The Ultimate Beast World Glow-Up novel Chapter 22

Chapter 22 Candied Fruit

Finished

The candied fruit glistened under the sun. Declan had already finished cutting the pork. Rosalie dropped the meat into a pot, measured out the right spices, and covered it with a lid.

She walked to the backyard and lifted a plucked pheasant from the table. Her eyes swept across the dirt. An idea flickered in her mind.

Declan stood beside her, confused, as she stuffed herbs and spices into the pheasant’s belly. She brushed its skin with soy sauce, then wrapped it in wide green leaves and sealed it under a layer of wet clay.

Declan stared at the heavy clay ball she held. His lips parted, but no words came.

“Declan, light the fire for me.”

Rosalie didn’t bother explaining. When the dish was done, he’d see it wasn’t a waste of food.

She repeated the same motion again and again, crafting fifteen clay–covered chickens. Fifteen fires burned in a perfect line across the yard, their smoke curling into the bright sky. Anyone passing by would think she was performing some strange ritual.

Leon arrived soon after. Declan hesitated, then muttered, “I think she’s been through too much. She might’ve lost it a little.”

Leon’s voice dropped low. “I believe in her.”

Declan’s throat locked up. He couldn’t get a single word out. He turned away in silence. He almost collided with Cameron. Cameron looked hollow, his lips parting as if to speak, but no sound left him.

Elijah walked past at that moment. His flawless face carmed a stormy look, his eyes sharp and cold like he was ready to kill someone.

Perfect. Every one of them is mad.

Rosalie moved between the fifteen fires, her skin glowing under the heat as she turned each clay–covered chicken before it burned. The air shimmered around her like molten gold.

By noon, she carried out a large bowl of pork stew and lifted one of the heavy clay shells from the pit.

The beastmen stared at the thing in the middle of the table, confused. Micah finally spoke. “Matriarch, what is that?”

Rosalie’s lips curved. “This, gentlemen, is called erraticoultry.

“It looks plain, but trust me, the magic’s inside.”

They didn’t believe her. Rosalie picked up a rock and cracked the hardened clay open. She peeled away the blackened leaves, and the smell hit the air like a wave. Smoky chicken mixed with roasted vegetables. The scent melted together, rich and sweet, wrapping the whole room in warmth.

Christopher couldn’t hold back. He grabbed a fork and it in. The little wolf let out a sharp cry of joy, his voice echoing through the room as he yelled that it was amazing.

Declan inhaled the scent, startled. He couldn’t believe something that looked so odd could smell that divine.

He took a forkful. The moment he tasted it, his eyes flashed bright. He didn’t even stop before taking

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Chapter 22 Candied Fruit

another bite.

Rosalie glanced at him. “So? You like it?”

Declan’s mouth twitched into a smile. “It’s good.”

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Finished

He always looked intense. His temper made him seem dangerous, like he could explode at any second. But when he smiled, even faintly, his whole face softened, warm enough to melt glass.

Rosalie smiled back. “Glad you like it.”

Declan’s smile faded. He lowered his head and kept eating in silence.

She had made fifteen chickens. Only five were left. She sighed under her breath. She really was feeding a pack of gluttons.

When they finished eating, Rosalie packed up with Declan and Elijah. They were taking the pork stew to sell at the city bazaar.

At the doorway, Micah caught up with them. “Matriarch I’m feeling a lot better now. Let me come along to the bazaar.”

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