Chapter 2236
On Andrew’s second day back in Chetvine, Natasha got up early to prepare breakfast and wash water for him. There was no helping it; the place was wretched.
The entire place consisted of one rundown shack with a broken table, a broken chair, and a broken bed for them to sleep on. It was absolutely pathetic in every way.
Natasha found a discarded basin, and thankfully, there was a well by the front door. She drew cool well water and brought it inside for them to wash up with.
Andrew watched her bustling around and felt bad. “Natasha, don’t bother with all this. We’ll buy some furniture and sort out our basic living situation today.”
Natasha shook her head. “It’s fine. I’ve actually been doing manual labor since I was little. The Vostokoff family in Terror Town never treated me like some pampered princess. As a kid, besides training martial arts with the family elders, I also had to take care of household chores.
“Even later, when I got into the underground world and had money, I never developed the spoiled rich girl habits.”
Andrew looked at her hands and found that they were indeed still somewhat rough. These were calluses she had developed from years of martial arts training. It also proved that she really was a woman who could handle hardship.
Natasha said helplessly, “We’ve got washing sorted out, but I don’t know what to do about food. We don’t have any cooking equipment at home. Darling, looks like we’ll have to eat out.”
Andrew shook his head. “Eating out isn’t convenient, as there aren’t any restaurants on this street.”
Natasha looked genuinely surprised. “Why not? I remember the street your family lives on being really long and grand. Surely there must be places to eat somewhere?”
Andrew spread his hands. “There just aren’t any. This entire street stretches for two miles and belongs completely to the Lloyd family royal household. According to family rules, no entertainment venues or restaurants are allowed anywhere on it. Everyone either eats at home or goes far away to fend for themselves.”
Natasha let out an exasperated laugh. “Your family is seriously stuck in the dark ages. So what, even if we have money, we can’t eat out?”
Andrew shook his head again. “Nope. Not even us. My dad was rebellious when he was younger, but even he got forced into line. He had no choice but to eat at home.”
Natasha broke into a sweat, suddenly realizing that Andrew, the so-called Dragon Prince of the Lloyd family, probably did not have an easy childhood either.
Andrew stood up and smiled. “Come on, we’ll go eat at the family dining hall.”
Natasha hesitated. “But your family members all seem so hostile. Will we even get food there?”
Andrew grinned. “They might not like me, but meals are one thing they can’t control. After all, I do live here, and eating is a basic right that not even God himself could take away.”
So the two of them locked the shack and headed to the family dining hall. It was not really a hall so much as an imposing building.
Andrew explained, “The upper floor is where the older generation eats. The lower floor is for the younger ones like us.”
Natasha smiled. “But you’re the Lloyd family’s Dragon Prince. Shouldn’t you be upstairs eating the good stuff?”
Andrew waved his hand dismissively. “No, the rules don’t change just because I’m the Dragon Prince. You eat where you’re supposed to eat, period.”
Natasha was truly amazed. She thought the Lloyd family was really unfair and harsh to their own men.
When they reached the food service window, they saw that everything was gone. Even the bread rolls and clear broth had been completely cleaned out.
The cafeteria lady, Annie Wiggins, looked apologetic. “Sorry, Andy. We didn’t know you were back, so there’s nothing left. Come back tomorrow, and I’ll make extra.”
Andrew smiled it off. “It’s fine. Don’t worry.”
He took Natasha’s hand and turned to leave.
Natasha could not contain her anger. “Why should we accept this? I refuse to believe that we just happened to show up when there was no food left. Someone’s obviously targeting us on purpose.”