Ah, it’s been ages since I cooked at home. My heart warmed like the morning sun. I hefted a big basket packed with fresh pastries and juice, and stepped out of the kitchen.

Just as my foot crossed the threshold, a pale, graceful hand slipped in like moonlight through a curtain and plucked a pastry out.

“Mm, Servant’s cooking still tastes the best.”

She stood there in a flowing white dress, calm as a winter lake, snow-white hair cascading like silk. The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I went still—it’s been so long since I last saw her.

“Welcome back, Xinuo.”

Yes. Xinuo herself. I snapped back and smiled her a welcome. If not for the basket in my hand, I’d have run over and hugged her.

“Hm. Didn’t expect you to cut your hair, Servant. You look much more handsome now. Shame you’re not as pretty as before.”

She pinched my cheeks, swallowed the pastry, and said it like a breeze that cuts and soothes at once. I couldn’t tell if it was praise or a jab.

“Uh… that was a bit of an accident.”

Embarrassment pricked me like nettles. I grabbed for another topic. “So—how have you been while I was gone, Xinuo?”

“Awful. Especially the Worldgate mess. It drained my time on the most mind-numbing chores, like sand leaking through a cracked hourglass.”

I could feel her displeasure in the way she kept tossing pastries into her mouth, one after another, like pebbles into a pond.

“Did the Worldgate thing get resolved?”

If it tied up this much of Xinuo’s time and energy, it had to be severe. I couldn’t help worrying.

“Temporarily, yes. But a complete solution isn’t possible right now.”

She cut the basket’s contents in half in no time, then pulled a cup of juice and downed it in one smooth stream, finally looking satisfied.

“Something feels off.”

Her gaze lingered on me, cool as frost yet sharp as a hawk’s, and a bad premonition fluttered in my chest.

“So the Worldgate situation really is that serious…”

“It is. Speaking of which—Servant, you’re my exclusive maid, aren’t you? How can you not be wearing a maid uniform?”

Before the words finished, a maid outfit appeared in her hand like a trick of light. She stuffed it into my arms, no questions asked, and took the basket from me.

“Servant, go change. I’ll deliver the pastries and juice.”

“Eh—eh?!”

I wanted to protest, I’ve got short hair! The thought sputtered like a candle in the wind. Defying Xinuo wasn’t an option. I sighed, hugged the maid uniform, and headed to the bathhouse changing room to swap clothes.

…

A few minutes later, dressed in the maid outfit, I found Xinuo and the others in the courtyard by the main gate. Everyone sat around a long table like birds on a warm branch. Even FrostyLily Dream had come.

Aside from Celia Maya treating Xinuo and FrostyLily Dream with crisp, formal respect, the rest were already blending with them like snow melting into a stream. Hill was perched on Xinuo’s lap, her cute cheeks being kneaded like soft dough.

They all turned as I arrived, eyes locked on me, studying me as if I were a new moon rising.

“Cutting that glossy, silky long hair was a pity, but this androgynous glow suits you nicely.”

Xinuo’s satisfied appraisal rippled out, and FrostyLily Dream and the others chimed in like echoes in a canyon—

“Big sis is right. Yumigawa Sumeragi’s a born beauty.”

“Little Emperor feels even more tempting than before.”

She gulped. “Dear big brother, you’re so pretty!”

“Same. Big brother’s androgynous vibe is perfect.”

“Looks like Emperor suits a maid uniform, long hair or short.”

“Whoa! Boss is still as gorgeous as ever!”

“So Hill wasn’t joking—Yumigawa Sumeragi really is Sir Xino’s exclusive maid. It suits you.”

All compliments, yet my mood sagged like a kite on a windless day. If possible, I’d rather they call me handsome than pretty.

“…You all finished already?”

I stepped closer and found the basket picked clean. It had only been minutes. Not a crumb left for me.

“Servant, you made too little. It’s far from enough. Go cook more, and prep lunch while you’re at it.”

Xinuo set Hill down as she said it, commanding like a queen with a flick of her fan.

Tap-tap-tap—Hill ran over and hugged me. Her little head rubbed against my belly like a kitten, then she looked up, gem-bright eyes full of hope. “Boss! I’m hungry. Make lots of meat dishes!”

“Hill, didn’t you just have pastries?”

I stroked her soft hair, a smile curling up like smoke.

“That was too little. Not enough.”

She kept nuzzling, all warm pleading. How could I say no to that? “Got it. I’ll make more meat dishes. Just wait for the good stuff.”

“Yay! Boss is the best!”

Her cheer chimed like a silver bell. Too cute.

“What about you, Xinuo and FrostyLily Dream? Anything specific you want?”

“We’re fine with anything. Also, Servant—just call this one FrostyLily Dream from now on. Don’t add ‘Sir.’ Hearing that annoys me.”

“Uh… okay.”

I hadn’t expected Xinuo to mind that. I nodded, then asked the others, “Serenemoon, Lingxiao, Lingsaki—what about you?”

“Same as Xinuo Miss. Anything’s fine. Little Emperor’s cooking is always great.”

“Right, dear big brother, we love whatever you make!”

“If possible, I want more of the egg tarts and cream cake from earlier.”

“Alright, noted. Celia Maya and Lixue, any requests?”

“Same as Hill. Sorry to trouble you, Yumigawa.”

“Emperor, I’ll go to the kitchen with you to prep.”

“Eh? Lixue, you’ll help?”

“Yeah. You take care of us so much—it’s embarrassing. And with this many portions, you’ll be swamped. Besides, it’s been ages since I cooked. I want to get back into the kitchen.”

She stood up, steps light as willow leaves, and came to my side.

“Then no time to lose. Let’s head to the kitchen.”

“Mm.”

…

In the kitchen.

Lixue tied her hair into a ponytail and put on an apron. Fresh as spring water, the look made my eyes brighten. I couldn’t help stealing a few extra glances.

By the way, the Dragon Realm and the Central Continent aren’t as cold as the Northern Abyss Continent. They’re quite warm.

So Lixue’s outfit was breezy—blue-and-white short-sleeve shirt and a pale-blue skirt embroidered with snowflakes, lace trimming the hem like frostwork. Her long, alabaster legs were bare, her feet in delicately crafted sandals. Paired with the ponytail and apron, the charm was startling—like a snow lotus blooming in summer.

“Emperor, what are you looking at?”

“Your look feels new to me. I couldn’t help staring,” I admitted.

“…You’re really honest, Emperor.”

Was it my imagination? A faint blush rose on her beautiful face, like dawn touching the mountains.

“Speaking of which, the Mizumi Clan’s kitchen is astounding.”

“Really? Is it?”

“Mm. Not just the ingredients—even the cookware is artifact-tier. If outsiders saw this, they’d faint sobbing. Treasures they’d chase a whole lifetime are everywhere here, like shells on a beach.”

“This is normal, isn’t it?”

I knew the outside world well enough, but this was the Central Continent. “Here, god-tier materials, ingredients, and spirit herbs aren’t exactly everywhere. But for the Mizumi Clan, they’re nearly inexhaustible. So of course we don’t use ordinary-grade stuff.”

“True. When the good is within reach, there’s no need to use the inferior.”

We chatted for a while, soft as steam curling up from a pot. Then we began prepping—knives humming like cicadas, oil shimmering like gold, and the kitchen waking like a sunlit garden.