.

Nodding her head, Jennie forced another smile.

"It’s just..."

"...that good."

Silence.

And then Elena began laughing first.

"Oh, you silly girl."

"I thought that something terrible had happened."

Leaning back in his chair, Lucas stated:

"I knew it."

"Dad’s cooking finally made someone cry."

Arthur proudly folded his arms.

"As expected."

"My culinary skills have reached legendary status."

Quickly interrupting Arthur, Lucas said:

"Mom cooked most of it."

Arthur’s shoulders sagged.

"...Don’t ruin the moment."

And the whole family burst out laughing again.

Laughing together with them, Jennie was crying.

Her tears were running freely.

Hidden behind the bright smile.

Because she knew something that they didn’t.

This laughter...

This warm dinner...

This loving family gathered at one table...

Was soon going to become her memories.

Memories that only she would remember.Dinner was over, but nobody was in a hurry to leave the table.

This was how they used to act in the past.

Having eaten, they continued to sit at the same place and discuss various topics of life.

Arthur sighed happily.

"Now that’s what I call a real dinner."

Lucas smiled.

"You have been repeating that after each dinner during the last ten years."

"And I was right each time."

Elena chuckled and shook her head.

"You guys are childish."

Jennie leant on her palms, observing her brothers with attention.

She was not listening to what they were discussing anymore.

She was listening to their voices.

To the peaceful laughter of Arthur.

To the gentle scolding of Elena.

To the jokes of Lucas.

Jennie wanted to carve all those sounds deep in her soul forever.

But Arthur suddenly turned to look at his sister.

"You’ve been awfully quiet."

"Have I?"

"Yes."

He smiled kindly.

"Usually, you make five jokes about Lucas during each dinner."

And Lucas immediately nodded.

"That’s right."

"It’s quite suspicious."

Jennie chuckled.

"So I should fix that."

She smiled innocently at Lucas.

"You know..."

"I’ve been wondering."

Lucas narrowed his eyes and inquired:

"What?"

"When are you going to marry finally?"

Silence reigned in the room.

Arthur nearly spat his tea.

Elena put her palm to her mouth to cover her laughter.

Lucas immediately blushed brightly.

"M-Married?!"

"But I’m only seventeen!"

"Then I guess there’s still some hope for you."

Lucas pointed at her in astonishment.

"Who taught you to talk this way?"

"I did."

Arthur roared with laughter.

"I’ve never seen anyone losing the discussion so fast!"

Lucas sighed heavily, covering his face with palms.

"I miss my quiet sister of five years ago."

Jennie chuckled.

"I’m still quiet."

"No."

"You’ve become dangerous."

And again there was a roar of laughter.

Jennie held this sound as if it was the most precious treasure in the world.

Soon, Elena got up and began to collect the empty plates.

But before she could raise them, Jennie gently stopped her.

"Mom."

"Yes?"

"Don’t take them."

"I’ll wash everything today."

Elena looked surprised.

"You’ve helped all day long."

"No, it doesn’t matter."

"I want to."

There was something in the voice of the girl that made Elena hesitate.

Then she smiled and nodded.

"Okay."

"But try not to be up too late."

"I will not."

When all others left the dining-room, Jennie stayed there alone.

She carefully cleaned each plate, each cup, each spoon.

Ordinary housework that she had done many times became precious.

After washing everything, she dried the last thing and carefully put it back to the shelf.

She looked around the well-known kitchen.

Wooden table.

Old cupboard made by Arthur.

Apron worn by Elena when she cooked.

Chair of Lucas.

How simple this place was!

But for Jennie, it was priceless.

She put her palm on the table and whispered:

"...Thank you."

The soft voice sounded in her mind.

"You are saying goodbye already."

This was Excalibur.

Jennie smiled slightly.

"...Yes."

"There are still five days left."

"Yes."

She looked towards the hallway where she could now hear Arthur, Elena and Lucas laughing together.

"I just don’t want to waste a second."

And Excalibur fell silent.

Because even such an ancient holy sword as Excalibur understood.

Some battles were fought with swords.

But other ones...

Were fought without showing the tears until the very end.

Jennie took one more glance at the dining-room and blew out the lantern.

In the dark room, she whispered the promise only she could hear.

No matter what happens...

These five days...

I’ll spend them as Arthur and Elena’s daughter.

Not as the Sword King.

Not as a hero.

Only... Jennie.