And yet another breakfast scene

A blue sky fills the window outside.

Morning light lances between the clouds and caresses my face, and Elliot turns away.

I caress her body and lick the side of her face.

Elliot giggles.

I kiss her neck.

It's such a nice day.

It's been about a week since the vampire, Dracula II, joined us at the mansion.

Even so, being on a kill-or-be-killed basis with her, we have yet to fully warm up to each other. Naturally, it isn't easy for our hearts and minds to close this gap between us. For now, the fact that she has stopped attacking innocent, unrelated people has been an adequate improvement for us.

"Elliot, let's go get breakfast." I say.

Elliot responds with enthusiasm and we go to breakfast.

Doreen has been helping us with the living expenses for the past few days. However, this is only temporary, and we are all determined to find a source of income. We all have our own ideas how to overcome this financial dilemma, like spending less, or finding practical work.

"Today's victuals have been as delicious as always, Nemo." Doreen says.

"That's great to hear. But with only preserved foods, the selection becomes really limited." Nemo says.

"Oh, are you unsatisfied with these results? The meals of late are far from boring, as far as I'm concerned." Doreen says.

"It's a matter of principle! As a genius chef, I want to be able to provide a good variety of dishes." Nemo says.

"Ahah, since when have you been a genius chef? If I recall correctly, I thought you were a genius engineer." Doreen says.

"I really enjoy the meals you make for us, Nemo." I say.

"Thanks! But only amateurs wait for the audience to get tired before changing. A first-class chef must always be creative." Nemo says.

"I see... What do you think, Van Helsing?" I look over at her and see that she hasn't touched much of her meal. "Van Helsing...? Aren't you hungry?"

"...Don't mind me." she says.

"You haven't been eating much lately. Have you tired of the taste already? Does my cooking bore you?" Nemo asks.

"No, it's all delicious. The flavours are so delicate that I still it hard to believe that you were the cook." Van Helsing says.

"Is that a compliment or an insult?!" Nemo asks.

"A compliment, obviously. It's the greatest praise I have to offer." Van Helsing says.

"Your appetite seems to have decreased since Dracula came to the mansion. Are you worried about her?" Doreen asks.

"Hmph..." Van Helsing looks away without another word.

I can't help but clamp my mouth shut. I can't jump into issues that are between Van Helsing and Dracula.

Was it a mistake to invite the young vampire to our home without thinking about it?

"She hasn't appeared for breakfast again... I am worried about her condition." Doreen says.

"She seems to be eating. The plates I take up to her room are always cleared off." I say. "I'm planning to take this morning's meal to her room again."

"I see... That's good to know. Does it make you feel better, Van Helsing?" Doreen asks.

"What? I didn't say anything." Van Helsing says.

"The problems with Dracula aside..." Nemo says. Victoria sighs. "Victoria? You've been awfully quiet. You look so serious, too. Do you have a stomachache or something?"

"What, who, me? No... Nothing's wrong." Victoria says.

"You do seem down, Victoria." I say.

"R-Really...? Sorry if I seem that way. I don't feel sick or anything like that." Victoria smiles when she says this, but she still seems to be a little out of it.

"It also seems that Lupin has been running around to a number of different places recently. I haven't seen her lately." Doreen says. "We haven't had the opportunity for us all to gather at the dining table together." Now that she mentions it, everyone has been busy with their own things, or has some sort of reason to be by themselves...

I think I last time we were all present for a meal was before we started chasing Dracula.

"Hmmm... I got it! Chef Nemo shall lay out a great feast tonight!" Nemo says.

"Why?" I ask.

"Why, to raise the energy level around here! Stuffing yourself with good food makes anyone happy." Nemo says.

"A feast? That may actually be a good idea." Doreen says.

"Cooking, eh... Hmm... That sounds like a perfect way to blow off steam. Nemo, let me cook, too." Van Helsing says.

"Sure, that's fine. But are you sure you can make anything that turns out to be edible?" Nemo asks.

"Who do you think I am? I know what I'm doing. Leave it to me." Van Helsing.

"I see. I know she told me, but you really do love to cook, huh? I wouldn't have expected that of you at all." Victoria says.

"Hehe, I'm looking forward to trying out dishes from both of you." I say.

Nemo's sudden suggestion has cleared up the gloomy air surrounding the dining table, and a peaceful atmosphere comes in. "And then, we'll have Dracula join us, and we'll all have a party."

"Do you have the ingredients to complete a task like that?" Van Helsing asks. "We are still in a poor financial state. If we don't have the money to spend, we won't be able to make satisfying meal."

"Hmmm... These are tough times!" Nemo says.

"You can stop worrying about money." Lupin says.

We turn around at this sudden comment.

"Oh, hello, Lupin." I say.

"Hey, guys. What's wrong with you all? You look like hell." Lupin says.

"Where have you been? Nobody's seen you for the past few days. We've all been worried." Victoria says.

"I had some things to deal with. Apologies for not telling you in advance. But, here are the funds for our future activities." Lupin turns a heavy-looking bag over the table, and a mountain of bills falls out.

"L-Lupin?! Where did you get all this?!" Victoria asks.

"Oh, my. That is heap of money." Doreen says.

"Heh. Just a bit of my handling fee." Lupin says.

"All this from a 'handling fee'...?" Nemo asks.

"I don't really have a good grasp of money yet... but is this much enough to solve our troubles?" I ask.

"Our troubles are long gone... With this much, we could even buy ourselves an airship!" Nemo says.

An airship...

I have no idea how much one of those would cost, but if Nemo is this excited about it... "Then... Our money problems are over?"

"Seems that way." Van Helsing says.

I see.

That's great news. But...

"Lupin, this money... Did you come by it honestly?" I ask.

"Of course, Monsieur. I swear on my name, Arsene Lupin." She smiles at me while she says this. "And I didn't earn this money so we could spend it on lavish things. Let's plan our expenditures more carefully from now on."

"I'm not going to reprimand you, no matter where the money the came from... But you must have faced quite an opponent to get this." Van Helsing says.

"Something like that. Quite an evildoer, indeed, who are quite loaded." Lupin says.

"An evildoer... What sort of evil as he doing? Are you sure he won't come after us later?" Nemo asks.

"I wouldn't make a mistake against a small fry like that. Also, I have to make a formal report to someone about what I did." Lupin says. "Does anyone have an idea where Dracula the Younger is?"

"I think Dracula's in her room." I say.

"I just came from there, and she wasn't in. Damn, where could she be..." Lupin says. "Well, if she's not here, I guess I'll go look for her."

"I'll help. I was going to take some breakfast to her." I had already finished my own meal long before, so I stand and thank Nemo for cooking it.

As I'm clearing my plates, Doreen calls out to me. "Oh, that's right. Mr. Caleb, are you free this afternoon?"

"Today? I have time." I say.

"Then would you accompany me shopping? I'll like to gather some good ingredients for our meal tonight." Doreen says. "How about it?" Helping her shop...

That sounds like something I can do. "All right, I'll come with you." I make plans for later with Doreen, then Lupin and I split up to search for Dracula.