“Slow down!”

Helen stepped hard onto the ground to resist Catherine's dragging, only then did both of them came to a stop from running in the hallway.

Wiping the sweat falling on her cheeks while panting for breath, Helen finally got the chance to look around.

Everything around her seems to glimmer in luxurious color of silver and gold. From the shiny floor, decorative items placed neatly on the tables, and expensive illustrations of famous figures hanging on walls. Not to mention the numerous well-maintained [Light] runes that made the ceiling brightly lit.

Helen stood there, stunned at the wonderful sight. She constantly move her eyes to look around as if being possessed by greed.

In turn, Catherine crossed her arms, feeling a bit smug. “Hehehe, you like them?”

Helen replied absentmindedly, “Yea.. I think so…”

“Well you can see them again later as much as you want.” Catherine shrugged. “But for now, let’s meet my mother!”

“Okay…”

Catherine took Helen’s hand once again as they walked. All the way, Helen kept admiring her surroundings and Catherine did not seem to mind as she stayed quiet.

There were two more hallways at the end of the first one --one to the left and one to the right; Catherine took Helen to the right hallway. After another short walk, they arrived before a large double door.

Helen in hand, Catherine pushed the door open before announcing, “Mom, Helen is here!”

“Oh, welcome.” A calm woman's voice entered their ears.

When Helen entered the door after Catherine, she saw the majestic hall room with a similarly majestic chandelier hanging from the high ceiling. Several supportive ebony pillars with intricate designs were arranged neatly at both sides of the room, while the polished dark floor was filled with artistic patterns.

A mature woman was seated at the end of the long dining table in front of her. Her hair and eyes were the first things that Helen noticed as they are golden and blue just like Catherine. Although she had a gentle feature and only wearing a simple white blouse, charisma seemed to exude out from her self.

“Hello, Helen,” the woman said with a warm smile.

“G- good evening!” Helen suddenly found herself nervous again. “Thank you for having me here!”

As she said her last sentence, Helen did a “noble salute”... by having her legs stood straight, left arm on her back, right hand on her chest, then bowed stiffly.

Awkward silence ensued for a few seconds. A nearby young butler twitched his lips slightly as if trying hard to not get fired from his job because of laughing.

“Pfft! Hahahaha!” Catherine finally broke into laughter louder than before. “What’s with that salute? Don’t do this to me, hehehe, you are too funny today!”

The middle-aged woman followed suit and giggled lightly with one hand on her lips.

“Eh? Um?” Helen looked to her left and right repeatedly, wondering what she did wrong.

After Catherine regained her breath, she explained to Helen, “What you did was a salute for male, here’s how a female salute…”

Catherine demonstrated the salute slowly to Helen. She placed one foot behind the other, pinched two sides of her nightgown up, then bowed her head gracefully.

“Oh!” Helen exclaimed, then found her face hot in shame after realising her blunder. “I- I’m sorry!”

“Haiss…” Catherine sighed. “Relax a bit, won’t you! I didn’t invite you here to learn noble’s etiquette.”

Catherine’s mother chimed in, “Indeed sweetheart, don’t bother about the tiny things. Come over and have a seat.” She waved her left hand to the seat on her left.

“Okay!”

When Helen approached, a maid stepped forward and pull the chair for her. Helen responded with “Thank you” upon which the maid smiled and pushed the chair after Helen was seated.

“Hehehe, what a cute child,” the woman commented.

When Catherine took her seat opposite to Helen, the woman clapped her hand once.

An old butler near the door rang a hand bell and soon enough some servants carrying food trolleys entered the room. Each one of them arrived behind the three people around the table, then served the food plates.

When the servant lifted the lid up, Helen feel hot steam upon her face and a fragrant savory aroma assaulting her nose. On the plate was a relatively thick white soup with a tinge of cyan sauce. Slices of pudding-like white meat placed on one side, while emerald-colored onion floated around.

Helen stared at the soup as if she saw the most precious gem.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” Catherine said. “Eat up!”

“Oh!” Helen picked up the silver spoon next to her right hand. She admired it a bit before snapping out of it immediately.

Helen scooped up a spoonful and put it in her mouth. Instantly, marvelous flavours stimulated her taste buds as she could not help closing her eyes in euphoria.

Another spoonful of soup entered her mouth, this time, a soft moan escaped Helen’s mouth. Before she realized, the soup on her plate was finished already, only then did she noticed that she had lost herself.

Fortunately, the other two were only lagging behind by a spoonful or two, else Helen would begin to search for a hole to hide in.

“I’m glad that you liked it,” the woman chuckled, causing Helen’s face to burn again.

“Then, I’m sure that you will like the following course.”

Just as the woman said so, another batch of plates were being served in front of them.

This time, Helen saw an exquisite piece of meat coated in red sauce. Next to it was a small pile of salad of various vegetables and mushrooms dressed in oil.

Helen was one of those who needed to be forced to eat greens. But now, the salad looked alluring to her somehow.

She took the first bite and felt delighted that the taste did not disappoint her initial prediction.

‘How about this meat?’ Helen used the knife and fork prepared to cut the meat overflowing with juice, then she stuffed the piece into her mouth.

“Hmn!”

The dinner continued in a similar trend until Helen’s stomach was full by the end. Every serving of food in the full course brought a genuine taste that Helen never tasted before. It would be a lie to say that she did not want to eat like this everyday.

“Whew!” Helen heaved a satisfied sigh after stuffing the last spoon of ice cream dessert.

She looked onto Catherine’s mother and said with a smile, “Thank you for the wonderful food!”

“You’re welcome,” she replied. “Now then, I must leave. Make sure to accompany your friend, okay Catherine?”

“Okay mom. Have a safe trip!”

“H- Have a safe trip!” Helen followed suit.

The woman smiled and patted Helen’s head on the way. “It would be wonderful if you are my child too.”

Helen did not put up any comment, she just stayed on her seat thinking that the woman just said it on a whim.

But when the woman went out of the room, she could feel a sparkling gaze from her best friend right across her.

“Right, it would be wonderful if you live here too!” Catherine exclaimed.

“Hah?!”