My Family in the Novel?

Chapter 95: Dinner

"Stop that!"

Meralda's scream echoed through the throne room as she unleashed a powerful wind blast at Elaniel, who was in the midst of kissing me. Our intimate moment abruptly ended as Elaniel was forcefully propelled into the walls of the throne room. The impact left a concave dent, and spider-web-like cracks sprawled across the surface.

Elaniel, though momentarily disoriented, glanced around with confusion at the unexpected blast. Shrugging off the incident, she effortlessly emerged from the wall, displaying no visible damage to her body aside from a light dusting from the impact.

"Meralda... calm down," I urged as she stammered, seemingly overwhelmed by my true face.

"B-but master, she—"

Meralda couldn't continue her words; her eyes widened, and her body shivered. Did my true face remind her of the time I fought her? Regardless, I approached her, reaching out to comfort her.

"Meralda, it's me" I assured her, grabbing her hand as she fell to the ground. As I got closer, my appearance shifted back to the familiar face of Adrian.

"O-oh," Meralda uttered in relief as I helped her back up, allowing her a moment to regain composure. Unexpectedly, Elaniel once again clung to me, casting a hostile glare at Meralda. I half-expected her to lash out, but it seemed her intentions were different.

Despite her previous actions, it appeared she genuinely wanted to be close to me.

While I initially considered ways to eliminate her, looking at her beautiful face and the affectionate gaze in her eyes, it seemed she genuinely liked me.

Her usefulness outweighed any potential threat she posed. I decided to take advantage of the situation, and besides, the gift she bestowed upon me was so significant that a mere kiss wouldn't suffice. I contemplated rewarding her with something more later.

….

"Did you find her?"

"No," Tristan responded with a heavy sigh.

"What about Adrian?" Alex inquired.

"Nothing, no sign of him either."

The two of them exchanged glances, concern etched on their faces. Alex and Tristan were currently in the commercial district, tirelessly searching for any clues that could lead them to their missing friends. It was in this district that they were last seen, and the gravity of what had transpired two days ago still weighed heavily on them.

A massive explosion had rocked Heiron Bank, one of the largest buildings in the district, causing widespread chaos and claiming numerous lives.

The casualties ranged from students and academy staff to random workers, and even knights and mages who perished in the aftermath. Yet, the most shocking revelation was the death of Schwi Heiron, the sole daughter of Duke Heiron. The once-thriving commercial district had been transformed into a scene of tragedy and loss.

To compound their distress, the situation took a darker turn with the involvement of two of their friends. Louise emerged as the prime suspect, her disappearance casting her into the spotlight as she was suspected to be on the run.

The aftermath of the incident revealed a conspicuous absence—no one had seen or heard from Louise since, adding a layer of mystery to her role in the chaos.

Adrian, on the other hand, appeared to be a witness to the unfolding events. While he wasn't persecuted like Louise, the abrupt vanishing act that followed Louise's disappearance raised suspicions.

The connection between the two friends, their sudden disappearance in tandem, hinted at a deeper involvement in the incident than initially assumed.

Tristan, lost in his thoughts and frustration over the disappearance of their friends, felt a sudden smack on his back.

SLAP!!

The resounding slap caught the attention of onlookers, and Tristan turned to see Alex, wearing a goofy expression, trying to cheer him up. Despite the surprise, Tristan understood that it was a well-intentioned gesture.

Alex encouraged Tristan to remain optimistic, assuring him that they would find their friends soon. Adrian, chiming in, questioned whether they had thoroughly searched all the locations where Louise and Adrian were last seen. Alex, concerned about Tristan's well-being, pointed out the toll the situation had taken on him.

"Cheer up, Tristan. I'm sure we'll find them soon," Alex reassured, but he couldn't ignore Tristan's deteriorating condition.

"Listen here, buddy. I know you're worried about them, but neglecting your health isn't going to help them in any way"

"Did you even sleep yesterday?" Alex asked, scrutinizing the evident dark circles and fatigue etched on Tristan's face.

"Yes."

"Don't lie."

"No."

Sighing, Alex regarded Tristan before decisively grabbing and pushing him in the opposite direction.

"What are you doing?" Tristan inquired, his tone tinged with annoyance.

"Making my dear friend sleep, for the goddess's sake! Man, you should see yourself. I'll go look for them for the time being; you go and catch your sleep."

"I can't. I have to find Louise," Tristan responded, his voice weary but determined.

"What about Adrian? Come on, man, just trust me and get some rest. We basically searched most of the school now, and who knows how much you explored during the nights?"

Sighing once again, Alex recognized the severity of Tristan's exhaustion.

While it was expected for him to worry about his friends, especially considering his feelings for Louise, the situation had spiraled out of control.

Alex understood that Tristan's emotions were getting the best of him, and he needed to take a step back for his own well-being.

"No, two more places… there are two more places we haven't searched yet," Tristan insisted.

Alex immediately recognized what he meant.

"You know we can't. Louise's room is currently being monitored, and even going near there is strictly forbidden, ordered by the principal herself. We might be top-ranked students, but as this incident involved a bunch of influential people, the moment we make a mistake, even we are not exempted from expulsion."

"That's only for Louise's room. There were no bans or anything for Adrian."

"That's--- I guess you're right. But I don't think that means anything, you know. There were even some students who saw the principal lurking in and out there, so that place must also be under investigation."

