Chapter 32 0 0 55 vouchers After downing the potions , the two Knights perked up noticeably . Noticing they still had some energy to spare . Lilian decided to sit and chat with them a bit . " ... And that's how we were saved . We owe it all to Lorrayne - otherwise , we'd have ended up as monster food . " She filled the Knights in on how Lorrayne and Troy had rescued them and how they'd wound up here . They trusted Lilian's version of events without question , of course , but they remained skeptical about Lorrayne and Troy . " Your Highness , Lorrayne's explanation sounds pretty suspicious to me , " Vincent said . " She says she detected the monster via divination , but even expert astrologers struggle with that . How could a Novice Magic Apprentice manage it ? " Lilian shook her head . " You have to believe th ordinary rules . geniuses really do exist in this world . Some people's gifts just can't be explained by " Besides , remember - we're the ones who attracted that monster . When we entered Hellspawn's sea , we broke the local taboos and got tainted with dark energy , which is what lured it to us . " Vincent thought it over and nodded in agreement . They'd had no idea they'd picked up the dark energy in the Hellspawn's sea ; it had been feeding on magic the whole way , growing stronger until it burst out in the pine forest and called the creature down on them . It truly wasn't anyone else's doing . " But Your Highness , " Robert piped up with his own concern , " if Lorrayne is truly royal , how did she end up stranded on the coast , chased by pirates , and pleading for our help ? Where were her guards then ? " Lilian pondered for a second . " The royal court is full of backstabbing . She might have been persecuted by some opposing group , making her disguise herself as a Lowborn to ask for our assistance . Her guards could have been held up by foes and only reunited with her later . " Robert's eyes lit up in realization . " That makes sense . Now that I think about it , those pirates were odd too . We'd never heard of any operating along that coastline - they just appeared out of thin air ." Vincent agreed with a nod " Right . Typical pirates go for treasure and run . These ones were bloodthirsty monsters , killing anyone they saw and burning the fishing village to the ground . " " At least Your Highness ordered them shot full of arrows , " Robert added . " That gave some justice to those innocent villagers ." As they remembered the horrific scenes they'd witnessed in the village , the Knights ' expressions turned somber with compassion . " Let's drop it , " Lilian sighed . " If Lorrayne doesn't want to reveal her identity , we shouldn't pry . Everyone has their own secrets , after all . " Her so - called " border patrol " trip had actually been a pretext to track down witches living incognito among the people , in search of clues about the fabied necromancer . Unfortunately , she'd found nothing - and lost an entire team in the bargain . " Your Highness , you- " Robert began to speak , but a powerful , irresistible aroma drifted in , blanking his mind . " What's that smell ? " Vincent inhaled deeply . " It's amazing ! " " Spices , " Lilian said , immediately peering out the window . The scents of various spices blended in perfect harmony - warm , rich , and enticingly pungent - infused with a mouthwatering oily savor and a lingering sweet fullness . Gurgle- A chorus of rumbling stomachs filled the room The Knights turned beet red and pressed their hands to their bellies . " You two stay here - I'll check it out " Lilian spun around awkwardly , not wanting them to realize one of those growls had been hers , With Lilian gone , the Knights whispered conspiratorially . 13/3 D 0 0490 PD Chapter 32 " How can something smell that delicious ? " " Maybe someone's performing a ritual ? " " A ritual ? Since when do rituals have such a weird scent ? Why does it make me ravenous with just one sniff ? " " I think one of those smells seems familiar , " Vincent said , wracking his brain until his eyes suddenly lit up . That's it - it's meat ! " " Meat ? " Robert swallowed hard , his mouth watering . " What kind of meat smells this incredible ? " " Unless it's- " They stared at each other in horror and said in unison , " Human flesh ? " " Ugh- " The bedroom filled with the sound of the two Knights heaving violently . Lilian rushed outside , where the aroma was even more overpowering - several times stronger - wafting through the whole courtyard and making her salivate uncontrollably . She wondered , ' Could this be some sort of poisonous incense ? ' Alarmed , she swiftly covered her nose with a handkerchief . Looking around , she noticed the courtyard was completely empty ; everyone had disappeared , leaving behind an unsettling quiet . The scent intensified as she neared the kitchen , so Lilian held her breath and made her way over . " Your Highness ! " " What are you doing out here ? " Lilian whirled around to find the two Knights fully armored , their faces muffled with cloth , swords gleaming menacingly in their grips . " We're here to keep you safe , " Robert declared , his expression deadly serious . " We suspect that's human theh ! " Vincent bobbed his head emphatically . " Exactly - it's not safe ! There could be a Hellspawn inside , cooking up live victims ! " He thought , ' What else could explain meat smelling so temptingly good ? It has to be a fiendish trap ! " As she saw the Knights so convinced , Lilian's face grew solemn too . " The aroma is drifting from the kitchen . Vincent , Robert - be careful . " " Yes , Your Highness ! " The Knights advanced on the kitchen door as if facing down an enemy army . Hearing what sounded like sinister laughter from within only confirmed their worst suspicions . With a thunderous " bang , they booted the door clean off its hinges , swords raised high . " Vile Hellspawns - meet your end ! " The door slammed to the floor in a puff of dust , exposing the kitchen beyond . There , six living people clustered around a pot , clutching knives and forks , all turning in sync to fix them with hungry , eager stares . Robert and Vincent recoiled in sheer terror from the eerie sight . " Aaah ! " They're possessed - they're eyeing us like dinner ! " The door's explosive entry had already startled Lorrayne out of her wits . She'd managed to stay composed until she heard their wild accusations of Hellspawn possession - then she lost it . " Stop right there ! " She barked sharply , " Who gave you permission to barge in like that ? Is this how Knights behave ? " 2/3 PD Chapter 32 13_65 valuctrees From outside , Lilian recognized Lorrayne's voice and realized things weren't adding up . She pushed the Knights aside and stepped to the threshold . " Lorrayne , are you in there ? " As she peered inside , taking in the fragrant , bubbling pot and the array of ingredients on the cutting board , her expression shifted to one of bemused relief . " I'm so sorry - it was a complete mix - up , " Lilian said , full of regret . " We've never smelled anything this enticing before , so we jumped to conclusions ... Anyway , we apologize profusely , Lorrayne . " " Er ," Lorrayne replied , caught off guard . " No problem , Lilian . My fault for not warning you - I must have given you quite a scare . " " Not at all - we rushed in half - cocked , " Lilian said , flushing with embarrassment . " But honestly , what are you making ? It smells out of this world . " Lorrayne laid down her utensils and explained : " It's for my potions homework . I whipped up this spice blend and have some beef and chicken simmering in it . Want to give a As she heard it was just beef and chicken , Lilian's interest piqued . " Are you sure ? I mean , it's your school project . " 3/3 Title: ReelTalk EP 40 - Contract Lovers & Heartbreak CrushReel's ongoing romance series, Miss You After Goodbye, continues to captivate on the latest ReelTalk episode. Haley Lohrli dives into her daring new character, while Ben and Josh share insights into their own memorable roles, promising a blend of laughter and heartwarming moments. Exploring themes of love, loss, and unexpected connections, this episode delves deep into the intricate relationships that drive the narrative forward. As the stars reveal their on-screen chemistry and off-screen camaraderie, viewers are in for a treat with each unfolding scene. What sets this episode apart is its ability to balance humor with poignant storytelling, offering a refreshing take on modern romance dynamics. Dive into the world of Contract Lovers & Heartbreak, available to read at CrushReel for a journey that promises both entertainment and emotional resonance.