Chapter 214

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Chapter 214: The Desire to Survive

Dorothy, still feeling low, did not notice Lolth’s arrival at first.

When she caught the delicious smell coming from the pot, Dorothy lifted her head and saw the succubus holding the pot.

“Oh my, Miss, you look quite well!”

Lolth said to Dorothy with a smile, placing the pot on the small table at the end of the bed.

The traditional bed of the Golden Peacock is somewhat like a warm platform—large and soft at the front, with a firmer section at the back that connects to a small square table for drinking tea.

Lolth absolutely adores this cozy setup. If she wants, she can eat right in bed and then simply lie back when she’s full.

Although it’s not the healthiest habit, it is undeniably enjoyable.

Of course, the people of the Golden Peacock Kingdom don’t typically use this small table for meals; they mostly reserve it for tea, conversation, and the occasional snack or fruit.

Only Lolth would use it as a dining table.

Now that Dorothy had entered Lolth’s territory, she had no choice but to go along with it.

“What is this?”

Dorothy asked curiously, leaning against the bed’s inner railing. She sniffed the enticing aroma and glanced at the little pot on the table. It resembled both a pot and a bowl, with a wet towel beneath the handle.

Her curiosity wasn’t driven by greed; Dorothy wasn’t someone who cared much about food.

Instead, she felt curious because the little girl sensed a strong wave of magical power coming from the pot.

As a warlock, she had also studied Magic Potions.

So Dorothy could feel that the energy coming from this small pot was like a level nine Magic Potion.

However, no Magic Potion would have the aroma of food.

This strange and surprising situation made Dorothy feel very curious.

She leaned over to look into the pot and saw something quite unusual.

The rich, fragrant, dark soup bubbled gently, its warm steam carrying the mingled scents of various vegetables, meats, and a medley of spices. Half-submerged in the soup were ingredients that had also taken on a dark hue: carrots, yam, cabbage, spinach, fish balls, beef rolls, lamb slices, pork belly, poached eggs, tofu, and ribs. All the ingredients appeared soft and tender, with the meats looking thoroughly cooked and succulent.

Under the light, the soup and the ingredients gave off a gentle, shiny, and tempting glow.

“Oh—this is my special herbal stew, a recipe I invented myself. Eat it while it’s hot; it’s my secret formula,” Lolth said. With a wave of magic, she produced a white porcelain bowl and a wooden spoon, scooping a generous portion from the pot and placing it on the table in front of Dorothy.

“I wasn’t asking for the name of the dish…”

Dorothy sighed but still took the porcelain bowl and spoon. She gently scooped up a spoonful of soup, blew on it, and then put it in her mouth.

The thought of whether this succubus might harm her only flashed through her mind for an instant.

After all… what value did she have to a powerful succubus who could face evil gods and use the power of Holy Light?

This soup, though filled with waves of energy akin to a Magic Potion, truly looked delicious.

Even if it really were a deadly Magic Potion, Dorothy would accept it.

As the hot, steaming soup entered her mouth, the intense heat caused a sharp pain on her tongue for a moment, but then a strange sensation spread throughout her mouth.

“So tasty…”

Dorothy couldn’t help but say.

The memories in her mind—about the past, about betrayal, and about the Golden Peacock—felt as if they were temporarily locked away.

Her weak body, which had been unable to grant her any “pleasure,” was awakened by its most primal desire after a long time.

Even the most exquisite dishes made by the top chefs in the palace of the Golden Peacock Kingdom had tasted bland to this cursed and sickly girl.

She only ate to survive.

But now, she felt a long-lost excitement.

She wanted to eat.

She picked up the hot porcelain bowl and spooned the almost mushy winter melon and radish into her mouth, chewing the soft and warm pieces of meat. Each vegetable fiber held the flavor of meat, while every piece of meat carried the taste of vegetables.

“Take your time eating, there is still plenty.”

Lolth’s gentle voice came.

She looked up and met Lolth’s kind smile.

“How is it? Is it good?”

The succubus asked with a smile.

Dorothy savored the warmth in her mouth and silently nodded.

She felt a warm flow moving down her throat into her stomach, as if a small furnace had ignited in her lower belly, sending heat throughout her insides.

This feeling… was incredibly comforting.

It was like the rich and fragrant taste that lingered on her taste buds.

Both her soul and body felt lighter than ever before.

For a long time, she had been trapped by a “curse.” Although the curse couldn’t truly harm her due to her bloodline power and other reasons, Dorothy still lived in “weakness” and “pain” every day.

Her mind felt like it was stuck in a damp bag, her body heavy and filled with sickness.

Dorothy had even forgotten what “health” felt like; for her, daily discomfort was the norm.

So, she had never longed for health and comfort.

Until today.

Lolth had carefully cooked this dish with the finest ingredients, comparable to the highest-grade magical materials. The stew had effects akin to several Level 9 Magic Potions, restoring Dorothy’s energy completely after her near-death coma and even temporarily suppressing the curse in her body.

As she ate, Dorothy suddenly felt a warmth in her nose.

Two tears rolled down from the corners of her eyes.

Is this… what it feels like to be alive?

All this time, she had to hold on to that vague and unrealistic wish to find a reason to live, putting a heavy chain on herself with the thought of “I must make my mother wake up.”

So, even when she realized Aunt Maria wanted her to die, Dorothy felt neither anger nor fear.

For her… death had long been a relief.

But… that was before today.

At this moment, Dorothy suddenly realizes how wonderful it is to be alive.

The fear of dying, along with anger, hatred, and other negative emotions—far stronger than the despair she had felt before—surged up in Dorothy’s heart.