Chapter 497: Chapter 497: Gathering and Dining Together (1)

"Hoaam..." Nolan yawned lazily, leaning back against the headboard. "I’m so sleepy. It’s been a long time since I’ve relaxed in a room like this. Just lying here makes me even sleepier."

He turned his gaze toward the window and saw snow still falling in the night sky.

The cold air made the room feel cozy, making him even drowsier.

"Master, hug me~"

A sweet, milky voice came from his right. When he turned, he saw Eira, the little white dragon, looking at him expectantly.

Eira raised her tiny hands coquettishly.

Nolan smiled and lifted her into his arms.

The little dragon squirmed happily, clearly enjoying it.

"Hehehe... in Master’s arms, I feel so comfortable!" she said cheerfully.

"Is that so?" Nolan chuckled softly.

About a month ago, Eira had grown rapidly under Nolan’s careful care.

One of the most noticeable changes was her intelligence—she could now speak human language.

Nolan wasn’t too surprised. Dragons were extraordinarily intelligent creatures, on par with humans.

It was just that most preferred living alone rather than in groups.

"By the way, Eira, are you hungry?" Nolan asked.

The little dragon lifted her head and nodded slowly.

"Um! I’m hungry, Master. Do you have any delicious food?" Her eyes sparkled with hope.

Nolan smiled casually. "Yes, I do. Come with me."

He slowly got off the bed and perched Eira on his head. The little dragon relaxed into her spot, lazily closing her eyes.

With Eira perched on his head, Nolan stepped out of the room.

"Eh! Isn’t that a dragon?"

"You’re right! It’s a dragon!"

"Wow! I’ve never seen such an adorable dragon before!"

"Is that Prince Nolan’s pet? How cute!"

The servants couldn’t hide their surprise and admiration at the sight of Eira.

Unlike the fierce dragons they had imagined, this little dragon was gentle and endearing, instantly winning their hearts.

Eira flashed a small smile, as if to say, "Keep praising me!"

Nolan understood her thoughts and simply smiled quietly.

Before long, they arrived at the private dining room where Nolan usually cooked for himself.

A few years ago, he had asked his father to prepare this room so he and his sister—or sometimes with Seira—could eat without being disturbed by other members of the imperial family.

Of course, the request had faced much opposition, especially from the queen and the princes.

But his father loved him dearly and agreed without hesitation.

Now, this dining room, along with the kitchen inside, was entirely his personal space.

Closing the door, Nolan looked around and nodded in satisfaction.

"The room is very clean. The servants deserve praise for taking such good care of it," he said appreciatively.

He walked over to the medium-sized dining table, which could seat six to seven people, and placed the little dragon on it.

"Wait a minute, okay?"

"Um! I’ll wait!" Eira nodded enthusiastically, stretching out lazily on the cool wooden surface.

Nolan stepped into the kitchen and saw it still stocked with a wide array of ingredients, from meats to vegetables.

Satisfied, he gathered a generous selection and began cooking.

Back in the dining room, Eira, still lying lazily, twitched her nose.

When the delicious aroma wafted from the kitchen, her eyes lit up with excitement.

"Master must be making something delicious!" she exclaimed happily. "I can’t wait to taste it."

Earlier, her master had promised to cook delicious food once they arrived at the palace.

Eira hadn’t expected him to keep that promise so quickly—only a few hours after their arrival.

An hour later, Nolan emerged carrying two large plates, one in each hand.

He walked over to the dining table and set them down carefully.

Eira’s eyes lit up when she recognized the beef ribs and wild boar meat.

"It smells amazing!" she said. "Master, can I eat too?"

Nolan pinched her little nose and reminded her, "Not yet. There’s still plenty more in the kitchen I haven’t taken out."

He returned to the kitchen and soon reappeared with two more large plates—this time holding twenty chicken thighs and three steaming, fragrant fish.

Nolan continued back and forth, bringing out plate after plate.

By the fifth trip, the dining table was completely filled. Eira had to move to a chair, as there was no longer room for her to lie down.

"Master," Eira called, swallowing hard, "are we really going to eat all of this? Isn’t it too much? How can we possibly finish it?"

She looked at Nolan in confusion. She was hungry, but it seemed impossible to finish the spread in front of her.

Nolan took off his apron, hung it on a hook near the kitchen door, and sat down beside her.

"Who said it’s just the two of us eating?"

"Huh? Not just us? Then who?" Eira blinked in surprise.

Nolan clapped his hands once, and suddenly two figures appeared on his right.

They were Malverna and Arnold. Relief and happiness shone on their faces at seeing Nolan again.

But Malverna quickly masked her expression and snorted coldly. "I thought you weren’t coming back."

Nolan grinned playfully. "Would you have preferred if I hadn’t?"

Malverna choked, opening and closing her mouth as if she wanted to retort but couldn’t find the words.

Just then, Arnold noticed Eira and froze.

"A baby dragon? Master, you..."

Nolan glanced at him mischievously and hugged Eira.

"Oh, right. I forgot to tell you. This little dragon is someone I met on the northern continent. She’s going to be part of our family now. Come on, welcome her."

He gently patted the little dragon’s back, as if prompting her to introduce herself.

Understanding his intention, Eira cleared her throat softly and spoke sweetly, "Hello, Sister Malverna, Brother Arnold. I’m Eira, Master’s pet. Nice to meet you."

She bowed slightly. Aside from feeding her, Nolan had taught her how to live among humans—including proper manners.

Malverna felt her heart race. Eira didn’t look like a typical dragon—she was incredibly cute.

On top of that, her introduction was innocent and sweet, making Malverna almost want to pinch her cheeks.

Still, she restrained herself, not wanting to lose control and embarrass herself in front of Nolan.

Meanwhile, Arnold studied Eira intently, his expression serious.

He could sense that this little dragon was no ordinary baby. She carried a strange aura, one that reminded him of his master.

’Could it be... the power of chaos!?’ His heart thumped loudly.

He wanted to dismiss the thought, but the aura was unmistakably the same as his master’s chaos power.

"Alright, you two, stop standing there like idiots. I’ve cooked a lot of food. Let’s eat."

The two snapped out of their reverie and nodded slightly. They walked around to Nolan’s side and sat in their respective chairs.

Malverna’s eyes widened at the spread before her.

"Did you really cook all of this?"

Nolan rolled his eyes. "Do you think a ghost did it?"

Malverna: "..."