Hmm?
No scolding, just giving me food?
Is there really such a good thing?
If that's the case, maybe it's not... wait, something's not right!
"What are you trying to do?"
At that moment, Valentina instinctively felt something was off. She stared seriously at Herbert, trying to find any flaw on his face.
She couldn't explain why, but she just felt that something wasn't quite right.
There's a problem... there must be a problem!
This guy's smiling so brightly, he definitely has no good intentions!
Hmph, young mortal.
You can't fool me!
Thinking of this, Valentina snorted coldly, raised her head proudly, and said, "Kid, I don't know what kind of trick you're trying to pull, but you can't deceive the great Demon Flame."
"Heh, you might as well save your breath. Don't think a few skewers of grilled meat can win me over!"
"There's nothing in this world that can make the great Giant Dragon bow its head!"
"Not even a Divine Spirit!"
Valentina's words were haughty, full of the pride and defiance of a Legendary Giant Dragon.
However, what slightly ruined the atmosphere was that when she said these words, she didn't manage to wipe the oil gleam from the corner of her mouth.
Meanwhile, her long fingers, covered in seasoning and grease, couldn't stop and kept rummaging in the box...
Only to find it empty.
"What!?"
Realizing something, Miss Dragon's expression changed. She quickly grabbed the wooden box incredulously, only to see a few scraps left inside.
Finished!
How could it be gone so quickly!!?
In an instant, an overwhelming regret surged in her heart, making her feel as if her heart was aching to the point of suffocation.
This isn't right!
Clearly, there was so much just now...
Where is that meat?
Who actually ate it all!?
And just as Valentina was filled with despair, mouthing silent cries, the corners of Herbert's mouth turned up slightly.
Smiles never disappear; they only transfer to my face.
He didn't answer Valentina's earlier remarks and asked with concern, "Miss Valentina, what's wrong? Didn't get enough to eat?"
Valentina: "...Ahem, ahem!"
Asking useless questions.
What do you think?
Of course, it's not enough!
But facts are facts, and situations are situations. Her proud self-esteem wouldn't let her bow her head and take back her words.
So, even though her heart was bleeding, she could only walk down this path and swallow all of her blood and tears.
She turned her head away, her tone even a bit choked, weakly saying:
"No, I'm not... hungry!"
Yes.
I'm not hungry, not hungry at all.
Valentina kept brainwashing herself — not hungry, not hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry!
I'm so hungry!
Previously, when she wasn't eating anything, it was okay. She wouldn't purposely remember the feeling of swallowing food.
During her long imprisonment, she had long gotten used to the feeling of hunger, even forgetting about it completely.
As a Giant Dragon with Legendary Peak strength, one step away from Epic, she could survive without ordinary food, just by absorbing magic power.
But "being able to survive" and "living comfortably" are two very different things!
She simply couldn't abandon her desire for food.
Gurgle——
Her stomach let out a mournful cry, constantly reminding Valentina of its hunger.
Gurgle.
Herbert watched Valentina's neck, accurately capturing her swallowing action, and chuckled inwardly.
Good.
She's hooked after all.
Seeing the timing was about right, Herbert shook his head a bit regretfully and sighed, "Oh, so you're not hungry anymore. I must have misunderstood."
"I originally thought you must be really hungry after so many years, that one serving wouldn't be enough, so I prepared another."
He mumbled to himself, taking out another prepared wooden box from behind and placed it in front of her... just out of reach.
???
With sudden realization, Valentina's expression twisted. She turned back incredulously — seeing another box full of skewers.
The meat, the gloss, the cook, the aroma... it all looked even more tempting than the previous box!
She wished she could slap her previous self from half a minute ago.
Damn it, why so talkative!?
Why the rush to say such nonsense!?
What to do now?
What to do!!!?
"What should I do now?"
As Valentina struggled internally, Herbert spoke leisurely as if slightly troubled: "It's giving me a headache. I made so much, and I can't finish it all by myself. What should I do? Should I throw it away?"
What are you doing!!?
Valentina's heart trembled at these words, almost unable to resist shouting: Give it to me if you're not eating!
Herbert shook his head again, sighing, "No, no, how can I think like that? Wasting food is shameful behavior! I absolutely can't do that."
Yes, yes!
Don't do that!
If you can't finish, I can help you eat!
"Right, I could find someone to help me with these skewers, but who should I ask?"
The breathing in the cell suddenly became rapid, and Valentina almost spoke up.
Me!
Ask me!!!
Ask me to help you eat——
However, Herbert was completely oblivious, and what he said next crushed her hopes.
"Miss Valentina is already full, so I'll have to find someone else!"
No!
That's not true, I didn't, don't say that...
I can still eat!
"Miss Fremay? I don't know if she eats anything other than fish. Never mind, I'll go ask her first..."
Saying this, Herbert moved to pick up the box and headed toward the second area.
At this moment, Valentina finally couldn't hold back any longer, and started coughing vigorously.
"Cough! Cough! Cough!"
"Oh? Miss Valentina, what's wrong?" Herbert turned back, looking at the blushing Dragon Lady in surprise.
"I... cough!"
Valentina took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, and finally made up her mind, saying in a deep voice: "I can help you!"
"Help me? Help with what... oh! You mean these skewers?"
Herbert acted confused, blinking as he asked, "But didn't you say you were full?"
The Dragon Lady's mouth moved, hesitated a bit, but in the end, gritted her teeth and squeezed out a sentence from her throat: "...Since you're so troubled, I suppose I could help you eat a bit more."
She wasn't an idiot, she knew Herbert purposely acted all this to make her submit, surely ready to make some unreasonable demands.
She understood.
But she simply couldn't withstand it any longer.
The aroma was just too tempting!
Valentina had already decided to temporarily give in, eat the meat, and then go back on her words and not agree to anything.
"That would be great!"
But, to her complete surprise, Herbert didn't make things difficult for her at all, and immediately pushed the box forward, right to the front of the bars.
Hmm?
No demands?
Valentina was bewildered, and for a moment, she didn't move.
"What are you waiting for? Dig in!"
Hearing his gentle urging and seeing the genuine look on the young man's face, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then let it out slowly.
"Whew..."
At that moment, she had only one thought in her mind.
These skewers...
Are truly delicious!