The Arks - Chapter 429

Clement came back with the dessert, a lemon tart sliced into ten pieces. He then started to distribute the dessert to the rest of the people at the dining table.

“Ah, Bryan, Tomoe, Rina, and Clement can take some kids that you like and name them as well. We would need some help on it as well. And Clement, you are now officially the chef of the Old Chapel. At least, until we can get the Orphanage up and running for humans,” added Gillian.

Everyone nodded in agreement. When it was Mavislin and Raiyen’s turn to get the dessert, Clement got close to murmur something in their ears.

“I’ve set aside something to eat for your date… Still think you can manage?” asked Clement, softly.

They both nodded as Clement placed their desserts down.

“Alright, meet you both at the rooftop… The Old Chapel has made a porch there in accordance to your earlier request,” instructed Clement, resuming to eat his piece of the tart.

“Hey, this is quite sour yet oddly satisfying to the tongue… What is it exactly?” asked Gillian, curious at the new dessert he had just shoved into his mouth.

“It’s a Lemon Tart. Sour would be the main thing on the palette but the crust makes it balanced out. Plus the cream on top. It’s one of my Domain’s specialty desserts. I would be bringing shame to my family if you didn’t like it…” said Clement, proudly introducing his work.

“And I would be bringing shame to the Domain I once commanded if you didn’t pull this off properly. My daughter, Abi, and I used to make lovely Lemon Tarts for the children of the main village in Albion. It was my wife’s recipe and only thin that could comfort Abi.”

“I am glad to know that it has been a staple dish for the generation afterward,” replied Baldwin.

“Does it need any improvement? And it would be my pŀėȧsurė to bake some more for your child,” said Clement, taking another bite.

The Founders fell silent as they looked at each other and then at Clement.

“What’s wrong?” asked Bryan, worried with all the glares and sad looks from the Founders.

“Abigail died before the Arks had been established. Her death was the main reason why I had gone on a rampage and killed the entire street through Albion. That long canal that ran through the main village… It was my doing. Because they killed my daughter,” answered Baldwin.

His voice was harsh and filled with melancholy. His eyes bore the look of despair and unending pain of losing a child. The words that came out were tamed in comparison to his usual angry words but Clement dreaded them even more.

“I’m sorry, I had no clue…” murmured Clement, looking at Baldwin.

“Don’t apologize. It wasn’t your fault. You were born years later, I don’t harbor any hate for you. Since I’ve killed the ones who directly burned her stake,” answered Baldwin, still refusing to make eye contact with Clement.

“She and I were best friends. I didn’t know who was her father but she’d bring me leftovers of these Lemon Tarts into our hidey-hole. Eating this reminds me of playing with her…” said Mavislin, with a tear rolling down her cheek.

Bryan was shocked as he grabbed a napkin to wipe away her tear.

“I’m fine… I just miss my playdate, you know?” said Mavislin, continuing to finish the tart.

“We all miss Abi. She was a wonderful daughter. I missed carrying her on my back. I wasn’t even around to know what had happened to her. I came back to the Congregation in shambles and Baldwin creating a new canal within the land of Albion,” replied Z, eating the dessert.

Ysabeau took a bite and was undeniably hit with the scent and taste of the days that had come and gone. The days where tensions were high and where Mages were still in hiding. A time where they had not met Mavislin and were under the rule of the Congregation.

A time where Baldwin’s daughter hadn’t been killed.

“Hang on, you created the canal?” asked Clement, processing what Baldwin had said.

“Yes. Well, if I’m being perfectly fair, it was a duo’s effort. Specifically, me trying to attack Mavislin. We created the canal out of that,” replied Baldwin.

“The same thing that killed most of the village was the same thing that saved the generations to come,” noted Clement.

“What do you mean?” asked Bryan.

“That seafood that you and Lady Roydon ate. The fish was from the canal that ran through the main village. My house is just by it. We made a living cooking fish for the needy.. And when I was left alone, I cooked it for myself every single day until I got fed and became a Master.”