Chapter 551: Lucifer's Thoughts on Riven, The Girl Arrives
Riven lingered at the top of the wooden staircase, her bare feet rooted to the floorboards. She had absolutely no idea how to descend. The soft fabric clinging to her skin felt completely alien, a stark departure from the heavy armor and bloodstained wraps she was accustomed to wearing. What if they laughed? The mere thought of being mocked for playing dress-up made her grip the banister tight enough to make her knuckles turn white.
Lucifer's voice drifted up from below, laced with an airy, confident laugh. "Don't worry so much. You look absolutely stunning!"
Down in the kitchen, Ren had just finished plating the final dish. His timing was immaculate. He had factored in the likelihood that a battle-hardened exile like Riven wouldn't know the first thing about the elaborate bathing rituals favored by someone as refined as Lucifer. It was bound to take time, so he had deliberately chosen recipes that required slow, careful preparation rather than quick stir-fries.
Upstairs, Riven finally forced herself to move. The alternative was cowering in the shadows while her hard-earned meal grew cold on the table, and she refused to be that foolish.
As she stepped into the warm light of the dining room, a sudden hush fell over the patrons.
Ran blinked, her golden fox ears twitching in sheer surprise. "Wow... Is that really Miss Riven? She already carried a certain elegance, but this... she looks entirely different!"
Reimu leaned back, giving the former soldier a practical, approving once-over. "Good figure. Her skin looks a lot fairer now that the grime is gone. She wasn't bad to begin with, but this is a serious step up."
Yukari chuckled behind her fan, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "I must say, I've just witnessed a transformation far more effective than any makeup."
Riven shifted her weight, her cheeks burning, yet a quiet sigh of relief escaped her lips. So, by normal standards, she was actually considered beautiful? Recalling her paralyzing hesitation at the top of the stairs, she suddenly felt like an absolute idiot.
Lucifer turned her crimson gaze toward Ren as he pushed the dining cart into the room. She flashed a smug, radiant smile. "Well, Ren? What do you think of my impeccable taste? Doesn't this outfit suit her perfectly?"
Ren paused, taking in Riven's refreshed appearance, before offering a warm, appreciative smile. "It does. She looks beautiful. The outfit gives off a very fresh, casual vibe. Though, to be fair, Miss Riven has an excellent foundation to work with. There's a saying that fits perfectly here."
"What saying?" Riven asked, her voice a low, defensive murmur.
"If you're naturally beautiful, any clothes will look good on you."
Riven averted her gaze, hiding the faint flush creeping up her neck.
Lucifer scoffed, tossing her silver hair over her shoulder. "Please, my fashion sense did the heavy lifting! You know what they say—clothes make the man, and saddles make the horse!"
"Alright, alright," Ren conceded, his tone dryly amused. "Your eye for fashion is unmatched, worthy of a little queen."
That single sentence was all it took to appease the CEO of Hell. Lucifer beamed, her pride thoroughly stroked. Riven watched their effortless banter, finding the strange dynamic between the chef and the demon surprisingly endearing.
"Now then, Miss Riven," Ren said, smoothly shifting the focus back to the cart. He set a heavy ceramic plate before her. "Here is your roasted bear meat. I've finished it with a drizzle of fresh lemon juice. It's prepared in the style of Brazilian barbecue, relying on the natural juices and open flame, so there's no need for a dipping sauce."
Riven knew nothing about culinary techniques or Brazilian traditions. All she cared about was the fact that there was finally food in front of her. The rich, smoky aroma of the charred meat hit her senses, and her amber eyes lit up with a primal hunger.
Catching her intense expression, Ren chuckled softly. He placed a steaming bowl next to the roast. "And this is your soup—Thai coconut chicken. It's an excellent choice to whet your appetite and cut through the heavy richness of the bear fat."
Riven swallowed hard, nodding. The faint, sweet scent of coconut mingled with the savory chicken broth, creating an intoxicating perfume.
"Finally," Ren said, setting down a deep, wide bowl filled with a crimson broth. "Your main course: Water Boiled Beef. Given that you probably haven't starved quite as long as your last visit, I decided to make this for you. Just let me know when you need a refill on rice."
Riven stared blankly at the vibrant red oil shimmering over the tender slices of beef. The residual heat from the freshly poured scalding oil still hissed and popped against the meat, releasing a fiery, mouth-watering fragrance. The sheer sensory overload of the sizzling oil and the sharp spice made her truly understand the concept of anticipation for the first time in years.
Ren set a small cup of wine by her hand, completing the feast. Riven looked at the lavish spread, momentarily paralyzed by choice. Ultimately, she reached for the familiar—the bear meat she had hunted herself.
The moment the meat touched her tongue, the unique, wild flavor of the roast exploded across her palate. Bear meat wasn't overly greasy; its texture mirrored a dense, high-quality beef, but the rich veins of fat rendered down by the fire made it incredibly fragrant. The tender yet deeply chewy bite captivated her instantly. She realized just how wise she had been to bring it here. Had she roasted it over a campfire herself, it would have been a tough, unhygienic, flavorless lump of char.
