"To think she believes in superstitions like that… how cute."
Martha could not help but giggle, recalling Pandora's perfectly serious face as she made the comment.
It was so unexpected, so earnest, that it had completely caught her off guard.
A few minutes earlier, Regis and Aurum had returned from outside.
Regis had whisked Pandora away for something important, while Aurum offered to help with dinner like he used to.
Aurelia and Killian seemed to have realized something and hurriedly followed their friends to the garden.
Now, as the husband and wife moved around the cozy kitchen, Martha stole a glance at her husband.
"Those friends of our daughter… just how was she able to meet them?"
Aurum chuckled softly, his expression warm.
"I don't know either, but I'm glad."
Their movements fell into a familiar rhythm— the chopping of vegetables, the bubbling of broth, the soft scrape of ladles against ceramic.
