Chapter 80: Lose their respect

There is something about the cooking of the women of this world, Luke had to admit. First Monica, then Ginna, and now Nadia... he simply couldn’t understand how, despite lacking modern spices and appliances, they managed to create such incredible food.

"On the name of God, this is absolutely a masterpiece. I mean, how did you even make this?" he asked, taking another spoonful of what seemed to be a mushroom dish mixed with meat and something sweet like corn. It wasn’t too dry or too runny, just the perfect consistency, with just enough salt to enhance its charm without making it overly fancy.

Nadia smiled softly as Luke praised her cooking for the third time. He had already taken a second serving, which said more than enough about how much he liked it.

"Didn’t I tell you? The first time I ate her food, I knew my ambition to make her my mate was basically impossible. She’s just wonderful," Dart said, making her blush as she lightly slapped his arm.

"I just cook everything with love and care. I take my time and choose all the ingredients myself. That’s all."

Luke chuckled. "Then you must have a special supply of ingredients, because I’m having a hard time deciding who cooks better, you or Mother." Of course, Monica’s food would always be his favorite. It carried nostalgia, warmth, and the feeling of home. Nadia’s cooking, on the other hand, offered a rich blend of flavors that naturally brought a smile to his face.

"No woman likes her cooking to be compared, so let’s not dwell on that," Nadia said gently.

Luke nodded. Maybe he was getting a bit emotional, but only two things could draw such reactions from him.

When Nadia offered him more rice, he didn’t refuse. As a growing young man and a hunter on top of that, he welcomed every extra serving.

In the end, they only stopped when every pot was empty. Most of the food had been devoured by Luke and Dart, while Nadia found her fill in watching the two men enjoy the meal with all their hearts.

Once they were done, Luke tried to help carry the dishes back to the kitchen, but Dart took over and gathered everything in one go, casually showing the strength in those thick arms.

Nadia then asked, "I heard you were assigned to take the chief’s daughter out for hunting. How did it go?"

Luke shrugged. "She had fun, I guess. And it wasn’t boring for me either."

Nadia smiled softly. "She’s considered very important in the village right now, after all. She’s going to be mated to the head chief’s son."

Luke raised a brow in surprise. "You’re well informed."

Dart responded with a wry smile as he returned to the hall, "I told her not to talk about it, but..."

Luke hummed. "So you’ve been getting along with the other guards, it seems."

Of course, the guards who had accompanied the chief to Gangaur already knew about the arrangement.

Luke waved it off. "Don’t worry. I already knew about it, and I’m not going around talking either."

Dart sighed as he sat beside Nadia, listening as she said, "You’re way too cautious, Dart. It’s not like someone will punish us for talking about something that’ll be common knowledge in a few days."

Luke grinned. He liked that attitude. The more he watched her, the more likable she became.

Turning to Dart, Luke asked, "So, what’s going on with your job these days? Liking how things have changed?"

Dart gave a sheepish grin. "Well, I won’t lie, it does get a bit dull. Just walking around all day, keeping an eye on places that are already heavily guarded." He paused, then added, "But the real reason I joined is working. I’m getting along with them... getting into their circle. People have started accepting me."

Luke hummed, leaning back in his chair before asking, "What do you think about that, Nadia? Your mate trying so hard to blend in with the villagers and be liked by them."

Nadia smiled helplessly, glancing briefly at Dart before replying, "I know he isn’t doing it for himself. Back where I used to live, I had my own home, but half the village felt like family. Things are different here." She shook her head lightly. "But I keep telling him it doesn’t matter. I don’t need many people to be happy."

Luke nodded. "I won’t say Dart is being irrational, but I’ll suggest one thing." He looked him straight in the eyes. "If you try too hard to gain someone’s attention, you’ve already lost their respect. And that... leads to toxicity in a relationship."

Dart’s shoulders dropped at those words. It was the first time someone had said it to him so plainly, yet he had lived through it more than once.

Luke continued, "The ones who stay are those drawn to who you really are, not the version you force yourself to be for their approval. You can pretend for days, maybe even weeks, but once that fades, they’ll leave. And that hurts far more than where you started."

Nadia and Dart both lowered their gazes. They were older than Luke, yet in that moment, he felt like the wiser one.

Dart.took a deep breath before he spoke, "I understand. I won’t try so hard to earn their respect anymore. I’ll just do my job and let things happen naturally."

Luke nodded, then turned to Nadia. "If you ever feel bored or need someone to talk to, come by my place. If I’m not there, ask for my mother. I’m sure she’d love to have a friend like you."

The violet-haired woman smiled softly. "I’ll take you up on that. I’ll come over soon."

They continued chatting after that, mostly about Dart’s adventures and his early days as a hunter. He had started young, very young in fact. By the age of fifteen, he had already taken down a bear, which explained the depth of his experience.

Eventually, when Luke seemed ready to leave, Dart called out, "Um... Luke. I need your help with something."