But Riven was a methodical survivor. She didn't fixate on a single prize.
Bypassing the delicate coconut soup entirely—the instinct of a true carnivore—she locked her sights on the Water Boiled Beef. It sat there, radiating a demonic, fiery temptation.
Beef always promised three things: a satisfying chew, tender juices, and a deeply savory profile. It possessed a texture entirely distinct from pork or poultry. There was a deep reason it stood as a premium ingredient; it was an absolute triumph for the senses.
She picked up her bowl of pristine white rice with one hand. With her chopsticks, she pinched a slice of the smooth, spice-coated beef and pressed it against the rice, letting the brilliant red oil bleed down into the pearlescent grains. Then, she shoved it into her mouth.
She chewed. And chewed. The heat bloomed instantly, a sharp, numbing spice that electrified her tongue. Before she had even swallowed the first bite, her hand was already moving on autopilot, scooping up another mouthful of oil-soaked rice. The overwhelming aroma forced her to swallow reluctantly, only to immediately chase it with more.
A heavy sigh escaped her lips. She had never tasted anything so violently spicy yet so impossibly delicious. The urge to unhinge her jaw and swallow the entire bowl whole fought against the desire to savor every agonizingly good bite.
Fine beads of sweat broke out across her forehead. Rolling up her sleeves, Riven abandoned all pretense of manners. She ate with fierce, rapid motions, exhaling sharp hissing breaths to cool her burning tongue—the universal surrender to a masterfully spicy dish.
The entire dining room fell silent, captivated by the sight of the beautiful, silver-haired warrior devouring her meal with such uninhibited ferocity. It was living proof of Ren's earlier statement—just as beautiful people elevated simple clothes, watching a beautiful woman eat with such raw, genuine passion was a uniquely captivating experience.
Riven paid them no mind. To her, eating was a matter of survival; it had to be fast, efficient, and thorough. It was a harsh lesson beaten into her by years in the military and her grueling life on the run.
Lucifer leaned over the counter, resting her chin in her hand. "She's surprisingly cute when she eats," she whispered to Ren.
"It's likely a habit born from her time in the army, and whatever she endured while escaping," Ren replied softly.
"How pitiful..." Lucifer's crimson eyes softened. "Just looking at the state of her old clothes, you can tell she's been wandering for a long time. She's suffered immensely."
Ren glanced at the demon queen. "I know exactly what you're thinking."
"You have to consider her feelings, too. Though, I must say, you treat her exceptionally well."
Lucifer smiled, a rare, genuine warmth touching her features. "When I look at Riven, I see echoes of Justice's past. Their hairstyles are remarkably similar, both sporting that messy, demonic white hair. It's only natural I'd feel a bit of affection for her."
"You're surprisingly caring when it comes to Justice," Ren noted, wiping down the counter.
Lucifer raised an elegant eyebrow. "Are you jealous, darling?"
"Why would I be jealous? Justice is a woman, and she lives under this roof too."
"Good boy. Don't worry, girlfriends are never as important as a lover." Lucifer chuckled, but her amusement was suddenly cut short. She tilted her head toward the entrance. "Hmm? Looks like another customer has arrived..."
The chime of the door echoed through the restaurant.
A girl stepped over the threshold, draped in an elaborate, frilled Gothic Lolita dress that seemed to swallow the light around her. Her presence was immediately arresting, not just because of the dark elegance of her attire, but because her delicate hands were casually gripping two antique firearms—a flintlock pistol and a musket.
The girl swept her gaze across the quiet dining room, a saccharine, dangerously sweet smile curving her lips.
"Oh my," she purred, her voice dripping with a dark, honeyed amusement. "It seems I've stumbled into quite an interesting place~"
[Akarin's Note: Water Boiled Beef (Shuizhu Roupian - 水煮肉片) is a famous Sichuan dish. Despite the mild-sounding name, the beef is actually poached in a fiery, numbing broth made from copious amounts of dried chilies, Sichuan peppercorns, and broad bean paste, then finished by pouring scalding hot oil over the top to release the intense aromatics.]
[Akarin's Note: The new arrival in the Gothic dress dual-wielding antique firearms is Kurumi Tokisaki from the Date A Live series. She is a highly dangerous Spirit known as "Nightmare," infamous for her time-manipulating abilities and her distinct, slightly unhinged yet elegant demeanor.]
[Akarin's Note:
Enjoying the story? Dropping a quick review, comment, or Power Stone means the world to me!
Want to read ahead on our official home, or unlock 50 advanced chapters to feed your addiction? Help keep this shameless translator alive here:
(P.S. Just remove the brackets and replace the [.] with a regular dot . to use the links!)
🌐 Read on our site: Elysianreads[.]com or Check the link in my Webnovel Profile bio!
✨ Patreon (50 Advanced Chapters & Ad-Free): patreon[.]com/AkarinTL or Search AkarinTL on Patreon
Thank you so much for reading and keeping this project alive!]