The tantalizing aroma wafted through the air, and Violet's stomach began growling audibly.

Blushing furiously, she sneaked a glance around, praying no one had heard her embarrassing hunger pangs.

How humiliating!

She'd just mocked Shia earlier, and now she had to rely on him to eat.

But as she stared at the delicious barbecue spread, Violet couldn't help but swallow her pride—and her saliva. She felt a pang of sadness in her heart.

Would she ever be able to surpass this guy?

By now, no one cared anymore that Shia hadn't fought a single monster.

A talent like his didn't need to prove himself with trivial matters. He would act only when facing truly powerful enemies.

At this point, the group was only encountering low-level monsters. Even the ordinary students could easily handle them. Why would they need a top-tier fighter's help in such trivial situations?

The girls had already taken care of the problem themselves. Clearly, Shia didn't need to lift a finger—he was above all this.

Listening to the girls gush over Shia, watching them flock around him like bees to honey, the princess, Violet, stood to the side, utterly defeated.

He didn't even need to explain himself; the others were already making excuses on his behalf. How gullible could they get?

If these girls were so easily duped, what about the common folk of the kingdom? Violet suddenly felt a tinge of realization. Was this some kind of hidden talent?

"Wow, this is amazing!" one girl exclaimed, holding skewers in both hands, her face full of bliss.

"This one's delicious too! Here, try it!" another said, offering a skewer to her friend.

“Grumble—”

Violet discreetly pressed a hand to her stomach, quietly distancing herself from the group.

Hmph, just some simple barbecue, and they've been won over? How pathetic!

Unlike them, she had far more dignity. She wouldn’t succumb to such trivial temptations.

"Not eating?" Shia appeared beside her, holding two skewers in hand.

Violet's nose twitched slightly as she inhaled the tantalizing aroma, but she resolutely refused. "I'm not hungry," she said, turning her head away to reinforce her decision.

A princess of her stature wouldn't stoop to eating food handed to her like charity!

But despite her strong front, she truly looked pitiful.

"Come on, give it a try. It's pretty good," Shia said, bringing the skewer closer to her.

Violet intended to turn her head further away, but the irresistible aroma of the barbecue made her falter. She wasn't giving in willingly—it was him forcing it into her mouth!

The juicy meat, coated in rich spices, exploded with flavor as soon as it touched her tongue. A mix of numbing heat and savory juices filled her mouth, instantly winning over her taste buds.

Oh no. It was even better than she’d imagined, so delicious it made her bones feel weak.

"I told you, my cooking is pretty decent," Shia said with a smile, handing her another skewer as soon as she finished the first.

With her cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk, Violet tried to maintain her prideful and aloof demeanor.

"Not bad," she muttered, though her voice was muffled by the food she was chewing.

This wasn’t surrender—it was survival! She needed her strength to reclaim her honor.

The barbecue was undeniably incredible, but why were tears welling up in her eyes?

As she glared at Shia, still stuffing her cheeks like a little hamster, she thought, 'I’ll get even with him one day!'

Shia only chuckled softly. "Teaching a person how to fish is better than giving them fish. Let me show you how to grill. That way, you won't starve if you're ever on your own."

Violet wanted to refuse, but the idea of learning to fend for herself was genuinely tempting. Plus, it felt wrong to rebuff him immediately after taking his food.

Before she could make up her mind, Shia had already led her over to the grill.

The setup was impressive. A variety of ingredients were spread out, from freshly prepared meats to seasonal vegetables. Some were foraged nearby, while others had been brought along for the trip.

The grill in front of her glowed with red-hot coals, and on the side, cooked skewers were quickly being snatched up by other students.

Standing behind her, Shia reached out and gently guided her hands. His fingers wrapped around hers as he patiently showed her the steps.

"Meat has its own fat, so you don’t need much oil—just a light brush to keep it from sticking or burning," he explained as they placed skewers on the grill together.

His other hand guided hers with a brush, showing her how to evenly coat the skewers.

"Flip them frequently to avoid charring. At this stage, you can sprinkle some cumin for extra aroma," he continued, his voice warm and reassuring.

"When grilling vegetables, you’ll want to use more oil since they don’t have natural fats. It helps them absorb the flavors better."

Shia’s detailed instructions were delivered with such care that anyone watching couldn’t help but envy Violet. His gentle demeanor and proximity made the scene feel intimate.

To Violet, though, the situation felt dangerously overwhelming.

Her back stiffened as she realized just how close he was. She was practically nestled in his embrace, his every movement guiding hers.

"All right, these skewers are done. You did great! Now you can try it on your own," Shia said, finally releasing her hands.

Violet let out a sigh of relief. Surely, he was going to step away now. Some distance would be good—things were getting too risky!

But Shia didn’t move an inch.

Her heart pounded as she tried to convince herself everything was fine. There were plenty of classmates around. Surely, he wouldn’t dare do anything inappropriate here... right?

Except, Shia absolutely dared.

Under the dim glow of the campfire, the flickering light illuminated Violet’s flawless face, giving her a soft, warm radiance.

Perhaps it was the heat from the grill, but her cheeks were flushed, and tiny beads of sweat formed on the tip of her nose. She bit her lip, trying to suppress the strange sensations coursing through her body.

She was now fully pressed against him, her body soft and pliant as if she had no strength left. It was as though he had completely overwhelmed her defenses.

Shia’s voice continued to murmur softly in her ear, guiding her on when to flip the skewers and add seasoning. Yet, his hands weren’t staying where they should.

It wasn’t just a cooking lesson—it was chaos. Violet’s focus shattered entirely.

She wanted to concentrate on grilling, but his distracting touches and the heat of his breath against her ear made it impossible to think clearly.

The smell of burning skewers snapped her out of her daze. She looked down in horror—she’d ruined the food.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com