Seeing that Cecilia's Memory Body had earned Sirin's approval, Enoshia's hanging heart finally settled. Fortunately, she hadn't created a new life like the Herrscher of Reason—someone who possessed Cecilia's memories but whose way of conducting herself was completely different from hers. She had truly brought Cecilia, who wasn't quite dead yet, back to life.
Just like Elysia in the Sea of Quanta, she was a Memory Body—but was she Elysia? Obviously, she was. Everyone acknowledged that. That was Cecilia's current state.
"Since it works, once they're done chatting, make Alexandra's Memory Body too. After that, we'll have to leave the child-rearing to those two who've actually had children."
Ivan was only five, Bella blindly obeyed every one of Sirin's orders, and Sirin herself was a problem child. If these three were left to this completely inexperienced person, who knew what kind of chaos would result?
And so, a new life began. Enoshia handled almost all external communication, while at home, their daily life consisted of two mothers raising three children.
October 5, 2000. Night.
As usual, Sirin watched television and ate fried chicken in her room.
"Queen, would you like to turn in early tonight?" Bella glanced at the fried chicken beside Sirin and asked tentatively.
"No. Same as yesterday." Completely absorbed in the television, Sirin didn't even look at Bella.
Bella had no intention of disturbing her any further. She silently left Sirin's room and went straight to the kitchen.
"Judging by Queen's habits, she'll probably finish the fried chicken in the bucket before her entertainment is over. And that amount is nowhere near enough for her..." Thinking this, Bella opened the refrigerator.
"Just as I thought... all the frozen food is gone. By the time a new supply is flown in, Queen will definitely be asleep." Bella stared at the somewhat empty refrigerator and fell into thought.
As for Sirin using the authority of the Herrscher of Void to take food directly from somewhere else... unless she was starving to death, she absolutely wouldn't do that.
And as for having someone else serve Sirin? Bella shouldn't even think about it. Serving Sirin was the highest honor to her. Unless she had something more urgent to do or Sirin gave her an order, she would never let anyone else handle Sirin's food, clothing, housing, and transportation.
"There are still three potatoes... I'll make fries and make do."
Bella took out a cutting board and washed and peeled the three potatoes. Then she picked up a kitchen knife in her right hand and extended her left index finger, carefully examining it.
Her hand rose and fell, and the potatoes were soon cut into thick slices. She cut down again, turning the slices into potato strips as thick as her finger.
She took out a large bowl, put the cut potato strips inside, and added enough water to cover them all.
Setting down the bowl, she plunged both hands into it and stirred the potato strips evenly, washing away the starch on their surface.
Bella set the briefly washed potato strips aside and opened the refrigerator again.
"Queen doesn't need ketchup... I won't overthink it, then..." As she spoke, Bella took out a bottle of chilled soda.
"Although it's hot... it's still too cold straight from the refrigerator. I'll leave it at room temperature for a while." Bella set the soda aside, then left the kitchen.
"Bella, you're still in the kitchen this late?" The Projector in the living room moved, and Cecilia's Hologram appeared.
"Ah, Lady Cecilia. Queen's snacks are almost gone, so I thought I'd make some more. Did you need something?"
"You... With you by her side, she'll probably never lose weight... There's something I've wanted to ask for a while, but you're busy from morning to night every day, so I never had the chance."
"I happen to be free now. Please, ask."
"How... exactly do you see me?"
Bella scratched her head. After thinking seriously for a moment, she said:
"You know that I'm a Judgment-class Honkai Beast who exists because of Queen. In my eyes, doing everything for Queen is only natural... So to me, you're someone worthy of respect."
"Is that because I'm currently Sirin's mother?"
Bella shook her head. "Mother is merely a designation to me. But when Queen is with you, I can clearly feel her happiness and joy. Queen being happy is the greatest happiness for me. Anyone who can bring her happiness is naturally worthy of respect."
"I see... Bella, thank you."
Bella shook her head again. "You don't need to thank me. I know you have your own pursuits and beliefs. But whatever the reason, if you stand against Queen again... Queen's enemies will always be my enemies."
Unlike Enoshia, Bella didn't trust Cecilia that much because Cecilia had once stood against Sirin.
"It's good that you're by Sirin's side." After Cecilia finished speaking, her Hologram vanished, as if she had hung up a phone call.
"About time." Bella returned to the kitchen, briefly rinsed the soaked potato strips again, and put them in a colander.
She set a pot on the stove, added water and a spoonful of salt, and brought it to a boil. After boiling the potato strips for two minutes, she transferred them to cold water to cool. That way, even if Sirin ate them while watching television, the fries wouldn't easily go limp after cooling.
Once they had cooled completely, Bella drained them and put the potato strips into a larger bowl, then poured in cornstarch.
Bella remembered the painful lesson from her first attempt at making fries. Since she hadn't had any cornstarch, she had used potato starch instead, and all the fries had clumped together.
After coating all the potato strips in starch, Bella poured oil into the pot and turned up the heat. Once bubbles formed around a pair of chopsticks inserted into the oil, she added the potato strips.
In less than ten minutes, the fries had turned golden and crispy. Bella took them out and placed them on a plate.
After cleaning up everything in the kitchen, the fries were no longer so hot, and the chilled drink was no longer quite so cold. Satisfied, Bella carried them into Sirin's bedroom.
Sirin was still completely absorbed in the television. To Bella's surprise, Sirin had already thrown the fried chicken bucket into the trash. She had obviously finished it not long ago.
"Oh no. My judgment was wrong today. Queen ate much faster than usual, and I didn't manage to bring out more before she finished the fried chicken."
Feeling somewhat regretful, Bella placed the soda and fries beside Sirin. Then, without disturbing her, she cleaned up the food scraps on the floor.
"Bella, wait." Just as she was about to leave, Sirin called out to her.
"Queen, what else do you command?"
Sirin opened a drawer and rummaged through it for a while before taking out a paper packet. Inside was a piece of fried chicken.
Sirin had wanted to save the last piece of fried chicken for her. But she was afraid she might accidentally eat it herself, so she had put it in the drawer.
Bella accepted the paper packet Sirin held out to her. Looking at the still-warm fried chicken, she was so moved that she couldn't speak.
"Eat it quickly, or it'll get cold. Also, I'm not that hungry today, so you can have half these fries. Sit down and watch with me. You're not allowed to leave until you finish them."
"Yes." The fried chicken was only lukewarm and tasted ordinary, but Bella thought it was the most delicious fried chicken she had ever eaten.
After finishing the fried chicken, Bella had just dumped the bones and sat back down beside Sirin when Sirin held the soda she had just drunk from to Bella's lips.
After a brief hesitation, Bella accepted the soda and took a sip. When she thought about how Sirin had just drunk from it, two blushes immediately appeared on her face.
Enoshia had only just returned home when she saw this scene. She suddenly felt full enough that she no longer needed a midnight snack. Covering her mouth to keep from laughing aloud, she quietly left the area outside Sirin's room.
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