Ignoring Alex's words, Tristan emanated his aura and immediately rushed back to the dorms at fast speeds.

"AHHHH, this idiot!" Alex exclaimed as he chased after him.

It was usually him who made impulsive actions and decisions, but now, because his lovesick friend was worried for Louise, all of this happened.

Alex sighed once again, a mix of frustration, concern, and understanding filling his thoughts.

….

As we exited the throne room, Elaniel once again personally guided me through the castle halls. A part of me was tempted to try sitting on the throne, especially since Elaniel attempted to force me into it. However, I thought it would be more fitting for Mother to be the first to claim that seat.

While walking, I expressed my desire to meet Iselia, but Elaniel insisted that I should see her later. She mentioned preparing an exquisite dinner for me, and I wondered how demons cooked. Nevertheless, I accepted her proposal, curious about what awaited me.

Meralda, on my side, remained on edge after the earlier incident. It seemed that my true face still shocked her, but I continued to hold her hand as we proceeded to the dining room. It felt as though Meralda wanted to let go, but over time, she seemed to grow more at ease with the situation.

As we entered the dining room, my eyes were drawn to a large rectangular table. At its center stood a very luxurious chair, and beside it, a more ordinary-looking chair. On the table lay an array of steaming, hot, and delicious food, its aroma alone causing me to drool slightly. I shifted my gaze to the elf standing against the side wall of the room, clad in a chef's uniform. He offered a slight bow of his head as he noticed my attention.

'Isn't that guy Alma?' I thought, recognizing the elf in the chef uniform. It appeared that an elf general like him was deemed too useful to be killed outright. Unfortunately, it seemed that only a mid-ranking demon had managed to take hold of his body. Judging by the twirling of his horns, it was likely a gluttony-type demon.

'Well, at least the food somehow looks, smells, and, I'm pretty sure, tastes great.' I mused, appreciating the culinary skills of the possessed elf.

"It looks good, right, Father? I assure you; they taste as good as they look, hehe" said Elaniel with a mischievous smile.

Unable to resist her enthusiasm, Elaniel dragged me to take a seat, and she promptly claimed the one right beside mine. As I gazed at the perfectly cooked steak in front of me, my mouth watered involuntarily.

The moment I took my first bite, it felt like I was transported to culinary heaven.

The taste reminded me of the time when Dad hunted that Chaos dragon and cooked it for me; the texture and flavor of this meat mirrored that memorable experience.

I couldn't help but wonder what they did to this steak. As I savored each chew, a slight shiver ran down my spine at the thought that the meat I was consuming might be something more than it seemed.

"Don't worry, Father. They're all precious meats from magical boars and other delicious creatures found in the forest. I made sure to preserve most of them, expecting your arrival" Elaniel reassured me with a smile.

Her words acted as a green light for my hands and mouth, which moved almost independently as I eagerly devoured and relished every dish that adorned the table.

As I continued to enjoy the delightful feast, I glanced to my side and noticed that Elaniel wasn't partaking in the meal. Instead, she seemed fixated on me, her gaze focused, especially on my lips. The blush on her cheeks and the subtle smile on her face gave her an almost intoxicated appearance.

"Why aren't you eating?" I asked, feeling a bit uneasy under her intense stare.

"Can I, Father?" she inquired, her eyes widening with curiosity.

"Of course, you can," I responded, puzzled by her question. I thought it was only natural for her to join me. Eating alone felt somewhat odd, considering I had grown accustomed to sharing meals with my friends and even Meralda, who floated above the table, observing the food. However, Meralda couldn't partake in the feast, as being a spirit, she sustained herself with the planet's natural mana and my own mana.

"But the things I eat are slightly different from yours, Father," Elaniel murmured, a hint of hesitation in her voice.

"What's wrong with that? Eat whatever you want. Besides, I'm pretty sure you can eat almost anything, right?" I replied in a playful tone. I couldn't help but tease her, thinking that she could probably even chug a gallon of poison without it affecting her in any way.

"Anything I want, Father? You wouldn't mind?" Elaniel questioned, her eyes widening with surprise.

"Yes, besides, you deserve it," I assured her, reaching out to gently stroke her head. The sincerity in my words seemed to comfort her. !

I was taken aback as Elaniel suddenly slid under the table. Puzzled, I watched her with a furrowed brow, and just as confusion crossed my face, she flashed a seductive smile from beneath.

Without a word, she unzipped my pants, leaving me momentarily stunned. As I parted my legs in response, her mischievous gaze met mine.

"Don't tell me—"

I began, but my words were swallowed by a gasp as she skillfully took hold of my arousal. And she swallowed my cock whole.

My breath hitched, and I felt an unexpected surge of pleasure as she expertly worked her magic, coaxing a hardness that had eluded me just moments ago.

'Wtf, why was that so good?' I managed to stammer, my mind reeling from the sensations coursing through me.

Elaniel continued her sensual onslaught, making tantalizing twirls with her tongue at the tip before intensifying her actions. The unexpected pleasure mingled with the forbidden nature of the encounter, creating an intoxicating cocktail that left me breathless.

Pop!!!

A popping sound was heard.

"You said anything, right, Father? So you wouldn't mind me taking some of your mana, right?" she said as she continued to lick the side of my sword.