This question came out of nowhere so abruptly, and before Aster could even fully reacted, he said once again in a voice as cold as the Siberian air, "what is a jackass?"

Aster almost fell over at the sight of his curious and dangerous face?

She gaped at him, "can you read people’s mind?"

Then the man near frowned, and responded with an aloof expression, "it’s forbidden, and almost a waste to use it on you. Now you have said it aloud. Stupid."

Aster wiped her head, terrified. Maybe she was too concentrated and said some words that ought to be only in her heart.

Shit!

Be aware of your tongue, or mind, next time!

Anyway, lucky that there is no internet in this world of monsters...

"Oh, well, it was nothing, Jackass is... just a word for compliment, as for fees ease, it was a food specially made for a jackass."

"So I see." He raised his eyebrows. For some people who didn’t know him, that was definitely charming but for her, she’d seen through the surface, and not one ripple was made in her heart and she even wanted to laugh.

"Yes, your majesty, that’s right."

"Then, you are a jackass too."

"..." Aster was stoned. That was some deadly shoot in her own foot!

"I’m complimenting you, are you happy?"

"Yes I am, I’m very happy, indeed."

Aster lowered her head and swallowed the bitterness, without noticing that the man sitting there with the regal gesture curved a smile.

"You majesty, I think you should have a taste before they are cold." Aster didn’t want to give up, and kept up with her promotion.

With these both excited and perturbed eyes of Aster on him, the man picked up his fork and and put a piece of chicken in his mouth.

He was even regal when he ate. Aster looked at the man with a beast heart, sorrow started to stir in her heart.

However, what she cared about more at present was whether he liked it or not?

"Well, your majesty, how do you like it?"

She kneaded the back of her hand hard.

And the man lifted his chin and pointed the other dishes, "what are these?"

Aster’s eyes were lightened, and the hope just came flooding in and rescued her from the anger.

"You majesty, the rest of them are respectively sweet and sour fish, spicy tofu, twice cooked pork, and spare ribs and bamboo shoots soup!" She finished in one breath, and most importantly, she introduced her proudest work, "and these are lemon pudding cake." She brought it near him and handed him a spoon, "it is lemon flavor, made of flour, eggs etc., you can enjoy it after."

Then carefully Aster pushed it before him, "please have taste, your majesty."

"O-kay."

The man squeezed the two syllable word out of his mouth with his ever aloof attitude, then he put one spoon in his mouth, then two, and another...

At last, Aster watched all the empty plates, and almost patted the table to turn because of her laughter.

Holly mother!

He finished it all! Ha ha ha ha!

Finished it!

"Your majesty, how do you... like it?"

Aster watched him wiped his mouth with the handkerchief like a real gentleman, and asked with a still perturbed heart.

"Well, you are not useless at all, you can work at the royal kitchen later. I don’t like things too spicy, try putting less pepper next time."

He disappeared after he said his comment.

Aster thought of the tone and attitude he just used and pounded on the table, "what was that? I’ll poison you believe it or not!"

"My lady, now the king has finished, are the remains free for us to eat?"

The little monsters now came pouring in from everywhere. Aster waved her hand, "take it then, take it."

Then the little monsters broke up in an uproar. Herald appeared and yelled at the already gone little monsters, "save some for me at least!" then he jerked his head to Aster and congratulated, "you are awesome! Won the king’s stomach on your first try! Now you’ve got the way to his stomach, through which, his heart is so very reachable!"

"But look at that jackass’ face... it makes me feel that I’ve just turned from a cleaner to a cook, what’s the big difference..." Aster sighed at the table, and the emptied plates didn’t make her any happier as she’d imagined.

"Well, take your time, you can’t just rush to the happy ending, the one you are pursuing is the wolf king of the Monde Desmonstres, Adalwolf Delmont! He is no ordinary man, he is rougher and tougher than ordinary men! You have just made the unprecedented breakthrough! Of which you should be very proud!"

"Really?"

"That’s for sure! You should put yourself now into what you would cook for him every day! Remember!" Aster pulled back her red hair, "please him!"

"..."

Aster accepted it and went to the royal kitchen.

***

Five days later in the morning, she rose from bed before dawn.

Because now she had to prepared three fucking meals everyday for the wolf, and what killed her most was that he would rise so early! Couldn’t that psycho just have his breakfast after the morning shift?! Why does he have to eat before the shift?

It was a torture for her to prepare the meals with sleepy eyes for four mornings in succession, and he had to eat different food for god’s sake.

It was the fifth day. Aster woke up so early and made him pork-stuffed buns and chicken soup, and served them on the round table in the room outside his bedroom.

He was already seated. When she came in he looked at her and sneered , " there is no snail monsters in the monde, you might be the first one."

Aster was so sleepy that she got no strength to be mad, and she dared not to be even if she was not sleepy. She just stood by and watched him eating in a leisure way.

"Too little, I’m not full."

Fuck was the very word she would very like to use!

And she was going to use it!

Eight stuffed buns in the biggest size, as big as her fist, with so much stuffing! And a cauldron of soup! They were almost for four Adults.

How big an eater he is!

It is breakfast, break-fast!

Aster put down the anger desperately and apologized, "your majesty, sorry for my great inconsideration, I’ll made some more tomorrow. Maybe I could bring some snacks after your morning shift." Damn it! No time for catching up on some sleep.

Cooking for a big monster king eater is too hard!

It felt like she’d been preparing three meals for ten, and everyday.

She was just too tired...

Tired enough that she could fall asleep just standing there...

Then her eyes were closed, and asleep did she fall.